Anna kicks off her community work

KICK start for communitiy spirit . . . (from the left) Nick Summerscales and Yvonne Swindells, from MMHA, Anna Balderstone and James Mwale of Oldham Athletic

A MATURE student is staging a campaign to whip up community spirit in Hathershaw — starting in her own street.

Anna Balderstone (44), who is starting a six-month placement with Manchester Methodist Housing Association (MMHA), has been calling on her neighbours in Meldrum Street to sign up to a new residents’ group.

Her efforts are part of her degree course which she embarked on after being inspired into higher education by her son, Nathan, who has just graduated in youth and community work.

And one of her first projects will be getting local children involved in three-a-side street football with the help of Oldham Athletic.

A student of human health sciences at Huddersfield University’s Oldham campus, she gained £2,880 in funding from Oldham’s Respect Our Communities Awards, run by First Choice Homes, to fund nine months of community sports and activity.

Anna is now in the planning stages of setting up the soccer initiative — planned for a car park in Meldrum Street — and other sessions for local people with guidance from her mentor, Daniel Mountford, community initiatives manager at MMHA.

She said: “I was inspired to take action because I didn’t think there was enough going on locally. I am an MMHA tenant and my housing officer, Nick Summerscales, and the association were happy to help me.”

James Mwale, Kickz and Inclusion co-ordinator at Oldham Athletic Community Trust, said: “Three-a-side football is great, you can play it any time, any where, you just turn up with a couple of mates.

“It’s the perfect sport to get people from Meldrum Street and surrounding roads involved with.

“It’s as grassroots as you can get.”

Another early success for Anna has been arranging for bins to be placed on Meldrum Street to reduce litter.

She says: “I’ve been knocking on doors to generate interest and my neighbours are really interested in getting involved and being part of a new residents’ group.

“Now I have a placement at MMHA I can really set to work and make a difference.”