Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors have all joined a call to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for real government investment to be made in education to provide further tuition to school children to catch up on learning lost because of Covid-19.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors signed the open letter to Prime Minister Johnson, which is being coordinated by the teachers’ representative body, the National Education Union.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, explained why they had done so:  “Although the government has talked a lot about ‘levelling up’, investing to tackle inequalities in Britain after Covid, it has singularly failed to do so when it comes to the education of our children. The government’s own Education Recovery Tzar resigned in protest because only £1.4 billion was made available for extra classes on the school day to enable children to catch up on their learning.  He wanted over ten times that – £15 billion.  Clearly then the government’s current proposals are inadequate.”

Councillor Sykes is also especially concerned about the welfare of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.  “Reductions in the Pupil Premium will have a real impact in  Oldham, which sadly remains one of the most economically deprived and educationally disadvantaged places in Britain,” he added. “Not only do we want to see no cutbacks, we want to see more money invested to give all of Oldham’s children an excellent education to equip them with the skills and knowledge they require for meaningful employment and a fulfilling life.”

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, fears the Prime Minister’s announcement that Covid-19 restrictions will last another month will mean yet more local pubs being lost, unless further financial support is soon forthcoming.

“Whilst I understand that the Prime Minister has made this decision based upon scientific advice, the delay will put further pressure on hospitality business which have been impacted disproportionately by lockdowns and trading restrictions since March of last year”, said Councillor Sykes.

Last week, the British Institute of Inn-keeping estimated that 1 in 10 pubs nationwide was expected to fail if there was a delay in the easing of restrictions, and the trade body UKHospitality has said that the delay will cost the sector around £3bn in sales.

Councillor Sykes added: “Hospitality is one of the UK’s biggest employment sectors, and often the sector in which our young people begin their working lives.  Since March 2020, pubs and restaurants have been unable to trade for many months. When they could do so they have faced onerous trading restrictions because of social distancing, table service and early closing. They have also invested heavily to make their premises ‘Covid-safe’ and now employ more staff to serve at tables.

“This is why I believe the government needs to announce more financial support for our hospitality sector during this torrid time, such as extending furlough and the business rates holiday.  Pubs and restaurants are an integral part of our local  communities; we must not let them fall at the last hurdle”.

Hope you can join me for our event next Sunday the 20th, our task being fencing repairs; this has been moved forward with everyone’s agreement due to Sara & I having a week off !

The current BBC weather forecast for Sunday is light cloud and a gentle breeze, likely temperatures of 10º/17º and ~12 mph winds so please ensure you have your favourite hot & or cold liquids, appropriate  clothing & footwear and a packed lunch if you are up for the day – you all know that on the day, it may feel colder than it really is.

If you have any issues that you may wish to discuss prior to Sunday, please do not hesitate to email (on either address) or text / phone me on 07961107860.

For those of you that have not already done so, please could you let me know if you intend to join us on the day.  

I look forward to seeing you in the Crompton Moor Car Park at 10.30 on Sunday. Thank you.

Kindest Regards – Edward John Fulton (aka Ed / Eddie). Countryside Volunteer Ranger, (Mob) 07961 107860 [Calls may be recorded], (Text) 07961 107860, (Fax)  01706 61813 (E)  edward@edwardjohnfulton.uk , (E) edward.fulton@btinternet.uk

Useful information on this important issue above.

Shaw councillor Howard Sykes MBE has offered the latest new business in Shaw a ‘warm welcome’ and his best wishes for its success.

Demilee Morgan, a Shaw resident, has taken possession of the former fancy dress shop at 2 Market Street and will soon be reopening the premises as a bespoke manufacturer and retailer of candles, Waxxy Warehouse Ltd.

“This new shop will be great for Shaw”, said councillor Sykes. “Shoppers want to see more than the usual suspects on their high street and this kind of business – artisan, independent and local – is exactly what I would like to see in our town centre.  If Shaw can offer something unique it will attract more visitors from further afield to shop and make our local economy more vibrant.  This is why I am also campaigning for a monthly farmers’ and artisan producers’ market for Shaw.”

The new business has received support from the Enterprising You team funded by  Oldham Council, with access to personalised advice, such as help with marketing and securing suitable premises at an affordable price.  Enterprising You also offers access to over 200 online courses and ongoing advice to aspiring local entrepreneurs on their business develops.  Their website is https://www.enterprising-you.co.uk/

Councillor Sykes added:  “I was very glad to hear that Demilee was able to access help from the Enterprising You team and hope that other Shaw residents will want to do the same.  This is the second exciting original new business we have seen launched in Shaw in the last few weeks, hot on the heels of Tapas bar Vida Viva.  I do hope we see many more.”

https://www.thewaxxywarehouse.co.uk/

After the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) produced its latest report, local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has called on the Council to put its recommendations – and lessons from around the country – into practice in Oldham.

One example is the Quetzal Project in Leicester, which provides free counselling for women recovering from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. They have been running an outreach project to allow women in isolated communities to access counselling, particularly from South Asian backgrounds.

Sam said: “What the Quetzal Project has done really well is reach out to people and communities, not wait for people to come to them. They found the right people in the community, that survivors would trust, and gave them the help they needed to ensure that people got counselling, got support. Those people are now speaking out so that other survivors know that they can get help.

The latest report from IICSA, into ethnic minority survivors of child sexual abuse, looked at many different communities, and made a series of recommendations including reaching out into the community to overcome the trust issues that many people have with formal support organisations.

Having got an agreement from the Council to implement IICSA’s recommendations into their approaches, Councillor Al-Hamdani has written to the Council’s chief executive, Carolyn Wilkins, to ask how the latest findings will be taken on board, and to recommend the Quetzal model as a way of helping isolated survivors.

Sam continued: “While the report was focused on ethnic minorities, many of the recommendations are valid for all communities and people. No matter what community you are from, you are an individual with the same fears and uncertainties as anyone else. What we need to do is break down the barriers that stop people from getting the help they need, whether that is economic, cultural or personal.”

Notes: Videos from the Quetzal Project, with individuals’ stories of how they were helped, are available at their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPtMhlB2jeL2_NWsbO2Q-xw

The IICSA report Engagement with support services for ethnic minority communities is available at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/26008/view/engagement-report-ethnic-minority-communities-29-april-2021.pdf  

12 June 2021 – Queen Elizabeth II official birthday.

First one without your husband, will not be easy – in my thoughts and prayers.

Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat councillors have been informed that some exciting provision from Oldham Youth Service is happening in three of our local secondary schools. 

Shaw Councillor, Howard Sykes said “Crompton House School, The Oldham Academy North and Royton & Crompton School have been offered some tailored youth work for pupils at the schools. Part of this will see a Youth Violence Summit held on 23 June 2021 – guest speakers will be talking pupils from across the borough as well.” 

The schools were asked how they would like the youth service to work with their young people and this has resulted in different types of engagement. 

“Royton & Crompton School are having an afterschool drama and dance provision, focusing on the school’s values and creating a drama piece to be shown at the end of the school year – which sounds very exciting” said Crompton Councillor Diane Williamson. 

The two weeklong event is helping youngsters to look at how to overcome previous bad choices.  Other summits being held are Climate Change, Mental Health and Hate Speech. 

The Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed the commitment made by the Leader of Oldham Council to make ‘proper time (available) for consideration by councillors’ of the long-awaited report by the review team into historic child sexual exploitation issues at a meeting of the Full Council.

Last month, Councillor Sykes wrote to the new Leader, Councillor Arooj Shah, to request that Councillors be able ‘to discuss this matter in Full Council at the earliest opportunity’. As the Greater Manchester Deputy Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner, Baroness Beverley Hughes, had previously said the report would be available by the middle of this year, councillor Sykes was hopeful that this would be at the July 14 Council meeting.

In her reply, Councillor Shah could not confirm that this would be the 14 July but did commit to a debate at ‘a scheduled full council meeting or a special meeting if that is required’.  The GM Deputy Mayor, who oversees the work of the independent review team, will in any case be asked to provide an update to the July meeting.

Commenting councillor Sykes said: “I am still hoping that we shall see the full report in advance of the July meeting and to be able to debate it, but we may still all need to be patient a little bit longer.  The timetable of the review is outside of Oldham Council’s control.  If July is not possible, then we shall debate it soon and I welcome the promised update on progress next month.”

For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/