The community groups using ROCA to make a difference this Christmas

After our second round of 2020 ROCA funding closed in the autumn, we’re delighted to announce the successful recipients are:

• Diggle Community Brass
• Violet Hill Social Club
• High Crompton Park Friends
• Bring Me Sunshine Music
• Veg in the Park
• Salvation Army
• REEL CIC
• Friends of St Thomas Churchyard

2020 has certainly been a very different and difficult year, meaning lots of our ROCA recipients have changed their course of action to provide support and tackle isolation in Oldham while the pandemic continues as we reach the end of the year.

These include socially-distanced community singalongs in assisted living and care homes, plans to create a coronavirus-secure Santa’s Grotto for the children of Fitton Hill and safe, festive performances for the people of Oldham, Greater Manchester and further afield by Diggle Community Brass.

Robin Bissell, Trustee at Diggle Community Brass, said, “We’re so tired of all the darkness in our lives and this grant will enable us to bring a bit of lightness and cheer to our village and further afield.

“We’re a new organisation and because of the ROCA money, we really will be using it to ‘step out into the light’ as we’ll be purchasing moisture guards, screens and outdoor coats so we can play safely outside under the Christmas lights and provide some much-needed entertainment for the local community.”

Resma Patel, Funding and Partnerships Officer at FCHO, said: “What a year it’s been for everyone! There’s so many community initiatives that have had to stop or change due to coronavirus, but it’s been heart-warming to see so many ROCA applications from groups which are determined to find safe ways of operating to support our communities here in Oldham.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing the groups get cracking on the great initiatives over the next few months.”