Working together to make Oldham one of UK’s most digitally inclusive towns

Oldham Council will be working in collaboration with community interest company Inclusive Bytes to increase the number of residents who can access digital services just 15 minutes from home.

Thanks to £70k of funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), a key part of this pioneering step towards defeating digital poverty will be the creation of H.O.O.T Hubs (Hands On Opportunities in Tech).

These will be dedicated hubs across public spaces in Oldham that residents can go to for digital support, whether that be help getting online, filling in an online form or accessing digital resources.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Value for Money and Sustainability said: "Not having access to digital services has a day-to-day impact from health, education, work to finances and we’re grateful to be investing this funding to establish Oldham as one of the most digitally inclusive boroughs in the UK."

To read the full story click here.

Are you tying the knot in 2025?

Then save the date for a special Wedding Event at Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre on Thursday 15 February, 12noon to 4pm.

The event will showcase everything Oldham has to offer to make your wedding truly unforgettable.

Whether you're looking for inspiration, unique touches, or expert advice, you'll find it all under one roof in Spindles Shopping Centre.

Plus, as a special treat, you can enter a prize draw to win a £250 Oldham Gift Card – perfect for those extra wedding day touches.

Don’t miss this opportunity to plan your big day and support local businesses at the same time.

Find out more by clicking here.

Struggling to balance work and health? Get Oldham Working can help you

Our Get Oldham Working team help people to find work and training opportunities here in Oldham and we are supporting WorkWell Vanguard, a service dedicated to helping residents who might be at risk of losing their job, or have recently become unemployed due to health related issues.

If you're an Oldham resident and in employment, but are currently on sick leave, or recently left work due to health issues, the service can provide free, tailored support to get you back on track.

They can help you improve your health and wellbeing through:

Personalised guidance from your own adviser
Therapy and counselling for up to 26 weeks
Free passes to Oldham Community Leisure gyms
Employment and volunteering opportunities

Take the first step toward a healthier and more secure future in your current job or a new one by contacting the Get Oldham Working team and mentioning WorkWell Vanguard.

Call 0161 770 4674, email [email protected], and to find out more visit www.oldham.gov.uk/workwell.

A wheely great opportunity to get your community moving

Wheels and Walks is a new programme helping community groups across Greater Manchester inspire more people to walk, wheel and cycle.

Local groups can apply for up to £5,000 in funding to run activities, plus access training, networking and expert advice to keep things going beyond the funding period.

Do you now a group that could benefit?

Find out more and apply at www.beeactive.tfgm.com/wheels-and-walks

Budget 2025: This is your opportunity to have your say

We're setting our budget for the borough, and this is your chance to tell us which areas you think we should spend money on and where you think we should save.

The consultation period will run until Friday 7 February, so don't miss out on having your say.

Councillors will then make a final decision on budget proposals at Budget Council on Thursday 6 March. Take part in the consultation on the Council website here.

Support for people experiencing issues accessing their eVisa

The UK Government has replaced physical immigration documents with the eVisa – a digital proof of immigration.

But not everyone is finding it easy or straightforward to create a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) account so they can update.

If this is affecting you, your family and friends, help is available.

Migrant Help have received some funding to support residents to access their eVisa. They can be contacted on 07483 170 100 or email [email protected].

The government has also provided an online route to report errors with an eVisa.

This may include difficulties accessing a UKVI account, being unable to generate a share code or incorrect information on the account.

More information is available on the government website at www.gov.uk/report-error-evisa

We want to hear from LGBTQ+ parents in Oldham

It's LGBT+ History Month, and we'd love to hear from our LGBTQ+ parents about your experiences of our Family Hubs.

We have seven Hubs across the borough providing support and activities to enable families and their children, from 0-19 and 25 with SEND, to thrive.

Even if you haven’t attended, please have your say about what you would like to see at our Family Hubs and how could we support our LGBTQ+ parents.

For taking part and completing the questionnaire, you will receive a family Odeon cinema ticket.

To complete the questionnaire click here.