About Us

• two community members who are users of OCLL’s facilities,
• three employee members elected by the employee members,
• two representatives of the voluntary sector,
• one representative of the sports sector,
• one representative of the health sector,
• one representative of the crime prevention sector,
• one representative of the business sector,
• two representatives of Oldham Council,
• two co-opted members,
• Company Secretary,
• OCL Chief Executive.

What does OCL do?
The company is responsible for the management, operation and development of the fourteen Sports Centres/Swimming pools and synthetic pitches in Oldham. In addition OCL is responsible for the Bishop’s park golf course and the bookings of pitches and playing fields in the district.

Since it was formed on 17th November 2002 OCL has operated the facilities in partnership with other agencies to improve the health, well being, and physical activity for the people of Oldham.  In effect the Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) operates as a leisure trust which offers significant tax advantages and efficiencies which enhance capital re-investment into the facilities.

The management team have continued to work hard with partners to secure additional funding to improve the leisure stock within Oldham.  From small beginnings OCL has replaced items such as the bowling green carpet at Oldham sports centre, the café and replaced the fitness equipment at all its sites. Subsequently the synthetic pitches
at Chapel Road, Royton and Crompton have been replaced and significant investment in the Saddleworth complex, where £2m has been invested in a 55 station fitness suite and dance studio. The opening of the health and well being centre at Chadderton (opened
November 2009) with new swimming pool and 55 station gym and dance studio is the latest jewel in the crown.

The annually reviewed Strategic Performance Plan is now embedded in the culture of OCL offering a sharp focus continuous improvement in quality service delivery and on the need to improve the health of Oldhamers, breaking down barriers in communities as well as offering health and Physical activity targets to all target groups in the community.

The plan also highlights the collection of data as being essential in the coming years to support our claims of improvement so that everything we do should be measured to demonstrate our progress and achievements.

The management Committee is fully committed to success of OCL.  Further more it recognizes the critical importance of the skills and expertise of the staff to deliver an effective and continuously improving service, identifying the need therefore to provide
appropriate opportunities for the development and rewarding of the staff at all levels within the organisation.

The Mission Statement:
“A community more active more often”

Our vision of the company is to create an environment in which sport, active recreation and leisure are integrated into lifestyle of all Oldham citizens, in order that Community Cohesion and health improvement are continually improving.

We will provide for the local community through our core business, which is the provision of opportunities to swim, and to participate in a range of sport and leisure activities, meeting the needs of the local community.

Sport, leisure and active recreational activity will be used as an essential component in supporting and developing the infrastructure of the community and to improve the quality of life both physically and mentally.

We will actively work with partner organisations in order to facilitate this development through a better understanding of the issues and a sharing of resources to achieve success.

The values of our organisation will be based on the concept of continuous improvement. This will be achieved through the use of external quality recognition schemes including Investors in people and Quest for Facility Management (Based on the European Business
Excellence Model).

Performance will be monitored and evaluated through the appropriate use of management information, target setting & key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

OCL will seek to provide best value in delivering services for which it is responsible. It will deliver its core themes of Health, Adult, Young People and families, Community Cohesion, the Environment and Quality of life in a context of sustainability, accountability, flexibility
and innovation.

In order to achieve this mission, representatives of the key stakeholders in OCL, The Management Committee, the management, staff and partners have worked together meeting annually to create a Strategic Performance Plan on which the Company and its Employees can focus on.

The IPS is governed strategically by a board of directors who are appointed annually. They meet 6 times a year including the AGM which is open to shareholders to receive the annual report, the accounts and to vote the directors onto the board.

To attend the meetings individuals are required to purchase a share.  Shares are available on a non redeemable non transferable preference share costing £20 and available from the society’s head office at the salt cellar. The memorandum and articles of association are held at the salt cellar.

Becoming a member
Membership is open to anybody who is 16 or over, and who is employed by OCL (employee members) or who uses OCL facilities or has an interest in sport and leisure (community members). Young people who are under 16 but over 12 can become Associate members.  You can join by filling in an application form and paying £1 for a share.

What members can do
Members can attend members meetings, receive information about OCL, vote in the election of Board Members, seek nomination for serving on the Board, and take part in the other member activities which OCL provides.

Operations summary

Purpose and objects
OCL’s purpose is to enable the community to promote the well-being of its people through healthy recreation and physical activity. Its objectives are to provide sports and leisure facilities, to promote community participation in healthy recreation, to educate people about healthy living, and to promote capacity building by teaching new skills
and competencies, promoting people’s self-confidence, encouraging and developing self-development, encouraging involvement in the local community and wider society, and promoting citizenship and social responsibility.

Commitments
OCL is committed to a number of things: carrying on its business for the benefit of the community, retaining (and not distributing) its profits, respecting the rights of people, openness in the way it conducts its affairs.

Current Board Directors:

Ken Blackburn (Chairman of OCLL – Volunteer )
A 59 year old retired Group Human Resources Manager with 35 years Local Government experience.  The first 7 years were spent as a Finance Officer before switching to
Personnel (now Human Resources!).

Ken has been Chair of Governors at a local Primary School for the past 10 years and Chair of a local Cricket Team (where he still plays!). Also served 8 years as a Governor of the Local High School & 6th Form College in the not too distant past and Chaired the local Junior Football Club where managing the Under 16's Team.

Has been on the Board of OCL for the past four years and Chair for the last two years.

Ken is looking to serve his fifth and final year on the Board as its Chair, looking to end his term of office in 2010 leaving OCL in a very healthy state and with great prospects for its future.

Jamie Edwards (Vice Chair - Business sector)
A leading peak performance coach who helps athletes, coaches and organisations create the results they aspire to by Thinking Differently. His work has been tested at the highest levels of the sports such as the Rugby World Cup, the Ashes, Ryder Cup, World Cup Skiing, Extreme Sports and the Premiership and provides mental training for the All England Tennis Club and other noted performance academies such as PGA of GB, Sweden & St Andrews.

In the business arena Jamie works with a select number of Managing Director’s and Senior Executives to assist with raising their own game beyond the norm.

Tim Mitchell, Chief Executive, Positive Steps Oldham (Crime reduction)
Having worked for the Careers Service Partnership in Oldham since 1982, from April 2001 Tim assumed responsibility for a brand new integrated and targeted young people’s support service in Oldham – Positive Steps Oldham - which includes:

• the Connexions Service;
• a range of ‘Personal Development’ Curriculum Support services to schools including: the Healthy Schools Standards, Education- Business Links; Personal, Social & Health Education and Information, Advice & Guidance standards.
• the Youth Offending Service;
• a range of youth crime prevention programmes and a motor
  vehicle-based alternative education programme;
• the Young People’s Substance Misuse Advice and Intervention Service;
• the Young Carers’ Support Service and the co-ordination of the Drugs and Alcohol and Teenage Pregnancy strategies for Oldham

Positive Steps Oldham has two subsidiary companies: Highway to Opportunities, providing information, advice, guidance and training services to adults over the age of 19 living or working in the Borough; and PSO Trading Ltd a small trading arm which provides training & IT services.

Tim’s interest in OCL is the work it does to engage with young people in positive activities and improve their health and wellbeing. His work has led him to consult with companies such as Fortis, Gleneagles, Microsoft, Investec, Sainsbury’s, Red Bull, Nokia, Premier Global, Volvo, IBM, Marriott, Troon Golf, Fitness First, BMW, Wentworth Club and Skibo Castle amongst others who have benefited from his knowledge of human technology.

Contribution to the board over the next 12 months will involve expanding the perspectives of the board members and helping stay focused on the agenda of the OCLL.

Colin Moore (Community manager Oldham Athletic Community
Football Trust) (Sport sector)
Colin is delighted to have been elected to join the board of OCLL as he can add value through his knowledge and experience of working in the local community. In addition to working with OCLL he has good links with the grassroots football community and other voluntary groups in Oldham. Colin has transformed OACFT and would like to offer his
innovative and proactive style to benefit the organization for the community of Oldham.

He expresses his Interests in any sport but particularly in football which he enjoys both playing and watching. In his spare time he undertakes voluntary work within the local community supporting local grassroots clubs in South Manchester with their development.

Mohammed Rahiem (Voluntary sector)
Mohammed Rahiem has been involved with many notable oganisations within the local community including being the lead officer for the OMBC race hate forum. Other bodies include Community Sports development officer for Glodwick SRB and Regional Sports
Development Manager, North of England – Sporting Equals Ltd. Rahiem is the managing director of PS Events Ltd. His contribution to the Oldham Community Leisure board will be drawing on my experience of working with so many different organizations and understanding the needs of the community I serve.

Councillor Mark Allcock (Council representative)
New assignment - details to follow