Rochdale charity wins £500 for a ‘big day out’

Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home based in Rochdale has won £500 to enjoy a ‘Big Day Out’ in the region this summer, thanks to System One Travelcards, Greater Manchester’s multi-bus/multi-mode travelcard provider.

Having recently triumphed in a public vote, Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home will be rewarded for its hard work within the local community in Rochdale with a day out for its staff and members.

A total of ten organisations – one from each borough of Greater Manchester - received a share of £5,000 from System One Travelcards. The winners included:

• Embrace Wigan and Leigh - Wigan
• 430 Droylsden Squadron Air Cadets - Tameside
• The Furniture Station - Stockport
• Salford City Radio - Salford
• Wythenshawe FM - Manchester
• Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home - Rochdale
• Genie Networks - Trafford
• Halliwell Befriending Service - Bolton
• Oldham Support for Autism Carers - Oldham
• Homestart - Bury

The location for Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home’s ‘Big Day Out’ is yet to be decided, but will take place over the summer of 2012. Last year, winning groups enjoyed a variety of ‘Big Days Out’, including a children’s ball sports tournament in Oldham, a camping trip in Wigan and a visit to a special soft play and therapy centre for blind children and their carers, in Stockport.

Gradyn Thompson, general manager of System One Travelcards, commented: “We received a phenomenal response to the competition, proving that there are so many vital local charities and organisations that residents passionately support.

“We understand that many of these fantastic organisations are facing a tough year financially and are increasingly relying on the hard work and generosity of the local community and their unpaid volunteers to continue providing vital services.

“Being able to reward these projects with £500, which will allow them to enjoy an extra special day out this summer, is a real pleasure and we can’t wait to see the photos!”

The second annual ‘Big Day Out’ was launched in light of small voluntary organisations facing their toughest post-recession year yet, with 27 per cent planning to cut paid staff numbers and many also expecting to decrease expenditure, according to a recent report from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.