Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB navigates residents toward help with Money Advice Tool

Borough officials worked with Greater Manchester Poverty Action on this two-page guide for the financially insecure. Guide users are asked, "What's the problem" and given five common answers to the question. Each answer recommends one or more solutions including tax appeals, energy advice, and benefit checks. The Money Advice Tool includes a directory of council and community resources that support residents struggling to make ends meet.

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Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB

United Kingdom

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB promotes social prescribing through Thriving Communities

The council's Social Prescribing Innovation Partnership works with local doctors to prescribe non-medical remedies when possible. Project partners like Age UK and Action Together help practitioners identify health issues ideal for community intervention. Patients receive prescriptions for art, sports, and outdoor activities that ease stress and anxiety. The overarching Thriving Communities Programme also funds projects that reduce social isolation through the Social Action Fund.

OM

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB

United Kingdom

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB establishes green burial area in council-operated cemetery

Crompton Cemetery contains a section for residents who want to conduct eco-friendly burials. Coffins in this section are made from natural materials with minimal impact on the environment. Families that opt against coffins can bury their loved ones in biodegradable shrouds and containers. The council's Cemetery Office prohibits embalming and permanent markers in this section. Residents can locate exact burial spots by contacting the office.

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Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB

United Kingdom

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB pursues solar farm to build on clean energy successes

The council proposes the construction of a 900-kilowatt solar farm on open land in Failsworth. The energy produced at the facility will power council operations with excess energy delivered to the local grid. The Failsworth solar farm accelerates Oldham's shift toward carbon-neutral energy by 2025. Oldham officials previously completed a 110kW rooftop system at Tommyfield Market and six solar retrofits of community buildings that produce 215kW.

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Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB

United Kingdom

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB expands housing options with Empty Houses pilot

Oldham contained approximately 1,100 qualifying properties at the pilot's beginning. The council offers to purchase residential properties that do not have occupants for at least six months. Council personnel renovates purchased properties before renting to families at subsidized rates. The pilot also offers to lease empty properties from owners and renovate, thus expanding affordable housing stock without the costs of outright purchases.

OM

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, GB

United Kingdom