NEON group up in lights

NEON members (l-r): David Wilkinson, chairman of HVRA and NEON; Kay Jewitt. Youth Inclusion Project crime-prevention project officer; Nayan Joshi. Voluntary Action Oldham engagement officer; Angela Cosgrove, a librarian and member of Friends of Stoneleigh Park and Derker Wardens; Dave Brandwood, photographer; Harley Hancock, a uouth club volunteer; Fiona Jones, community worker and administrator; Anne Hancock. Chairman of Derker Wardens.

ST GEORGE’S Day celebrations in Stoneleigh Park will be the launch event for a new community reporting group.

Members of NEON — Networking in East Oldham Neighbourhoods — will bring readers news and pictures on a dedicated monthly page in the Chronicle from Wednesday.

NEON came about from a competition, “East Oldham’s Got Talent”, which brought several groups together and led to discusions about teaming up.

David Wilkinson, Higginshaw Village Residents’ Association (HVRA) chairman, and now NEON chairman, said, “Our biggest milestone so far has been getting a seat on East Oldham District Partnership. The voluntary sector now has a voice, can give its input and can help influence policy.”

The community reporting group have been working with the Chronicle’s Community Outreach team to develop writing and reporting skills.

Contact NEON or the community reporters by emailing neonemail@virginmedia.com.