New winter activities at Falinge Park

A host of new programmes are being offered in Falinge Park this winter from Monday 15 November.

Vintage Worx’s community-run creativity hub will still be offering their wide range of craft classes, art groups, upcycling workshops and green volunteering, but joining this array will be cookery sessions, creative writing and poetry groups, and beginners’ bridge.  

A new range of support sessions are also being delivered.

The cookery sessions will meet weekly on Mondays from 2pm-4pm and are based on preventing food waste, lowering food bills and still eating healthily. Sessions will cover both sweet and savoury dishes.

Beginners’ Bridge will open on Wednesdays 10am-12noon, rekindling a love for the classic card game.

The creative writing group, facilitated by Eileen Earnshaw, will meet weekly on Thursday mornings from 10am and will cater for writers of all genres and abilities.

The poetry sessions, facilitated by Seamus Kelly, will also cater for all genres and abilities and will run alongside the creative writing group.

Vintage Worx has also partnered with Suzan Wilson from Dream Ark, a health and wellbeing support organisation, to deliver an innovative range of support services, including the new ‘Hot Chocolate Hub’.

Hot Chocolate Hub will meet every Friday from 10am-12noon to support ladies who are going through or need information on the menopause or perimenopause.

Suzan said that recent meetings with Cllr Rachel Massey and Joanne Faulkner from Home Instead Rochdale have shown that there is “very little” support for this boroughwide, “with no support in Spotland and Falinge.”

She added: “Further talks with resident groups confirmed this and I knew I had to set up a support group. I’ve worked closely with Vintage Worx for quite a while now and I thought the park was a superb location to set this up.

“I approached Tracie [Powers, a Vintage Worx director], who offered the room for free and suggested we provide a hot drink and biscuits to everyone who comes. The hot drink became hot chocolate – and the Hot Chocolate Hub was born.

“What better way is there for ladies to support each other than over a steaming mug of hot chocolate and some tasty biscuits?”

Suzan will also be starting support sessions to help people suffering with mental health problems by creating a fusion of arts and crafts, healthy exercise and support animal therapy.

The ‘Park Pet Stop’ will also be delivered at Falinge Park and is aimed at people who are struggling with social anxiety, confidence, and mental health issues.

She added: “Now more than ever we need to help people improve their health and wellbeing, so I have designed these relaxing sessions to help people find common interests, educate people on pet care and show the mood boosting/therapeutic effects of spending time with animals.”

Refreshments are provided free of charge at all sessions, although donations are always welcome.

For more information message Vintage Worx via facebook www.facebook.com/VintageWorxCDTrust or email enquiries@vintageworx.org.uk