385,000 reasons to celebrate on Freehold

385,000 reasons to celebrate on Freehold

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Freehold Community Group is celebrating after hearing this week that they have been granted nearly £385,000 from the Big Lottery Fund. This fantastic sum comes from the Reaching Communities element of the charity. It will go to employ five new team members on a five-year contract to run and enhance the services from the Freehold Community Base and Annexe, which are home to a range of successful services for the local community.

The project, managed by Freehold Community Group will support the diverse community on the estate who between them speak an incredible 25 different languages, to improve their life skills and life chances. Local people will be able to gain computer skills and join in a range of education, training and community activities. The younger generation can learn citizenship skills and join in the many sports groups and the homework club for example.

A thrilled Mohammed Azhar, Community Support Officer for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and also Secretary of Freehold Community Group said: "This fantastic sum will allow us to build on what we began in 2005, when we first received Lottery funding. It will enable us to further strengthen the community with a package of activities aimed at improving cultural understanding, giving people new skills and developing a volunteer culture. We will particularly target the more deprived and hard to reach groups to improve their quality of life.

“Freehold is a wonderful place to live and work. Over the years I have been saddened that Freehold Estate has received some negative publicity, but the people living here and coming to our base would argue it is a safe and peaceful place to be. There is a long waiting list of applicants wanting to live here – a complete turnaround from ten years ago when we struggled to let properties. Today many people made Freehold a permanent place to live and even some of these people have bought the properties. The work of Freehold Community Group will help ensure a brighter future for our children, particularly as we aim to work more closely with neighbouring areas such as Deeplish and Falinge from now on. “

Jennifer Whitehead from Kenilworth, a Freehold resident for 15 years, said: “I believe Freehold Community Group has played a major role in improving life on the estate over the years and I wish them all the best with their new funding. My children have taken part in several activities and today my younger son is studying at higher level for a certificate because of the group’s early work with him and he is now hoping to go onto further education.”

Labisi Ngwenga from Olney has lived on the estate for 6 years. Originally from Africa, he found Freehold so welcoming he decided to make it his home. He said: “One of the most important and valuable service the Group offers is the After School club. I believe it’s a wonderful free community service, which lets people like me send our children to a safe, caring environment. The children learn a great deal and make new friends from different communities.

Patricia Long, Chairperson of the Group can’t wait to get started on the new projects the group has planned and acknowledges the hard work of Mohammed Azhar, whom she said worked tirelessly with colleagues at RBH to secure the charitable funding. Freehold Housing office staff also deserve a thank you for their support.