Success earns ROCA respect

The Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Shoab Akhtar, was guest of the honour at the relaunch, and also present were (from the left) Clive Newton, managing director of Emanuel Whittaker Ltd; Steve Yorke; Nicola Gleave; Councillor Jim McArdle; Kate Kenney, from Connaught Partnerships; John Gallagher, finance director at Emanuel Whittaker Ltd; Steve Duthie, Oldham Evening Chronicle; and Mark Foster, Connaught Partnerships

THE Respect Our Communities Awards (ROCA) have been relaunched for 2009 at an event held at Chadderton Town Hall.

More than 70 people, current and potential sponsors, recipients of awards and support staff, attended an evening of celebrations, organised by the new awards co-ordinator Nicola Gleave,

ROCA is a First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) initiative aimed at supporting communities.

Steve Yorke, FCHO’s operations director, spoke of the success of the awards in their first 14 months — 35 projects were supported last year — and his hopes for the future.

He was supported by David Wilkinson, the chairmsn of the Higginshaw Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, who spoke of his gratitude to the ROCA panel for supporting events in his area.

“This has made a huge difference to the people of our area — long may it continue,” he said.

There was entertainment from the OL8 Steppers, a community group of dancers choreographed by Danny Price, who explained that 78 youngsters have been funded through the programme by ROCA.

Shalpna Patel, supported by youngsters from her group, outlined how ROCA had allowed the ASHA Girls’ Group to create a video extolling the virtues of recycling.