Welcome to our website, we’re an independent mental health charity based in Ashton-Under-Lyne, who provide long-term opportunities for people who are aiming to rebuild their lives and improve their social integration.
Making a difference is no longer at 214 Stamford Street Central. The building has been sold and we moved out on the sixth of January.
A Potted History of our 23years so far.
We have been a charity since 2002 and we are continuing as a charity. We began our charity in a house at the back of the Nazarene church on Stamford Street in 2002, in the winter time. The house hadn’t been used for several years, it needed decorating and the boiler wasn’t working, it was very cold decorating and preparing the building for the spring was not easy. We started with 1 workroom, 1 office a lounge and kitchen. As people developed their skills we took on an allotment on the Fairfield Moravian site Droylesden. , we had many hours of fun working together as a team growing many vegetable and learning from other allotment holders We won 2nd prize in the beetroot competition in their exhibition. Often coming home on the bus with bags of onions ( causing quite a smell) carrots and beetroot, green beans and sweetcorn. We had a brilliant chef who took several members in an NVQ level 2 in catering, the assessor came to the Centre to give support from Tameside college. A number of other members completed Food Hygiene training level 2. We decided that it would be good time to have a dining room, the Nazarene allowed us to use their cafe, which was not in use at the time. We used this for a number of years, having to walk through the yard into the building each day with our meals, interesting time. After a number of years, 11 in fact, it was decided we would look for other ways to offer more opportunities to develop work related skills. Our then fund raiser raised enough money for us to have the opportunity to look for a building in which to have a cafe and workrooms. He also applied for Lottery Funding. After many months searching 214 Stamford Street came on the market to rent, we applied and moved in there, winter 2014, seems winter is our time of moving and decorating. The landlord gave us several months free rent to be able to be able to make the building fit for purpose. It was at this time that we found out that we had received our lottery funding of 365,000 it was a fantastic time with everyone involved in our new building. It was March / April 2015 before we were anywhere near ready but we opened and it was thrilling to have the mayor to cut the ribbon and have a full paid spread in the paper. Well a lot has gone on in the 8years we have had 214 and many people have gained the necessary Life Skills to improve their lives. Our monthly Sing a Long for older people has been an amazing success. With French lessons, sign language, sewing sessions, cooking on a budget, computer, music, drumming lessons by Dan from Strings next door and many more activities which helped with building trust and acceptance. On Saturdays for quite a while Dan brought his students to sing in the cafe giving them opportunity to share their talent with family and friends, this gave opportunity for some members to use their customer care skills. We have had students on placement from Tameside college, Whitebrook college, Manchester university to gain knowledge and experience. We have had a number of brilliant cooks and bakers over the years Diane a member who baked delicious cakes for the cafe also Holly who was introduced to us as a young 16year old studying at Tameside, has become and amazing baker selling her bakes on line. We wish Holly much success in her future and bakery business.
For now Making a Difference – Tameside continues with community support. We are planning to offer training in Personal Development in Emotional & Mental Health having received funding to prepare and facilitate this.
It has been a tremendous 23years with many more successes than can be written here, “maybe one day I will write a book who knows.” But for now we begin a new era of Making a Difference Tameside : Equipping & Empowering people to see change in their lives, with, I am sure, many more amazing and wonderful exciting adventures to come.
A New Beginning……………………………………where will it lead.? Who knows.
Janice Hogg
Mental Health Practitioner, Rehabilitation Trainer and Coach.
Should you need support or help, or encouragement please email me and I will contact you – making.a.difference.tameside@gmail.com or ring 07419295873 and leave a message, I will aim to get back to you within the shortest possible time.
Making a Difference- Tameside
Registered Charity No. 1103513
Making a Difference Tameside - Life Skills Centre 