Lots to celebrate at Rochdale Connections Trust

Members with thier certificates from Rochdale Connections Trust with Mayor Peter Rush

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The Mayor of Rochdale, Peter Rush, opened a new counselling room at Rochdale Connections Trust (RCT) and presented certificates to members who have completed the Trust’s support courses.

Mayor Rush said: ““It’s a pleasure to be invited here to appreciate the work that is being done. Despite the deprivation, the abuse and the neglect, all I see in this room today is happiness. It’s great to see young people coming out of their shells. All the way along the lines the staff, the volunteers, the entire workforce here are creating happiness. Keep up the good work and let’s keep going for another 10 years.”

The certificates being awarded on the day were for the following:

• Basics in Literacy
• Addressing of Substance Abuse
• Parenting Skills
• Freedom Programme
• Targeted Youth
• New Mentors
• Volunteer of the Year

Sonia Young, who was one of the ladies awarded with a Parenting Skills certificate, said of the RCT: “We all love to come here. There’s always someone to talk too.”

The Parenting Skills course Sonia took at the Trust is designed to give parents or expectant parents the knowledge and skills they need to enhance the relationship between themselves and their children.

Sonia’s fellow volunteer worker Nazia Kauser was awarded a certificate for the Basic Skills in Literacy course. She said: “They run a really good literacy course here that has helped me to progress onto a teacher training course. It has helped me get a career.”

Nazia added: “This place brings everyone together. It encourages you to make something of your life and it opens doors.”

Bernadette Dearden was winner of the Volunteer of the Year certificate and told us: “I won an award last year for the course I went through and completed. I came back to volunteer though and I now run two coffee mornings a week by myself. I also went through the literacy course that they do here and now I help to teach it. It has given me so much confidence being here.”

RCT was set up 17 years ago; the aim of the RCT is to connect young people with adults who could get them into education and training and most importantly to raise their confidence and self-esteem levels.

Vivien Carter, Chairwoman at Rochdale Connections Trust, said: “The Trust works for people on benefits to help get them into employment. But our main focus are the courses we run to help get people to an employable stage, for example Domestic Abuse Awareness and Parenting Skills courses.

“We feel we have a lot to celebrate here. We thank you all for coming to celebrate with us.”