Generous Stockport residents have helped raise thousands of pounds for a local charity which supports people with disabilities, autism and mental health difficulties.

More than £19,000 was raised for the Together Trust as part of a family festival which featured animals, arts and crafts, market traders, and more.

Around 1,500 people turned out for the festival, which took place in Cheadle on Saturday 4 July.

Dubbed the 'Join Together Festival', it has been running annually in Cheadle since July 1921.

The event raises essential funds for the Together Trust's life-changing services across the North West, which includes specialist education, care, therapy and support for thousands of neurodivergent people, disabled people, people with a learning disability and children and young people in care.

Throughout the day, Stockport's Strawberry Radio entertained the crowds on the main stage along with other performers, including Vox Pop choir and a return from UK synthpop artist Mistrust.

The event also included a scheduled quiet hour, plus changing facilities, ear defenders, and sensory activities.

In attendance this year was the Stockport Mayor and Mayoress, Mark Hunter and Rachel Hunter. Local Lib Dem councillors Graham Greenhalgh and Colin MacAlister also attended, along with independent Tameside councillor Kaleel Khan.

The festival was brought about with the help of 56 volunteers - who collectively put in 302 hours of volunteering - along with funding support from local businesses.

Zoe Hunter, Together Trust fundraiser and the festival's organiser, said: "This is a community event through and through and highlights what the Together Trust aims to offer, embracing our community's individual personalities in the form of a family fun day.

"I can't wait to see what 2027 will bring… bigger and better with plans already in the making!"

Apex 3D Printing, one of the market traders at the festival, shared: "We had such a lovely time. The event was so well organised and there were so many lovely activities for families to do.

"My daughter is ASD too and being independent can be a struggle, but she felt happy and safe and spent the whole day walking around to the various areas, chatting to the team and just having a great time.

"I knew she was safe and I knew she was happy."

~

Free from clickbait, Stockport Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

To get our top stories in your inbox each week, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter HERE.

Please consider following Stockport Nub News on Facebook or X