Find out this week's news from Oldham Council

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Winter holiday activities are underway

As part of our ongoing support for local families with the cost of living crisis, we’re now running our latest Holiday Activities and Food programme to provide exciting free sessions for children aged 5 to 16 on benefits-related free school meals this winter.

With added childcare and food costs putting families under additional pressure during the school holidays, our HAF programme offers a real lifeline for lower-income households.

Not only do their children have a great time with people their own age during activities such as sports camps, cookery classes, and arts and craft sessions, they each all receive a healthy meal with every activity they attend as we make sure no child goes hungry.

More than 14,000 children are eligible for HAF in Oldham, with the latest programme running until Friday 6 January.

You can ([link removed]) read more about our programme on our HAF website ([link removed])

If your children are not eligible for our HAF programme, there is a list of useful providers you can contact over the holidays on our ([link removed]) ‘Activities for All’ page ([link removed])

Residents receive MioCare Christmas ring-round

As people come together to see their loved ones and have a good catch-up, this time of year is always special. But not everyone is as close and some have no one to speak to at all.

That is why the annual MioCare ring around at Christmas is incredibly important to those with a helpline installed in their home.

This year staff was joined by Chief Executive Harry Catherall, Council Leader Amanda Chadderton, and Cllr Nyla Ibrahim in making these calls, with every conversation used as an opportunity to wish our residents a Merry Christmas and to remind them of MioCare’s 24 hours-a-day service during the holidays.

The team also used this time to ensure each resident has the right support in place to remain healthy and independent, including a check on their medication, heating, and food.
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Free family swim sessions over the winter holidays

Most schools across Oldham have now closed for the holidays and to celebrate we have yet another great offer for you to enjoy with the family over the winter holidays.

We’ve worked closely with Oldham Community Leisure to offer FREE FAMILY SWIM sessions for up to two adults and three children for all Oldham families, and we especially want to encourage struggling families to take up this incredible offer – particularly those who are not eligible for free school meals and holiday activities.

The offer will be open across all the leisure centres and for both Family Swim and Public Swim sessions until the holiday's end, and it is the perfect way to stay active, spend time as a family and have some fun over the Christmas holidays.

For more information ([link removed]) contact OCL through their website ([link removed])

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Burn safely this winter

If you use an open fire or stove, it is important to know how to burn safely.

Burning the wrong type of fuels, such as wet wood or house coal, releases tiny harmful particles present in smoke into the air, which could damage your health and the health of those around you.

If you have to burn this winter, always choose fuels that are cleaner to burn. Look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo on bagged fuel. And have a skilled tradesperson clean and maintain your appliance regularly.

To find out more about the steps you can take to burn safely, and improve the air you breathe, visit the Burn Better webpage ([link removed])

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Don’t Trash Oldham: Engagement marshals and enforcement officers target hot spot areas

We are using a new approach to cleaning up hot spot areas as part of Don’t Trash Oldham.

Small teams are out in a bid to make sure everything is in place so residents can continue to make sure the borough can be a cleaner and greener place.

At the same time, Environmental enforcement officers are continuing to take action against those who dump their waste and expect others to clean it up.

The work is being targeted around Alexandra, Medlock Vale, Waterhead, St Mary’s, and Werneth – wards that have the highest number of reported fly-tipping incidents.

Engagement marshals have been teamed up with enforcement officers so they can build relationships with residents.

Staff are knocking on doors and talking to people to make sure they have the right bins, know what waste goes in each one, discussing other waste and recycling issues, plus the illegal dumping of waste.

Just by walking around the hotspots, they are spotting dumped waste, investigating it so further action can be taken, and arranging for it to be removed – sometimes before it has even been reported to us.

Since Don’t Trash Oldham started we have given out 452 fines and successfully prosecuted 50 people in court for dumping waste.

For more information on Don’t Trash Oldham – including how to report environmental crimes – visit our Don't Trash webpage ([link removed])

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Our services are on hand to help

As part of our We Can Help campaign to support residents who are struggling, we're investing in services like our Support and Inclusion Team to provide further financial assistance and wellbeing advice to people who have needs beyond one-off crisis support.

One recent case managed by the team involved a resident who owed more than £1,000 on his rent and £2,000 in Council Tax arrears.

After speaking with the team and talking through their personal circumstances, colleagues discovered the resident hadn't rightfully been claiming Council Tax Reduction or a discretionary housing payment.

With help from the team on their applications, this resident now receives previously unclaimed benefits that have helped them to reduce their rent arrears by £400, reduced the amount owed in Council Tax by £900.

If you are in a similar situation to this resident, please call our helpline on 0161 770 7007 for support between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or visit the council’s We Can Help website ([link removed]) .

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Reminder of Christmas bin collection changes

Please remember that due to the way Boxing Day lands this year, there will be a change to your waste and recycling bin collection date if they are due to be emptied on Monday 26 December.

Instead, you need to put them out on Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24) - except for green bins and food caddies which will be collected on Monday 2 January as collections take place as normal.

Please share this information with your neighbours and check your collection dates on our website ([link removed])

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Tommyfield Market is open for Christmas

Christmas is a key period for businesses over Christmas and we’re encouraging everyone to show their support to our hard-working traders by buying everything you need at Tommyfield Market in the run-up to the big day.

The market has everything you need, from fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and flowers to toys, fashion, and clothing. You can also pick up your cards, gifts, and even wrapping paper – so be prepared before the 25 December.

For Tommyfield Market's opening times over Christmas, visit our markets webpage ([link removed])

Don’t forget there is free parking from 3pm on weekdays in the market car park (no need to display a ticket).

There’s also free parking for up to three hours in all Council-owned town centre car parks every Saturday and Sunday (you must take a ticket from the machine and display it in your vehicle to qualify for this offer).

For offers and deals from our traders ([link removed]) f ([link removed]) ollow the markets page on Facebook ([link removed])

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Disposing of your Christmas trees

We’re reminding staff that 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

Did you know you can use Bulky Bobs to get rid of any large items?Find out more on their website. ([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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Support Oldham Foodbank this winter

With Christmas just around the corner, we know some families will sadly go without this year because of the pressures they are under.

So, if you can donate something towards the list below that brings a family together, you really are making a bigger difference than you think to someone’s life.

The foodbank is particularly in need of;
* Tinned Potatoes
* Tinned Tomatoes
* Soup (Meat/Vegitarian)
* Tinned Mixed Vegetables
* Cordia/Squash
* Tinned Rice Pudding
* UHT Milk
* Tinned Fish

You can donate at local supermarkets and our new donation points at ([link removed]) Oldham Library & Lifelong Learning Centre ([link removed]) in the town centre or by dropping your items off in person at their Unit B base on the Prince of Wales House Industrial Estate off Vulcan Street in Derker ([link removed])

Thank you to Floreeda Fabrications Ltd for generously donating these donation boxes.
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