Failsworth Town Hall has had a makeover and new services added for residents as a scheme is launched to roll out relocating support groups closer to the neighbourhoods they serve.

Services such as Citizens Advice and other council and partner lifelines that residents lean on are being moved into the "heart of communities" as part of the council's "resident's first" pledge.

The first of the borough's five districts to benefit from the improvement scheme is the south district, compromised of Failsworth, Hollinwood and Medlock Vale, with new services now available for residents at Failsworth Town Hall.

Services in the town hall and library building include Citizens Advice Housing Options, TOG Mind and the council's support and inclusion team.

New signage has been installed inside and outside Failsworth Town Hall to make the new range of services on offer to residents clearer.

There have also been some changes made inside the hall to promote accessibility, such as a new 'check in' screen which shows what is available on the day and directs visitors where they need to go.

But the relocation itself means more people will be able to get appointments closer to home rather than having to travel further afield.

Elsewhere in the borough, local services are also being put in place in other venues, including weekly Citizens Advice sessions at Limeside Library.

The council plans to make similar improvements across the east, west, north and central districts in the coming months but Failsworth Town Hall represents the first phase of the initiative. 

The improvement scheme hopes to see staff from different organisation sharing information, working with communities better and ensuring people get support at an earlier stage while meeting the needs of residents.

Cllr Hannah Roberts, cabinet member for neighbourhoods at the council, said: "The changes we've put in place in the south district are the first step in making council buildings in all of our districts more user-friendly, all as part of our ongoing commitment to put residents first and bring more services into the heart of our districts.

"We also hope that by making help and support more accessible, and bringing different organisations together under one roof, any problems people are having can be identified and tackled sooner."

The councillor said the building has had a minor makeover, "to make it more welcoming".

She added: "The previous signage did not make it clear where people needed to go for their appointments or where to find services.

"This may sound like a minor issue, but if people need our help and support, it's crucial that we make it as easy as possible for them to do so - by providing services closer to home, and then making our buildings as user-friendly as we can."

Jamie McGlynn from Citizens Advice Oldham added: "These changes mean we are able to be within the community and build relationships with partners that better the clients' experiences and journeys.

"Clients can be in an area where they have a connection and reduce the need for them to travel, and most importantly, we are visible and access to advice is streamlined and accessible."