Team is helping to transform its community

IMPROVING their area . . . Alt Community Challenge Team (from the left) Mariea Maguire, Marty Maguire, Tracey

FROM jam making to a community cafe, the women of the Alt Community Challenge Team (ACCT) have worked hard to improve their area for everyone.

Their effort has being recognised with a Pride in Oldham nomination for the team — Steph Wilde, Mariea Maguire, Lyndsey Ashworth, Tracey Wrigley and Marty Maguire.

Founded seven years ago, the members began small projects to improve their local community and their work expanded into creating a beautiful garden and allotment at Alt Academy to creating Cafe Alt in Cherry Avenue, a community space for Alt residents.

Team leader Steph said: “We are over the moon with the nomination. It’s amazing and a nice feeling to know our work is appreciated. We didn’t start out with any goals, just with a few ideas about how to improve our community. It has all just grown from there.”

The team also runs a regular homework club for local school pupils and a breakfast club during the school holidays, with plans to create a “chillout” zone for teenagers too.

The women are also known as the “Jim Jam Girls”, creating sweet preserves with fruit grown in the orchard that they planted along their “Green Route” through the Alt estate, with sales of the jam helping to fund their work, alongside the support from Forever Manchester and First Choice Homes.

The team was nominated by Councillor Jenny Harrison, a supporter of the group, who said: “The team has had a very dynamic impact on and around Alt estate, bringing about real and positive change to the area.

“It started off creating a garden at Alt Primary School and it has continually grown and expanded its activities and influence over the last few years.”Wrigley, Lyndsey Ashworth and Steph WildeTeam helping transform their local community

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