Hattersley and Mottram Community Media

My name is Rita Osborne and I have lived on Hattersley for about 14 months now after moving back here from Essex. I have been volunteering now for around 8 months and I am one the HMCM’s Talking News readers. After seeing an article in the Community News last year, asking for volunteers to help with the editing of the talking news I decided to offer my services. Although I couldn’t help with the editing side of things I could help with the recording of the Talking News and quickly became a Talking News reader.

After suffering from two cataract’s and undergoing operations to help correct my vision I was aware of how valuable the talking news is to people who are blind or visually impaired and I wanted to give something back. Now, not only do I read the Talking News but I recently used a computer for the first time when I was asked to help do a monthly ring round to monitor the delivery of the Newspaper.

My name is Cherelle Thompson and I have been a volunteer for HMCM since August 2009. I work in the office and my role as a volunteer involves various admin duties, including answering the telephone & inputting data to name a few.

Now that my son is in full time school I thought it was the right time to get myself back into a working environment. HMCM have given me an opportunity to gain new skill and experiences. I have started an ITQ Course and hope this will be a stepping stone back into paid work. I am really enjoying the hands on experience and I am learning new things on a daily basis.

My name is Damien Wilson I am 25 years old and I have lived on Hattersley all my life. I am currently unemployed and actively seeking work. I have been volunteering for HMCM since September 2009 and first started by supporting the Digital Switchover, which HMCM were heavily involved in. This involved helping members of the local community to find the answers to their digital switch questions.

Hi, I'm Daphne Davis and I moved the family to Manchester in 1993.
We first lived in Ashton, then Openshaw and came to Hattersley in 1998 ... best move I ever made!

I like to get involved in things, to feel like I'm doing my bit and am still useful. I volunteer as Hattersley & Mottram Community Media's Archivist, which involves collecting newspaper cuttings from various
local newspapers like The Advertiser & Reporter on news articles that relate to Hattersley and Mottram.

My name is Stephen Haycock and l have lived on the estate since 1965. I went to Pinfold & Arundale Primary Schools then onto Hattersley Comp. I'm a regular sportsman and have played cricket for Mottram and semi-professional football for Glossop. But I have always fished, since I was 10 years old and now I'm a qualified level 2 coach “in angling" backed by the “professional anglers association".

My name is Violet Harrington. I moved here from Manchester about 6 years ago. I like Hattersley instantly because of the hills and country side surrounding with the fresh air. When I lived in Manchester, I did not feel any sense of community belonging. It was all about the individual. But it is so different at Hattersley. People are more connected with each other, friendly and helpful. There is definitely a community bond over here.

I got involved with Hattersley & Mottram Community Media and the Community News through the 'On Hattersley' internet TV project. I am interested in music technology, graphic design and web technologies and I hope to develop those skills through volunteering with HMCM.

I live in Hyde and I found out and joined the HMCM film crew after seeing an article about their Pixelate internet TV show in the Tameside Advertiser.

I am excited to be involved with HMCM film crew and hope it will enhance skills I already have. I have a passion for short film making and already have a collection made whilst studying at Salford University to my name.

My name is Dawn Mines and I’ve lived in Hattersley since I was seven years old. I was a volunteer for several years at the Community News prior to starting work for there in November 2006. I left at the end of 2007 but continue to volunteer as a proof reader.