New team hit a winner

The Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group, led by a new committee, established only eight weeks ago, raised a bumper £1,100 from their first event.

They made a significant impact, at this year’s annual village fete on Dawson’s Field—a beloved green space regularly used by residents for football, rounders, dog walking, picnics, and a variety of organised events. 
 
And they report feedback from this year’s fete has been overwhelmingly positive. 
 
They hosted a wide range of stalls from local traders, alongside a diverse selection of food and drink outlets. 
 
There were also plenty of added attractions for children, including live sheep, guide dogs for the blind, and street dancers that younger visitors could join in with. 
 
Other popular activities included tug of war, egg-and-spoon races, sack races, a treasure hunt, and inflatable dinosaurs, which proved to be a huge hit. 
 
Speaking on behalf of their industrious group, Jackie Ridding and Nicola Harvey said they were incredibly grateful to their amazing sponsors this year. 
 
They explained: “Their exceptional generosity—from local businesses—helped us raise over £1,100 for the community. A special thank you also goes to our wonderful volunteers, whose hard work made the day such a success.” 
 
The fete was officially opened by the Mayor of Oldham, Cllr Pam Byrne and the Youth Mayor, Hassan Ali Jabbar, and they were delighted to welcome more than 500 people in attendance. 
 
Looking ahead, the committee has exciting plans for the future. Jackie Ridding and Nicola Harvey added: “We are hoping to organise another event between now and Christmas, with our festive celebration already confirmed for Sunday, December 6, at the Three Crowns on Huddersfield Road.” 
 
The new committee is made up of an enthusiastic, dedicated, and hard-working team, fully committed to building this success and strengthening community spirit for years to come.