We are a voluntary association, our full name being Stalybridge Voluntary Twinning Association (SVTA).
We are supported by Stalybridge District Assembly, and by our own fund-raising efforts.
We meet the organisers of the twinning link on the Armentières side once a year, to discuss the following year's programme of events, to see developments in the towns, and to visit the surrounding areas together in a spirit of friendship. Our meetings are held in Stalybridge and in Armentières, in alternate years.
All our members fund their own trips to Armentières, as well as the cost of their meals and visits when the group from Armentières visits Stalybridge.
All participants in the different exchanges fund their own travel in the same way as we do, with occasional help from the Association when we are able.
Here are some of the members of the Twinning Association, with our friends from Armentières, on their most recent visit here in December 2007. We are outside the newly re-opened John Rylands Library, Deansgate, Manchester. The photo is by Rob Wild.
© emm - svta 2009 | Our role is to facilitate and coordinate visits and exchanges between all sections of the community in Tameside and Armentières.
The twinning movement as a whole developed after the end of the Second World War, its general aim being to ensure peace between nations through bonds of friendship between the ordinary people of twinned towns. It is surely still relevant today, since, at least in our corner of the world, we have now lived in peace with our neighbours for more than 60 years.
When we have enough volunteers available to make it viable, we hold fund-raising stalls in the form of tombolas at local events, Tea and Coffee Mornings, etc.
If you are looking for opportunities to help a local organisation by helping at fund-raising events, we would be pleased to hear from you. |