Find out this week's news from Oldham Council

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Photo ID is now compulsory for voting.

The Government has introduced new legislation which means photographic identification will be compulsory for anyone voting in person in this year’s elections.

Voters attending the polls on Thursday 4 May will be refused a ballot if they do not show a Government-approved photo ID.

Accepted ID includes a passport, driving licence, concessionary bus pass, or a PASS card (Proof of Age Standards Scheme).

If you don’t have any of these forms of ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. A website has been set up for registration for free voter ID ([link removed] )

Harry Catherall, Chief Executive of Oldham Council and Returning Officer, said: “This change in electoral law means that many Oldham residents could be denied a ballot paper when they come to vote in the May elections.

“We’re doing everything to make sure that doesn’t happen and encourage voters to take photo ID with them or register for free voter ID if you need it.

“The council is on hand to support residents in obtaining Voter Authority Certificates and a new Government website will be launching today, 16 January to register for this.

“If you can’t get online, our staff can help you complete this over the phone. For assistance, please call 0161 770 4718.

“Alternatively, you can call into one of our libraries and our staff can help you get online and talk you through online registration.”

Postal votes will not require further ID and the deadline for registering for a postal vote for May’s election is 18 April 2023.

Postal votes can be sent to the Elections Office at Oldham’s Civic Centre but can also be handed into any polling station on 4 May – election day.

To be eligible to vote or to register for a Voter Authority Certificate, you need to be registered.

More information about Voter ID, including what photo ID will be accepted, is available at the Voter ID website ([link removed])

Have your say on our budget plans...

We're setting our budget for 2023/24, and we want residents of our communities to help us balance the books.

We are currently finalising our spending plans – the budget - and over the next two financial years, Oldham Council is looking to find £42.55m worth of savings.

That’s a huge amount and means that councillors will need to agree on a range of proposals to cut expenditure, increase income and change the way we work.

Work is going on throughout the organisation to find savings and will continue for the next two years.

Setting a budget is never easy and this year we have faced added financial pressures. Rising fuel and energy costs, an increase in the Real Living Wage, greater demand for services following Covid, and now the Cost of Living crisis, have all had a significant impact on our budget planning.

However, we still need to protect and carry on delivering vital services we know you all rely on, such as looking after children and the elderly; keeping our streets clean, and emptying bins.

At the same time, we want to invest in the things that are the most important to us all, to build a better Oldham for the future. This means putting more money into children’s social care; tackling the Cost of Living crisis head-on with one of the country’s biggest support packages for those of you who need our help; and driving forward developments that will boost the local economy, creating jobs and support local businesses.

So please tell us:
* How do you think we can save money?
* What do you think are the most important things to spend money on?

You can take part in the consultation by visiting www.oldham.gov.uk/budget23-25 ([link removed])

The consultation will run from today, Wednesday 11 January, until Friday 10 February 2023.

Councillors will then make a final decision on next year's budget proposals at Budget Council on March 1.

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Oldham Way – overnight closures

Overnight lane closures for resurfacing work will be taking place on Oldham Way at the junction with Southlink.

To minimise disruption work will take place between 8pm and 5am. Please take alternative routes.

Work will start Monday 23 January and Oldham Way is scheduled to be closed for five nights.

The Prince Street junction will remain closed until January 27.

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Manchester remembers

On Sunday 7 May, Boundary Park will host a special charity match between footballing legends and celebrities to remember the victims of the Manchester Arena attack.

All the money raised from the ‘Manchester Remembers’ game will go to support five charities set up in the aftermath of the 2017 attack.

The celebrities’ team will feature Callum Best, Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas, Jay Kontzie, and Joe-Warren Plant from Emmerdale, MasterChef winner Simon Wood, and Love Island’s Dom Lever.

All the money raised will be donated to the following charities, some of which were set up by the families who lost loved ones in the arena attack in 2017: Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust, Liv’s Trust, The Megan Hurley Foundation, The Remembering Nell Foundation, and Eilidh's Trust.

The afternoon will begin with live music from a number of bands on the pitch before the match at 3pm

For more information and to buy a ticket visit the Oldham Athletic site here ([link removed])

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Oldham Foodbank running low on essentials

The Oldham Foodbank supports people when they need help the most. Unfortunately, they’re running low on some key items meaning they’re struggling to cope with the demand they’re seeing.

If you’re in a position to help then please consider donating to them today. You can donate money online or drop off items at a number of locations throughout Oldham.

Items the Foodbank currently needs the most:
Cereal
Tinned fruit
Chopped toms
Rice pud
Jam
Milk
Cooking sauce
Nappies 5/6/7.

For information on how to donate head to their website to see the details ([link removed])

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Health Celebration Event
26 January 2023, 1 – 6pm

Early Break is hosting a health celebration event to highlight the support that is available for children, young people, and families living in Oldham. As we know the New Year can be a time of making changes so learning more about what we offer may help you and your colleagues.

Early Break is a specialist service that can offer help in the following areas:
• Integrated substance use and sexual health support for young people (under 19 years old)
• Families affected by parental substance misuse
• Homeless prevention (18-25-year-olds)
• Emotional Health and Wellbeing support for Children Looked After (5-25-year-olds)
• Support to find employment, education, and/or training (18-24-year-olds)

This event is open to children, young people, and families as well as professionals in the Oldham borough who can come along anytime between 1pm -6pm on Thursday 26th January 2023 at Chambers Business Centre, Chapel Road, OL8 4QQ to speak to staff, look at our bespoke designed centre where sessions take place, ask questions and share feedback.

If you would like further information please contact Rachel Gilbert via telephone on 07783768532 or by email (mailto:[email protected])

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Healthy New Year Festival 2023

Shake off the January blues and see what’s taking place as part of Oldham Libraries Healthy New Year Festival 2023.

From Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 January, 10am – 2pm, there’s a range of activities to get you in a good mood for the rest of 2023.

Some of the highlights include exercise classes, a baby fair, author talks, and health checks.

Find out more on Facebook ([link removed][%7B%22surface%22%3A%22home%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search_results%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D&mc_cid=2bfc47f8d1&mc_eid=UNIQID)
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Live at the Library: Frontline: Saving Lives in War, Disaster and Disease

Free, Thursday 26 January, 6.30- 8pm

From his early days growing up in Failsworth, Dr. Redmond's long and well-known career as an A&E doctor has seen him on the frontline of countless international emergencies such as the Lockerbie bombing, the Ebola crisis in Sarajevo, the Yerevan earthquake in Armenia, and more recently as the Medical Director of Manchester's Nightingale Hospital.

Hear how life-or-death choices are made in the heat of the moment.

Find out more here ([link removed])
Live at the Library:10 Minutes to Happiness

Free, Thursday 26 January, 12.30-1.30pm

Learn how spending just ten minutes a day improves your mood and helps make you happy!

This session will show you the benefits of my 'ten minutes to happiness' journal programme which is based on research and practice in my busy clinic in Manchester.

This simple plan can change your life. The session is aimed at anyone, young or old, who wants to improve their wellbeing.

Find out more here ([link removed])
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