A VW van is set to tour around the town as a  'beacon of hope' to those who cannot afford the bus.

The new scheme by not-for-profit social enterprise, Upturn, has seen an iconic VW Buzz van converted into a "rolling hub of compassion" to help people with financial support.

The electric campervan, purchased using a grant from The Clothworks Foundation and through the enterprise's crowdfunding, is due to decamp to areas across Oldham, offering health, employment, housing and financial advice to offer support to people who may be on the "margins of society".

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Anwar Ali OBE, managing director, and co-founder of the multi-award-winning social enterprise said: “Picture this: a family standing at a crossroads, torn between a bag of frozen chips to feed their loved ones and a bus ticket to reach Oldham town centre for help.

"It’s a choice no one should have to make.

"We believe there’s a sizable population so financially strapped that even a bus fare seems out of reach.

"So, we’ve transformed a humble camper van into a rolling hub of compassion.

"Inside, there will be a dedicated crew of experts: employment wizards, life coaches, and community superheroes - all ready to lend a hand."

The social enterprise was co-founded in 2004 by Anwar and Maria Williams with hopes of boosting areas of deprivation and poverty.

The electric mobile unit will also enable Upturn to provide new experiences for disadvantaged people in Oldham by introducing day breaks, such as a trip to the seaside or countryside, and other new life experiences.

Maria said: "Many of the people we support could never dream of taking a break - they are coming to us in desperation in the current cost of living crisis for financial support with food and clothing and even transport costs and we help, wherever we can through the use of cash reserves, and this makes a tremendous difference to health and welfare."

Upturn said its drive in Oldham is backed by hard-hitting stats, including youth unemployment, which is more than 25 per cent on some Oldham estates, and an education gap where nearly 11 per cent of youth people in the borough lack qualifications.

The social enterprise also claims Oldham outpaces the national crime average by four points.

Meanwhile, street-level organisations similarly paint a vivid picture, such as a young man surviving on a slice of garlic bread every day, families using old newspapers as makeshift nappies and brave young women sacrificing their own well-being to feed their children.

Anwar added: "Helping the most disengaged isn’t straightforward.

"These individuals often slip through the cracks.

"They might lack a bank account, their name might not grace the electoral roll, and they could be invisible to benefit systems.

"But we know they exist.

"We are not here to dole out pity.

"Our mission is empowerment.

"We will help people stand on their own two feet, tackle debt, claim benefits, and chart paths toward work or education.

"And we are enlisting youth champions to spread the word.

"So, next time you see that blue van rolling through your neighbourhood, know that it’s not just a vehicle—it’s a lifeline for those who’ve missed the bus to a better future.”

Maria also said: “We’re increasingly hearing about the mistrust in mainstream services and seeing the demand in our support massively increase but we recognise that are still parts of the community that we can’t reach so we want to do something about it.

“Our work has become very important in the current cost-of-living crisis, and we need to reach more people, many of which are struggling financially and simply cannot now afford even the bus fare to come and see us.

“This new electric mobile unit will help us reach hundreds more people who need our help.

“We’re asking for local businesses or members of the public to support our campaign so that we can help as many disadvantaged communities by engaging with them directly on their doorstep.”

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.