Our community social enterprises include two Community Cafes, located in Dukinfield (one at Beatrix House, the other at The Together Centre); a Community Cycle Circuit, in Ashton-under-Lyne; and two Community Allotments at Ash Road, St Georges.
Our social enterprises are designed to provide real life work experience, volunteering and paid employment opportunities for young people with a disability and/or additional needs. All income generated is used to buy products, maintain equipment and to pay the young people and adults we employ.
The Holiday Activities Fund is a government funded scheme targeted at children and families who have experienced the most economic disadvantage as a result of the pandemic. Government research estimates that all pupils have fallen behind on their reading and maths. Pupils in schools with high numbers of children eligible for free school meals were however further behind those in other schools. The Holiday Activities Fund aims to address this need. Places on this programme of activities are available for all children but not all places are funded. Please contact Fuel4Fun@activetameside.com if you would like more information.
Any families who are not eligible for benefits-related free school meals but are in need of support should contact the Early Help Team on 0161 342 4260 for support and advice. For all the free summer events for all families visit here.
Active Tameside Community Cycle Circuit is a purpose built; traffic-free cycling environment located in Ashton-under-Lyne. It consists of a 1km fully enclosed tarmac circuit, perfect for riders of all abilities to develop confidence and capability.
With a number of accessible bikes available, we welcome riders of all abilities, including those who have never learnt to ride, to those who want to train for
an event. Equally, with specifically adapted bikes for those with additional needs, it provides a safe platform to learn and have fun.
The Cycle Circuit is open six days a week and sessions must be pre-booked.
Our Community Cafés are self-sustainable, using local produce (including allotment produce), and are run solely by our young people and adults with additional needs, whilst looking to offer low-cost homemade meals to vulnerable people who would otherwise cater for themselves. They are also open to the general public and can provide catering buffet options for special events and functions.
Our cafés align with the Everybody Can ambition of developing people holistically by enriching their maths and literacy skills, and interacting with the local community. They prepare the meals and set the tables before completing a full clean down of the seating area, cutlery and kitchen surfaces. This has enabled a significant increase in organisational, communication and social skills.
Opening times:
Beatrix House (Gorse Hill Rd, Dukinfield, SK16 5JU) Monday – Saturday 10:30am-1:30pm
The Together Centre (Laxley House, Dukinfield, SK16 5AU) Monday – Friday 10:30am-1:30pm
The allotments provide opportunities for those across our other services to grow their own food. All cooking sessions are planned around the food planted, grown and produced.
Our Community Cafes are indeed a beneficiary of the allotments too. The allotments help to educate on the cycle of growing to cooking – from planting the seeds to cooking the food.
Flowers are also planted here for use in flower baskets for displaying around centres or to sell as gifts.
Fuel4Fun has been formed through Tameside Holiday Activity and Food Funding (HAF). We use a targeted approach to deliver interventions for a large number of young people in Tameside, from 5 years up to youth, as well as the under-25 SEND population.
These consist of a range of sessions and activity places for three groups of families and young people to access that:
Our targeted cohort consists of 10,000 families in Tameside who are in receipt of free school meals or pupil premium.
This programme helps to reduce the cost on the public purse for these high-need groups, in relation to the current spend for Tameside Integrated Services, therefore providing greater benefits and outcomes for families and young people in Tameside.
Your card, your choice. Choice is a great thing in life, so you’ve come to the right place. With so many ways to spend your Active Choice Card you’ll never be stuck for fun family times, fitness and wellbeing times, Fuel cafes catch-up times and for those activity must-haves (forgotten the goggles, stylish swimwear) you can also spend it at our in-centre stores.