What happened in 2024

We’ve just produced our annual report for 2024, and it’s been a great time to reflect on all the great goings on in the community last year. The reporting year went from Oct 2023 to Dec 2024.

As a reminder, the aims of the Springfield Beech Hill Gidlow CommUnity group are

• To discover and make visible the treasure that we have within our community – the people who do great stuff and the places we love.

• To build connections with neighbours that focus on what’s strong rather than what’s wrong

• To create social spaces for people to build and deepen friendships and make the community stronger

• To create social spaces for associations and groups to flourish and grow power so that they can act together for the benefit of the area

OCTOBER 2023

In half term, we hosted two family play days. At St Anne’s, we played bingo, drank hot chocolate and paraded fancy dress costumes before setting off for the annual spooky Halloween walk in the woods. At St Andrew’s, we enjoyed a crafty day in the school with Sandra, Jayne, and community members.

We also hosted a children’s toy market at St Andrew’s Parish Centre. Children set up stalls and invited other children to come and buy their wares.

NOVEMBER 2023

November saw a community cash event, where community members vote to invest in good ideas. That evening, there were four pitches from St Andrew’s, the Playbox Campaign group, the family craft club, and a local reiki practitioner.

Northern Heart & Soul, a community interest company who are also members of the community organising group, took on the lease of 55A Park Road and named it CommUnity Corner.

DECEMBER 2023

We held Christmas Afternoon Tea, worked with Media Cubs to launch the Playbox Campaign Groups’ crowdfunder, and visited local primary schools dressed as elves to collect letters to Santa. We then returned with personalised letters from Santa.

JANUARY 2024

We organised a panto trip to Bolton to watch Cinderella. It was such a popular trip that tickets sold out within 8 minutes.

We opened CommUnity Corner and invited community members to come, take a look, and think about what we may like to see happening there.

Ben, a member of the organising group, offered stargazing from St Anne’s Garden. We got to see Mercury up close, even if we couldn’t feel our fingers.

FEBRUARY 2024

We learned that we’d been successful in our application to the Angling Trust for community fishing equipment. It’s going to be great seeing families, friends and neighbours fishing together.

We paid Epic Hope to offer free training sessions for those wanting to become more confident when having conversations with people who are having a tough time. 30 members of the community took part.

MARCH 2024

Cats Guidance Rescue hosted a pop-up shop at CommUnity Corner along with Custard the Cat, bringing bargains to the community.

We launched a family savings club, celebrated International Women’s Day, and hosted a community cash event where we distributed £295. We also held an afternoon tea and a creative writing circle. We learned that we’d been successful with a funding application to Wigan Council to help connect neighbours, particularly those who might not get out or might not feel welcome for a variety of reasons.

Several people and groups started hosting their own workshops and sessions at Community Corner, from English classes, addiction awareness to arts, calligraphy, food shares, crafts and more.

APRIL 2024

The Easter holidays saw more opportunities for families to enjoy spending time together. We made our way to Bolton for panto again, this time to watch Pinocchio.

The Playbox returned for a week, thanks to Cllrs Ramsdale and Wood. We had fun and used the time to fundraise and explore the design of our very own Playbox. We hosted our first Clothes Swap and set up a members lottery to raise money for the Playbox and Community Cash.

MAY 2024

We held the annual general meeting of this group. We looked at what we’ve achieved together and the money received and spent. We also say ‘goodbye’ to members who are leaving us; this time, that was Joanne & Mervyn. We said ‘hello’ to members who joined, hoping to work together to grow community life and spirit. This year, Kai, Tanya and Meryl joined us.

We also launched the private community lottery, where, for £5 a month, members can win half the monthly pot, and the rest is split between the community causes that are voted on. In the accounts, this money is called ‘Awards’

JUNE 2024

June saw a community cash event. The young men returned to talk about their progress with gardening, and Kai pitched to host a treasure hunt at the annual party in the park.

Cats Guidance Rescue visited us with their bargains, and we hosted a Pop-up Market at Community corner.

There was a much-loved Afternoon Tea as well as the monthly women and young girls food share at Community Corner.

JULY 2024

In July, we saw coach trips to Lytham St Anne’s, Bury Market, and the Lido at Skipton. In the community, we enjoyed a Party in the Park at Diggle St, a Play Day at Beech Hill Play Park, the Dog Show, and a circus-themed play day in Diggle St Park.

Janet offered a Reiki share at Community Corner. We also started Popping In to local people who might like to see a friendly face.

AUSGUST 2024

August saw family trips to New Brighton, Pennington Flash, and Lytham St Anne’s, and the Family Activity Club visited Knowsley Safari Park, Applecast Farm, and Martin Mere.

There were play days in St Andrew’s Parish Centre and Diggle St Park, and we launched the Playbox with a big party at the end of the month.

SEPTEMBER 2024

We held the Community Awards, and it’s always a joyous occasion. This year, we gave out 57 awards to members of the community.

And as the children returned to school, we had new carpets fitted throughout CommUnity Corner thanks to local business Milliken.

We hosted our 3rd Afternoon tea of the year, this time with Paul McCoy, which was such great fun for everyone, joining in dancing and singing along to the classics with sandwiches, cake and plentiful tea.

OCTOBER 2024

Milliken finished the carpeting at CommUnity Corner – such a great offer from a community minded local business. We saw great ideas like the Women’s Wellbeing group, Christmas crafts at St Andrew’s, and the costumes for the wonderful characters who visited children at school at Christmas time, all invested in at Community Cash.

There was a great display of community spirit at Halloween, with many homes decorating and inviting families and children to visit and lots of costumes shared on Facebook. The Family Craft Club hosted their annual Halloween spooky walk and party, and Abbie started the Lego Club on Mondays as a space for families to play together.

NOVEMBER 2024

We held a photo voice exhibition at CommUnity Corner, exploring the themes of place, community and connection.

A peer support weight loss group started on Friday mornings. And we used the community lottery funds to offer solidarity cash gifts of up to £50, as we know how tight finances are for many and the extra stress Christmas brings.

DECEMBER 2024

We held a Christmas market at CommUnity Corner. A coach trip to the Christmas markets in Chester. St Andrew’s hosted a Crafty Christmas event. We enjoyed Christmas afternoon tea and Margaret’s homemade

cakes. St Andrew’s Church and the community worked together to offer community members carols on the doorstep.

We held a children’s Christmas party at the Scout Hut. Community Corner had a Christmas get-together, and people brought and donated food to share. Co op Funeral Care gifted £100 towards the costs.

And we opened Community Corner on Christmas Day for a couple of hours, serving crumpets, a cuppa, and company. Frank baked us a beautiful Christmas cake to share.

To read the full report, download this PDF.