Celebrating Communities Together in Rochdale

Are you a grassroots leader seeking impactful collaborations and fresh perspectives to tackle challenges in your community? Are you interested in finding out what other grassroots organisations are doing to support their communities, and what challenges they are facing? We are bringing together community leaders from across the UK for a day of collaboration, learning and inspiration. In this Project Exchange in Rochdale, social action leaders will converge to share insights, forge partnerships, and share strategies for stronger and more vibrant communities.

In a world marked by fragmentation and isolation, grassroots leaders are the key to bringing people together. Not only do they wonderfully support the communities they serve, but they often step in when institutions don’t. We believe they should be cherished and celebrated! That is why we created 32 Steps to Togetherness, a practical resource that aims to bring community organisations together, to build a nation-wide network of support for more cohesive and more resilient communities - nationwide. At its core, this initiative recognises the pressing need for collaboration and empathy in addressing societal challenges, from loneliness to racism and intolerance.

Together with partners at and , as part of our 32 Steps to Togetherness initiative, we are organising a Project Exchange in Rochdale: an event convening civil society leaders and stakeholders committed to collective action, to exchange knowledge, ideas, resources, and experiences of what successful community organisations are achieving in this locality. We will also visit the newly renovated Rochdale Town Hall.

The Rochdale Project Exchange will particularly focus on assessing the impact of local organisations in tackling social issues and contributing to bringing people and communities together, providing inspiration for further action! We’ve designed it to benefit a diverse range of stakeholders: community leaders, organisers, and advocates who are committed to driving positive change within their respective spheres of influence. By bringing people together, we want to create new connections and foster social solidarity, especially looking at how participants can collectively address systemic issues, innovate solutions, and cultivate a culture of empathy and collaboration. Through workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities, you will gain valuable insights, resources, and support to navigate complex challenges and contribute to the advancement of inclusive and thriving communities.

What else can you expect from this day?

· Community visits: Experience firsthand the impactful work being done by local organisations in Rochdale.

· Connection: Network with fellow community leaders and organisers to exchange ideas and resources.

· Further action: Reflect on key takeaways and commit to ongoing engagement and collaboration.

Agenda for the day

10:00-10:15 Registration and welcome in Rochdale Town Hall, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, ROCHDALE, OL16 1XU

10:15-10:30 Welcome speech by the Mayor of Rochdale and Q&A

Walk to nearby Caring & Sharing - 78 Yorkshire Street, ROCHDALE, OL16 1JU

10:30-12:00 Session 1 - Networking and Project Showcase - Caring & Sharing Rochdale

Travel to nearby Awakening Minds CIC (7 mins by car/25 mins walk) - 85 Osborne Street, ROCHDALE, OL11 1QU

13:00-14:30 Session 2 - Networking and Project Showcase - Awakening Minds CIC

14:00-15:30 Lunch & Refreshments

Nicky, Chief Executive, from Caring & Sharing Rochdale, talking at a recent Togetherness conference in Peterborough

Nasrine, Awakening Minds CIC Chief Officer, talking at the Peterborough Togetherness conference in March 2024

About Caring & Sharing Rochdale

Caring and Sharing works to address the systemic challenges faced by the BAME community within Rochdale and its surrounding areas, helping asylum seekers, refugees and other marginalised individuals rebuild their lives with dignity and respect, including children affected by ill health and abuse, and victims of human trafficking. They believe in the transformative power of compassion and support, and their approach is centred around understanding individual needs and providing tailored assistance that makes a real difference.

About Awakening Minds CIC

Founded in 2006, Awakening Minds is a grassroots community-led and non-profit organisation providing AdHoc culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health training, care, and personalised support, specifically for BAME underrepresented communities. They are dedicated to providing opportunities for development and growth, by improving the emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing of marginalised and isolated communities.

About Civil Society Consulting

Civil Society Consulting CIC is a non-profit working across the UK, with strong connections in the North East, North West and East of England, as well as in London where we are based. In a nutshell: we want health, equality and social solidarity (cohesion). We believe that restoring a sense of community and developing communities is the key, and therefore that the voluntary community sector (VCS) is key! We aim to strengthen the VCS sector by being a reliable source of excellent support for VCS organisations, which is either affordable (to medium-sized and larger organisations) or free (to small, grassroots organisations led by and for marginalised communities).

About 32 Steps to Togetherness

The UK is experiencing high levels of loneliness across all age groups and social fragmentation is on the rise. Why? Because individuals and communities are becoming more and more isolated from each other. Fast-paced lifestyles and the privatisation of public spaces are major factors, with changing social norms and technology altering how we communicate. People are desperately missing a sense of community!

Civil Society Consulting has developed a resource for combating loneliness and social fragmentation from the bottom up - through small but significant actions. The 32 Steps manual provides practical suggestions for how we, as individuals and community leaders, can build connections within and between communities, setting out ideas for how to change our thinking habits, foster community connections, encourage workplace inclusivity, and recognise the political nature of building diverse social networks.

Over the next two years, Civil Society Consulting CIC has Bringing People Together funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. We want to:

• Grow a community of togetherness champions - people and organisations who support and endorse 32 Steps to Togetherness
• Spread a spirit of togetherness through them, inspiring individuals and community leaders to follow the 32 Steps.
• Support, catalyse and empower community leaders within the community through providing free support.

We’re now focused on building the foundations for a bigger movement - i.e. a strong network of supported civil society and faith leaders. These foundations will be a launching pad from which to scale. Join us.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, United Kingdom