FCHO opens its doors to Oldham’s future talent by supporting MP Debbie Abrahams’ Summer School

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has supported local MP Debbie Abrahams’ Working for Your Community Summer School by hosting students at its Union Street head office throughout July.

The housing association invited all those taking part in a strategy session on how it can best support young people aged 16–25.  

It then hosted two summer school students, Fatimah Javed (20), and Fatima Dafe (24), both from Oldham, for four days where they joined departments like Development and Neighbourhood Care. They were also mentored by FCHO Chief Executive, Mark Gifford. 

Miss Dafe said of her experience: “I learnt FCHO isn’t just a landlord, they actually help the people in their communities. 

“Instead of it just being a landlord-tenant relationship, FCHO makes sure that their customers' whole experience of living in their house is good.  

“There’s a lot more than just assigning houses to people that goes on. I really liked going out with the Neighbourhood team and seeing the areas that everyone lives in and being involved in the inspections where they check on people.” 

FCHO also hosted the summer school graduation event and contributed £400 to help with travel to London when the group visited the Houses of Parliament. 

Mr Gifford said: “FCHO continues to focus on being an anchor organisation in our town and meets its pledge to support opportunities for young people in our communities.  

“This is the reason we were delighted to be involved in Debbie’s summer school – a brilliant project that does so much every year to help Oldham’s young people. 

“I know everyone at FCHO was very impressed with all the young people who came and the enthusiasm they showed for our work and for learning about democracy when they visited Westminster.” 

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Mrs Abrahams added: “I am grateful to Mark Gifford and First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) for all their support for my annual ‘Working for your Community’ Summer School. 

FCHO hosted a session on the first Monday of my Summer School on FCHO's strategy for next year and invited the students to contribute ideas to benefit young tenants. This is the second year they have run a session for our students, which there was fantastic feedback. 

“Together with several local employers, they also took on two students for a week’s placement at FCHO. FCHO went out of its way to make the students’ experience as useful as possible by tailoring their days to their interests and studies. They were incredibly proactive, and I am very thankful for the effort they made. A massive ‘thank you’ to FCHO for their generosity, and I look forward to working together again in the future."