Greater Manchester Sports Awards shines a spotlight on physical activity and sporting success in Rochdale

Rochdale was recognised with a trio of awards at the Greater Manchester Sports Awards on 15 November. 

The eight winners named at the Rochdale Sports Awards in September were put forward, along with winners from the 9 other boroughs of Greater Manchester for the regional awards, held at Emirates Old Trafford.

Winners and guests enjoyed a fantastic evening bursting with inspirational stories, including Kirsty Rowlinson-Groves, the winner of the prestigious Mayor’s Award. An expert fitness instructor Kirsty developed and led the successful CAN:Move cancer exercise referral scheme in Salford.

GreaterSport CEO Sara Tomkins said: “The Greater Manchester Sports Awards celebrates the unsung sporting heroes across our region who have a positive impact on people’s lives. The awards event continues to grow year on year and the number of nominations and the variety of sports and activities represented are evidence of the growing physical activity movement that is sweeping across our city-region.

“I congratulate all the winners for their outstanding achievements over the last 12 months.”

Rochdale Winners

• Volunteer of the Year sponsored by Emirates Old Trafford; Elham Afzal – Rochdale

A sports volunteer for several organisations, Elham has dedicated over 540 hours since September 2017. She volunteers for Manchester Futsal Club, British University League Taekwondo, GB Taekwondo, Tour De Manc, Street 2 Feet homeless football tournament, as well as studying at university. Setting up a campaign with her university sports teams, she held a charity drive for Barnados UK. Elham always volunteers to take part and lead any event or project and goes out of her way to help others.

 

 

• School Commitment to PE and Sport sponsored by SLS; Holy Family RC Primary School - Rochdale

At Holy Family, ‘wake up and shake’ is carried out daily, lessons are taken outside where possible and additional specialists are brought in. PE is a focus on the timetable with all classes receiving at least two hours per week. Last year 95% of children participated in sport after school. The school has targeted disadvantaged children and children who are reluctant to stay for after school sports. The Sports Coordinator consulted with those reluctant pupils and built a club around their needs.

 

 

• Active Workplace of the Year Award supported by GM Moving; Rochdale Borough Council

Rochdale Borough Council supports employees to be physically active in partnership with Link4Life through a new staff wellbeing strategy, Your Workplace Wellbeing.

Following a recent staff survey, there has been a drive to incorporate incidental activity into the working day. As a result, they have invested in lift covers to encourage stair usage, mapped out outdoor and indoor walking routes to promote The Daily Mile and developed a team of staff wellbeing champions who meet monthly to drive ideas forward.

In just a few months this has led to several weekly sessions in local leisure facilities and council offices at a significantly reduced rate. Working Wednesdays are being launched, with weekly updates on stair usage provided to create competition.

This is supported by investing time in communicating with staff face-to-face, the backing of senior leadership team and consistent opportunities for staff feedback.