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High Sheriff praises Rochdale volunteers as demand for support rises

Saturday, 28 March 2026 12:25

By David Murphy

The High Sheriff of Greater Manchester has praised volunteers at a Rochdale charity while warning of growing pressure on its services.

Martin Ainscough visited Army of Kindness at St Andrew’s, where he met volunteers and heard about increasing demand for support across the community.

Since 2015, the organisation has provided practical help to individuals and families facing hardship. Volunteers described a rise in the number of people seeking assistance, linked to ongoing cost of living pressures.

Mr Ainscough praised what he described as extraordinary compassion and commitment from those delivering support on the frontline.

Deputy Lieutenants Louise Scott and Rebecca Tarran also attended the visit and recognised the organisation’s impact across the borough.

Army of Kindness said it is now facing a critical funding shortage at the same time as demand increases.

A spokesperson said, “The cost of living crisis is affecting everyone, and we are seeing more people than ever needing our support. At the same time, we are facing a critical shortage of funding, as sponsors and donors are also under pressure. The reality is simple without urgent support, services like ours are at risk.”

The organisation is calling for increased backing to ensure it can continue providing support to those in need.

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