Community Recovery Fund Events End on a High

THE fourth and final Tameside Community Recovery Fund event proved just as successful as the first three and took the amount of money given out in grants to more than £60,000.

Held at the Meeting Point at St Barnabas’s Church, Hattersley, it catered for the council’s south neighbourhood which covers Hyde, Hattersley and Longdendale.

More than 100 people attended including the Civic Mayor and Mayoress of Tameside, Cllr Mike Glover and Mrs Anne Gordon, who stayed all afternoon and played a full part in proceedings before presenting the cheques.

Nine bids were successful: Ark of Hope, £1,500; Gee Cross Neighbourhood Watch, £1952; Friends of Hollingworth, £2,000; Groundwork, £2,000; Hattersley Community Garden, £1,600; Hope Church, £1,480; Hyde Mela, £2,000; LEAP, £1,957; Wildflower Garden, £1,000.

Terry Finn, from Tameside Council’s community safety team, said: “Seeing the groups meet, network and listen to the various bids was very uplifting.

“One woman said she had never attended anything like it before and was amazed how many groups existed in her area. She now had more places to drop into for a brew and a chat.”

Cllr Vimal Choksi, Tameside Council’s executive member for towns and communities, added: “I think everyone would agree that the Tameside Community Recovery Fund has been a major success.

“Each event was very well attended and over the four we were able to award more than £60,000 in grants to well-deserving groups that had struggled through the lockdowns when they were unable to do any fund-raising.

“I’d like to thank everyone from Action Together and the council’s community safety team for all their hard work, and the overlapping civic mayors, Cllr Janet Cooper and Cllr Mike Glover, for their support.

“I look forward to another round of neighbourhood events next year so that we can help more of the groups that do such good work in our communities.”