Month: March 2016

Food dumping in Alexandra Park…

A Cleaner, Safer, Greener Alexandra Park.

(Taken from Dave Saunders post on Facebook 21.03/2016)
Another treasured pet dog became ill after eating food in the park last weekend. She is still in danger 5 days later.

I was in the park today and came across some very mouldy rice and chunks of bread in the lake. The rice was eaten by several dogs.

At the Friends meeting on Tuesday we decided to take action with a strategy to promote better behaviour through education and encouraging reporting of issues.

Over feeding the wildlife and food dumping are not the only problems. Dog fouling persists and some dogs are a menace. Motorcycles zoom around the park and there can be anti social behaviour.

The aim is to educate and ask park users to help. Education will be about the issues – and -about how to report problems and summon assistance as well as the penalties for littering/dog fouling/failure to control a dog etc..

We will be promoting Cleaner, Safer, Greener online, with signs and posters in the park and by contacting community and faith groups in the area to ask that they spread the word.

Besides reporting problems to the council through their website, there is a parks security service who respond rapidly when called. I never knew this, but these guys have similar powers to PCSO’s and the supervisors have trained dogs. For more serious emergencies, people can use 101 or 999.
I think that raising awareness of this will enable more people to flag up problems, and act as a deterrent to bad behaviour.

I’ll be preparing a proposal for the next Friends meeting and welcome your ideas and comments.

 

Age-friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton Constitution & Business Charter

Age friendly Whalley Range and Chorlton Constitution April 2016

Age-friendly Business Charter

AFWR_CH Business Charter

 

The idea of the Charter is to ensure that businesses and groups take account of older people’s needs in terms of recognising barriers and addressing them by looking at the wider accessibility of their premises and care of their customers/service users, including offering a warm welcome and being patient if an older person is confused or forgetful.

What the Age-friendly Business Charter sets out to do is to allow businesses/venues who sign up to promote themselves as providing age-friendly services by displaying a postcard in their window or on the premises – and becoming part of our website/database list of Age-friendly places/services in Whalley Range.

Obviously insurance issues and customer safety means that not every shop or office can offer the use of toilet facilities – but many venues may be able to fulfil that part of the criteria anyway: e.g. care homes, health centres, dentists, social housing providers, mosques, churches, temples, cafes and schools etc.

So a business could provide a seat for an older person who is shopping in the area,  just a fold-up chair available to be used on request, to be free of trip hazards, with decent lighting and accessibility of products, accessibility for wheelchair users where possible, or support from staff if the venue is not accessible,  prescription collection and home delivery of shopping etc.

The accessibility of a venue is only one part of signing up to the charter – it is really a request for all businesses and organisations to look at their premises and services in general – and will also give them free publicity as it’s an opportunity for them to promote what they do.

Of course if the accessible venues meet other criteria (no trip hazards etc.) they will be able to become part of the list: the checklist on the Charter will be a guide to available services for each organisation.

For an older person to recognise that many (or preferably all!) of their local shops have signed up as being ‘age-friendly’ would increase their confidence in getting out of the house to shop locally – even more important for residents living on or close to Withington Road since the demise of the regular 16 bus that took them into Chorlton.

Older people are an important and growing consumer group – so it makes sense for local businesses to encourage and support the “shop local” ethos – and of course becoming part of a recognised group that demonstrates a commitment and respect for the needs of older people is a good way to promote local services.

AF Business Charter DraftWRCH

Chorlton Good Neighbours – Activities in Whalley Range for older people

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Please see information below on the activities Chorlton Good Neighbours offer for local older people across both Chorlton and Whalley Range wards. CGN s base is in Wilbraham St Ninians Church,  and they are funded through Manchester City Council to support older people across both wards. Please promote across your networks.

Actvities include:

·         3 exercise classes running each week, a graded system to suit a range of needs , with experienced instructors
·         Access to a monthly Positive Living Group  or access to a 12 week Positive living Programme, run by a trained life coach
·         A weekly singing group Thursdays 11.45-1pm , and visits to local residential homes to perform
·         A Friday morning gardening club 10-1pm
·         A weekly small craft session Wednesdays 1-3pm
·         A monthly history talk to stimulate the brain cells!
·         A monthly Sunday tea with transport, entertainment and hot meal

If older people’s wellbeing would be improved by a regular visit from a volunteer then that can be arranged, as well as support to remain independent by having  worker or volunteer escort people to the shops/banks etc.

If you need any further information, please contact Helen Hibberd Chorlton Good Neighbours on 0161 881 2925 or email helen@chorltongoodneighbours. org

Exercise Class poster

older mens flyer

patientflyerv3 (2)

Advice, Support and Information from Care & Repair

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Advice, Support and Information

Big Energy Saving Network Events – Manchester Care & Repair
Care & Repair have been awarded funding from the Big Energy Saving Network to deliver an extensive programme of outreach to vulnerable consumers, focused on helping them reduce their energy costs and consumption. Our Energy Champion Karen Kennedy will deliver talks throughout Manchester to a range of community groups where attendees will be invited to bring along their latest energy bills so we can advise on any potential savings.
If you belong to a community group and would like to book a talk please call Karen Kennedy on 0161 874 1658 or email kkennedy@careandrepair-manchester.org.uk
 
Care and Repair Handyperson Service
Manchester Care and Repair’s handyperson service is available for small works to help an older person keep their home safe and warm. The service is free and is usually able to respond with a couple of weeks (the service does not cover the cost of materials). Call 0161 872 5500, 9am – 4pm.  For more information visit http://www.careandrepair-manchester.org.uk/manchester-services/handy-help/
 
Home Repairs Support
For larger repair and energy efficiency works, Care and Repair can direct you to vetted contractors and/or help older owner occupiers to access the Council interest-free and low cost loan assistance. Call 0161 872 5500,
9am – 4pm. For more information, visit http://www.careandrepair-manchester.org.uk/manchester-services/hrst/
 
Independent Living Support Service
The Care & Repair caseworker service has recently been awarded funding by the Big Lottery Fund to expand its service in Manchester. This free home-visiting service provides short term assistance, benefits checks and applications, signposting and information to older people of any housing tenure who want to remain in their own home. For more information on how we can help, call 0161 872 5500. For more details, visit http://www.careandrepair-manchester.org.uk/manchester-services/independent-living-service/
 
Home from Hospital Service
Care and Repair offer low level support to any older person (over 60) who has recently been in hospital or attended A&E and is not eligible for support from Adult Social Care. Support includes practical tasks, benefits checks and applications, finding relevant support services and telephone support. Call 0161 872 5500 (ask for Home from Hospital).http://www.careandrepair-manchester.org.uk/manchester-services/home-from-hospital/
 
Energy Support Service
Manchester Care & Repair has recently expanded its BIG Lottery funded Independent Living Support Service by recruiting an Energy Support Worker. Visiting clients in their own homes, they will provide advice on improving the energy efficiency and thermal comfort of the home, as well as addressing any fuel poverty issues. If youre struggling to pay for your fuel costs and/or would like some energy efficiency advice, call 0161 872 5500 to enquire.http://www.careandrepair-manchester.org.uk/manchester-services/independent-living-service/energy-support/
 
Donate Your Unwanted Furniture and Support Care & Repair
Thinking of buying new furniture but dont know what to do with your old items? Moving home and need to get rid of anything? Care & Repair have teamed up with CT Home to offer you FREE COLLECTION of your quality used furniture and household appliances. If you are interested in donating, please call 0161 745 7588 and quote Care & Repair. CT Home will collect anywhere across Greater Manchester and sell the furniture at their warehouse in Salford.