Celebrating the people powering Stockport: Meet Mary, bringing brews, bingo and belonging to Brinnington
Celebrating the people powering Stockport: Meet Mary, bringing brews, bingo and belonging to Brinnington.
Mary Dutton might be the busiest woman in Brinnington. If there’s an activity happening in the community, chances are it involves her. From knit and natters every Monday and ballroom dancing on Fridays to warm spaces in winter and community Christmas dinners, she volunteers her time to bring people together.
One of those people is Jayson, a regular at community bingo which runs every Tuesday at Brinnington Park leisure centre.
“I come here for the connection, the community, to get a cup of coffee,” Jayson says, “to see all these beautiful, lovely people, and just to enjoy myself.”
For Mary, who’s been volunteering for over 50 years, these connections are what it’s all about.
“I love it when they argue over who’s going to win the washing up liquid, because it promotes people talking,” she says. “And the daft songs we sing – it’s memories.”
Bingo is just one of the many free activities Mary runs with her friend Paul, another community stalwart and bingo-caller extraordinaire. Together, they chair BLOGS: the Brinnington Local Organised Groups Society.
BLOGS is passionate about working with others to create new opportunities for people in Brinnington. That’s why, when residents at Dunton Towers asked for a green space of their own, BLOGS helped secure funding to make it happen.
Then they created a peace garden at the Lighthouse, so even more people have a place to spend time together and plant their own vegetables and flowers.
“I’m a great believer in keeping the pound going round,” she says. “If we get funding for gardens, we’ll do it with Greenspace Volunteers. They’ll build the planters so we can pay them, so that keeps their mower mended.”
This type of collaboration is at the heart of Brinnington, a community that Mary is proud to be part of. It’s a place where people look out for one another.
“There’s a lot of good that goes on in Brinnington. For all the bad press, there’s hundreds of good things, loads of community groups working together. It’s a friendly place,” says Mary.
Her advice for anyone who wants to make a difference is simple: “Do it. Ask for advice. Work with other people […] Because until you try, you don’t know, do you?”
For Mary, volunteering is a great way to keep her mind and body active – and to do things she’s always wanted to, like quitting smoking or ballroom dancing.
But the difference Mary makes goes far beyond her. You can see it in the peace garden, where residents have just grown their first salad; at the leisure centre, where Jayson is closing in on a full house; and even in Blackpool, where Mary and her fellow dancers are performing in the famous Tower Ballroom.
“I know it makes a difference from what people say to us – like bank holidays, the knit and natter, we never shut, because people say, you’re not going to close, are you?” Mary says. “And if it just makes a difference to one person, it’s made a difference, hasn’t it?”
Mary’s story is just one example of the incredible people powering Stockport every day.
Across our borough, countless individuals are giving their time, sharing their skills and helping others to feel connected, supported and proud of where they live. We want to celebrate them.
Do you know someone who’s making a difference in your community? Help us tell their story by nominating them for our #WeAreOneStockport campaign.
Looking for opportunities to get involved, meet new people or access local support and activities? Visit the Live Well directory to discover what’s happening in your community.
And if Mary has inspired you to lend a hand in Brinnington, we’d love to hear from you. Email getinvolved@onestockport.co.uk to find out how you can support Mary and the fantastic work happening through BLOGS and the wider community.
Together, we’re celebrating the people who power Stockport – and showing what’s possible when we all play our part in creating One Stockport.
