The Radcliffe community has come together at an uplifting event to showcase the excellent work being done by groups in the town.
Organisations gathered at Radcliffe Market on Saturday, January 21 to celebrate their continuing hard work to improve the town.
Alongside stalls, entertainment was provided by a boxing club and a dancing group at the end of the market.
Greater Manchester Police officers provided advice to residents and a bleed kit was also installed outside the market building, near the car park, for anyone who may need the potentially life-saving piece of equipment in the future.
Trisha Jackson, operations manager at Radcliffe Market said: “We're with all our local organisations, businesses and charities to let everyone in Radcliffe know what we're doing in the area to help support people in the community.
“It is fantastic to see everyone come together like this.
“The market itself being non-profit has gone strength to strength over the last few years, especially throughout Covid to where we are now, we just continue to move in the right direction.”
Bury mayor, Cllr Shaheena Haroon, also attended to meet with Kelly Brown, the mother of Rhamero West who was stabbed to death in Old Trafford in September 2021 aged 16.
Kelly helped to unveil the first bleed kit in Radcliffe and said Bury should hopefully have six by the end of the month.
She said: “It was overwhelming, I walked up and I did choke up a bit.
“I am spreading the message out there and I feel like I've got everyone behind me.
“Keep sharing Rhamero's world and spread this message across, put down the knives and save more lives.”
Radcliffe First councillor Andrea Booth said the day had been a huge success and a great way of finding out what happens within the community.
She said: “It's really nice to see so many local community groups coming along.
“We've also got the police here and everyone can see and talk to them about what they're doing in the community which helps you understand what is actually going on.”
Two men's support groups also attended, Andy’s Man Club Bury and the newly formed Kingsmen.
Philip Monaghan, 61, from Radcliffe, is an experienced psychotherapist and set the Kingsmen group up around six weeks ago.
Read more: Andys Man Club in Bury hits new record in helping men's mental health
He said: “We've had between 25 and 30 men come in every week so we've had some people coming since day one and some new faces but it is gradually building up.
“We meet every Tuesday at St Philip's Community Centre but we are also looking for funding so that we can have our group meetings and days out.”
Read more: Radcliffe psychotherapist gives back to town with free support group
Jill Smith, from the Radcliffe Litter Pickers, wanted to encourage people to volunteer at any of the community groups.
Read more: Radcliffe Litter Pickers organising community clean up
She said: “We have things happening on weekdays and weekends and a lot of the groups overlap.
“You might come out as a litter picker and go away as part of the anglers so it's a really nice community.”
Norman Shaw, the volunteer programme manager at Outreach, said after their move to Radcliffe, they have been providing a warm community space on Blackburn Street through their community café.
He said: “We support people with mental health and learning difficulties to live as independently as possible in the community.
“We now also have the café which is very 21st Century and probably the cheapest coffee in town with £1.50 for fresh coffee beans.
“More importantly though, we're trying to be a friendly warm community space and because we're a not-for-profit charity we're not here to compete with anybody.”
Other organisations including a Whitefield women's only fitness studio, Radcliffe Elite ABC, Liv’s Trust and Bury Croquet Club also spoke about the work they had been doing in the community.
Read more: Delight after Radcliffe Elite ABC moves into new gym
Read more: Liv's Trust encourage free music lessons for young adults
Roy Spencer, the chairman of the croquet club, said they want to encourage more people to join them as the club celebrates turning 35 this year.
He said: “There is an association with croquet being a posh sport for rich people and I can show you it is not, we are a very friendly club
“We started in 1988 and this year we're pleased to celebrate our 35th anniversary so we've got a few things planned.
“Anyone, no matter age or ability can join, even if you have never hit a ball before in your life but I do warn you, it is extremely addictive.”
Andrea Hulme, an Incredible Edible facilitator, said they had been encouraging people to grow their own produce and the site has been a big hit with local wildlife too.
She said: “There's lots of wildlife on site including bird activity and yesterday we also had a deer come and visit us!
“The sites been there for a while but we've been more active on it from 2019 and through the pandemic, it became like a safe haven for people to go to go and have some outdoor time.”
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