VE Day Celebration on Daisy Street A True Community Moment
To honour VE Day, New Pioneers Community brought the heart of Rochdale’s Spotland neighbourhood to life with a joyful, inclusive street celebration on Daisy Street. The road was closed and transformed into a vibrant community gathering, where a long table welcomed neighbours to share food, stories, and laughter.
Supported by Northern Trains and Transport for Greater Manchester, the event was a shining example of how local partnerships can help create meaningful community moments. The support helped provide essential resources to make the day accessible and welcoming for all.
New Pioneers volunteers played a central role—preparing refreshments,
coordinating the event, and ensuring everyone felt included. Young community members helped run games and activities for children, while music filled the street and inspired spontaneous dancing from guests of all ages.
The event didn’t just mark a historical day—it built bridges between neighbours, encouraged intergenerational connection, and celebrated diversity in a fun, respectful way. The positive atmosphere and shared experience left a lasting impact on all who attended. This celebration showed the power of community-led events, especially when backed by organisations that value inclusion, well-being, and togetherness.
Concept and Aims
The VE Day Celebration on Daisy Street was created by the New Pioneers Community as a way to bring together neighbours from the Spotland area of Rochdale in a joyful, inclusive event marking Victory in Europe Day. The concept was simple yet powerful: close the street to traffic, set up one long shared table, and invite the whole community to eat, talk, and celebrate together.
The primary aim was to create a space where local residents—many of whom come from different cultural and generational backgrounds—could come together, form new connections, and share a moment of unity. It was about honouring the past while fostering belonging, inclusivity, and neighbourly spirit in the present.
Another goal was to actively involve local volunteers, including young people, in event planning and delivery—building community pride and creating opportunities for skills development and engagement. With support from Northern Trains and Transport for Greater Manchester, the event was also a chance to highlight how accessible transport and partnership working can support vibrant, local-led projects that uplift entire neighbourhoods.
What Happened
On the day of the event, Daisy Street in Spotland was closed to traffic and transformed into a warm and colourful celebration space. A long communal table was set up to accommodate everyone who wished to join in. Volunteers from the New Pioneers Community worked for days preparing for the event—decorating the street, preparing food and refreshments, and organising activities. As neighbours arrived, they were greeted by music, a buzzing atmosphere, and a true sense of occasion. Adults chatted and shared stories about VE Day and life in the area, while children were kept entertained by a group of young volunteers who led games, crafts, and other fun activities. The celebration included free food and drinks prepared and served by New Pioneers volunteers, with an emphasis on hospitality and generosity. The presence of different generations—grandparents, parents, children—added richness and meaning to the day.
Music brought energy to the street, inspiring dancing and singing from all ages. This was more than just an event; it became a shared memory, a new local tradition, and an example of what’s possible when community and creativity come together. Challenges such as weather concerns and logistics of closing the street were overcome thanks to strong coordination with local authorities, proactive planning, and community spirit.
Results
The event exceeded expectations in terms of turnout, atmosphere, and impact. Over 250 local residents attended the VE Day street party, many of whom had never met before despite living on the same street. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with neighbours describing it as “a wonderful day,” “truly heart-warming,” and “the best community event we’ve had in years.” The event helped reduce social isolation, particularly among older residents, and built bridges between families from different cultures. Young volunteers gained confidence and valuable experience in event coordination, hospitality, and public engagement.
The support from Northern Trains and Transport for Greater Manchester was vital in making the event happen, enabling the provision of infrastructure, signage, and some of the materials needed to make the day run smoothly. Their involvement demonstrated how transport organisations can support wider community wellbeing beyond the station platform. Most importantly, the event sparked a desire for more neighbourhood-led activities. Many attendees have since expressed interest in getting more involved with New Pioneers initiatives or helping to organise future events. In a time when many communities feel fragmented, the VE Day celebration on Daisy Street was a reminder of the power of local people coming together—with food, music, and conversation—to rediscover connection, belonging, and joy. The event turned one ordinary street into a symbol of unity, proving that with the right support and vision, community engagement can thrive anywhere.
