Whalley Range has been officially recognised as an age-friendly neighbourhood by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.

The Mayor announced the winners of his Age-Friendly Challenge during Greater Manchester “Doing Ageing Differently” conference.

Held, in February 2019, the event brought together over 300 key figures in ageing from across the country.

Whalley Range was one of 32 areas from across Greater Manchester to be recognised by the award scheme designed to showcase the best places to grow older in the city-region.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said:

“I launched this challenge last year to unearth the positive work I know is going on in Greater Manchester, to find practical examples of what age-friendly really means, and to share best practice across the city-region.

The response to this challenge has been fantastic. The variety of age-friendly work displayed from all our winners clearly shows the commitment from our local communities to make sure that people in Greater Manchester are living not just longer, but happier and healthier too.”

Chris Ricard from Age-friendly Whalley Range/Whalley Range Community Forum who applied on behalf of the area said:

“We are thrilled to hear the news that Whalley Range has been recognised as an age-friendly neighbourhood for 2019!

We will be celebrating this award with groups and residents of all ages as a neighbourhood committed to working towards making      Whalley Range a great place to grow older.”

The award recognises the hard work that organisations and older people in Whalley Range have carried out to make their area a great place to grow older.

An age-friendly neighbourhood is a place where: residents are committed to looking out for each other, older people feel they can have a say in what going on in their local area, and there are spaces where people can get together.

The award also showed that Whalley Range is committed to helping older people feel: independent, safe and secure, and informed about what is going on in their local area.

Submissions to Mayor Age-Friendly Challenge were reviewed by an expert panel chaired by Prof. Chris Phillipson from MICRA at The University of Manchester. Other panellists included representatives from Greater Manchester Older People Network, Ambition for Ageing, and the Centre for Ageing Better.

Notes to editors

Greater Manchester is the UK first age-friendly city region, as recognised by the World Health Organization.

The Mayor Age-Friendly Challenge represents a commitment to shape a city-region that recognises the contribution older people make and the value in keeping all residents socially, physically and economically active for longer.

The challenge was launched by Andy Burnham during Greater Manchester Festival of Ageing in July 2018, where he called for the voluntary and community sector, public services, and older people groups to submit their best age-friendly schemes and help deliver more age-friendly neighbourhoods across Greater Manchester.

https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-launches-agefriendly-challenge-at-greater-manchester-s-festival-of-ageing/

The Mayor Age-Friendly Challenge was delivered by Ambition for Ageing on behalf of Greater Manchester Combined Authority Ageing Hub which works to improve older people quality of life in Greater Manchester, addressing the challenges and embracing the opportunities the UK is facing in response to a rapidly growing older population.

www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/agefriendlygm

Age-friendly neighbourhood information from Ambition for Ageing report Building

Age-Friendly Neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester.

https://ambitionforageing.org.uk/neighbourhoods

We are a group of local residents who are starting a local climate change action group. Climate change is a huge threat to us and the planet. Although it is easy to despair, we can make a difference by working with others for change and we want to do this in our area.

This new group will work to support each other to make positive changes to our lives and community and to act for change. Members will decide what we do and can get involved in as much or as little as you like – ideas so far include learning sessions, supporting each other, climate campaigning, and linking with other groups in and beyond the area.

We are hoping to build a supportive group that meets locally to share ideas and strategies and organise activities and campaigns. Everybody is very welcome to join no matter what your current level of knowledge. You are invited to contribute your skills and energy to build a self sustaining, learning, active group.

Come to our meetings from 11-1pm at the JNR8 Youth and Community Centre 82 Cromwell Avenue Whalley Range M16 0BG.

There is the option to eat lunch together afterwards, please bring your own veggie food. For more info see the Whalley Rangers Facebook Group, Twitter @RangeAction or contact climateaction@whalleyrangers.org

The Greater Together Manchester Winter Night Shelter is a rolling shelter, based at ten different churches close to the city centre between October and April. It provides 12 homeless men, referred from other organisations, with a bed and a hot meal each night in a relaxed and homely atmosphere.

The Night Shelter will be coming to St John, and St Edmund in Whalley Range, in January 2019.

Volunteers are needed for the shelter on shifts of your choosing, including evenings, overnights and mornings. Outside shelter hours, help to cook or to do laundry is also needed. No previous experience is needed as full training is provided. The next volunteer training session is on Monday 17th December.

They are looking for volunteers from all walks of life who can get involved with a variety of shelter tasks. Shifts are flexible to fit around many people’s own commitments. Many of their guests have English as an additional language and can sometimes be limited. Knowledge of other languages and ability to communicate without English is very useful at times. Applications are particularly encouraged from those with experience of cooking.

The role is suitable for those over the age of 18.

The shelters run every night from January to April.

Shift times are Morning – 6am – 9:30am;

Evening – 5:30pm – 10pm;

Overnight – 9:30pm – 6:30am.

There is an application process to volunteer with GTMNS and it must be completed before attending a shelter. You will need to complete an online application form which will ask for 2 references. When they have received satisfactory references, volunteers will be invited to introductory training either as part of a large group or a small one. Once training is completed, volunteers are then added to a calendar and will be able to select their own shifts.

Online application https://timecounts.org/gtmanchester/assignments/2013

Or contact

Email: nightshelter@greatertogethermanchester

Tel: 0161 828 1400

For more information, or to register as a volunteer, please go to https://greatertogethermanchester.org/homelessness or email nightshelter@greatertogethermanchester.org

If you, or someone you know, are homeless and need help, please visit Street Support.

Manchester unveils proposals for new world-class cycling and walking route

The Manchester to Chorlton cycling and walking route is being proposed by Manchester City Council, the One Trafford Partnership, Transport for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Cycling and Walking Commissioner, Chris Boardman.

Running along Barlow Moor Road, Manchester Road, Upper Chorlton Road and Chorlton Road, the new five kilometre route will benefit local residents and anyone wishing to cycle between the city centre and the thriving Chorlton area.

Local residents, businesses, community groups and other interested parties are now invited to review the proposals and have their say at www.manchester.gov.uk/consultations.