A van which is travelling around Oldham to help some of the area's most disadvantaged families has visited a primary school.
Pupils from the Oasis Academy Limeside eyed the new vehicle operated by not-for-profit social enterprise Upturn and chose to call it Hope.
The students' choice impressed Upturn so much, it won a competition to christen the van.
For many of the pupils at Oasis Academy Limeside, it was their first time encountering a campervan.
The Hope initiative is a lifeline for those facing the challenges of poverty, the cost-of-living crisis, and life hardships.
The electric campervan, purchased using a grant from The Clothworks Foundation and through the enterprise's crowdfunding, is due to decamp to areas across Oldham, offering health, employment, housing and financial advice to offer support to people who may be on the "margins of society".
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Upturn’s leadership has now announced its intention to sponsor a campervan staycation for a deserving family, with the lucky family set to have the opportunity to experience a unique holiday in the campervan next year.
Co-founder of Upturn, Maria Williams, said: "Hope was initially about bridging gaps for those on the margins—people who couldn’t afford to travel to Oldham for essential support appointments.
"But now, it’s also about broadening access and opportunities for those furthest from the help they need. Our camper van, equipped with decent facilities, becomes a vessel of dreams."
Even though Limeside is located close to Metrolink connections, it has become a place of isolation, where generations of residents have faced impossible choices.
Emily Charles, Assistant Principal for Inclusion at the Oasis Academy, said: “Their world was their estate, but with Sure Start centres closing and poverty tightening its grip, they had to choose between feeding their families and journeying to Oldham for benefits.”
Upturn has woven itself into the community fabric, empowering young people by collaborating with local businesses to fill skill gaps.
Ms Williams concluded: "At the Oasis Academy, pupils aren’t discarded due to their backgrounds; they are infused with confidence and self- belief.
"We encounter too many young souls crippled by poverty and limited education. Let’s bridge that gap—one little spark of hope at a time."
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