1. Events
2. Regular Activities
3. Health & Wellbeing
4. Children and Young People
5. News, Exhibitions & meetings
6. Sport/Active lifestyle
7. Volunteering
8. Support
9. Festivals and special events

Events and activities

Translated leaflet at https://www.whalleyrange.org/2024/09/womens-health-meeting-at-jnr8/

Regular Activities

Friday Community hub @ JNR8 – 10-1pm

NEW STYLE COMPUTER CLASS COMING SOON TO JNR8!

JNR8 (pronounced generate) is a warm and welcoming space for our community to meet with others, and on Fridays you are welcome to drop in to our Warm Hub, have a cuppa and a crumpet/piece of toast, fruit – and soup and a roll when the weather is colder!

Whalley Range Community Forum Warm Welcome Space page:

https://www.warmwelcome.uk/space?l=17701

Find other local Warm Welcome Spaces at: https://www.warmwelcome.uk

A place to belong, make friends and have a place to talk…

WEDNESDAY YOUTH NIGHTS | 7 – 8.30pm
St Werburgh’s Chorlton

This weekly, free youth club is open for young people of all backgrounds in secondary school.

Keen to come join? It’s easy.
All the info and consent forms on our website.
www.stwchorlton.org/youth
Or if you’re getting dropped off we’ve got paper copies for parents to fill out too.

We can’t wait to see you! 

Health & Wellbeing

This exciting new social group for people with leg conditions and those who are feeling isolated is on Wednesdays at JNR8 from 11:45-1:30pm

Who’s who at your GP practice

Our campaign aims to improve the understanding of the different professionals working in a general practice, including the skills, experience and benefits that different roles bring to patient care.

We want to help you understand what different members of the general practice team do and why you may be seen by someone other than a GP.

Click the link to find out more:

Who’s Who at your local GP Practice

Children and Young People

Spaces in our rainbow unit for girls aged 4 to 7 years in Whalley Range.

Rainbows have fun learning new things with friends and earn badges by taking part in activities.

We meet at St Edmunds church on Alexandra Road South on Fridays (during term time) from 6.15 to 7.15 pm.

We have spaces in our guide unit for girls aged 10 to 14 years in Whalley Range

Our activities are for all abilities and girls enjoy trying new things and have the opportunity try different activities

We meet at St Edmunds church on Alexandra Road South on a Friday evening (in term time) from 7.30 to 9.00pmdays out further afield (contains links outside our website)

News, Exhibitions & Meetings

Russell Road LGBTQ+ Extra Care Scheme.

UPDATES COMING SOON!

What is extra care?

Extra care is an affordable housing option from not for profit social landlords offering self-contained homes for older people aged 55 or over.  It includes flexible and responsive services to enable them to maintain their independence and stay where they live if their care needs change.

You would have your own apartment and tenancy with access to flexible care and support services if needed. A team of care staff is on site 24/7 rather than being brought in on a visiting basis. This is to ensure better joint working between housing and care teams and to provide a model that can adapt to people’s needs as they change, rather than people having to move when this happens. 

Care provided is in line with domiciliary care, e.g. up to 4 care visits per day. Carers on site over night are there for emergencies and peace of mind. 

Amy and Louise from Great Places and Angela and Kath from MCC can speak to people about Extra Care services in more detail. Information on other Extra Care schemes, and how to apply, will be available if people are interested.  This will also help answer any questions from people who may think this will be the only EC scheme in the city. 

How can someone register for the properties?  

Waiting lists are not open.  Add your name to the mailing list and you’ll receive updates on the scheme. 

How will properties be allocated? 

The shared ownership apartments will be sold on a first come first served basis.

The extra care apartments will be allocated by a panel according to level of care need but someone doesn’t have to be in receipt of care to move.

Is the Extra Care scheme just for Manchester residents?

Yes, but exceptions may be considered by the panel on a case by case basis. 

Who will provide the care?

A care provider hasn’t been appointed yet.  The care and support services will be commissioned by Manchester City Council.

Can the local community access and people in the adjacent block access the facilities in the extra care housing scheme?

Yes. It will be a welcoming and inclusive scheme. Some areas, such as the café area, will be open; some will only be accessed by pre-arranged appointments, such as treatment or meeting rooms; some areas, such as the residential apartment areas on the upper floors, will be for extra care residents and their guests only.

Height/size?

Height of similar size to the previous Spire Hospital building that occupied the site.

The height of the scheme will be 4 and 5 storeys which falls into line with adjacent buildings.

Building has been set back from Russell Road & Carlton Road so as not to feel overbearing on existing two-storey semi-detached dwellings which line these streets.

Extra Care of 5 storeys (around 80 1- and 2-bed apartments).

Shared Ownership block of 4 storeys (around 40 1- and 2-bed apartments).

For further information speak to Alison or Maddi from Triangle Architects.

Will it be net zero?

The development will be as low-carbon as possible.

A ‘fabric first’ approach will be taken which prioritises the energy efficiency of a property from the start of the design and development process.  

An energy and sustainability strategy will be developed with a specialist consultant.

For further information speak to Alison and Maddi from Triangle Architects, Chris from Great Places, and Dave C and Dave H from Rowlinson.

Traffic/parking?

Parking numbers will be discussed and agreed with Manchester City Council Planning. Parking numbers indicated are in line with similar nearby developments.

Planning policy requires 20% of spaces will need to be electric vehicle charging spaces, with provision in place to adapt the other spaces in the future.

Cycle parking spaces will be set by Planning.

Two vehicular access points are provided into the Extra Care parking area, utilising existing access points and taking into account the Whalley Road School Street trial that is currently ongoing.

One vehicular access point is provided into the Shared Ownership parking area, utilising an existing access point.

Parking spaces have been carefully positioned within existing hardstanding areas, to ensure existing trees/roots are not damaged.

Planning conditions attached to any decision will determine site operating and delivery times. A construction traffic management plan will be developed and agreed with Planning officers.

For further information speak to Alison or Maddi from Triangle Architects.

LGBTQ+ majority?

Not exclusive, minimum of 51% LGBTQ+ community. Allocations will be made within the current process for Extra Care, with the additional support of the LGBT Foundation.

Evidence of need within LGBTQ+ community, supported by survey and report by LGBT Foundation (paper copies available for reference (not to give out), links to reports are on consultation website). Issues facing older LGBTQ+ community include social isolation, feeling they may need to go ‘back in the closet’ when accessing housing to meet their needs, partners not being included as family members, less likely to have children, plus more specific needs of trans people, first generation living to older age with HIV.

The aim of RR is to create a centre of excellence in housing, care and support provision for older LGBTQ+ people. This will be supported by Pride in Ageing accreditation which is being rolled out across all Extra Care schemes in the city. This is a quality assessment to ensure Extra Care housing landlords and care providers are, as a minimum, LGBTQ+ affirmative and exclusive.

The scheme will be inclusive and welcoming.

Evidence of need
LGBT Foundation’s 2020 report, Housing, Ageing and Care

• 89% wanted more supported housing options for older LGBT people
• 74% wanted to move into the proposed LGBT extra care scheme 

51% would be uncomfortable in non-LGBT specific care or housing (for over 75s this was higher at

Latest update on Russell Road LGBTQ+ Extra Care Scheme.

Work continues to move forward with the plans for the first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care scheme in the UK at Russell Rd. The scheme will offer high quality, affordable, low carbon housing for social rent and all partners are working towards the pre-planning works as quickly as possible. Preparations are underway to begin site investigations which will help to inform the design.

Despite some slight delays we envisage that we will be able to share our proposed plans with you in the next few weeks and are continuing to work towards submitting our planning proposals before Christmas – following community consultation.

The co-production with the Community Steering Group (CSG) for the proposed scheme has continued positively over the summer with three co-production design meetings since July.

At these meetings, members of the CSG have met with the design team (Great Places, Triangle Architects, Rowlinson Construction and Simon Fenton Partnerships), Manchester City Council and LGBT Foundation to co-produce the top-level design of the scheme ahead of the public planning consultation.

Meetings to date have included making decisions about flat layouts and design features (bathroom access, kitchen access, bedroom layouts) and internal communal spaces (public and customer use, access arrangements, facilities for customers and the wider community and access to outdoor spaces).

These discussions have built on the expertise in the room of designing, building, and managing Extra Care schemes as well as looking at the specific needs of future customers through lived experience.

As part of the co-production, the CSG has also learned about the planning process and the conservation area in Whalley Range to ensure that the building and its purpose enhance the local area.

In September, members of the design team attended a meeting of the Whalley Range Community forum to talk about the planned scheme and were met with a very positive reception from members of the Whalley Range community.

Co-production is not just about the design of the building and will also look at how services will be designed and managed when the scheme opens, and co-production activities with the CSG and wider community are planned throughout the whole process and beyond the doors opening.

To support the co-production process and share news about the proposed scheme, colleagues from Manchester City Council and Great Places joined members of the CSG and LGBT Foundation at Celebrate Festival, Pride on the Range, Manchester Pride, Sparkle Weekend and Chorlton Pride over the summer, and will continue to have a presence at local events as the scheme develops.

In addition, the project team also provided updates at a recent Whalley Range Ward Co-ordination Meeting. The plans were met positively by the group who also shared really useful local knowledge with the design team. Regular progress updates will also be given at future meetings.

The involvement of the CSG is invaluable in ensuring that this first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care scheme will meet the needs of the community when it opens and into the future. You can hear from members of the CSG in the first of a series of videos we’ve made to document the development of the scheme.

If you’re interested in becoming involved in this exciting project, the Community Steering Group is still looking to expand its membership and particularly wants to expand the diversity and inclusion of the group.

For more information on how you can get involved contact Adam Preston from LGBT Foundation at adam.preston@lgbt.foundation

Plans for Russell Road, including the first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care scheme in the UK, are now moving forward following the recent appointment of Great Places Housing Group as the new preferred provider.

The Extra Care scheme will form part of the new development on the site of the former Spire Hospital. It will offer affordable self-contained homes for people aged 55+ with access to flexible care and support services on-site if needed, enabling residents to keep their independence and stay in their home if their care needs change. All partners involved are delighted that the project is moving ahead. This is a great opportunity to develop and deliver a Centre of Excellence in Manchester providing safe, respectful and identity confirming Independent Living and Extra Care services for the LGBTQ+ community.

Co-production will be a key part of the scheme’s development. Great Places is working in close partnership with the Community Steering Group (made up of representatives from the local, LGBTQ+ and older people’s communities), LGBT Foundation and Manchester City Council to ensure the scheme achieves its agreed purpose and creates a lasting positive addition to Whalley Range. The Community Steering Group is already meeting with the project team. Initial meetings included a walkabout of the local area to look at how the scheme will fit in with existing buildings and architecture and to map out the existing nearby amenities and services. Planned future sessions include a visit to Elmswood Park Extra Care Scheme, and a trip to the LGBT Foundation Archive at Central Library. These sessions will form an important part of informing the co-production process as the Steering Group works with Great Places to develop design proposals for the planned development.

We also anticipate that site surveys and investigations will also begin at Russell Road in August, so neighbours are likely to see activity on the site at that time. As the project progresses, we will provide further updates, sharing proposed plans with the local community ahead of sending these for planning permission later in the year.

If you’re interested in becoming involved in this exciting project, the Community Steering Group is looking to expand its membership and particularly wants to expand the diversity and inclusion of the group. For more information on how you can get involved contact Adam Preston from LGBT Foundation at adam.preston@lgbt.foundation

Volunteering

Welcome to Greater Manchester Mature Minds Matter!

The purpose of our network is to ensure the voice of older people with lived experience of mental health are able to use their experiences to influence the transformation of mental health support across Greater Manchester.

​We are here to join up existing networks and recruit individual members to act as experts by experience and leaders to inform issues around age-appropriateness, awareness, language, stigma, access and interventions. We aim to support and empower individuals and provide lived experience expertise to various projects across Greater Manchester such as complex emotional needs, eating disorders and self-harm.

​We recently renamed our network from the Greater Manchester Older People’s Mental Health Network to Greater Manchester Mature Minds Matter.

​We are always looking for people to join our growing network, so if you are interested and would like to learn more or have an informal conversation, please contact sophie@macc.org.uk or call 

0161 834 9823.

Sport/Active Lifestyle

Support

Our mobile food clubs give access to nutritious and affordable food taken into the heart of communities starved of money, food and resources. This low cost weekly shop provides essential produce for family eating – fresh fruit and veg, fridge favourites and cupboard staples.

Read more:

https://www.breadandbutterthing.org/become-a-member

Festivals and special events

Dear All

The Whalley Range Community Forum have drawn together ‘a Statement of Intent’ for solidarity, support and actions within our community. We aim to share the statement with as many people as possible within Whalley Range, via local groups, mutual aid/street groups etc.

Many of us are feeling vulnerable, shocked and angry about recent events and the ongoing situation.

Our common aim is to strengthen relationships in our community and to feel reassured by working together.

This page on our website is dedicated to the Statement of Intent and this action – and if any groups would like to share the actions they are taking, please email WRCF – and we will add to the page.

The page will also feature links to wider support and information.

Please send this message through all your networks and share with others

Wider community statements and support links coming soon…

A message to communities from Greater Manchester Police

We understand the uncertainty and worry that people are feeling about current tension, much of which is being fuelled by the widespread sharing of misinformation online which is sometimes being created with the purpose of creating fear and inciting intolerable hate.

Our advice to communities is to remain calm and to try to go about your everyday life. GMP continues to monitor the intelligence to ensure we can respond effectively to any incidents of disorder. And, if we believe there needs to be specific information about anything emerging we will tell people and offer advice.

We are heavily resourced, and we have specialist officers and staff who are working around the clock to tackle these issues and ensure our communities are supported. We are speaking to community leaders and elected representatives regularly to make sure they are apprised of all planned protests known to GMP. People living safely and peacefully, do not deserve to be frightened: we are here to protect you, and we will use all resources and capabilities to do so.

Our message is clear: there is no place for hate in Greater Manchester. If you come here to willingly participate in disorder and crime, we will be at your door, ensuring you answer for your crimes. We will police without fear or favour and use all resources and powers available to ensure those involved in this disgraceful behaviour are dealt with robustly.

This has been demonstrated with our relentless pursuit of offenders, many of whom have been arrested not only in Greater Manchester, but with the support of police colleagues across the UK and we have made crucial arrests in West Yorkshire and Lancashire.

To date, we have made 26 arrests for a variety of offences including assault, violent disorder, possession of weapons, and 20 have been charged. There is work to be done, and we will not relent until we have systematically located and dealt with all those responsible.

We ask that you remain vigilant. If you see something, or hear something, that does not feel right, report it to us so we can act.

All information and reports will be handled with the utmost severity and sensitivity. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, information can be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111. We don’t need to know who you are; we just need your information and concerns.

These are challenging times, but we are immensely proud to see the majority of our residents standing together and condemning this unacceptable disorder. Your unwavering support has not gone unnoticed.

We are always looking for Volunteers…

Celebrate festival – Getting involved

Hello All 

The Celebrate festival organisers are requesting volunteers to help with this year’s event on June 8th at Manley Park – with the theme ‘Crossing Oceans’

If anyone is interested in getting involved, this could be in a range of ways:

– volunteering on the day e.g. a spell on the gate, volunteers food etc

– help with set up and take down

– provide prizes/vouchers for the raffle

– join the planning group

Please contact Carol – email carol.packham96@gmail.com –  if you would like to volunteer.

Thanks in advance 

Also – if anyone is interested in hosting a community stall to promote your local group or pay a small fee to run a stall selling craft items etc – contact Verity –  the Celebrate Coordinator – at celebratewhalleyrange@gmail.com

Whalley Range Community Forum and Whalley Range Youth Opportunity Association invite you to join them at

Celebrate Festival 2024 ‘Crossing Oceans’

Saturday 8^th June 12 noon – 6pm

Manley Park, Clarendon Rd, Whalley Range, M16 0AS

June 8^th is UN Day of Oceans and our theme this year is ‘Crossing Oceans’, celebrating the diversity of Whalley Range and exploring wider climate issues. We look forward to seeing how our artists, performers and stall holders explore these ideas.

This is the 27^th Celebrate Festival and our principles remain the same.

We bring together a wide range of community partners in Whalley Range to put on an exciting day of free activities celebrating the very best of our fantastic community, with a focus on fun, creativity and wellbeing, but also looking at serious issues.  In the run up to the event we run workshops and pop up events in schools and a wide range of community settings.

The festival is run by volunteers from the community and staff from WRCF and WRYOA, working with partners from other local groups, businesses, schools and statutory services. However we are grateful for the professional assistance of our project coordinators and artists.

Our Festival Coordinator this year is Verity Gardner and our Music Programmers are Chia Norris and Ben Price.

The festival is made possible by donations from individuals and local businesses, fundraising by volunteers and grants from funders including National Lottery Awards for All and Manchester City Council.

The Aims of Celebrate:

• To celebrate the talent, diversity and resources of Whalley Range
• To promote positive image and improve quality of life in Whalley Range
• To encourage participation of different communities within the area and work from an anti-discriminatory framework.

If you want to get involved with Celebrate contact us at: celebratewhalleyrange@gmail.com or call 0161 881 3744

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE DETAILS AND THE CELEBRATE PROGRAMME – COMING SOON…

CELEBRATE FESTIVAL REPORT 2023

Scroll down further for the history of Celebrate…

The Celebrate festival 2023

Contact celebratewhalleyrange@gmail.com to get involved 

The aims of the group are to:-

– Celebrate the talent, diversity and resources of Whalley Range

– Promote a positive image of the area and improve the quality of life

– Encourage participation of the different communities within the area,

– Work in an anti-discriminatory and inclusive way (i.e. be low cost and barrier free).

The event is held in partnership between Whalley Range Youth Opportunities Association and the Whalley Range Community Forum.

We are committed to working with  everyone in the community – especially newly established groups who have been supported to develop by the Forum and that all groups are represented to celebrate our diversity and showcase our local talent, building and maintaining links across the community.

We strive to challenge any negative perceptions people may have with regard to Whalley Range by encouraging active cross cultural community involvement in our age-friendly festival events, workshops and activities,strengthening community cohesion and encouraging participation from residents from all of the diverse cultures that exist within our ward.

A consultation was circulated about Celebrate: some of the responses are below.

Q1: How does the Celebrate Festival bring the Whalley Range community together?

Q2: Why is an event that brings members of a very diverse community together important?

• An event which caters for all ages, young, old and in-between! One that has activities that are attractive to a wide range of cultures and interest groups.
• Something for everybody. One of the highlights of the Whalley Range year.
• Whalley Range has a diverse society, lots of religions and cultures and Celebrate Festival reflects this.
• it brings rich, poor, middle-class, working-class, young and old together and those from other ethnic minorities besides English.
• This is an opportunity for the vast number of small voluntary and community groups to showcase what they are involved in and promote their activities.
• It a chance for neighbours to get together in an informal way. With so many people leading busy lives, it really wonderful to see everyone from across the community in the same place enjoying the activities, information sharing and each other company.
• Community cohesion and integration must be encouraged to avoid people feeling isolated, abandoned and rejected. Events like this promote community cohesion.
• In diverse communities like Whalley Range it is often not the case that people from the diverse range all get along. Often the different groups are isolated from each other and never really mix. Events like this are a good way to get people from the wide range of groups to talk to each other and share commonalities as well as celebrate difference.
• It inclusive, everyone has a chance to get involved and it a chance to participate in free workshops
• Because we are all human beings and Celebrate brings human beings regardless of their shape or colour together to have fun and learn. In full: www.whalleyrange.org/communityforum/celebrate-survey-what-did-people-say-about-the-festival/

Celebrate is an ideal platform for local community groups to host a stall to promote themselves and get people involved in having a say in their community

Celebrate Report 2011

Celebrate_Report 2012_CR

Celebrate_Report 2013FINAL

Celebrate_Festival_Report 2015

http://wryoa.org/category/celebrate/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/CelebrateFestivalWhalleyRange/about/?ref=page_internal

Read the latest Celebrate Report from 2018 here:

 CELEBRATE REPORT 2018 FINAL SMALL (1)

The Celebrate Festival 2018

Celebrate 2018 in pictures!

A short video capture and photos of the Whalley Range Celebrate Festival by Andrew Thompson

Filmed by Andrew Thompson Celebrate 2017 snapshot¦Read More…

The Winter Warm Welcome Spaces website has been updated and relaunched so you can search for local spaces.

Find our JNR8 Community Warm Hub details here:

We will share information from support agencies and community groups regularly on this page.

1. News & Events
2. Advice Line
3. Whalley Range Climate Action Group advice
4. Whalley Range Community Forum Cost of Living support leaflet
5. Benefits, protecting your health
6. Easy Read winter health advice
7. Warm Hubs
8. Other advice

Council support if you’re in financial difficulty

https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200008/benefits_and_support/8335/discretionary_payments_and_grants 

LOW-COST RECIPE BOOK IS HERE This Easter, we can announce a free low-cost recipe book we have developed in collaboration with local NHS nutritionist Lucy Blackstone. Over the Easter holidays, we will be distributing over 20,000 copies to families in need across Manchester. We believe that no child should go hungry. We believe in widening access not only to activity, but to the knowledge of healthy eating and nutritious cooking for Mancunians young and old. With this recipe book, we hope to do just that. Eating well doesn’t have to break the bank, by sharing simple and affordable recipes, we can help families stretch their budgets further. Ensuring that everyone in Manchester has access to delicious and nutritious food, helping you become healthier and happier. View and download your copy of the book here.

To support Manchester residents through the cost-of-living crisis, Manchester City Council will be providing an advice line that will offer:

1. Support with benefits and help with your rent (this is an existing offer made available through the contact centre)

2. Advice about debt and paying bills (this will be done in conjunction with Citizen Advice Manchester)

3. Food support (residents will receive a call back to understand their needs and connected into a local food offer)
4. Support getting online (residents will be linked in with the Council’s digital inclusion team)

How to contact

The advice line can be accessed via a free phone number 0800 023 2692. The line will be open 9:00-4:30 Monday to Friday.

Agents on the phone line will have access to language line for those residents whose first language is not English
Sign Video will also be available for residents who may require this facility.

An on line form will be available at https://www.manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands for those who do not
wish to contact by phone.

The advice line will also have its own web page that will have links to information of how residents are
able to access support. https://www.manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands

Whalley Range Climate Action Group  energy saving information

PDF:    leaflet_A4_pgs1_2 leaflet_A4_pgs3_4

PDF Version (clearer with clickable links) WRCF Cost of Living leaflet Print

Easy Read format Winter Vaccination and Cost of Living advice 

Winter Help Leaflet v4

Warm spaces are opening up across the city: a place to keep warm and save on energy costs, a place to get advice, a cuppa, spend time with others or enjoy some quiet time.

St Margaret’s Centre welcome you to their Warm Cafe every Thursday from 13th October-1pm-3pm, over the colder months.

Energy Price Guarantee 

From 1 October 2022, the Energy Price Guarantee will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas so that a typical household in Great Britain pays, on average, around £2,500 a year on their energy bill, for the next 2 years. Beware of scams – there is no need to apply and you will never be asked for bank details.

This will save the average household at least £1,000 a year based on current energy prices from October and is in addition to the £400 energy bills discount for all households.

More information

Click the link or photo below to read this year’s Celebrate Festival report from June 2023…

CELEBRATE FESTIVAL REPORT 2023

The Snowdrop Curve film…

How did Covid affect you?  three events were organised earlier in the year for people to gather, discuss and write about their experiences through Covid…

Last year the Covid Commemorative Curve of Snowdrops was planted by people from Whalley Range, in Alexandra Park. The curve symbolises the ups and downs of the pandemic and the plants will make a green and living memorial, a place to reflect on the loss and pain that came with Covid.

This year we want to honour your experiences of living through Covid. We are organising gatherings where you can talk with others and share experiences. A local poet, Tony Curry, will work with you, to write and record your thoughts as poems.

Your words will be recorded and combined with songs performed by local schoolchildren to create a short film. The interpretation board QR code in the park will link to the film.

This will be a further commemoration of our responses to the Covid events.

GATHERINGS to talk and write; choose a date and time that works for you.

Tuesday 17^th January 1045 to 1300 at the Pavilion Café in Alexandra Park.

Tuesday 17^th January at 1715 to 1930 at British Muslim Heritage Centre, College Road M16

Thursday 19^th January 1045 to 1300 at the Pavilion Café in Alexandra Park.

Booking not essential, just come along on your chosen date.

On Feb 11^th 2023 at 11am come and see the curve of snowdrops in flower.

Tea and coffee will be served from the Park Lodge.

The next 5 week Boost Resilience course will be running in September. Get in touch if you would like to join this fantastic free wellbeing and self-esteem building course!

Call Chris/Kate at JNR8 (pronounced ‘generate’) on 0161 881 3744

Get in touch if you’d like to be added to the waiting list for the next course!

While Covid restrictions have relaxed, we want to continue to keep everyone at the event safe. Therefore, we ask that everyone who attends wears a mask if they can, they observe social distancing and have a negative lateral flow test.

New proposals brought forward for, LGBT+ majority Extra Care housing scheme

Second consultation to take place for the development of the former Spire Hospital site in Russell Road Whalley Range Manchester

Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life, is seeking views once more from local residents at a consultation event next week ahead of a planning application submission for around 100 new affordable homes. The development is planned for the site of the former Spire Hospital in Russell Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, which was demolished in 2019, and the brownfield site has since remained vacant.

In partnership with Manchester City Council and a Community Steering Group led by LGBT Foundation, Anchor aims to develop an Extra Care scheme on Russell Road, Whalley Range, designed to be the UK’s first purpose built LGBT+ majority housing development exclusively for older people.

The first consultation event, which took place in January in person and online, presented the initial thinking for the proposed new development. At this second event, visitors will be able to view more detailed designs ahead of the planning application being submitted.

The proposals will deliver high-quality, inclusive new homes for older people and propose around 100 one- and two-bedroom apartments, in a brick building of three and four storeys. All homes will be designed for affordable rent and shared ownership, plus shared facilities including a restaurant/bistro, lounges, treatment rooms and landscaped outdoor amenity space plus parking.  Residents will be required to be aged 55 years or over, and the scheme will be inclusive of members and non-members of the LGBT+ community from Manchester.

The development seeks to minimise its carbon impact through a number of smart design measures to improve thermal efficiency throughout. Designs propose the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power and air source heat pumps, and installation of resource efficient equipment throughout the building, such as heat recovery ventilation systems and intelligently controlled LED lighting. The current target is to achieve an accreditation of ‘BREEAM Excellent’ for the new extra care housing scheme and will install electric vehicle charging points to a proportion of the residents’ parking bays. This will place the new development within the top 10 per cent of new builds in terms of sustainability both connected to the building and the setting.

Charles Taylor, Anchor’s Director of New Business, said:

“The first consultation was well attended and we got some great feedback. We’re looking forward to presenting our updated proposals for further views before we submit a planning application to Manchester City Council.

“At Anchor we have developed a strong reputation for delivering high-quality homes where people love living in later life. We share the collective ambition with Manchester City Council to create an exemplary, inclusive development on this well-located site in the heart of the Whalley Range community.”

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment, said: “It’s brilliant to see this project starting to move at pace. This is the second consultation for the LGBT majority extra care scheme and the feedback received has been really useful in developing the proposals that will go to planning in the coming weeks.

“We want this to be an exemplar for inclusive older person’s housing and to do that we need input from the communities that will eventually live there. This is a great opportunity to see how the development is progressing and we’d love to get as many people’s views as possible as we move into the next stage of the project.”

Paul Martin OBE, CEO LGBT Foundation, said: “LGBT Foundation is proud to have been involved in the development of the LGBT+ majority Extra Care scheme in Whalley Range since it was proposed some years ago. We were delighted to hear the overwhelming support for the scheme during the first consultation.

“The views of the local community are key to making this development a success and we encourage people to use their voice to help shape the future of this landmark project, to ensure it offers a safe and welcoming home for older LGBT+ people.”

The consultation will be held at Whalley Range Methodist Church between 2pm and 8pm, Wednesday 16^th February. In addition to the in-person event, all the information presented will be displayed online at www.anchor.consultationonline.co.uk from 16 February 2022. Local residents will be able to provide their views via a feedback form at the event or online until 23 February 2022.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For further information, contact:

Sam Freedman / 020 3219 7956

Esme Roberts / 020 3697 7633

About Anchor

Anchor began more than 50 years ago and today is England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life.  It provides retirement housing to rent and to buy, retirement villages and residential care homes, including specialist dementia care. In total, Anchor serves more than 65,000 residents in 55,000 homes across almost 1,700 locations. Its residential care services employ the majority of the 9,000-strong workforce, providing services to residents at 114 care homes.  Anchor operates in more than 85% of local councils in England. For more information visit www.anchor.org.uk.

About LGBT Foundation

LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities. With a history dating back to 1975, they campaign for a fair and equal society where all LGBT people can achieve their full potential. Through their services, they reduce isolation amongst LGBT communities, help people feel more confident and in control of their lives and enable people to flourish. Together with LGBT communities and their supporters, LGBT Foundation are working to secure a safe, healthy and equal future for all LGBT people.

lgbt.foundation  | @LGBTfdn

What is an Extra Care scheme?

Extra Care schemes typically attract customers who are already living in the area that require more specialist accommodation to meet their personal needs; but do not require levels of wellness provision which justifies moving into a care home. This model is especially attractive to those who live on their own and may need some physical and/or emotional support; and it is also for those who want to live within a community of like-minded people.  The proposed development will therefore include specialist design features attributable to Extra Care schemes to enable residents to live independently in their own homes but with care and wellness services provided as and when required.

010222 Anchor Russell Road second consultation release, FINAL

https://anchor.consultationonline.co.uk/

Lots of things to do locally and further afield during the summer holidays! (more coming soon!)

Local playschemes…

Cromwell Avenue…

Manley Park…

Loads to do…

https://loadstodo.co.uk/guides/our-year/

From Laura Cassidy of buzz:

The Summer Holidays have arrived and we know how hard (and expensive) it can be to keep those little and not so little ones busy. So we have put together a list of activities that we’re aware of in our area of Chorlton, Whalley Range and Fallowfield which is attached here. Please do share to anyone who may find it useful. I have also attached a fab guide aimed at the Under 5s which local resident Sian has put together and asked me to share. The link is also below to Sian’s guide as she will be updating it as she hears more – Thank you Sian!

Free Summer Activities Manchester for under 5s

2022 Summer Holiday Timetable CHWRF

Laura Cassidy (she / her)

Neighbourhood Health Worker – Fallowfield, Chorlton and Whalley Range

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

buzz Health & Wellbeing service

1st Floor, Fallowfield Library

Platt Lane, Fallowfield

Manchester

M14 7FB

WRCF-Annual-Report-2021 (1)

Click the link below to find out more

A5 Flyer 102894 Omicron (1) Citywide easy read COVID info 12-15 year olds – A5

This project was established based on BMHC’s experience of working with young people belonging to the Pakistani Muslim and Bangladeshi Muslim Community. Young people had shown a reluctance to engage with the vaccination programme, and this project looked at the underlying reasons for this hesitancy and explore ways as to how the vaccination programme might be promoted.

https://bmhc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-08-27-Report-Covid-19-and-Young-People-FF.pdf

Read all the latest news and advice from the gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

and the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Archive

Information from https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

The day was a great success: people joined us on the climate action walk – then back to JNR8 for our event.

Thanks to Jane from Whalley Range Climate Action Group and Anthony Morris for some great photos of the walk and event!

We had:

• flu jabs,
• health checks,
• arts and crafts for wellbeing,
• Whalley Range Climate Action Group
• resilience coaching
• I.T advice,
• entertainment,
• soup
• information stalls.

Thanks to Anthony Morris for photos, Jane from the Whalley Range Climate Action Group, buzz, Chorlton Good Neighbours, Manley Pharmacy, Be Well, Manchester Cares, Central Manchester Falls team, Lotte (crafts), Steve (music) – and everyone who came along to help and to make the day a great success!

Thanks to Ambition for Ageing  for the funding!

We are really pleased to be holding a couple of events for International Day of Older Persons on Friday 1st October this week​ at the JNR8 Youth & Community Centre in Whalley Range​: see the poster ​for details.

See our Climate Action slogans here:

slogans 2

Thanks to everyone who got involved in our festival with a difference!

CELEBRATE FESTIVAL REPORT 2021

See our Whalley Range Community Forum community directory of local contacts here:  WRCF_CommunityContactBook_2020

We realise there is a lot of  worry and concern about the current situation with Coronavirus (Covid-19) – and we will post the latest information from our trusted sources as we get it…this page will be updated regularly. Please see a selection of links to current information, posters and wellbeing guides below.

Be aware that information is changing regularly so check trusted sources of information for the latest news…

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/north-west-of-england-local-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

ARCHIVE

LOCAL UPDATES 11/02/2021

“Act as though you have the virus”

Manchester’s Director of Public Health, David Regan explains the new lockdown rules and why now it’s more important than ever for us all to play our part.

Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.

#StayHome

Easy Read version of lockdown restrictions full lockdown easyread leaflet

Working with the Army, five lateral flow test sites are now up and running across the city.

This targeted programme is testing people without COVID symptoms.

Focusing first on those who are at higher risk of getting coronavirus, and places where the risks of getting the virus may be greatest.

Link to MCC Covid Testing webpage

Public Health England – Better Health – Every Mind Matters help with stress

Stressed out? Take a break, a deep breath and visit Every Mind Matters… for expert advice on managing your stress levels and your mental health www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/stress/

The Whalley Range Community Forum have unfortunately had to close down the JNR8 building, suspending all activities and classes for the time being, but we are working hard to make the building safe for our groups and activities and look forward to seeing everyone again…

See below for current links and a range of advice from support services…

Coronavirus advice and vaccination information in accessible formats for disabled people can be found on the Breakthrough UK Resource Hub

https://breakthrough-uk.co.uk/covid-accessible-information-hub/

Latest Manchester City Council Bulletin

Read the bulletin by clicking the link below:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKMANCHESTER/bulletins/2bac1bf

COVID-19 Government restrictions

Manchester City Council Covid-19 information: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500362/covid-19

You can help to protect your friends and family by downloading the NHS COVID-19 App to keep updated on the latest guidance from Thursday 5 November

Useful links…

Face coverings: separating fact from fiction – a report from Age UK

Despite being a public health measure, face coverings remain a source of controversy and confusion for many people. Do they primarily protect the wearer or the people they come into contact with? What’s the correct face covering to wear? What about those for whom a face covering might not be suitable?

Professor Trisha Greenhalgh is a GP and Professor of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford who co-authored a British Medical Journal paper on the protective effect of face coverings in public spaces. Trisha is therefore the perfect person to answer the persistent questions and separate fact from fiction.

Read more: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/discover/2020/08/face-coverings/

Click image above for the bulletin…

NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Public Health England: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england

The Government website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

LGBT Foundation advice: http://www.lgbt.foundation/coronavirus

BAME COVID-19 support services in Manchester: https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/500361/coronavirus/7968/coronavirus_-_health_advice/4

Here are some videos explaining the latest lockdown advice for Manchester in 5 languages:

English
https://youtu.be/AMbakfJ1nLY

Chorlton, Whalley Range and Fallowfield Neighbourhood Partnership update

Please find the latest neighbourhood update (link below) which contains information on services to help keep local people safe and well, as well as information on the CWRF: Stepping Out into a New Normal leaflet / poster, and the second VCSE Forum meeting which took place this week.

There is also a call to action from MCC Chorlton Neighbourhood Team who are running a day of action at Chorlton District Centre on Tuesday 15^th September from 10am to 1pm to talk to local residents and businesses about preventing the spread of covid-19. If you would like to join the team around the neighbourhood in getting the key messages out to as many people as possible then please contact me on dawn.harris15@nhs.net.

If you have any questions about anything included in this email then please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best Wishes,

Dawn Harris, Health Development Coordinator

Chorlton, Whalley Range and Fallowfield

Tel: 07305943204

Neighbourhood Update – 28.08.2020

COVID-19: guidance on protecting people most likely to get very poorly from coronavirus (shielding) – an easy-read guide

Financial Support for Vulnerable Customers – RBS and Natwest

Both Natwest and RBS offer additional services for their vulnerable customers who are self-isolating, such as having cash delivered at home by a courier, letting a friend or relative withdraw money at a cash machine, or ordering a Companion Card to pay for shopping (which can be topped up over the phone).

The team who manage the Natwest and RBS vulnerable customers helpline will develop a finance plan which fits around the abilities, wants and needs of their customer…..and you don’t need to do online banking or visit a branch to get support.

Call Natwest Vulnerable customers helpline on 0800 051 4176

Call RBS Vulnerable customers helpline on 0800 051 4177

Updated advice has been published by the Government for people who are shielding – it is guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable, including children. It’s also for their family, friends and carers.

·         Here are Frequently Asked Questions about the NHS Test and Trace: how it works from Manchester City Council.

·         Public Health England has published their report (89 pages) from the review into how different factors have affected COVID-19 risk and outcomes

·         Here is information on the COVID-19 antibody tests

This is the current government guidance for the public: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Some more information and general advice

Information from NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) to help you decide what steps you and your charity or voluntary organisation need to take in light of the spread of the covid-19 virus.

https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/coronavirus

COVID-19 Community Resource Hub: https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/500361/coronavirus/7985/covid-19_community_resource_hub

Manchester Community Response

Manchester Cares Online Social Clubs

Manchester Cares are running Virtual Social Clubs at the moment, You can see a few screenshots on their Facebook page.  The form to refer people to potentially join in our Virtual Clubs can be accessed here

Social Club Activities include:

·         one focused on creativity/video/memory/wellbeing (run by an external facilitator)

·         either Desert Islands Discs/Pub Quiz

·         a virtual Coffee afternoon/catch up

·         and a Cares Family Disco (basically just lots of great music and dancing in the living room!)

In addition to Social Clubs at Home the referral form also has options for Friendship over the phone, Postal Activity Packs and  Practical Support.

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief.

Click here to find out more

A useful list of online links to resources and helplines that has been prepared by the library service at Buzz Health and Wellbeing Service. There is a section for local (Manchester) and national helplines and so it is useful for use by all front line workers and community groups when supporting local people with their mental health and wellbeing, particularly during these challenging times.

Helpline Resources

Have you joined your  Covid-19 Local Mutual Aid Group?

The Local Mutual Aid Groups are for residents that want to support each other and their neighbours with shopping, support and sharing information during the Covid-19/coronavirus pandemic.

Follow the links below to find our local groups.

Chorlton Coronavirus Community Response

Whalley Range Covid-19 Mutual Support Group

Fallowfield Vs Coronavirus

What is Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK?

Manchester Carers Network Bulletin:

Read the latest Manchester Carer’s bulletin here:

https://mailchi.mp/ff8524142753/coronavirus-bulletin-manchester-carers-network-7781042?e=66c2e418cb

Manchester Carers Centre

The Manchester Carers Centre telephone helpline is running Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4pm for unpaid carers to contact them on 01612727270 for information, advice or emotional support with any enquiries they may have COVID-19 related or related to their caring role in general. Their Young Adult Carers service is still running with telephone and virtual peer support activities and Young Adult Carers can call the Young adult carers worker on 07957 836 058.

Age UK Coronavirus

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus/

Please share these numbers

It can be helpful to know who you can call, especially if someone’s feeling isolated.

For practical information and advice, call Age UK Advice: 0800 169 65 65

For a cheerful chat, day or night, call Silver Line: 0800 470 80 90

 ___________________________________________________

Every Mind Matters has now released expert advice and top tips on how to look after your mental wellbeing if you need to stay at home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. It also includes guidance if you’re feeling worried or anxious about the outbreak.
Please visit: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

 _________________________________________________

Advice to support those who are undertaking social distancing to get through the next few weeks.

The government is advising everyone to adopt social distancing measures. If you have an underlying health condition(s) or if you are aged 70 or older, you need to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.

We know that during this period it’s really important that you look after your mental and emotional wellbeing as well as your physical health.

As occupational therapists we are in a strong position to advise people on how to stay well while when social distancing. Indeed many people look to us for guidance and now is the time for us to step forward. We strongly urge you to share this advice with other occupational therapists, the people who access your services, their families, your colleagues and other health and care professionals on what they can do to help them cope with social distancing.

1. Establish a daily routine. Routines provide structure and purpose.
2. Balance your weekly routineso you have a good mix of work (activities that have to be done), rest and leisure.
3. Think about the regular activities that are most important to you. What are the important elements to these? Can you adapt them to carry out in the home? For example, instead of a class, following an online strength and balance routine.
4. Set daily goals to provide purpose and a sense of achievement. This might include working through that list of the things you keep meaning to do but never get round to?
5. Identify the triggers that make you feel lowand look for ways to reduce or manage them.
6. Talk with family, friends and neighboursto help them understand how you feel and how they can help. Can they talk you through using apps on your mobile phone, for instance?
7. Take care of yourself. Eat and drink healthily with plenty of fruit, vegetables and water to support your immune function and energy levels. For more information see the BDA website.
8. Avoid staying still for too long. Exercise and regular movement will maintain fitness and strength. If you are working from home, take breaks and eat away from your “desk.”
9. Have a good sleep routine. If you are struggling, try avoiding tea and coffee in the late afternoon and evening, take a bath, using blackout curtains, listening to gentle music or deep breathing exercises.
10. Keep in touch. Arrange to speak to someone most days on the phone, through social media or over the garden fence. Age UKand Silverline have people to speak to.

Download a PDF version to share and print:

• Staying well when social distancing (PDF, 80.09KB)

_______________________________________________________________

Dietitians and the BDA ( British Dietetic Association) have been asked many questions about nutrition and dietary issues related to the COVID-19 / Coronavirus pandemic.

Read more: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/covid-19-corona-virus-advice-for-the-general-public.html

___________________________________________________________________

Coronavirus related fraud

Watch out for Coronavirus related fraud

There’s been a 400% rise in fraud related to COVID-19 in March according to Action Fraud We’ve put together helpful information on what to look out for:

COVID-19 related fraud has increased by 400% in March. Between 1 February 2020 and 18 March 2020, Action Fraud has received 105 reports from victims of COVID-19 related frauds, with losses totalling close to £970,000.

The Majority of the reports are related to online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitisers, and other products, which have never arrived. Read more: https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/500361/coronavirus/7928/coronavirus/17

________________________________________________

COVID Symptom Tracker

Take 1-minute to self-report daily, even if you are well.

• High-risk areas in the UK.
• Who is most at risk, by better understanding symptoms linked to underlying health conditions.
• How fast the virus is spreading in your area

Join the Research: https://covid.joinzoe.com/?fbclid=IwAR1eGIcY_WjYoo3uN11j4vMi82SijYVN1Gdw3dchsUek5xrlNbdblwxc8Zs

__________________________________________________

To all of our Urdu speakers and those who know people who speak Urdu – please watch this video and share with your friends and family. This is some information on Covid-19

https://www.facebook.com/cheetcrumpINT/videos/1556390164518338/

MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW SOON

See some of the amazing attractions and fantastic artwork created during our Celebrate festival with a difference for 2021…Celebrate Connections! 

Festival Houses and the Celebrate Connections Art Trail!

Our fantastic artists created these amazing designs in windows across Whalley Range – to inspire more people to decorate their windows!

Photos by our Celebrate photographer Anthony Morris

The Age-friendly benches of Whalley Range…

Oh and two bonus signs at JNR8 on the gate – and a sign with blackboard paint in the park – with chalk – for people to write their own messages…

Photographed by Anthony Morris

Age-friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton held a walk around the age-friendly benches, to meet up and admire the bench art as part of the Celebrate Connections Art Trail! Photos for Celebrate by Anthony Morris…

Members of Time to Change mental wellbeing group held a Big Bike Revival  family bike repair and maintenance session at Whiz youth project at JNR8 for Celebrate Connections…

Pavement Art from Manley Park School with artist Lotte Karlsen!

More photos – including our pop-up music performances and buskers!

Joining in with the Art Trail…

Whiz Youth Project created a banner for Celebrate Connections…

Trafalgar Court Celebrate Connections Hanging Baskets workshop with Friends of Tibetan Kitchen!

Fantastic guided tour with the knowledgeable Alexandra Park heritage group – and delicious tea/coffee and cake from Coffee Cranks. Part of Celebrate (festival) Connections! 

Come along for a BOOST!

Join us in small, friendly workshops to help build confidence, help re-connect with life again and lift your spirits and positivity.

(There are still places available for the next course: see contact details below)

Would you like to get out and about and involved in your community again – but feel nervous about ‘stepping out into the new normal’?

Why not get yourself prepared with free wellbeing sessions from our experienced life coach and trainer…

These friendly Workshops for up to 6 people will run for 1 hour for 5 weeks at

JNR8 Youth & Community Centre on Tuesdays, 10:00 -11:00 am from 22^nd June – 20^th July 2021.

(Please note that the 3^rd session on 6^th July will run in the afternoon from 1-2pm)

We all need a pick me up in these challenging times and we are creating a warm and positive space for you to change how you think to feel more up-lifted, more resilient, and more able to tackle any challenges you face.

Feedback from the first sessions:

“A really useful group: I always leave the group feeling uplifted and better prepared to take on the day!”

“It’s been very helpful: made me much more self-aware and has given me useful tools for managing my life better”.

“Positive energy to wake up fresh in the morning”.

Please contact Christine on 0161 881 3744/text 07751666150 to find out more and to book your place on the course or email communityforumwhalleyrange@gmail.com

We are doing something different this year!

Click on the headings to find out what this years’ festival is all about – and keep checking this site and our Facebook page for the latest news!

Download the Celebrate Connections Festival Programme here!

Celebrate programme-2021-final

1. About Celebrate 2021

2. Call Out to Artists

3. Celebrate (Musical) Connections

4. The History of Celebrate…

5.  Festival Zoom Sessions: getting ready for Celebrate and learn something new!

6. Meet the Artists and contributors

7.  Music line-up and Buskers

8. Celebrate Connections on the art trail…

Ways to get involved in the Festival…

Festival Packs

Our free Celebrate Connections festival packs are  ready for people to collect from JNR8! (or receive via our volunteers) Art packs, seeding growing packs and wellbeing packs  – and  decorate your window packs too!

COLLECT ON THURSDAY JUNE 10th –  between 10-12  noon

Keep checking this page and Celebrate on Facebook for festival updates!

Celebrate – Whalley Range Community Festival

WRCF Annual Report 2020

The Age-friendly team walked around some of the benches in Whalley Range (socially distanced of course!) on Thursday 1st of October – to celebrate International Older People’s Day 2020…

See the route at the bottom of this page…

Members of Chorlton Good Neighbours created posters stating positive messages e.g. “I’m ageing fabulously” and statements about how they were marking Older People’s Day.

Some small groups safely visited coffee shops on the day,  and held their statements/placards up and took photos – see below.

CGN also held their monthly history talk which happened to fall on the same day.

More Coming soon

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.

Better Buses for Gtr Mcr open meeting

Better Buses for Greater Manchester campaign launched with a bus ride

Sign the petition here.

Here is the latest issue of News & Events from the Whalley Range Community Forum:

N&E_03_2015Final

N&E_03_2015_Final

N&E_03_2015Update

Read the latest news in and around Whalley Range:

WRCF_NewsletterJAN_2015