Parish centre’s £11,231 boost

Saddleworth’s St Chad’s church has been given a major grant by the environmental trust arm of waste management company Veolia.

The church has been given £11,231 to spend on improvements to its parish centre, a hub for community activities and events.

Saddleworth lost its Lifelong Learning Centre in July 2013 due to cost-cutting measures - so the parish centre opened its doors to allow some classes to continue. The grant means these and other village activities can carry on.

The trust — which awarded 51 grants totalling over £1.5 million to community and environmental projects across the UK — is now preparing to work with the church to finalise details of the project and establish a date for improvements to start.