SIX fantastic good causes are hoping charity begins at home as they join together for the Give Local Oldham campaign.

Action Oldham Fund, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Kingfisher Special School, Maggie’s Oldham, Mahdlo Youth Zone and Oldham Coliseum Theatre, are collaborating this festive season in a campaign to raise money that will help improve the lives of people across the borough.

The six charities will be fundraising with a series of bucket collections and raffles while also spreading the word in the community about the difference each organisation makes in Oldham

And, thanks to the generosity of Sir Norman Stoller, all money raised for Give Local Oldham will be doubled by The Stoller Charitable Trust and split equally between each charity.

As part of the campaign, The Oldham Times will be featuring stories from each of the six charities and detailing how they support Oldham and its communities.

Maggie’s Oldham, built in the grounds of The Royal Oldham Hospital, provides free practical and emotional support for people living with cancer and their families and friends. Maggie’s is a warm and welcoming place, with qualified professionals on hand to offer a programme of support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

There is practical advice about benefits and eating well, qualified experts providing emotional support and courses focused on getting started with cancer treatment and techniques to adjusting to life after treatment has finished.

Maggie's is a place where you can enjoy relaxation and yoga, or explore your thoughts and feelings through creative writing and expressive art.

Importantly, Maggie's is a place to meet other people in a similar situation to you or simply sit quietly with a cup of tea at our kitchen table.

The charity’s aim is to make the biggest difference possible to people affected by cancer.

Bernie Byrne, Centre Head at Maggie’s Oldham, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of Give Local Oldham and to be working together with five other brilliant local charities.

"This opportunity not only gives us a wonderful opportunity to all come together to raise awareness about the amazing work that we all do and have some fun fundraising together, but it also gives us at Maggie’s an opportunity to start having conversations with these other charities about how we can work together to best support the local community, ensuring people receive the care and support they need and deserve at a time when they need it the most.”

For Debbie Barratt, from Bardsley, Maggie's has been a "lifeline", helping her feel "normal" again after being diagnosed with cancer and having chemotherapy.

The 54-year-old said: "Since Maggie’s opened I have been very lucky to access their support in many ways.

"I met the wonderful Centre Head Bernie on my first visit to Maggie’s. She is our saviour in so many ways and she guides you to the support you need.

"The first place she guided me was to the lovely Psychologist, Claire, who is brilliant and she totally understands the different emotions and impacts felt by people who are going through a cancer experience."

She added that she visits Maggie's every week for one-to-one support with Claire and to take part in other sessions including relaxation, yoga and Look Good Feel Better.

She is taking part in the Maggie’s ‘Where Now?’ Course. which supports people who are adjusting to life once treatment has finished.

Debbie added: "The support I have had at Maggie’s has made me feel “normal” again in that I now understand that it’s ok to go through feelings of loss, grief, shock, fear and the many other emotions that you go through once treatment has finished.

"Maggie’s is a lifeline to many and one of the best parts of my Maggie’s experience has been getting to know everyone who uses the Centre and feeling like part of a new family.

If I didn’t have the support of Maggie’s I can honestly say I would be broken in many ways and feeling incredibly lost."