Coogan hails Comic Relief cash boost for home town

Comedian and actor Steve Coogan has told how Comic Relief money is making a "real difference" to the people in the town where he grew up.

Coogan, best known for his spoof TV presenter character Alan Partridge, said cash from the charity is having said a direct impact on the local community in Middleton, Greater Manchester.

The star, who earned his first big break recording impressions for Spitting Image, is a patron of the Inspire Middleton charity, which is partly funded by Comic Relief, and runs The Lighthouse Project community hub in the town.

"You can see it making a difference to people's lives. It is that thing of people working together, and it's not just a pipe dream, this is real, this works," he said.

The project, based in Middleton Shopping Centre, has a pantry and foodbank and also helps people with managing money, work skills and education.

Coogan said he wanted to help boost that sense of community in the town he always fondly remembers.

"When I was growing up in Middleton people would just knock on the door," he said.

"They wouldn't even say they were going to come round, they'd just knock on the door you'd say come in and you'd make them a cup of tea.

"This is almost a replacement for what used to be called community.

"A lot of the people I've spoken to when I come here, are people who say, 'oh, this feels like a family'."

Mum-of-three Leanne Walker said she now buys food at the centre after being introduced to the hub by a neighbour.

"It's like a big family," she said.

The Lighthouse Project has a packed calendar of community activities including walking and crafting sessions, and a range of support groups.

Mandy Roberts said before coming to the centre she "couldn't be bothered doing anything", but regularly visiting the community hub had changed her life.

"I'm a different person," she said.

"We come every Tuesday, especially for the quiz, because Rob's quiz is brilliant."

Carl Roach, who works at the centre, said the need for the community hub services was "definitely growing" and last year the pantry and foodbank supported over 3,000 people.

"More people are struggling with cost of living and meeting their daily needs," Carl said.

"We've had to start a waiting list because more people need our help than have ever needed it before."

The Comic Relief charity has supported over 35,000 projects since it was first set up in 1985 and helps people with basic needs including food, shelter and safety.

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