Ordsall Community Arts Group proves they are a chip off the old block

Salix Homes visited Ordsall Community Arts to have a chat with Chair George Tapp, a remarkable man, who has overcome a life-changing brain injury, and through his battle, has put his energy and passion into creating a woodwork group for anyone in Ordsall.

George’s enthusiasm is infectious and commitment inspirational. We have given the group funding through our Springboard community grant initiative, which will help give more residents a chance to get involved.

Ordsall Community Arts Group, based in Robert Hall Street, Salford and is focused on improving health and well-being, they are located in the heart of many Salix Homes communities.

The organisation was founded by Ordsall residents before becoming a voluntary organisation created to provide arts and education opportunities for local residents

George now runs two woodwork groups on Tuesdays for adults and Thursdays for younger school-age groups, the hope is to introduce a multi-generation group where older members can support and help younger carvers.

Salix Homes have given Ordsall Community Arts Group funding to help them develop and increase the number of learners for both classes. The hope is that the classes provide some much-needed social interaction where learners can mix and meet new people, promoting the group’s ‘five ways to wellbeing’.

The arts group also receive referrals from Wellbeing Matters, a social prescribing programme which provides support through a Community Connector for people to access non-medical well-being support within their neighbourhood by connecting them to local activities and groups – the service is accessed through Salford CVS.

Chair of Ordsall Community Arts Group, George Tapp said: “Woodworking is a wonderful way to improve your mood, it also helps to stimulate the mind and keep active, it also improves your motor skills, as well as helping with self-esteem knowing you are creating something unique with your own hands is very rewarding.”

But it’s not just about woodwork, the arts group want to offer a wealth of other crafts such as creative writing, poetry, gardening and painting, and free tea and coffee with biscuits are also available to anyone who takes part in a class.

Susan Wilkinson, customer engagement manager at Salix Homes said: “George is an amazing man who puts so much time and effort into this community club. We need more volunteers like George in our communities. Our partner building contractor Emmanuel Whittaker has donated tiles for the mosaic classes and wood for the carving group. This group are so talented, it’s a pleasure to help them with Springboard funding to help more people in the community discover the joys of arts.”

Meet George and Ordsall Community Arts