Find out this week's news from Oldham Council

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Millions of pounds to be invested into Oldham's children and young people

Foster carers in Oldham are set to benefit from an increase in their allowances and support - as part of a huge £14.7m investment in children's social care services being announced by Oldham Council.

When she became Leader of the council in May this year, Councillor Amanda Chadderton announced that children and young people were the top priority for her leadership.

And now she is acting on that promise, with a new raft of support and investment set to be approved at Cabinet on Monday, 12 December.

If agreed by Cabinet next week, foster carers will see both their allowances and their skills payments increased by 10% - equating to around £2,000 in extra payments each year. At the same time, five new specialist foster carers would be recruited, to train and support those caring for the most vulnerable children to make sure they can remain in foster care.

By supporting and investing in our foster carers we hope to significantly reduce the need to use privately-run residential homes or out-of-borough homes.

Read the full story ([link removed])
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A change to Christmas bin collections

If your waste and recycling bins are due to be emptied on Boxing Day (Monday, December 26) then please be aware there is a change to your collection this year.

Instead, you need to put them out for collection 2 days earlier – on Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24) except for green bins and food caddies which will be collected on Monday, January 2.

Collections on Monday, January 2 will take place as normal.

Please share this information with your neighbours.

Check your collection dates on our website ([link removed])

Recycle your Christmas tree

Once you have taken your real Christmas tree down you can recycle it by putting it in your green bin. Just chop it into small pieces, remove the wooden block from the base of the tree as this is too big to be composted, and take off any lights and decorations.

Alternatively, you can take it to Arkwright Street Household Waste and Recycling Centre or leave it at one of our collection points in the following parks (from December 28 to January 31):

• Higher Memorial Park (car park), Joseph Street, Failsworth (open 7.30am until dusk)

• Royton Park (car park) off Bleasdale Street, Royton. (open 7.30am until dusk)

• Werneth Park (car park) off Frederick Street, Werneth (open 7.30am until dusk)

• Churchill Playing Fields (car park), Wellington Road, Greenfield. Anytime access.

• George Street Playing Fields (car park), off Milnrow Road, Shaw. Anytime access.

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Get into the festive spirit with the annual Brass Monkeys event

Our annual musical extravaganza, Brass Monkeys Festival is back and bigger than ever. Pop into the town centre tomorrow, 11am - 3pm, to hear the best local and national brass bands playing side by side.

It doesn't matter if you're a fan of traditional brass or something a bit funkier, there are several bands performing and you'll be sure to hear something that you love.

Get into the seasonal spirit as Christmas classics and festive favourites are played across three locations – High Street, Tommyfield Market, and Oldham Parish Church.

The line-up includes performances from:

• Worker Bee Brass
• Boarhurst Silver Band
• Uppermill Brass Band
• Dobcross Brass Monkeys
• Oldham Music Centre
• Flat Cap Brass

Whilst you're in town, support our brilliant independent businesses and shop local. Oldham is a Christmas shoppers’ haven at this time of year. With lots of retailers, independent businesses, and the traditional Tommyfield market, it makes the perfect shopping destination for everyone.

Find out more about enjoying Christmas in Oldham ([link removed])

Shop local and experience Tommyfield Market this Christmas

As we head into the Christmas shopping period Leader of the Council, Councillor Amanda Chadderton is encouraging everyone to support our brilliant, hard-working traders, and shop local this festive season.

It’s a key period for independent businesses over Christmas and this year we want to encourage everyone to show your support to our traders, buying your loved one’s special gifts, food and drink, from them.

There’s a wide variety of stalls offering everything you need – from fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and flowers to toys, fashion, and clothing.

You can pick up your cards, gifts, wrapping paper – whatever you need. There’s really no reason not to support your local traders this Christmas.

Tommyfield Market is still very much a lively place and over the past year we have had more than 15 new businesses open.

Cllr Chadderton recently visited the market to pick up a few bits and chat to a few of our traders, watch the video (http:// www.facebook.com/loveoldham/videos/521548000025880/)

Vote for Oldham’s Markets in the Market of the Year Awards

Do you love the atmosphere of Royton market, the fresh seafood at Shaw or the hustle of bustle of Tommyfield?

We’re encouraging everyone to vote for Oldham’s markets in The National Association of British Market Authorities, Great British Market Awards.

Voting is easy and takes less than a minute to submit each choice.

You can vote for the following markets:
- Tommyfield Market
- Royton Market
- Shaw Market

The closing date for voting is midnight on Monday 13 December 2022.

To vote just visit the website ([link removed])
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Money Advice Referral tool – training now available

The Oldham Money Advice Referral Tool is a handy guide to help understand how to help people to maximise their income. It offers a step-by-step guide on what to do if you’ve run out of money, you’ve gone into debt, you're waiting on a payment decision or need some help managing your money.

We know that the cost of living crisis means making your money go further, so this guide will help you to make the most of all the support available.

A pre-recorded bitesize session on how to use the Money Advice Referral tool has been developed in partnership with Greater Manchester Poverty Action.

This helpful session is now available toview online ([link removed]) and will talk you through how to use the guide which can be accessed via the Oldham Council website. ([link removed])

For more advice on how best to navigate through the cost of living crisis visit the We Can Help webpage for all the latest information. ([link removed])

Share your views on tobacco and nicotine-related products in Oldham

The Oldham Tobacco Control Alliance are looking for residents’ views on tobacco and nicotine.

They want to hear your thoughts on products related to both substances. This is so they can develop a better plan to support communities to improve their health and stop using tobacco and nicotine products, resulting in a healthier Oldham.

The closing date is Friday 27 January 2023.

You can fill in the survey ([link removed])

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Had your booster yet?
Autumn Covid-19 boosters continue to be made available for residents over the age of 50 as part of a nationwide effort to top up people’s protection against the virus.

Pregnant women, frontline health and social workers, carers and those at ‘high risk’ are also eligible for the booster.

As the latest infection figures in the UK continue to rise, it’s important we continue to get the protection we need against the virus in order to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

For more information on how you can book your vaccine,
please visit our dedicated Coronavirus webpage ([link removed])

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Oldham Foodbank need your donations

As times get even harder for many households across the borough, thousands are turning to Oldham Foodbank for basic food supplies.

With demand outweighing supply, donations are needed now more than ever before, so all donations are welcome.

Oldham Foodbank is particularly in need of;

* Jam/spreads
* Tinned potatoes
* UHT milk
* Pasta sauce
* Tinned tomatoes

You can donate at local supermarkets or by dropping your donations off in person to their Unit B base on the Prince of Wales House Industrial Estate off Vulcan Street in Derker.

You can find more information about donation points across Oldham here ([link removed])

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Connect with us on Social Media
Oldham Council is on Twitter ([link removed]) , Facebook ([link removed]) , Instagram, ([link removed]) TikTok ([link removed]) and LinkedIn ([link removed]) . Join our followers and get the latest news, events, alerts from across the borough, business, regeneration, employment opportunities and much more.

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