A charitable trust which taught millions of Oldhamers how to swim is celebrating its 21st birthday with newly refurbished leisure facilities and a fundraiser for a local charity.

Oldham Active (Oldham Community Leisure) delivers leisure facilities across the borough and as part of its birthday celebrations, held a series of special open-day events at each of its revamped premises.

The open days featured free activities for all the family including a Hawaiian-themed pool party, exercise classes, face painting, cake sales and sporting activities, such as badminton and gymnastics tasters.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times’ morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts 

Simon Blair, Business Development Manager at Oldham Active, said: “We’re proud to be celebrating 21 years of supporting our community to lead healthier lives.

"Whether that’s learning to swim in one of our pools, enjoying one of our group exercise classes or starting a wellbeing journey in one of our gyms.

“Oldham Active continues to provide accessible, affordable facilities, as well as offering specialist wellbeing programmes for all members of society, including our GP Health referral schemes, women-only swimming and school holiday clubs.

"We currently welcome 1.6 million visitors each year, and over the last 21 years we estimate to have served an amazing 34 million customers."

The trust also took voluntary donations from visitors on the day to fundraise for an Oldham charity, Dr Kershaw's Hospice, which provides free, specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people across the borough.

The open days raised £2,132.47 for the charity which Oldham Active's CEO, Stuart Lockwood, was "proud" to present in a cheque to Dr Kershaw's community and partnership fundraising lead, Jill Kirkham.

Ms Kirkham said: “I was delighted to receive this cheque on behalf of the Hospice, and thank the Oldham Active customers for their generosity. 

"Dr Kershaw’s Hospice always puts its patients at the heart of everything they do, but this is only possible through kind donations.

"The hospice requires £4.7 million pounds each year to operate, and two thirds of our income comes from fundraising. 

"So every penny really does help. Dr Kershaw’s is a special place, filled with special people, and we want to be able to continue to support our patients lives with dignity and care.” 

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.