Council leader's column: Keeping warm this winter and the countdown to Christmas

Neil Emmott is the leader of Rochdale Council and a councillor for West Middleton.

This month he dedicates his column to keeping warm this winter and checking on your neighbours, and the countdown to Christmas.

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It was heartening to see so many residents across the borough paying their respects to the fallen at Remembrance services. War Memorials in our township areas were packed with people of all ages pausing to remember and reflect. We are so proud of our Armed Forces community, past and present, and the day was about honouring the service and sacrifice of thousands of men and women from our borough. Lest we forget.

 

Read more: Borough falls silent at Remembrance Sunday servicesPublished: 13 November 2023

 

To help with social isolation and veterans’ mental wellbeing, every Thursday morning our Armed Forces Breakfast Club is held at The Flying Horse Hotel, from 9am to 10am. This is an opportunity for our veterans to come together in a welcoming environment to chat, reminisce, and enjoy a brew and a breakfast. It’s an excellent initiative, one I am very proud the council delivers for our Armed Forces community, and over 1,000 fry-ups are plated up every year underlining the popularity of this scheme.

Further information on the services we provide for our Armed Forces community can be found at www.rochdale.gov.uk/ArmedForces

I was so pleased to see our local care organisation were crowned winners at the prestigious Health Service Journal awards, in the category of Integrated Care Initiative of the Year.

 

Read more: Award win for organisation improving health outcomes for local residentsPublished: 04 December 2023

 

The award was achieved for putting communities at the heart of local decision-making. Our care partnership involves local organisations across social care, mental health, the NHS, voluntary sector and many others.

The award underlines that our residents are benefitting from better health outcomes, thanks to our innovative way of working, helping to improve the lives of local communities. Integration is at the heart of our drive to reduce health inequalities, ensuring people can access high-quality health and care services in their community.

This award is testament to our health and care teams and their dedicated work, day in, day out, to support and care for our residents. Well done to everyone involved.

As the cold spell bites, I want to remind residents of our warm welcoming spaces that are available at libraries, community centres and community buildings across the borough.

Our warm spaces provide free hot brews, cold drinks, water and the opportunity to save on your energy bills. These vital facilities also offer residents the opportunity to socialise, helping to reduce social isolation, in a warm friendly location.

Further information about our warm space venues can be found at www.rochdale.gov.uk/warmspaces

The countdown to Christmas began in Rochdale on Sunday, with thousands of people attending Ignite Fire Festival and the Christmas Lights Switch-On at the town hall.

 

Read more: Fire and festivities as Christmas countdown starts in RochdalePublished: 29 November 2023

 

Over the weekend 10,500 people enjoyed the council-organised event which included a new two-day fire festival, leading up to the big switch-on at the town hall on Sunday evening. 

The town hall square and gardens were packed out and it was great to see so many people enjoying both the Ignite Fire Festival and the Christmas Light’s Switch On. It was a first for Rochdale, which I think a lot of visitors, from the borough and beyond, appreciated. Well done to everyone involved in another success story for our borough.

 In addition, it was great to see hugely popular Christmas lights switch-on events in Middleton and Heywood, which were really well attended by the local community. Across the borough, our residents are getting in the festive spirit. I know that times are tough, and the cost of living crisis continues to bite, but it’s really important that friends and family come together at this time of year.

In that spirit, I hope our events have provided some important Christmas cheer.

I was proud to pledge my support for the White Ribbon Campaign, which aims to put a stop to male violence and abuse against women and girls, and are asking residents to do the same. This is a really important campaign. White Ribbon Day takes place from 25 November and is followed by 16 days of action against gender-based violence. 

 

Read more: Men asked to pledge support for White Ribbon campaignPublished: 24 November 2023

 

In 2016 the council gained White Ribbon status for our commitment to supporting the aims of the global campaign that puts men at the forefront of making a positive contribution to end male violence and abuse against women. Men are asked to wear a white ribbon and pledge never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence and abuse against women and girls. An important message for the campaign and throughout the year.

Finally, as we enter a period of colder weather please keep an eye out for your family, friends and neighbours especially older and vulnerable residents. A knock on the door or phone call to ask how someone is, really can go a long way. Together we can all do our bit to keep each other safe, warm and healthy this winter.