Community volunteer honoured as FCHO’s first Hidden Hero

A woman who volunteers in one of First Choice Homes Oldham’s (FCHO) community centres is the housing association’s first ever Hidden Hero.

Anna Stott bakes cheese and onion pies to share, helps set up a monthly drop-in event and bingo and is a listening ear and support for her neighbours at Barker Street Community Centre.

The 76-year-old is the first recipient of the new monthly award launched by the housing association to recognise customers who go the extra mile.

Mrs Stott, who has lived on the Barker Street Estate for 36 years, was nominated by local FCHO neighbourhood co-ordinator Clive Hill.

“Anna is a tremendous support to FCHO and her community. When I was told of this new award, she was the first person that came to mind,” he explained.

“She helps people with all sorts of things and looks out for her community if something is wrong. 

"In many ways, she is a service centre in her own right supporting people to find the help they need."  

He added: "All this is achieved by her alongside her voluntary work at our community centre drop-ins and the baking of her excellent pies." 

The mother of three, grandmother of six and great grandmother of three received a certificate and a £50 shopping voucher for being a Hidden Hero.

“I really like helping people and baking my cheese and onion pies and they always get eaten," Mrs Stott said.

“When I was young my mum always said, ‘help those who cannot help themselves’ and that stuck in my head. 

"Doing so means we can have a laugh too and bring smiles to people’s faces as well as helping them.”

Born and bred in Oldham, the retired cotton millworker, also helps at Saint Aidan and Saint Oswald’s Catholic Church in Royton. A few years ago, she raised £300 for the spinal cord injury charity Aspire by swimming 22 miles - the equivalent of crossing the English Channel – at Crompton Baths in Shaw.

FCHO chief executive Mark Gifford added: “We’re delighted Anna is our first ever Hidden Hero. She is an inspiration to us at FCHO, to her family and her community and a worthy winner of this first award."

If you know an FCHO customer who goes the extra mile and could be a Hidden Hero then email communications@fcho.co.uk.