New shoots of growth planted in Littleborough

Ashley Reynolds, Elliot Mann, Gary Hall, Green Team Supervisor, Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale, Paul Dockerty, Environmental Improvements Programme Co-ordinator, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and Thomas McConkie

Young people taking part in a Rochdale based employment scheme have planted their way to a brighter environment for residents of Littleborough.

Green Team, a partnership between Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) and Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale, is supported through a joint Groundwork/National Housing Federation scheme to help young people gain the skills, confidence and experience to boost their chances of employment.

The team worked together to plant over 7000 crocus bulbs to sections of grassed land surrounding an RBH residential scheme in Littleborough. Whilst completing the work, members of the team gave personal accounts of how Groundwork through the Green Team was changing lives across the borough of Rochdale.

Ashley Reynolds,18, from Littleborough, said: “Green Team is really good as it’s helped me to gain new skills and increased my work experience.

“Before starting I was unemployed for 12 months and not doing anything. The project in Littleborough is just one of seven I have worked on since I started and it feels good completing projects that benefit people across the borough.”

Phil Treaton, Commercial Services Manager at Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale, said: “We’re delighted to provide this opportunity to see first-hand how Groundwork is helping young people overcome the challenges they face to gaining employment. This successful partnership has already had a big impact on people and the environment of Rochdale.”

Jean Ashworth, resident and Secretary of Saxon House and West View Tenants Association, suggested the bulb planting scheme and applied to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing for a ‘Dig It’ grant.

Ms Ashworth said: “It was a good day when Ruth Sillence told me that we had been awarded the grant to buy the bulbs and she made it even better when she told me that Paul Dockerty (RBH) has said that we could have the Green Team to plant the bulbs for us. We were all aware of the Green Team, we have seen them at work all around the township but I went on to the web page to learn a little more and I think it is an excellent scheme and seems to be very successful. You never know, you could have some budding Alan Titchmarshe’s and Charlie Dimmock’s amongst them.”

Ms Ashworth continued: "Green Team is a good idea for the youngsters, who I must say have worked very hard and done a lot more of what we expected from them.”

The Green Team partnership, aims to galvanise Rochdale communities by improving RBH estates whilst providing employment and training opportunities for unemployed young people. RBH residents nominate sites and suggest improvement projects for the Green Team to undertake.

Eugene Wilson, Director of Property Services at RBH, added: “The opportunity to combine the efforts of our Green Team is a great example of partnership working and one which will benefit all of the individuals and organisations involved.”