For Generations to Come was sparked by the ambition of Rochdale AFC owners, the Ogden family, who believe the club can play a meaningful role in life across the Rochdale borough and help build a thriving future. The first step was a gathering at Rochdale Town Hall in May 2025, which brought over 200 people together to celebrate what’s already happening in the borough and imagine what could come next.
Since the launch, Our Future, an organisation that supports communities to create long-term change, has been listening and engaging with people and organisations borough wide to understand the incredible work already happening, as well as the big ambitions that could shape its future. One way to engage is through the Let’s Talk series, which brings a mix of people together from different sectors around the themes that communities have shared are important to them, from health and homes to spaces, jobs and much more.
The third Let’s Talk about our Kids conversation was held at the Kashmir Youth Project (KYP). It brought together a cross-section of people from the borough, giving a mix of perspectives and ideas on how to support our children and young people.
Khadija Tilly, (KYP), captured the conversation perfectly: “Today was good because of the energy and ideas in the room. The enthusiasm and passion are what make it work. We’ve got the expertise here. Now it’s about how we come together, listen to each other, and support one another.“
Let’s Talk About Our Kids – Three Conversations In
Conversations began at the first session in Box2Box Bar, where people explored the challenges facing children and families, mapped what already exists across the borough and imagined what could be different. The second session, hosted at Mill About in Spotland Bridge Mill, focused on confidence and self-esteem, family life, pathways into crime, and creating spaces where every young person feels joy and belonging.
This third session took a slightly different approach. The group focused on three projects already running elsewhere (literacy, childhood wellbeing, and criminal justice) and explored if similar initiatives could work across the borough. These topics were based on real projects, who are interested in bringing their approaches to Rochdale to support children and young people so the ideas, suggestions and feedback was purposeful.
A Room of Hope
Conversations were full of raw honesty and practical ideas. On literacy, there was enthusiasm for connecting existing resources across the borough. Libraries, family hubs, cultural partnerships and national campaigns were all seen as ways to bring back the joy of reading, particularly for children facing the biggest barriers. Children seeing themselves in stories and being able to speak about their emotions was an important aspect. Volunteers linking schools and families through workshops and coffee mornings generated lots of excitement, with people recognising that for any project to last, the right books, equipment and trained people need to be committed for the long term.
Conversations around Criminal Justice were wide-ranging, highlighting the importance of local role models and the need for relationships that last from primary through secondary school and college. Discussions also touched on the challenges of social media and the common misconception that criminal activity mainly happens at night, when in reality, crime and anti-social behaviour often begins after school, around 3:30 pm, in broad daylight.
Running through every discussion were a few shared priorities and insights
- Funding should back what is already making a difference locally, while allowing room for new ideas
- Anything new must be tailored to Rochdale borough and accessible to those who need it most
- Lasting change comes from supporting whole families and communities, not just children in classrooms
- Sustainability is key. So many shiny projects come and go but an interconnected system (including the community) is more likely to bring long term change.
- Listen to the staff and users of services on the ground (include those who aren’t accessing services because their needs aren’t met). Here lies the solutions
Mark Whittaker, Rochdale Training Association, reflected on the atmosphere
“This is a room of hope.”
Participants also discussed challenges openly. Local leadership, school buy-in, accessibility for children with SEND, those whose English is an additional language, and avoiding duplication of existing services were all flagged. Early intervention and smoother transitions from primary to secondary school were identified as areas where more support could make a real difference.
Jet, Operations Director at Our Future, highlighted why these conversations matter “All our work starts with relationships, and bringing people together who believe in the future of their area. These are the people who are making things happen, in their homes, on their streets and across their borough, and are hopeful for the future. For Generations to Come isn’t a consultation, this is a conversation, and an invitation to get involved”
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and made the afternoon so meaningful, and to KYP for hosting.
Be Part of What’s Next
Let’s keep the conversation going. If you have ideas to share, or would like to join a Let’s Talk conversation we would love to hear from you. Next session will be OUR HOMES then OUR SPACES
If you have a heart for Rochdale and want to be part of the change but live elsewhere you can join the Home Wins network
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