We've helped local community groups receive over £115k in funding

Over the last 12 months, several community organisations across Oldham have received external funding adding up to over £115k, thanks to our support.

We have helped community groups and enterprises access grant funding streams, and means that local voluntary, community, and social organisations (VCFSEs) can carry out projects which will benefit Oldham’s residents. These include community growing, food and planting initiatives; networks for disadvantaged children and young people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds; and the roll-out of a ‘city of trees’ project, which will help tackle climate change through planting trees and restoring woodlands.

As part of our Big Plan, we are committed to creating ‘great neighbourhoods’ by investing in projects which ‘enable thriving and resilient communities’. Kevin Field, our Funding and Social Value Officer, has been providing support for the community groups that have successfully received the funding awards.

Kevin said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support Oldham VCFSEs with such a range of interesting ideas and projects. The initiatives which can now come into fruition because of the funding are really exciting and will help Oldham continue to be a welcoming, diverse, community-led town. It’s great to help local people to take positive action in their neighbourhoods and I’m looking forward to seeing the projects take shape.”

One of the grant recipients is Northern Lily; a Failsworth-based social enterprise which founded the GROWE project, a community growing and wellbeing facility which opened in September last year. Thanks to the help of FCHO, Northern Lily was awarded £15k from Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) Green Spaces fund in March 2023, and every penny will be invested into the GROWE project site to continue its development.

Victoria Holden, Director of Northern Lily and Co-founder of The GROWE Project, said: “The help we have had from FCHO is invaluable, not just from support around signposting us to funding bids and completing applications, but also connecting us with other like-minded organisations where we can all help each other.

“FCHO’s support to help orchestrate this is immeasurable and I would urge any local social enterprises to connect with FCHO to see how they can help you.”

As well as helping local organisations access external funding, we also supports community groups through our in-house grant funding stream, ROCA. If you belong to a community or voluntary organisation and would benefit from support to access funding and grants, find out more about ROCA and how it could help you here.

Kevin Field and Victoria Holden at the GROWE Project in Failsworth