Santas Helpers - giving praise to those who helped at Christmas

As the new year fast approaches and Christmas celebrations start to wind down, we take a look back to give praise to those who worked hard for others over the Christmas period in Tameside.

Ruby Slippers

Pantomime is a wonderful Christmas tradition that everybody loves to see. And Ruby Slippers Drama Academy are making sure that children across Tameside are able to see this Christmas tradition free of charge, by putting on a fun filled child friendly version of Dick Whittington. Being able to showcase the pantomime in multiple schools and academies means that Ruby Slippers has provided joy and wonder to hundreds of children this Christmas time.

Mike Lawler and Cameron Kennedy of Ruby Slippers Drama Academy told us why they are touring schools this Christmas. “It is special what we do as there aren’t many theatre education productions,” Cameron said, “we turn up in a van with scenery, lights, an abundance of props and a cast of seven. Most will turn up with minimal technology and props, with a cast of three or four. We really transform a school hall into an actual pantomime and the kids faces just make it all worthwhile, as it is something special that they haven’t seen before. “

Mike added to this, talking about the past experiences Ruby Slippers has had touring schools. “we have had some fantastic reception from schools dealing with special needs. High Peak school absolutely adore us and the first time we went there a couple of the teachers came afterwards and said they have never seen the students engaged for that length of time. This year we went to Bridge College in Openshaw and they all sat through and engaged with us, and someone came afterwards and said the same thing. That was tremendous.”

Being able to bring joy to children from all walks of life in Tameside is a wonderful thing, and Ruby Slippers Drama Academy are deserving of high praise for their selfless efforts. The academy is also putting on a production of Dick Whittington in January, on the 13th and 14th, at George Lawton Hall. Tickets are available for the George Lawton show from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on?q=dick%20whittington%20mossley%20.

Pauline Town, Station Inn

If there is one person in Tameside that deserves constant praise for her work, it is Pauline Town. Pauline is the licensee at the Station Inn and has been helping the homeless for ten years. We talked to her to find out more about the work she and the team of volunteers do.

“We are part of a community group called We Shall Overcome, which is a national organisation. We run the one in Tameside. We are ten years into this so this is our tenth Christmas. We are open as a pub at weekends with live bands on every Saturday night, the bands that play here play for expenses or throw money in the pot so it is the community that keeps us going. We have just done our tenth annual rough sleep, which raised a lot of money to get us through the winter. We have had money from Tameside council as well towards the Christmas dinner we are doing for the homeless people at the town house and families spending Christmas in a B and B. We deliver them out to elderly and vulnerable people as well on Christmas day. We do packed lunches every other day than Christmas day and provide hot meals from our partners, we do packed lunches from 12 – 3 every day. We have fed 126 people today; a quiet one these days is 100. The vast majority is those who are homeless, which is down to the homelessness crisis effecting the whole country, and that the townhouse is getting full at the minute so people are having to wait for a space to be available.”

The work Pauline does is helped by other Tameside community groups, and she talked in more detail about this. “Sadly we have never been busier, but at the same time we know we are making a difference from the feedback we are getting. We work very very closely together with the community groups so if there is something that one of us has plenty of and another needs, then we all share. Because we have been doing this as long as we have, I am quite visible. But there are many people working as hard as I am who are not seen as much. We are all volunteers so we are not salaried and employed, and we would all like it to be quieter.”

The problems that the homeless community face is a nationwide problem, and the worsening cost of living crisis is causing a multitude of issues that has meant that Pauline and the team at the Station Inn have faced their busiest year yet.

“Homelessness is at an all time high and it is getting worse, and that can be because the rent is so high. We have had people who are housed in tenancies, but they are coming here for food because the rents are so high. Some of this is landlords feeling the squeeze, but undoubtedly some of that will be landlords cashing in on that. There is an element of need and an element of greed there sadly and that is what is pricing people out. We are back in a situation where families are in bed and breakfasts, and the emergency accommodations are full. I have never known a year as hard as this. This does not get talked about enough in the news, these people are doing nothing wrong, but they cannot afford the same amount of rent that landlords are looking for.”