Oldham Community Team

What is my role: 

Community Development Worker for East Oldham, covering Saddleworth, Lees, St James and Waterhead

Hello, I'm Adele Thomson, my role is to support the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector in Oldham East to support social change and the development of their organisations as well as the services and activities they deliver. This can be in a number of ways including sourcing funding, access to relevant training and events, working with them to develop policies and procedures or just talking through an idea for a project or service. 

What most excites me about this role: 

The work we do for Action Together reaches the very heart of communities in Oldham, whether that’s taking and idea and supporting individuals to bring it to fruition, supporting an established organisation to develop a project idea or campaigning to make changes for the sector at a strategic level. To have the opportunity to be a part of those opportunities on a daily basis is not only exciting but shows the passion and commitment from the people of Oldham in ensuring our communities are better places to be. I also love working with a wide range of people who amaze me daily with their enthusiasm and motivation for making a difference. 

What drew me to work at Action Together: 

My role with the Voluntary Sector Childrens Hub brought me to Voluntary Action Oldham (now Action Together) over 12 years ago. I was co-located with the team as an addition to their infrastructure support services and later became employed in a very similar role. Action Together have very strong values when it comes to working with the VCFSE sectors in Oldham. Tameside and Rochdale and everyone shares the same passion and drive to see the sector develop and thrive. 

My hopes for Oldham are: 

My hope is that VCFSE organisations in the borough continue to develop and thrive for many years to come and through collaborative working, we get to the real heart of some current and future challenges to provide solutions for those that really need it.

What is my role: 

Community Development Worker covering Oldham South which cover Failsworth, Hollinwood and Medlock Vale wards. 

The groups, and the volunteers who keep them running, are changing lives for the better across Oldham. It is my role to support these groups/organisations to enable them to do more of what they are doing already, help them to get resources in, to plan their services, link them up with other groups and organisations and enable them to get their voices heard at a strategic level to influence decision making locally. 

What most excites me about this role: 

No one day is alike, different challenges and opportunities come daily. This job gives me the pleasure of meeting and working with great people making a difference to the lives of people in their communities in such a selfless way. I’m constantly learning from the people I work with and I get to make a difference - even if that’s in a small way daily. How many people can say that about their job! 

What drew me to work at Action Together: 

Back in 2009 the role of engagement worker on the embedding equalities project came up and this is what drew me to VAO (now Action Together) as this gave me an opportunity to work with a diverse range of people from the communities of Oldham. From the first day I came, I felt I was doing something positive and fulfilling and felt energised and inspired by the passion I felt from the people we work with to help make Oldham a better place to live, work and play in. 

My hopes for Oldham are: 

My hope for Oldham is that it is transformed into a place where: - people want to live, work and play in - the voluntary sector is strong, vibrant, sustainable - no-one goes to bed hungry, everyone has access to a place they can call home and diversity is celebrated - everyone appreciates that it’s only by working with a wide range of people, stakeholders and partners that we will ever achieve our collective ambitions.

What is my role: 

Community Development Worker covering North Oldham (Royton, Shaw and Crompton) 

To work as a key part of the Action Together team to lead, develop and deliver place-based approaches that:

• Maximise opportunities to create positive social change, promote social justice and harness social benefit in a place.
• Strengthen the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector to respond to local need and make them more robust.
• Engage local stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities and develop collaborative solutions that improve the lives of residents.
• Identify, develop, and support thematic work that reaches across the borough to support equality. 

What most excites me about this role: 

To actively engage individuals, groups and organisations to enable them to set goals, make improvements and respond to various asks and respond through empowerment and active participation. To identify local community skills, assets, issues and needs to ensure positive outcomes. To believe, you can make a lasting change. 

What drew me to work at Action Together: 

I have worked within the VCFSE sector for over 27 years for a local medium sized charity based in Oldham. Throughout my various challenges in seeking funding, accessing training, sharing resources, creating partnerships and networking I used the services of Action Together. I always wanted to, one day be able to share my experience, knowledge, skills with other individuals, groups and organisations to develop a passion, idea, project and bring it to LIFE through Action Together. 

My hopes for Oldham are: 

To see passion, ideas, challenges come to life that will have a lasting impact within the Oldham community. Make Oldham a prosperous, adventurous and happy place to live in.

What is my role: 

Community Development Worker covering Alexandra, Coldhurst and St Mary’s wards.

Hi, I’m Jane Glaysher-White but as that is a bit of a mouthful, many people know me as Jane GW. I cover the ‘Central’ area of the borough – Alexandra, Coldhurst and St Mary’s wards. My role is to help the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprises based and working in these areas in any way I can. This could be help with finding the right source of funding, supporting groups with developing project ideas, linking groups up with others, helping with writing bids or with being a sounding board when you need impartial advice or a listening ear. My decorating skills are not the best but if you need some help and have plenty of dustsheets for the spillage - ask 

What most excites me about this role:

I love knowing that no two days are the same and that everyday I learn something new from the people and groups I’m interacting with. I love knowing that with my support, Action Together is helping to change people’s lives for the better. We are working with communities, sharing our knowledge and skills and making communities better places to live, work and play. 

What drew me to work at Action Together: 

Prior to working at Action Together, I worked as a business advisor to new women led organisations in the Rochdale borough. I moved over to work in Oldham over 10 years ago and even then, knew that this was an organisation that believed in its core values. They were not just letters on paper, filed in a drawer, they were actions that even now, after quite a few changes (the name being the most visible) are carried out constantly. The passion, that all of my Action Together colleagues bring on a daily basis and their commitment to supporting the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector is infectious and the reason I’m still here. 

My hopes for Oldham are: 

Oldham has so much potential, we have the most fantastic people living and working in the borough and there are interesting times ahead. My hope is that we continue to work together, to improve our surroundings and thrive.

What is my role: 

Community Development Worker covering Chadderton and Werneth 

My name is Ruth Madden and I work in the west area of Oldham. Chadderton and Werneth is an area in Oldham that has some fantastic community groups and voluntary organisations that work and support people in the local area as well as across Oldham. It is my role to support these groups and help them to get funding in, help them to plan their services, link them up with other groups and organisations and to help get there voices heard at a strategic level, including the council. 

What most excites me about this role:

I am passionate about the community and the difference that groups can and do make to people’s lives. Whether that’s a parent and tots group, football club, uniformed group right up to supporting people with health issues or people of faith or groups that have a specific interest. I know that with the right support these groups can make a huge change to individuals lives and help them make their community a better place to live. 

What drew me to work at Action Together: 

I began working for Action Together in 2005. I took a short break of 2 years and returned 7 years ago. I continue to work for Action Together because they have the community at the heart of what they do. Everything is geared towards making Oldham, Tameside and Rochdale a better place to live and work. Action Together is passionate about the voluntary sector and about making sure they get their voices heard at a higher level and the recognition they deserve for all the services they provide in all of those areas. 

My hopes for Oldham are:

My hope is that all the groups I currently work with have the necessary skills to look out for themselves. That they know where to go for support, know where to look for funding and how to complete the best application forms. I hope that all the groups continue to work together to improve the areas where they live and work. We need community and voluntary groups because the people of Oldham, Tameside and Rochdale need them to thrive and survive.

What is my role? 

Volunteering Development Coordinator 

My role involves working to ensure that the importance of volunteering is recognised across the locality, offering support to VCFSE groups to strengthen their volunteer programmes, and providing a platform to enable more individuals to contribute to their communities through volunteering. 

What drew me to work at Action Together? 

Action Together play a fundamental role in championing the importance of volunteering within the local community, working collaboratively and connecting people and organisations. Action Together’s mission to create positive social change, combined with my commitment to promote the value of volunteering and to break down barriers to access is what motivates me in my role. 

What excites me most about this role? 

I am passionate about the way volunteering can empower individuals, transform lives, and strengthen communities. I feel privileged that each day in my role I am able to work collaboratively with amazing VCFSE, public and private sector partners to strengthen the volunteering offer in Oldham. 

My hopes for Oldham are? 

In line with our Volunteering Strategy 2023-28 my hope is to ensure that volunteering is inclusive and reflective of the diverse community of Oldham, and that volunteering programmes are innovative and responsive to the ever-changing needs of the community.

What is my role: 

Volunteering Support Officer – Oldham 

I’m Alishia. I’m the Volunteering Support Officer in the Oldham team. My role involves connecting individuals and local groups together. I help people find volunteer roles that matches their interests, skills, knowledge, experience, and (or) hobbies. I work closely with local groups in Oldham such as charities and community groups, helping them to advertise, promote and share the benefits of volunteering. 

What most excites me about this role: 

I love how it makes me feel knowing I’ve helped someone in their volunteering journey. For example, I speak to people who can be experiencing isolation, boredom, low confidence, anxiety and more. Hearing that volunteering has made an impact in their life is so inspirational to hear. However, knowing that I’ve been part of their journey, really makes me feel proud that my role is really making a difference to support someone else. 

What drew me to work at Action Together: 

To be honest, I didn’t know much about Action Together back in 2011 when I first started. At the time, my job centre advisor recommended their admin placement which had a series of training alongside the role. Reading the role description and researching what the organisation did really attracted me because it was a stepping stone for me to develop myself personally, including my confidence and skills. I also liked that the organisation helped people in their local community to volunteer, its sounded interesting and something different from what I’ve done before. During the placement I learnt so much about Action Together. Then after the 6 months I stayed on as a volunteer and not long after, secured a paid position with them. The organisation has supported me to develop myself, from assisting with admin to providing training, managing volunteers, planning events, advising people about volunteering in their local community and much, much more. It’s been an amazing journey and I can see why people apply to work here. It’s a great team and organisation. I’ve been here for a long time now and I’ve seen the organisation grow and grow. Every day is different and this is what keeps me drawn in! 

My hopes for Oldham are: 

I want to keep inspiring people about how they can make a difference in their local community no matter how much time they have. Everyone deserves to feel part of their community in their own way.

What is my role? 

Volunteering Officer - Oldham

My role is to recruit and support members of the public into volunteering with community organisations and charities within Oldham. My role is also to promote the volunteering service to the public at events and functions, and to support organisations themselves with recruiting and supporting volunteers. I also hold ‘volunteer hubs’ outside of the town centre with the aim of reaching more people in person, in addition to telephone 1:1s and regular support over email. 

What drew me to work at Action Together? 

I applied for the role at Action Together supporting volunteers because it’s similar to role I did before at Bradford College some years ago, a role that I thoroughly enjoyed (and missed). More importantly though I was keen to do the role in a different location and with a different audience, so when I saw the role available it was an easy decision as to whether to apply. I also enjoy working in an environment that involves supporting people directly, and watching them grow and gain confidence over the course of their journey, so being able to be a part of that, and working alongside others doing the same, has been very satisfying. 

What excites me most about this role? 

I’m passionate about creating an environment and a set of volunteering opportunities that’s accessible to all, or at least as many people as possible. So being able to work on projects and build upon ideas that help expand the scope of what we do and who we can involve is exciting and satisfying. While I’ve only been in this role a few months I also enjoy working with people who feel the same way, and equally want to achieve the same outcomes. 

My hopes for Oldham are? 

Currently with the cost of living crisis and the continuing economic woes, many people are finding it harder to give their time for free to volunteer. I hope the crisis will subside soon so people are less fraught and anxious, and so we can work with communities that are happier and feel more comfortable being able to volunteer.

What is my role? 

Volunteering Officer  - Oldham, based in Jobcentre

My name is Aga. I’m the Volunteering Officer in the Oldham team, I am based at the Jobcentre, focusing mainly on 50+ clients, although everyone is more than welcome. This is a new partnership role between Action Together and Jobcentre and it’s funded through Oldham’s Poverty Network. The idea is to show volunteering as an important step on individual’s employment journey by gaining new skills and experiences, boosting their confidence, having that sense of purpose, routine and social interaction. 

What drew me to work at Action Together? 

My own journey, as I am also here to share my story, story that is sad but with an amazing ending! I became a volunteer while deeply depressed and going through bereavement too, I cannot put in words what difference did it make, getting out there, meeting people like me, somehow disturbed, but fighting! So I fought too! With support aside, but supporting community at the same time. Amazing feeling I have to this day. Not only I am a volunteer, Action Together has given me the opportunity of sharing all that experience and inspire others, to make a difference. 

What excites me most about this role? 

I know how it makes me feel when I’ve helped someone, therefore this is an excellent opportunity to be there for others, to help them in their journey, to inspire them. There is plenty of people out there who experience difficult time, are in position where help and support is needed. I have an opportunity to hear them out and hopefully, help them chose new and exciting path of volunteering that could really change their lives… 

My hopes for Oldham are? 

I would like people to know that they can make a difference. Not only to their community but to themselves too. You don’t need great experience, you don’t need to have plenty of time, every little thing you do might be a huge thing for your community. You have nothing to lose. You never know, it might just become an amazing part of your life, it did to me.

Community Development Worker for East Oldham

What most excites me about this role: 

I’m excited about working to directly support the fantastic work and initiatives across the VCFSE sector in Oldham and how innovative it is. I’m excited to meet local individuals who are so dedicated to the vision and their local community and facilitating them in any way that they can and watch their incredible ideas take shape and grow.

What drew me to work at Action Together: 

The ethos of the organisation and how clear it is that everyone loves what they do. Action Together really stood out to me as being shaped by the community and as co-creating with community members aswell as partners. 

My hopes for Oldham are: 

I hope that Oldham continues to grow in it’s diversity and supporting it’s residents to excel. I hope that individuals continue to feed back into the community and support their local groups who continue to offer their amazing services. 

What is my role?

Volunteering Support Officer (Oldham)

The title of my role is Volunteering Support Officer and I am based in Oldham. I support individuals within community who are interested in volunteering as well as work closely with different groups, charities and organisations wishing to engage with and recruit volunteers. This includes being involved in things like; 1:1 support with people looking to volunteer, being out in the community promoting volunteering and helping advertise volunteer opportunities for groups. The goal is to support the journey and spread the word of volunteering, and all the positive benefits that come from that.  

What drew me to work at Action Together?

I was most attracted to the organisational values; Believe it’s possible, Strengthen others and Be true. These really resonated with me because of how empowering, encouraging and genuine they felt. I believe these are values that we should demonstrate not only at work but in our everyday lives, and because they had such a positive feel about them, this really drew me to want to work at Action Together.

What excites me most about this role?

The thing that excites me the most about this role is being able to get out in the community and interact with people and groups, to help support them in achieving something really valuable. The benefits of volunteering are huge, it can help grow your confidence, help you learn new skills, improve your social life etc. Not only this, but volunteering brings the community together and provides much needed support to the groups and charities in our local area. To be part of such positive work really means a lot to me! 

My hopes for Oldham are?

I hope that as many people in Oldham who want to make a difference through volunteering get the opportunity to do so, and the support where needed. I want Oldham to continue creating and strengthening relationships between the members of its community and the different groups and charities out there. Volunteering helps connect us with others and the better connected we are with our community, the better we can support each other. This all in turn has a positive impact and influence on a community which I hope Oldham can continue to experience and grow.

What is my role?

I am the LocalMotion Programme Manager

What drew me to work at Action Together?

If you want to be involved in social and economic change, helping people and helping Oldham. Then what better place than Action Together to do this. The team have years of experience, a great reputation and all the local connections. Most importantly this organisation is here for the long term, and you can tell they care. 

What excites me most about this role?

This role is all about building a coalition and trying new things with the goal of tackling the root causes of poverty through building an economy for everyone. Quite wordy, but it sounded worth doing, 

My hopes for Oldham are?

I see too many boarded up, but magnificent buildings. I'd like to see them all used whether in community or private ownership.