Sudden Brook residents celebrate green space

Paul Howes Groundwork with residents Jordan and Jackie lending a hand at the Community Action Day

A day of exciting family activities was recently held in Deeplish to mark the completion of improvements made to Sudden Brook open space, known locally as ‘The Valley.’

The scheme has also helped people from the area develop new skills through training and volunteering opportunities.

The day celebrated the completion of the physical improvements made on the site and encouraged people to make more use of the open space in the future.

Over 200 people attended and enjoyed free activities, including a bouncy castle, face painting, a climbing wall and a circus workshop. There was also henna art, threading and massage on offer, for those who were looking for a more relaxing time.

Sophie Heywood, Volunteer Coordinator at Groundwork said: “This event was a thank-you to all the local people that have helped make this project a success.

“We had consulted with residents about the improvements they would like on the site and their input has been really valuable. Some have given further support by volunteering on the Community Action Day.”

The day was organised by Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale as part of the Sudden Brook Enhancement Scheme, funded by Rochdale Borough Council and managed by Rochdale Development Agency.

The enhancement scheme has improved the entrances to the open space and provided informal play facilities. The Council’s Parks, Countryside and Open Space Ranger Service, together with Future Job Fund workers and Green Volunteers, have also undertaken a woodland management scheme and removed litter from the site.

The project has also provided free training opportunities to out of work residents. Over 30 accredited qualifications were gained by residents, including Emergency First Aid at Work, Food Safety, CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme), Manual Handling, and CCTV Security Training. Most of the training took place at Sudden Community Centre and Deeplish Community Centre.

Gary Davies, Senior Project Officer at Rochdale Development Agency said: “The scheme has not only improved the appearance of the open space but has helped local residents gain skills and qualifications. These qualifications will improve employment opportunities for the residents who took part.”

Sohail Ahmad, Manager of Deeplish Community Centre, added: “This has been an innovative project to make changes and improvements to the local neighbourhood. It has provided training opportunities to local residents and has given them the chance to be fully involved in shaping their area. Saturday’s event was a great end to the project.”