A community project is in the running for a national award after winning plaudits for its jobs and fitness programme.
The Involved Salford project in Broughton is up for a Community Impact Award, and volunteers need your help to vote them through to win.
The co-operative runs a number of schemes in Salford, including weekly lunch and jobs clubs for up to 200 people to support locals back into work.
Earlier this year Involved Salford also launched the Well IN community gym at The Vibe on Broughton Lane.
Project manager Nick Burke explains: “Whilst working as a community organiser in the area, issues regarding child obesity, poor health,and low life expectancy became a recurring theme as council owned fitness facilities began to close and support teams such as the community health team had to close due to budget cuts.
“I, the team and local residents decided that if we wanted something that could continue to tackle these issues we would have to build, run it and in fact own it ourselves, so we did.”
The Broughton-based project is in the running in the Better Neighbourhoods category – and organisers now needs the public’s votes to win through this week.
Involved Salford is co-funded by Contour Homes, part of Symphony Housing Group, and the Diocese of Manchester.
Public voting is now officially open in the National Housing Federation awards and closes on Sunday 4 September.
To support and vote for the project, please visit: http://ciw.housing.org.uk/polls/better-neighbourhoods
Pete Coventry, community engagement manager at Contour Homes, said: “Involved Salford is a great example of how successful a project can be when it is owned and led by the local community.
“It has become a great asset to Broughton in a relatively short period of time and the range of projects that it delivers are making a real difference to the health and wellbeing of local residents.”
If you’re a resident and would like more information about any of Involved Salford’s projects, please contact Dave Fraser on 0161 875 8084.
