PRESS RELEASE: SOCIAL ACTION FUND LAUNCHES WITH THE AIM TO REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION

OLDHAM Cares - the town's recently formed health and social care services - says it has received more than 20 applications for £850,000 of funding.

The cash is being made available for up to five projects over three years.

Applications were invited which would tackled social isolation in Oldham, and be "transformational or innovative in the delivery approach or the system change made within the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) or with the public or enterprise".

Priority would also be given to projects which improve the mental health, physical health and wellbeing of people; support a reduction in the pressure on health services and take a positive approach to working with people.

The Oldham BAME Consortium is a new partnership bringing together five community groups to develop three neighbourhood hubs which will focus on reaching out to the isolated Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities.

An Oldham Council spokesperson said: "Social isolation and loneliness is a national priority and it’s no different in Oldham with 10 per cent of residents identifying as being lonely, which has a detrimental impact on health outcomes, quality of life and life expectancy for those people."

"We received more than 20 applications from voluntary, community and faith groups/organisations with ideas ranging from cookery courses for parents and children to support on how to set up your own social groups."

Wellbeing Leisure will partner with community groups to provide physical activity and health and wellbeing opportunities. It will also offer opportunity for volunteers to learn skills and gain qualifications in health and fitness.

Oldham Play Action Group and Wifi NW will provide all-age cookery courses to bring children, parents, carers and older socially isolated people together to prepare and cook meals. The groups ¬– run by Oldham Play Action Group (OPAG) and Wifi North West – will also encourage people to engage in active physical play as well as organise community play street events to join neighbourhoods together.

Street Angels will grow the work taking place in Oldham town centre on Saturday evenings and expanding into Friday nights.

Teams of volunteers and medical staff are there to support those enjoying Oldham’s nightlife providing a listening ear, first aid and basic medical treatment as well as making sure people get home safely.

As part of the programme, an evening drop-in and hot meals will be provided for people on the streets as well as future options for daytime support from the Street Angels centre.

Groundwork will lead a new partnership of organisations to bringing a variety of new activities to venues across local communities, using growing and food to increase healthy outcomes and connectedness across the borough.

As well as enjoying all that is on offer, participants will be supported to develop, plan and sustain their own social groups around their hobbies and interests.

Cllr Zahid Chauhan, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We had an overwhelming amount of interest to our social action fund. This highlights all the amazing assets and ideas we can harvest within our communities.

"We have made a real commitment to tackling social isolation and loneliness in Oldham and are looking forward to working with our successful applicants to make a real difference to residents’ lives.”