Leisure company's kind gesture for Oldham pandemic volunteers

Oldham Community Leisure is offering a full month's complimentary health and fitness membership to recognise the fantastic efforts of volunteers in Oldham during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A huge number of local volunteers and volunteer groups have been selflessly supporting the community in numerous ways.

The offer is OCL's way of recognising their work and saying thank you on behalf of Oldhamers. 

Simon Blair, Head of Business Development at OCL, said: "The work going on in the local community has been nothing short of incredible. The mobilisation and continued running of a foodbank and engagement with isolated individuals are just two of the much-needed services that have been delivered by volunteers throughout Oldham.

"There has been so much good work going on, it’s impossible to mention every volunteer group we’ve come across. OCL has worked in particular with Action Together Emergency response, who are planning ahead for the needs of communities over the coming weeks and months, and Age UK Oldham, which has been offering befriending calls to older people, shopping and collecting prescriptions, and delivering activity packs." 

Other volunteer groups the free membership offer is open to are Team Hill, which shops for elderly and vulnerable residents, picking up prescriptions and making welfare packs and calls; Failsworth Rainbows, which is providing activity packs and Zoom meetings for Rainbow Guides aged five to seven; and UKeff Covid-19 Crisis Response, which delivers food parcels and offers financial support, housing assistance, domestic abuse assistance, mobile phone provision and top-ups.

Positive Steps, which supported the Oldham Foodbank; Do Me a Favour, which has been offering prescription and grocery home delivery services and lastly REELCIC, which has supported the community with singalongs, ran baby groups online, engaged with more than 40 parents weekly and donated food and clothes to the Foodbank Hub, which was operating out of Oldham Leisure Centre.

The month-long complimentary membership is available for all volunteers and includes unlimited use of all five Oldham Community Leisure centres including the gyms, pools and exercise classes as well as full use of badminton and bowls. Volunteers will also get eight-day advanced priority online booking.

OCL has a central list, identified by Helping Hands, and volunteers who believe they may be eligible should email simon.blair@ocll.co.uk stating which organisation they have been volunteering with.

The offer is available until 30 November.