New campaign to help Rochdale residents cope with rising heat and extreme weather

Monday, 11 August 2025 10:49

By David Murphy

(left to right) Green Doctor’s Charlotte Higginson and Georgina Neophytou

A major climate resilience drive has been launched in Rochdale to help households prepare for heatwaves, floods and other extreme weather events, as Greater Manchester is ranked among the most climate-vulnerable areas in the UK.

Groundwork Greater Manchester’s new Beat the Heat campaign aims to equip residents with the skills, knowledge and confidence to cope with increasingly severe weather patterns. The charity will deliver free educational visits to parks and community centres this summer, offering practical advice on staying cool, hydrated and safe, especially for those most at risk.

The initiative will also introduce Rochdale to Communities Prepared, a two-year national pilot funded by Electricity Northwest. This scheme will work with local councils, voluntary groups and community leaders to improve responses to emergencies linked to climate change, including floods and extreme heat. The first phase aims to reach more than 500 people, with plans to expand across Greater Manchester.

Groundwork will extend its Green Doctor home energy service to cover summer challenges. The programme, which last year saved UK households £4.2 million and cut carbon emissions by 8.5 million kg, will advise residents on retrofitting homes and tackling heat-related health risks in poorly insulated properties.

The charity has worked closely with Rochdale Council in the aftermath of severe weather events, including the Boxing Day floods and the New Year’s Day floods in 2025, which forced nearly 1,000 people from their homes. The Met Office has warned that such extremes are becoming the norm, with projections of 7,000 annual heat-related deaths in the UK by 2050.

Phil Treaton, Strategic Lead for Fuel Poverty, Retrofit & Homes at Groundwork Greater Manchester, said:

“Climate change is no longer just a winter problem — our summers are getting dangerously hot. In Greater Manchester, extreme heat and flooding are already impacting lives. By helping households prepare, especially the most vulnerable, we can reduce harm and build safer, more resilient communities.”

Residents over 65, those with young children, chronic illnesses or certain medical needs are encouraged to sign up to the free Priority Services Register, which provides extra support during utility outages.

More information and event details are available by contacting Groundwork Greater Manchester at greatermanchester@groundwork.org.uk or calling 0161 200 1000.