Funding lifeline for play action group

BOUNCING back . . . celebrating the news at a session at Alt Tenants’ and Residents’ Association are (from the left) Charlotte Goodison, Laura Wardle from OPAG, Rob Goodison from the association, Lacie Ball, Callum Grady and Audra Walsh

THREATENED children’s activities across the borough have been thrown a lifeline.

Oldham Play Action Group (OPAG) faced possible closure after its £35,000 grant from Oldham Council’s Priority Programme Funding was cut.

As well as threatening the activities which OPAG runs, it would also have affected schemes by community, faith and religious groups which it supports.

But the charity which works with around 2,400 children annually has now been commissioned by Oldham Children’s Trust to continue its much-needed work.

And delighted co-ordinator Steph Gill said: “It’s really positive news. All the things that we have got going we can keep going, and we are also delivering new stuff as well.”

OPAG was set up in 1977 and is based at Greenacres Community Centre where it has a toy resource store.

Its activities include the popular Men Behaving Dadly sessions for fathers and children, junior youth clubs, new NHS-funded Family Active sessions and Lottery-funded outdoor sessions which are on this half-term.

It also helps others to set up and run activities such as playschemes, holiday clubs and community celebrations.

Many would have been unable to continue without OPAG which was hit when Oldham slashed its priority funding programme handouts from £1.8 million to £880,000.

Oldham Children’s Trust, a partnership between the council and other organisations which provides and commission children’s services, has now stepped in.

Mr Gill thanked everyone for their support and added: “Although we felt in quite a wobbly, uncertain position during December and January, we were thrilled with the support from people.

“On behalf of all the children, volunteers and communities we work with across the town, OPAG would like to thank everyone who played a part in securing this bright and hopeful future.

“We were heartened by the huge support and goodwill that is out there for OPAG.”

One of the groups supported by OPAG is Project Good Neighbour, at South Chadderton Methodist Church.

It runs activities for children aged eight to 11, and church member Mike Kendrick said it would have struggled without OPAG.

He added: ‘”It’s a good result. I think we would have been able to continue, but it would have depended on getting sufficient volunteers.

“What OPAG brings are practical skills and abilities that are probably not transferable to our people.”






OPAG half-term activities



OPAG activities for half-term are:



Monday, February 16

Chadderton Town Hall (10.30am-2.30pm): creative consultation with older children about Children’s Centre activities.

Gallery Oldham (1-4pm): landscape collages and face-painting

Leesbrook Nature Park, off Lees Road, by the owl and fox sculpture (1-3pm): Adventures in Play games and challenges.

Blast Junior Youth Club, Blackthorn Road, Limehurst (6-7.30pm).

Tuesday, February 17

Kingfisher School, Foxdenton Lane, Chadderton, (10.30am-noon): making a Chinese dragon.

The Radclyffe Outreach Centre, Kent Avenue, Chadderton (1-4pm): arts actiivties.

Gallery Oldham (1-4pm): Japanese arts and face-painting.

Tandle Hill Country Park (1-3pm): Adventures in Play games and challenges.

Alt Tenants and Residents’ Association, Cherry Avenue (6-7.30pm).

The ARC Junior Youth Club (7-8pm.), ARC Community Centre, Abbeyhills Road, Alt.

Wednesday, February 18

Roundthorn Salvation Army, New Earth Street (10am-noon).

The Radclyffe Outreach Centre, Kent Avenue, Chadderton (1-4pm): arts activities.

Gallery Oldham (1-4pm): sculpture and face-painting.

St Thomas’s Church, Sholver Lane, Moorside, (11.30am-1pm and 2-4pm): round-the-world arts and crafts activities.

Pakistani Community Centre, Marlborough Street, Glodwick (1-2pm): reward activities for children who participated in a local clean-up.

Alt Tenants and Residents’ Association, Cherry Avenue (6-7.30).

Thursday, February 19

The Radclyffe Outreach Centre, Kent Avenue, Chadderton (1-4pm): arts activities.

Beckets Meadow, off Lees Road, behind Tesco Express (1-3pm): Adventures in Play games and challenges,

The ARC Junior Youth Club, ARC Community Centre, Abbeyhills Road, Alt (7-8pm).

Friday, February 20

The Radclyffe Outreach Centre, Kent Avenue, Chadderton (1-4pm): arts activities.

Daisy Nook Country Park (1-3pm): Adventures in Play.

Fitton Hill Junior Youth Club (6.30-8pm).

Project Good Neighbour, South Chadderton Methodist Church, Thompson Lane (5.45-7.30pm).

Details on: 0161-678 9662.