Exploring Opportunities in Greenfield, Saddleworth

As part of my daily routine, I allow myself ten minutes every morning to stay connected with local happenings on social media. This is a task in its self as its very easy to get sucked into the worm hole of scrolling.

Recently, I’ve been looking into moving to Saddleworth, ideally Greenfield and it’s because of this, I’ve been focusing my attention on opportunities in and around this area. Weather its business or personal I’m always keen to find ways to contribute to any community I become a part of.

Currently, I reside in Tameside, where some time ago, a friend and I founded a basketball team which quickly grew into a Basketball Club. Our club now serves over 240 people across 25 teams, with nearly 190 of those participants being under 18. The club’s success is due in large part to the efforts of our dedicated parents, volunteers, and committee members, all of which are integral to the thriving community we’ve built. …. The club is called Tameside Vikings if you want to go and check us out.

A few days ago, I took a drive through Greenfield, paying close attention to the local environment and looking for ways to add value. I’m no stranger to the area, I’ve visited many times, one of my favourite places locally to walk the dog is around Dovestones and I have businesses that operate in the area (One of which is an exterior cleaning company) but I’ve never really took it in. I’d never truly taken the time to observe the community. I knew that I liked the place, but I never truly understood why. What struck me was how well-maintained and clean the area was. The streets are swept, the gardens are well-kept, and litter is minimal. I’ve always believed that if more people took pride in where they live, whether owned, rented, or otherwise, it could lead to broader societal benefits.

This made me reflect on the past, remembering how old photos often show families taking great care of their surroundings, I recall my nan telling me how people use to scrub their front steps every weekend with soapy water. Small actions, like weeding a front path or taking care of a garden, may not solve large-scale issues, but they contribute to a cleaner, more inviting environment.

Anyway, back to Greenfield and Facebook. So, I’m driving around and I’m looking for opportunities to create value. Ideas are coming to mind whilst I’m scanning the area, but one thing I did notice is that several of the road signs are covered in green algae due to the surrounding nature. A few days later, I came across a post on Facebook where local Councillor Helen Bishop addressed concerns about unsuitable vehicles using a weak bridge in the area. Boom right there in the video a road sign —though clean, it highlighted an opportunity. A small one I must admit but remember, we are not trying solve large-scale issues, not yet anyway, We are looking for those little wins that improve our immediate environment.

My mind started to get to work. I own an exterior cleaning company… the signs in the local area could be cleaner…. local Councillor points out that road signs are being ignored. Boom… I clean said signs, no excuse to be ignored, locals are happy.

Check out the video below to see how I got on…..

In conclusion, my goal right now is not to address larger economic or political issues, but rather to identify small, impactful ways to contribute.

Whether it’s through maintaining clean signs or keeping local business local, I believe that creating value in our immediate environment can make a significant difference.

I invite you to follow my journey as I continue to explore how small actions can lead to positive changes in Greenfield, Saddleworth.