Going down!
Date published: 16 December 2009
ON the slide . . . Taylor Crawshaw (left) and Jordan Butterworth tackle the 50ft toboggan run
So this is Christmas!
THRILLS and spills got Oldhamers in the festive spirit as the sponsor of one of the planned Oldham academies brought Christmas cheer to the town.
Oasis Academy Oldham held a Christmas market featuring a 50ft high inflatable toboggan run that delighted youngsters.
There were also market stalls, a hog roast, mulled wine, mince pies and Halal samosas at the event at the proposed site for the Academy at Oak Colliery car park.
It was the first large-scale community event to be held by Oasis in Oldham and organised in partnership with Oldham Council.
Oasis is a Christian charity sponsoring the academy that will replace Kaskenmoor and South Chadderton schools, which is due to open next September as part of Oldham’s £230 million Building Schools for the Future programme.
Elf and safety
SPECIAL pulling pants were handed out to young Oldhamers in a bid to keep them in good elf this Christmas.
A One Stop Shop was set up by Brook Advisory Clinic, which teamed up with NHS Oldham, police and drugs and alcohol services to encourage young people to have fun and be safe this December.
The main goals were to make 16 to 25-year-olds think about their personal and sexual safety as well as warning them to monitor their alcohol intake.
Emma Popay, from Brook, said: “Young people over the festive season sometimes take additional risks with there health and indulge in the party atmosphere. We want to support young people to have a fun Christmas, by providing positive health messages and trying to ensure that young people don’t receive any unwanted gifts this year.”
As part of the campaign, police handed out free condoms in the town centre before the temporary shop was opened in Albion Street, where young people were offered free chlamydia screening with the chance to win their free pulling pants.
Emma added: “A nudge from one of the elves just reminded them about the importance of sexual health screening and safer sex.”
The One Stop Shop is now closed.
* Students at Oldham Sixth Form College were also given advice on enjoying a safe and healthy Christmas.
The Safety Advice Now Today and Always roadshow, which highlights alcohol, drugs, sexual health, mental health, road safety, personal safety and general health, visited the campus. It will also be visiting Oldham College and school sixth-forms.
Players hand out presents
KIND-HEARTED young footballers visited sick children to spread a little Christmas cheer.
Members of Boundary Park Juniors Football Club handed out selection boxes on the children’s ward at the Royal Oldham Hospital.
The youngsters regularly hold fundraising events and at the end of the season the team will use the money they have collected to buy something for the ward.
Youngsters in fine voice
SHOPPERS were treated to festive carols as youngsters (pictured) enjoyed a fundraising singalong. Pupils from Watersheddings Primary School sang traditional favourites at Tesco’s Huddersfield Road store to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation.
