Festive events to engage with
Eventbrite: is a great way to find out what’s going on over the festive season. Here’s a link to what’s on in Oldham
Volunteering opportunities:
Our Volunteering Team can help you find an opportunity that fits in alongside your other commitments and is appropriately matched with your relevant skills and experiences, as well as your reasons for volunteering. Oldham Volunteering | Action Together
Volunteering – Dr Kershaw’s Hospice – Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do! From supporting in various roles at the Hospice, to helping us raise vital funds at our events and in our shops. Our Hospice simply couldn’t open its doors every day without our volunteers who generously give up their time to support us.
We value each and every one of our volunteers, their support makes such a big difference to our patients and their families!
Mahdlo Youth Zone support our members to try something new and step out of their comfort zones all the time.
But they need your support and guidance to become the best they can be.
By volunteering at Mahdlo, not only do you give back to the community by making a difference in young people’s lives, but you also get to develop your skills in a lively setting and have a great time doing so. Volunteering – Mahdlo Youth Zone
Services and support:
Loneliness
Loneliness can be exacerbated at times of year when it feels like others are spending a lot of time partying and celebrating together, and for many this has been worsened by social media. Remember that we only see a snapshot of people’s lives online, and it is completely normal to feel lonely sometimes. However, there are steps you can take to help manage these feelings, and support is available if you’re finding it hard to cope. Visit: https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/loneliness
Loss, grief and bereavement
Grief is a normal response to bereavement and loss, and it can make times of celebration feel dauting. This advice (https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/managing-grief/christmas/ ) is around coping with grief at Christmas, but can also apply to many other significant days and events. Local bereavement support organisations can be found here: https://greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk/map/
Alcohol and controlled substances
Events and parties during the festive season can bring with them the pressure to eat and drink in excess, whether this pressure is overt or more indirect. If you’re worried about your relationship with alcohol and/or drugs, here are some services who can offer support and advice: https://www.turning-point.co.uk/services/rochdale-oldham
Food and disordered eating
If you’re worried about your relationship with food, or you find yourself bingeing, restricting, or displaying other disordered behaviours around eating, you can access help from the NHS GM Mental Health Service. https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/eating-disorder-service
Finances and pressure around giving
This time of year can come with increased pressure to spend money, from gifts to social events to charity collections. If you’re worried about your finances and would like support, here are some useful places to start:
- If you live in Oldham: https://www.resolvepoverty.org/money-advice-referral-tools/
Gambling
If gambling is causing you or your loved ones harm, help is available from Beacon Counselling Trust https://beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk/gambling-related-harms/
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse doesn’t just take the form of physical violence. If your partner or somebody you live with is demonstrating controlling, coercive, threatening,
degrading and/or violent behaviour towards you or another person in the home, or if you are displaying these behaviours towards somebody else, help is available. https://www.endthefear.co.uk/
Depression and suicidal thoughts
If you are feeling extremely low or are in crisis and are worried you might cause yourself harm, help is available here. https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/are-you-thinking-about-ending-your-life
