WELCOME
Mahdlo turned 4 this year, and we marked this milestone with a week of festivities enjoyed by over 2,000 people. What a wonderful way to celebrate with the young people, families and local partners that make all the hard work so worthwhile!
We have expanded our offer to ensure the young people of Oldham have access to the highest quality opportunities and experiences. From Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards to Open Mic Nights, ‘A Level Playing Field’ Awards to a newly refurbished gym with Olympic Weightlifting platform, our programme of activities raises aspirations and recognises achievements.
and Oldham Interfaith Forum, whilst the OL1derland project was a creative collaboration with Oldham Council, Oldham Theatre Workshop, Square 1 Studios and Young Oldham Dance that really brought the young people of our town together.
I am sure fellow supporters will agree that we have much to be proud of, as we reach more young people across the borough and continue to build on these strong foundations. We have almost 5,000 young members who really are great ambassadors for Mahdlo and we take such pleasure in seeing them fulfil their potential.
Partnerships have been so important to us this year, and we have been honoured to host Oldham’s Holocaust Memorial Day service along with Oldham Council
The team at Mahdlo must be praised for their skills, care and enthusiasm in all that they do, and our volunteers, who gave over 8,000 hours of their time in
Sir Norman Stoller
CBE KStJ DL, President
CONTENTS 30-31 A YOUTH ZONE FOR EVERYONE 32-33 FUNDRAISING 34-35 FINANCE 36 CHAIRMAN’S COMMENT 37 TEAM MAHDLO 38-39 THANK YOUS 2 3
PRIDE
At Mahdlo, we take pride in all that we do and how we do it, and this is reflected in our values: Passion, Respect, Inclusion, Dependability, Excellence. Mahdlo enters its fifth year of operation with a strong track record of delivering high quality innovative services to young people in Oldham. Since opening there have been over 211,000 attendances by young people, and we are constantly developing our offer in consultation with them, and through partnership working, to ensure we meet their needs. Our membership now stands at over 4,300, we have seen a 38% growth in the number of young people with additional needs and disabilities accessing our
Ability sessions, and the Get A Job programme supported 88% of participants into employment, education or training. A highly successful mentoring programme and expanded Get Creative and Get Outdoors offer have been amongst the many successes of the past four years. The development of our provision in the districts of Oldham has been a major success in terms of reaching out to young people who do not otherwise engage with Mahdlo; nearly 600 new members have signed up as a result of attending these ‘spokes’ sessions in the past six months. The effectiveness of this provision is demonstrated by the police recording
that in Failsworth, which is one of the longest established district services, there were no recorded instances of anti-social behaviour (ASB) over a weekend. This had not been the case for over twelve months and was directly attributed to the joint work Mahdlo staff had engaged in.
We will continue to engage with the local community, partner organisations, businesses and supporters to provide an excellent experience for all young people that access Mahdlo. This will involve young people being at the heart of identifying needs and aspirations and working with staff and Board to continuously improve the quality and diversity of the Mahdlo offer.
Mike Doran Chief ExecutiveGET ACTIVE
Our sports, training and gym promote health and fitness and build self-esteem
ON THE DAY OF MY 8TH BIRTHDAY, I STARTED GOING TO THE JUNIOR ZONE AND THE CLIMBING WALL WAS THE FIRST THING I WENT ON. THE INSTRUCTORS BUILT UP MY CONFIDENCE AND HELPED ME WITH MY CLIMBING TECHNIQUES.
IF IT WASN’T FOR MAHDLO I WOULDN’T HAVE TAKEN UP CLIMBING AS A SPORT.
EDITH, 9
Competitor in the Youth Climbing Series Grand Final 2015
I HAVE HAD UNBELIEVABLE
OPPORTUNITIES
TO DO THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD, LIKE PLAYING FOR THE ABILITY FOOTBALL TEAM.
BEN, 18
I ENJOYED TRYING KARATE AND AM PROUD OF WHAT I ACHIEVED.
I’M EVEN THINKING OF JOINING A CLUB!
GET AHEAD
Employment and enterprise projects support future success
THE GET A JOB COURSE HELPED ME GET A BRILLIANT APPRENTICESHIP AND MAKES ME SMILE WHEN MY HEAD DROPS AND I FEEL LOW. I LEARNED SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES TO FIND AND KEEP A JOB AND REALISED I CAN DO THINGS JUST AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE!
COURTNEY, 17MAHDLO IS BETTER THAN SCHOOL
FOR ME. I FEEL RELAXED AND CAN ENGAGE WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE.
CORY, 15
Alternative Provision student
THE GET A JOB COURSE REALLY HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WORLD OF EMPLOYMENT IS REALLY LIKE AND ALSO WHAT'S EXPECTED FROM ME.
MOHAMMED, 18
GET CONNECTED
Community projects and volunteering promote citizenship and leadership skills
I WAS A MEMBER, THEN A VOLUNTEER YOUNG LEADER AND WAS SUPPORTED TO DO A LEVEL 2 AWARD IN COMMUNITY SPORTS LEADERSHIP. THE COURSE WILL HELP ME PROGRESS
MASSIVELY IN MY CAREER AND WITH WHAT I WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE. I NOW FEEL CONFIDENT IN ANY SITUATION WHEN DELIVERING A SESSION, THANK YOU!
LEWIS, 17
IF IT WASN’T FOR MAHDLO WE’D BE ON THE STREET MESSING AROUND. THIS PLACE BRINGS LOTS OF CULTURES AND COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER AND KEEPS US SAFE AS WELL.
SYED, 13 + SHAFI, 14
I WAS ASKED TO BE A VOLUNTEER YOUNG LEADER. THIS HAS MADE ME WANT TO GIVE MY TIME TO MAHDLO AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES.
BEN, 18
GET CREATIVE
Our performance and arts projects develop creative skills and confidence
IT WAS FUN TAKING PART IN THE CULTURAL FASHION PROJECT AND DESIGNING NEW MATERIALS BECAUSE WE LEARNT ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES TOO.
MAMINAH, 13
MAHDLO HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY NEW ACTIVITIES.
I HAVE GROWN IN SELF-ESTEEM AND MADE NEW FRIENDS.
MY PERSONAL BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR WAS BEING PART OF A WINNING DANCE TEAM AT THE PRESIDENT’S CUP.
MALIEKA, 12
I THINK THE STAFF GO THROUGH A RIGOROUS ‘AWESOME TEST’ BEFORE BEING HIRED! I REALLY ENJOY THE ARTS AREA, EXPLORING GAME ART AND PIXEL ART.
I’VE ALSO TRIED NEW THINGS LIKE MUSIC AND ROLLERSKATING, AND WILL BE GOING ON TO STUDY GRAPHIC DESIGN NEXT YEAR.
CHRIS, 18
GET OUTDOORS
Exploring nature and adventure promotes confidence, teamwork and social skills
WE PLANNED AND FINISHED OUR HADRIAN’S WALL WALK, DID WELL, COOKED ALL OUR MEALS AND MADE IT RIGHT TO THE END – AN AWESOME WEEK!
JOSH, 15
I HAVE BEEN ON SOME GOOD EXPEDITIONS AND HAD OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIFFERENT THINGS WHICH WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MAHDLO.
SHANNON, 14
EVEN WHEN IT’S RAINING, IT IS FUN BEING OUTSIDE IN DIFFERENT PLACES WHEN YOU’RE WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
ALANA, 10
GET SORTED
One-to-one and group workshops promote healthy minds, lifestyles and choices
MAHDLO HELPS ME WITH PROBLEMS AND CAN HELP ME ALONG THE RIGHT PATH.
CHARLOTTE, 18
I CAN TALK TO MY MENTOR ABOUT ANYTHING. I AM ENJOYING
NEW THINGS AND IT MAKES ME SMILE AND FEEL GOOD.
CALLUM, 14
GETTING INTO TROUBLE STOPPED WHEN I CAME TO MAHDLO AS I WASN’T BORED ANYMORE. I’VE LEARNT COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS.
CALLUM, 15
A YOUTH ZONE FOR EVERYONE
At Mahdlo, we aim to deliver exciting and inclusive activities that can be enjoyed by all. We have introduced a number of new sessions, including the popular ‘Ability Multi-Sports’, which offers the opportunity to try a range of disability sports such as boccia, new-age kurling, judo, VI (visually impaired) cricket and polybat. New sensory dance classes culminated in our first Ability Dance Festival, where parents and carers came to watch some wonderful performances by young people of all abilities based around the slogan ‘Young People Can’. In the summer, our CADS (Children’s Able and Disabled Sports) programme and Ability Residential at the Calvert Trust saw our members take part in everything from trampolining, cycling and volleyball to swimming, fishing, kayaking and zip wire. This year, we also held our first A Level Playing Field Awards, celebrating the achievements of our young people
with additional needs or a disability at a glitzy Hollywood themed ceremony. Family Zone has gone from strength to strength, with families coming together to enjoy cooking classes, fitness challenges and beach parties, plus Eid, Diwali, Christmas and Boishakhi Bengali New Year celebrations alongside our regular schedule of arts and sports. Through working with Mind and POINT (Parents of Oldham in Touch), we have also been able to offer family mindfulness workshops in our Sunday sessions. Our Girls Zone sessions developed further this year following consultation with our members, with the activities on offer including karate in partnership with Cobra Kan Do in Failsworth, Bollywood Zumba and a ‘Cultural Food Project’, whilst our Junior girls’ football team were crowned winners at their first tournament of 2016, playing against teams from other OnSide Youth Zones.
Mahdlo’s LGBT group worked with Mako Media to make a stop-motion LEGO animation that explores identity and celebrates diversity in a creative way. This video has been very popular online and the group should be proud of producing such an innovative, honest and informative piece of work!
We worked with a number of local schools on our Alternative Provision programme to build sustainable relationships with young people who don’t engage with mainstream education. The sessions run alongside the school curriculum, covering GCSE revision, tutoring and workshops around risky behaviour, employability and social skills. We have seen the positive impact this has had on the resilience, confidence and self-esteem of the young people taking part and their hard work certainly paid off – we accredited almost 50 PEARL Awards and over 240 AQAs.
FUNDRAISING HIGHLIGHTS
As we expand to ensure Mahdlo can benefit even more young people across Oldham, we need to raise substantial funds. We do this through our Patron programmes, our own fundraising events and donations from the business and wider community. From bag packs to glitzy balls, mountain climbs to golf days, the ways people fundraise for Mahdlo Youth Zone take many different forms!
KILIMANJARO TREK
Supporters Frank Rothwell and Ben Ingham raised thousands of pounds for our young people, scaling great heights on their mountain trek.
MANCHESTER 10K
The team from Kitbag ran the Great Manchester 10K for Mahdlo, raising £900 for our Youth Zone.
ONSIDE SUMMER BALL
Our young people were great ambassadors, greeting guests at the OnSide Ball, which raised an amazing £69,000 for Mahdlo.
HADRIAN’S WALL YOUNG PEOPLE’S WALK
A group of our members organised this trip themselves, walking 65 miles and raising over £1,100 through the walk and bag packs!
MAHDLO GOLF DAY
Our golf day at Saddleworth Golf Course was a fantastic day and raised £5,700.
WINTER BALL
Our 2015 Winter Ball saw guests enjoy a 1920s inspired evening of dinner and entertainment, raising an incredible £41,000.
SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN
Little Diamond Theatre Company raised £6,000 by staging a production of John Godber’s bittersweet comedy at Oldham Coliseum.
BRIAN COX 20:20 LECTURE
Oldham was the centre of the universe for one evening, with Professor Brian Cox inspiring over 1,000 school children at an event that raised £12,000 for Mahdlo.
ONE OLDHAM BUSINESS AWARDS
We were thrilled to once again be beneficiaries of the One Oldham Business Awards, receiving £3,500. Our young people had a great time performing on the night with a Chicago inspired piece!
FINANCE
2015-16 has been a year of considerable growth in the scope and scale of projects being delivered. To deliver this growth a number of new staff were appointed and a restructure of management and staff has been undertaken. While continuing to deliver new projects, the emphasis has been to consolidate activity and review existing projects.
Mahdlo exceeded target surplus for the year. We achieved 98% of our income targets and were able to control our cost base resulting in a very positive end to the year. There was a slight underperformance against target for Patrons and donations, and we were also behind budget with our fundraising, however these have been compensated for by us comfortably
INCOME GROWTH TARGETS
exceeding our income targets for sales, projects and grants.
There is continued focus in the coming year to grow and diversify our supporter base for both Patrons and community partnerships. We hope that the delivery of our offer in the districts of Oldham will help to raise our profile and cultivate interest and support from local businesses and service providers.
INCOME
Sales §£240,107
Local Authority £400,000
Project grants (restricted) £789,533
Patrons and donations £312,643
Fundraising £150,114
Investment income £2,070
Property donated £0
Total £1,894,467
EXPENDITURE
Delivery costs £321,981
Fundraising £31,066
Management and admin £164,097
Premises £248,312
Staffing £1,087,529
Total £1,852,985
CHAIRMAN’S COMMENT
Thank you once again for your continued support of this amazing charity. We could not do the tremendous work we do without your generous support which comes in many guises. We are making a real difference to the young people of Oldham and the borough which can only bode well for the future of the town.
Last year we grew at a rate which stretched us on all fronts. This year we are in the midst of a consolidation which is very sensible as we build for the future. We still have the scope and capacity to deliver more and this drives us onwards and upwards. The future looks very bright with exciting plans and initiatives coming thick and fast, so please keep close to us and continue your support.
Some of our key priorities for the 2016-
TEAM MAHDLO
17 year are to:
• Develop a programme of ‘excellence’ in the Arts, Sports and Outdoors
• Innovate where possible, embracing new partnerships and providing new opportunities
• Grow our provision in the districts of Oldham through working with local organisations to meet the needs of the communities
• Build on the success of our Ability sessions, to provide meaningful and truly inclusive experiences Our doors are open for you to see what we’re all about, so please get in touch, visit us and introduce friends, colleagues and associates to Mahdlo. Together, we can continue to build on 4 years of hard work to deliver excellent youth-led provision in our town.
Terry Flanagan ChairmanTeam Mahdlo are a highly motivated, skilled, experienced and diverse mix of full-time staff, sessional workers and volunteers who give their incredible energies and knowledge to supporting our young people. They are a credit to Mahdlo and Oldham.
MEET THE BOARD
WILLIAM LEES-JONES TERRY FLANAGAN SIR NORMAN STOLLER CBE KStJ DL KASHIF ASHRAF DAVE BENSTEAD JOHN AINLEY CAROL O’HARE STEPH BOLSHAW DAVE WHALEY JANELLE BARKER LINDSAY WALSHTHANK YOU
Founding Patron
The Stoller Charitable Trust
Premier Patrons
David & Janelle Barker
Big Lottery Fund
Children in Need
Greengate Metal Components
Hill’s Panels Products Ltd
J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust
JW Lees & Co. (Brewers) Ltd
Kitbag Ltd
The Oglesby Charitable Trust
OMC Motor Group Ltd
RBS Skills & Opportunities Fund
Frank & Judith Rothwell
Sport England
Widdop & Co.
Plus one kind Anonymous Donor
Patrons
AO Smile Foundation
Peter & Patricia Casey
Garfield Weston Foundation
GMPCC Youth Aspiration Fund
Swans Travel
The Accenture Foundation
The Henry Smith Charity
Wiggett Construction Group Ltd
Supporters
Terry & Sue Flanagan
Chris & Gayle Hopkinson
Little Diamond Theatre Company
(Sarah Burrill)
The Mayor’s Appeal Fund
The Warburtons Trust Fund
Friends
29th May 1961 Charitable Trust
ANSA Elevators Ltd
Arighi Bianchi
Simon Arora
David Bellis MBE
Peter Bryant
Euro Wrap Ltd
First Choice Homes Oldham
Hadrian’s Wall Walkers
Handshake Group Ltd
Paul Heathcote MBE
Bill & Julie Holroyd
Ben Ingham
Insider North West Property Awards
Insped Ltd
Sharon Lever
North Ainley Solicitors
Oldham Athletic AFC
Saddleworth Playgroup
Safeguard Fusion Training Ltd
Safeguard Group
Paul Scholes
StreetGames UK
Team Spirit
Terry Mc Photography
The John Grant Davies Trust
The Mike Gooley Trailfinders Charity
The One Oldham Business Awards
The Treeside Trust
Web Applications UK Ltd.
Honorary Ambassador
Professor Brian Cox OBE
This year we have worked with these excellent delivery and partner organisations that contribute to our diverse programme of activities:
3StyleSports
Arbarus
Billy & Andy's Manchester School of Music
Blades Academy
Bounce Back
British Weightlifting
Brook
Cobra Kan Karate Do
Commando Joe's
Evolve Parkour Centre
Gallery Oldham
Greater Manchester Police
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
Green Hill Community Sports Club
Kirsty Green
Higginshaw ARLFC
KOGS (Keeping Our Girls Safe)
Mako Media
MFYP Mind
NSPCC Oasis
Oldham Athletic Community Trust
Oldham Boxing Club
Oldham Coliseum
Oldham College
Oldham Community Leisure
Oldham Council
Oldham Council Detached Team
Oldham Council District Teams
Oldham Interfaith Forum
Oldham RUFC
Oldham Sports Development
Oldham Theatre Workshop
Oldham Volleyball Club
Oldham Youth Council
OliBo Media
Positive Steps Oldham
Anne Quinlan
Royal Northern College of Music
Saddleworth Environmental Education
Square1 Studios
St John Ambulance
UK Dodgeball Association
Volleyball England
Voluntary Action Oldham (VAO)