MP sees Stockport's community champions in action

MP Ann Coffey saw the strength of Stockport's voluntary sector in action last week when she visited the Cheadle Heath Community Association at their base at the Pavilion centre, Gorsey Bank Park.

The Cheadle Heath Community Association was the 2009 winner of Stockport Council's "My Place in Stockport" award, in the "volunteering champions" category. This was in well deserved recognition of the hard work and commitment of CHCA to making a real difference in Stockport.

The community association holds a regular drop-in for its members on a Wednesday, and an art therapy class for people with learning disabilities on a Friday, at the Pavilion.

Another local organisation, Easy-go Community Transport, is on hand to take people with mobility problems to their sessions at the centre, and take them home afterwards.

On Friday Ann visited the art class and met up with Rose Walker, Secretary and Treasurer of the CHCA. Ann later met Chris Bennett who runs Easy-go and who had arrived to pick up one of the members of the art class.

Ann Coffey said: "This is such a good example of community support in Stockport. Easy-go provides a flexible door to door service for local residents who can't use public transport, making sure they can get to activities like those arranged by Rose at the Community Association. They can also take you shopping or to hospital appointments. It works very well."

Both the Community Association and Easy-go rely on volunteers, and anyone who has time to spare and might be interested can contact:

Easy-go CT, tel 482 7240 or e-mail info@easy-goct.org.uk
Cheadle Heath Community Association, tel 429 0490