A community hub which supports neurodiverse adults and those with learning disabilities in Oldham has been shortlisted for Certas Energy's Community Bloom Fund.
Local people are being asked to vote and help the charity secure one of two £15,000 grants on offer this year.
Pennine Mencap in Oldham is one of four finalists competing for the funding. The charity has been running since 2012 and supports around 80 adults with learning disabilities and complex needs per week, offering a safe space to access activities, build friendships and develop new skills.
The charity is in the process of completing a major renovation of its centre and this funding would allow them to complete the final stage, transforming the yard and terrace into accessible community spaces with seating, lighting and a space to grow plants and food.
The charity also hopes to bring in outdoor musical instruments to support its weekly music therapy sessions.
Madison Holt, Communications Officer at Pennine Mencap, said: "Adults with learning disabilities or neurodiverse adults are often a forgotten demographic. Once people leave college, services and support can fall away almost completely.
“This funding would allow us to complete the final stage of our renovation, giving our service users the beautiful outdoor space they deserve and allowing us to welcome wider community groups to use this space too.
"It can be really daunting for people to come in and start a session, even those who've been before" Madison said. "Having a welcoming garden space means people can see what's going on before they join our sessions, which will make it so much easier for them to take that first step."
The Community Bloom Fund was launched by Certas Energy in 2025 to support grassroots projects that bring people together. This year there are two £15,000 grants on offer to help local fundraisers to make a lasting difference in their local communities.
Niki Holt, Marketing Director at Certas Energy, said: "Our judging panel was struck by the variety of ways Pennine Mencap's service users will use this garden, from planting and growing food, to cooking with what they harvest, to simply having a space to relax outdoors.
“It's also a space that will open up to other local groups in the area, and that combination of multiple users and uses is exactly what we hoped the Community Bloom Fund would achieve.
"The team's renovation work so far has clearly been a labour of love, and it would be wonderful to see them finish the job and give their community the beautiful, therapeutic space the team has been working so hard to achieve."
She added: "Having a fund like this that recognises smaller, grassroots initiatives like ours is rare, and we'd be so grateful if the local community could vote for our project."
Voting for the Community Bloom Fund winner is now open and closes at midnight on 8th September. To vote for Pennine Mencap, visit: https://certasenergy.co.uk/community-bloom-fund.
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