Residents team up to learn, gain skills and get a new garden!

Cotton Fold residents with volunteers and staff

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Seven residents from Cotton Fold supported housing managed by Mencap have teamed up to complete a 10-week training course.

The group completed the ASDAN Level 1 Certificate in Community Volunteering run by Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale and funded by Kingsway Community First.

The course involved completing nine different modules ranging from ‘health & safety’ to ‘volunteering at an event’.

A key focus of the course was the redevelopment of the garden at Cotton Fold, Kingsway.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of the course – I’ve got so much out of it”, said Curtis Atkinson, a resident of Cotton Fold. “At first it was a challenge to complete the paperwork as well as doing the work on the garden but we’ve all stuck at it and have bonded as a team.”

The group of residents worked alongside volunteers from Groundwork to install a new BBQ, plant flowers, bushes and trees and paint the shed. Neighbouring garden centre, Gordon Rigg, donated £100 of materials and tools to the project. A new disabled access bench was also constructed and installed by the trainee volunteers from Groundwork.

Hayley Conlon, a Mencap support worker at Cotton Fold said that the course: “Has been an exciting, successful and innovative opportunity, which has brought together several agencies in implementing a project for people with Learning Disabilities.

"The tenants have gained confidence and developed a strong positive relationship and outlook, working together as a team, whilst also achieving sustainable goals and seeing tasks through to completion.

"Many thanks to the Kingsway Community First Panel for awarding our group the funds for this project and to PCSO John Rochelle for bringing this to our attention.

"Also many thanks to Tobias and the Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale team for their strong and positive influence in continuous engagement with the tenants, and the Mencap staff and tenants at Cotton Fold for their enthusiasm and dedication in raising awareness of this unique service that Mencap offers."

Tobias Jones, Groundwork Education & Community Project Officer, added: “The project has been a brilliant opportunity for the tenants of Cotton Fold to gain a qualification whilst working on a project that they will all benefit from. Now they can grow vegetables in the garden as well as using it as a relaxing space. They have had the opportunity to help build new features such as a brick barbeque and a new bench as well as learning skills to maintain the garden.

"It has been a joy to deliver thanks to the volunteer’s commitment and the ongoing support and professionalism of all the support staff at Cotton Fold.”

To celebrate their achievements, learners, staff and volunteers held a planting day and certificate presentation in the newly refurbished garden.