Contents:
- Editor's welcome
- Daisi Daniels
- Rochdale’s ‘gothic masterpiece’ Town Hall is being restored to its full glory
- Broadfield Park
- Sarah Fitchett Woman of Rochdale 2022
- Upperbanks
- Jolly Josh charity opens fully-inclusive centre for disabled children
- ’Thank you’ funds raised for hospital by children
- Highest award for Rochdale soup kitchen »
- H Bell & Sons celebrate 110 years of business
- The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2022
- Gardening tips for Summer
- BES: Delivering industry-leading expertise from Rochdale
- Luxury travel brand eShores turns 15
- This Summer take a holiday from binge boozing
- Permanent eyebrows - what are they all about?
- Guided Walks
- Pineapple upside-down cake and piña colada
- Royal Jubilee recognition for Brad Gartland after setting up local male mental health charity
- Rochdale Lacrosse win David Beesley Cup after unbeaten season
- The earliest days of rugby football in Rochdale
- Highlights of a mayoral year
- Hairdressing trend - Beach Waves
Summer 2022Highest award for Rochdale soup kitchen
The Soup Kitchen Rochdale receives Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
The Soup Kitchen Rochdale has been awarded the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK: the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Now based in Champness Hall on Drake Street - after a year at St Chad’s - the soup kitchen was founded by trustees Marilyn Jones and Vida Slater in 2004, recognising a need to provide support for the homeless and vulnerable.
They started by serving soup from the boot of a car in front of the town hall, and it soon became apparent that a permanent site was needed.
Nearly 700 meals a week were delivered during the height of the pandemic, as volunteers worked with other groups to keep people fed.
Marilyn and Vida say the accolade is “testament to the many hours” the 52 volunteers contribute and are “extremely grateful” to receive the award.
The Soup Kitchen Rochdale has now reopened, providing meals three days each week, and around 300 bags of supplies weekly.