The forecast looked uncertain for Our Future’s latest Ideas in the Open pop-up, so rather than gathering in Hare Hill Park as planned, we took a short detour to the welcoming Cherry Tree Cafe in Littleborough. Huge thanks to the team there for letting us use a couple of outdoor tables — keeping that open-air, community vibe alive despite the change in venue: View Cherry Tree Cafe’s Facebook Page
What followed was a small but mighty gathering. It was full of energy, ideas and that signature can-do spirit. That’s the magic of these pop-ups – they bring together people from all walks of life who might not otherwise find themselves at the same table.
Where else would you see a hotel general manager, a strategic lead from the voluntary sector, a prison manager, and a Huddersfield Uni representative deep in conversation about the future of our borough? The thread that connects them? A shared love for Rochdale and a collective desire to shape its future for generations to come.
A few more ideas made their way into our ideas box, and in a lovely twist each attendee nominated a local champion: someone who’s out there, sleeves rolled up, making things happen for Rochdale. The hope is that over time, we’ll bring this growing network together to help carry the work forward and turn ideas into action.
Do you know someone who would like to get involved including yourself? We would love to hear from you. Send Jet and Killian an email at hello@our-future.io.
