First Choice Homes Oldham has set out its autumn neighbourhood update, covering projects in the centre of Oldham, Chadderton, Derker, Failsworth, Royton, Shaw and parts of Rochdale.

In the central area, residents joined FCHO and partner organisations for two litter picks during Love Parks Week, at St Mary's and Oldham Edge. FCHO also worked with the council and OL1 Oldham on a clean-up of Barker Street, where three and a half large skips were filled with litter and fly-tipped items.

Calm Ahead is running three Youth Connect 5 courses at FCHO's Alt Community Centre. They are for children with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD, and for the people who care for them.

In the west, a design project at the Nelson Way Community Centre gave young girls a say in making public spaces safer and more inclusive. It was run by FCHO with contractor Ridge LLP.

Free digital inclusion drop-in sessions run by Inclusive Bytes CIC are held every Wednesday at Spindles Shopping Centre until February 2027, with FCHO funding. More digital skills projects are due to start soon in Chadderton and Werneth.

In the east, FCHO and Oldham Play Action Group ran Playing with Urban Design, a project that uses play to help shape local green spaces. Nearly 80 new saplings will go in across Derker and Littlemoor this winter, paid for by £43,000 from the City of Trees project. Oldham Athletic Community Trust will get £2,000 from FCHO for four portable floodlights, so children can keep playing football at Mayfield Primary School over the winter.

In the south, a reverse graffiti campaign on Eldon Street encouraged responsible waste disposal and helped tackle fly-tipping. The first 29 homes for social rent and shared ownership are now finished at FCHO's Fitton Hill development. Northern Lily opened its community orchard in Failsworth for the FCHO-funded Pick, Press and Play project, where residents picked fruit to take home.

In the north, spring flowering bulbs will go into Royton and Shaw this winter under FCHO's biodiversity programme. Kate Ridings is FCHO's September Hidden Hero for her regular litter picks, with her mum, that keep Royton Linear Park clean and tidy.

In the Rochdale borough, FCHO's new development on Bury Old Road will be named Murphy Close. The name came from eight-year-old pupil Ava McEvoy, who won a competition to choose it. Middleton will get 24 new affordable family homes after FCHO invested £6.79 million to build them in Greenhill Road.