Funding of community projects lies in the hands of local residents

Winning projects from the previous Decision Day event celebrate their success

Community funding of projects across the Borough are in the hands of the local residents, who will vote next Saturday (1 March).

Local residents will have the opportunity to vote and decide which projects in their community will be allocated funding as part of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s (RBH) ground-breaking ‘Our Choice’ scheme.

The voting will take place at Heywood Civic Centre (1-4pm) and residents can choose their favourite projects. Projects are competing for a share of available funding, with £1,490 available for Bellshill; £2,610 for Bury Street; £2,820 for Cutgate; £1,360 for Firgrove; £1,910 for Heady Hill; £7,110 for Hollin; £1,200 for Mayfield; £3,880 for Moorclose, Junction, and Baytree; £2,280 for Spotland; and £2,150 for St Anns.

In Bellshill, residents can vote on either: weekly football sessions for 11-14 year olds; or health and wellbeing sessions for low-income families.

In Bury Street, residents can vote on either: a bowls league for residents in sheltered housing, as well as other opportunities to socialise and exercise; or extending the works on the old floor in Heady Hill Community Centre.

In Cutgate, residents can vote on either: improvements to Caldershaw Green; social events for residents over 60; football sessions for children; or health and wellbeing sessions for those in sheltered housing.

In Firgrove, residents can vote on either: a bowls league for residents in sheltered housing, as well as other opportunities to socialise and exercise; weekly football sessions for 11-14 year olds; health and wellbeing sessions for low-income families; or health and wellbeing sessions for those living in sheltered housing.

In Heady Hill, residents can vote on: painting of the Heady Hill Community Centre, and the installation of a computer suite.

In Hollin, residents can vote on either: advice and welfare sessions to cover housing, council tax and other consumer issues; Crocodile Joe - one-to-one sessions for children up to the age of 16 to learn about reptiles and spiders; Girls Allowed – a group for girls aged 10-16 with sessions covering arts and crafts, cooking and banking skills, and sexual health; arts and crafts sessions for 5-15 year olds during school holidays; swimming vouchers for children up to 16 during school holidays; materials and supervision for residents to make bird boxes; a local tie-in event for International Women’s Day; or skips to help residents dispose of large items of furniture.

In Mayfield, residents can vote on: health and wellbeing sessions for low income families

In Moorclose, Junction, and Baytree, residents can vote on either: beginners IT lessons; Help Yourself Sundays – a scheme where young people make Sunday lunch for the homeless, and provide advice and internet access to help homeless people find jobs and claim benefits; or health and wellbeing sessions for residents in sheltered housing.

In Spotland, residents can vote on either: football sessions for children; health and wellbeing sessions for residents in sheltered housing; health and wellbeing sessions for low-income families; community cultural exchanges; or community bulb planting

In St Anns, residents can vote on either: health and wellbeing sessions for low-income families.

‘Our Choice’ has already distributed around £40,000 of funding towards community projects across the Borough, and voting on 1 March will see an additional £26,810 of funding distributed.

Johnathan Walton, RBH Engagement Manager, said:  “I hope that our next event is as successful as before, and I would encourage residents to get involved.”