Age-friendly Whalley Range event at Ivy Court, Chorlton

A welcome from Scheme Manager, Gloria Thompson

On March 17th,  Age-friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton held a Community event at Adactus Housing’s Ivy Court on Beech Road in Chorlton – to bring older people together to socialise, to enjoy a hot meal and to access information in good company.

Loren Grant of Foodwiser gave a presentation about food and nutrition: Foods to Remember – how food and lifestyle can help protect you from memory loss and dementia.

We were also really happy to welcome the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Carl Austin-Behan to the event to welcome everyone  and to talk about the great work  volunteers are doing  in communities across Manchester – and of course to pose for photographs with everyone!

A huge ‘Thank You’ to Trina, Andrea and Roger for all your help – and Una and Lotte for pampering and the bag-making workshop.

The Lead Station provided a delicious St Patrick’s Day themed lunch of Irish potato & chive soup and a selection of sandwiches including Guinness braised beef and Irish cheddar ploughmans… and our host – Scheme Manager Gloria Thompson – provided lots of tea and coffee, cake and biscuits!

Age-friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton is a local network and steering group aiming to support and engage with residents, to promote healthy ageing and access to information.

After the event Gloria said:

“Residents who attended are still buzzing about the information they received, the food and the visit of the Lord Mayor.

Comments about the event include, “The presentation on nutrition was excellent”.  “I learned so much”.  “I would attend the event again”.  â€œIt great to see our lounge used for an event like this”.  “The person who did the hand massage even told me about oils that can help me sleep better”.

See some more of the photos from the event below.

Thanks to our Age-friendly photographer Anthony Morris – who has an exhibition of his photographs in Chorlton library from 3rd-29th of April.

Chair of Whalley Range Community Forum Bill Williams – meets local historian – Bill Williams!
Dr S. Sinha and Mr Shah from the Indian Senior Citizens Centre

Photo: Andrea Marsden


Adactus Housing Group Ltd: photographs courtesy of Samantha Ryan from Marketing & Communications  

The History of Whalley Range Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club

Cricket

The first volume of the club history is now available. It is A4, 200+ pages long, lots of photos etc, and retails for £20, but is just £10 to current members. Copies are available from the club when there is access to the bar.

To buy mail order, please send cheque for ££20 inc p&p made payable to Whalley Range CC, and address it to Mike Hill c/o WRC & LTC, Kingsbrook Road, M16 8NR. Please remember to include your postal address.

Two England cricket captains, three Olympians, a famous music composer, a sprinkling of county cricketers, international rugby players, a prolific author, a renowned amateur astronomer, and the cream of the country lacrosse players are just a few of the stars who have graced the club from Whalley Range down the years.

One of the oldest clubs in the area, with cricket dating back to 1845 and tennis first staged in 1881, Whalley Range truly boasts a most colourful and illustrious pedigree, and this volume charts the first 100 years, from its early existence on College Road, its brief tenure at Hough End, through to its current residence on Kingsbrook Road, where it benefited from a rich influx of talent from the nearby William Hulme Grammar School.

The book is as much a social history of this area of Manchester as a sports book and recounts the many ups and downs and the devastating heartbreak caused by the wars, as well as stunning performances, record scores, and regular appearances at Old Trafford.

http://whalleyrange.play-cricket.com/

Central Manchester Community Explorers – Information for sharing

Please find attached the following information for sharing:

 

Manchester Suicide Prevention Plan 2017_19

Stakeholder bulletin issue 4 version 4 formatted

ChWR Public Mtgs March 2017 – Flyer V 0 2

 

 

Alexandra Park Information Point is now open!

The opening of Alexandra Park Information Point

 

The Friends of Alexandra Park are opening Chorlton Lodge on a regular basis as an information point, from the 18th January.

Initially the Information Point will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays 11.00am until 2.00pm,.

It will be staffed by “Alexandra Park Ambassadors”, who will be on hand to answer questions about what events are happening in the Park, show people around the exhibitions in the Lodge and to welcome visitors to the Park.

So if you’re passing why not pop in!

We will continue this on Wednesdays and Fridays at the same time, each week, with the aim of supplying information on all subjects that relate to the Park, and to show the Alexandra Park Heritage Groups displays on the history of the Park.
We are asking for volunteers to assist me on these days (minimum of 2 people per day), so would all folks who have shown an interest in becoming a Park Ambassador, and anyone else who would be interested in donating some of their time, please contact me as I have a rota that I can add the volunteers names to, for the days that they would be available.  The rota is monthly and runs through to March at the moment.
This is an exciting opportunity for volunteering and learning more about your Park.
The Information Point has a telephone  for any enquiries, it also has an answerphone so folks can leave messages too.
The number is 07375 782337.

The Information Point will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 am – 2 pm.
Regards
Phil Benson-Hannam
Newsletter Editor/Info Point Coordinator

LIVE WELL MAKE ART – GM bid to Great Places

LIVE WELL MAKE ART GM bid to Great Places
Great Places is an Arts Council England initiative which aims to pilot new approaches that enable cultural, community and civic organisations to work more closely together. The Greater Manchester Joint Authority has been short-listed for inclusion in the initiative and is in the process of submitting a bid, which includes building on arts and health work in the city region, paying attention to the principles of arts and health as a social movement. The successful pilot areas are likely to be announced in March 2017.
An important aim in GM bid is to make stronger connections between the arts sector (voluntary and professional arts, and cultural venues), the health sector and people living and working in Greater Manchester. At the end of the Great Places initiative, the intention is that arts activity would be a core element of health planning across GM for the future

Read more: Live Well Make Art newsletter (1)


find-outu-more-copy

 

https://100momentsuk.wordpress.com/


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https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/rsa-blogs/2016/08/live-well-make-art


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Tangmere Court hosts Age-friendly Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

 

Age Friendly Whalley Range and Chorlton event at Tangmere Court, Dudley Road on Thursday 17th November

Despite heavy rain, over 30 people attended another successful event held at the welcoming housing scheme in Whalley Range – Johnnie Johnson Tangmere Court.

The event was hosted by Scheme Manager Maureen Jarvis, Chris Ricard from Age Friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton and Loren Grant from Foodwiser.

The event featured stalls, entertainment and workshops, health and wellbeing advice, fire safety, bowel cancer awareness, Karen Kennedy promoted Care & Repair and energy bill saving information, an upcycling workshop from Stitched Up (mittens made from recycled jumpers) – and close up magic from Barry. Festive fundraising stalls sold gifts and craft items and Mourad Keemar from Transport for Greater Manchester came along to update residents about travel options in Whalley Range and Chorlton.

Loren Grant gave a presentation about nutrition as we enter the winter months including the importance of omega 3, vitamin D and some supplements.

We were pleased to welcome Dr Mike Eecklaers, Chair of the Clinical Commissioning Group and a practicing GP in Gorton who led a discussion around access to health care services particularly for older people and addressing isolation/sharing information.

For lunch we shared 2 tasty freshly cooked soups (made by Chris and Loren!) served along with crusty bread and butter and baked potatoes – with refreshments provided by Maureen.

Photos by Anthony Morris and Andrea Marsden

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Whalley Range on Wheels shares Cycling UK Best Community Project award!

whalley_range_on_wheels_and_onna_bike_with_caroline_russell

Community cycling groups Onna high after sharing award!

The quality of entries for our Best Community Project award was so high that it ended up being shared between two extremely worthy and hard-working groups – Whalley Range on Wheels and Onna Bike. Both are Cycling UK Community Clubs, both have been heavily involved in our Big Bike Revival – and both have been helping people to cycle, with fantastic benefits to their respective communities.

Whalley Range on Wheels

Whalley Range on Wheels comprises a band of committed volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the last 18 months to make Alexandra Park in South Manchester a real hive of cycling activity.

Project co-ordinator Eve Holt has made it possible for hundreds of people to get on their bikes, with regular activities and events for the whole family, including adults learning to ride for the first time, improver sessions for rusty returners, road training, bike maintenance workshops and social rides.

Cycling UK Trustee Welna Bowden, Chair of the Awards Committee, said: “People attend the sessions come rain or shine and the atmosphere is always positive and welcoming.

“A small group of volunteer mechanics has helped bring donated bikes back to life so that some participants now have their own bike.

“The project has grown through word of mouth and with there being a physical presence in the park. It an excellent example of fluid working across organisations with volunteers working alongside Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester Parks services.

“Whalley Range on Wheels is exactly the sort of project that can make a real difference.”

Project co-ordinator Eve said: “The appetite from local people has been wonderful.  People of all ages and backgrounds come to the sessions and both participants and volunteers alike talk about the impact it has on their wellbeing and lives.

“Thanks to the Big Bike Revival, we have been able to revive 40 second-hand bikes over the summer, some from out of skips, and give them to Manchester asylum seekers who have been attending our regular Monday sessions so they can #ridefree.

“We are all looking forward to a celebratory ride along the Fallowfield loop on 17 October followed by a Spooky kidicalmass ride for families on 30 October. Happy bikes make for happy people and a happy planet.”

Onna Bike

Onna Bike offers free weekly sessions for the local community in Bradford, with the aim of teaching people to ride and improve skills. The club has developed strong links with Belle Vue Girls School and facilitated a project which has resulted in 180 girls undertaking cycle training and reaching Bikeability Levels 1 and 2.

The project enabled 90 girls – at two events – to participate in cycling activities which included Bikeability training, bike maintenance, making smoothies (using a bike to power the motor) and also having a go on cycling rollers provided by the Cycling UK-affiliated Otley Cycle Club.

The project was made possible through funding from Cycling UK, the support of WYCA City Connect and collaboration with a number of organisations, including Zara Sports Centre and Bradford Council Bikeability Scheme co-ordinated by Aubrey Cooper.

Welna said: “The pilot was hugely successful, creating a buzz of excitement and resulting in the project being rolled out across all the remaining 800-plus students at the school.

“Onna Bike also established links with OnTrak, receiving 20 refurbished bikes, and was able to donate the bikes at no cost to the girls attending the cycling project.

“That was particularly important given that a vast number of students are unable to buy or access a bike, as they live in a socially deprived area where finances are strained.

“Although the club is in its infancy, it has made a promising start to what should be an amazing journey of discovery and adventure.”

Onna Bike, founded by Mumtaz Khan, runs weekly cycling sessions with fellow cycling coach Andrew Gray, at Zara Sports Centre, next to Belle Vue Girls School, on Saturdays from 6.00-7.15pm, followed by a ride for more confident cyclists.

Mumtaz said: “Cycling is becoming very popular in Bradford and for people just starting out, or for those who enjoy cycling at a more leisurely pace, mainstream cycling clubs can seem quite daunting. Onna Bike offers an alternative which appeals to novice and intermediate riders.”

The Belle Vue girls also attended an informative and humorous presentation by round-the-world cyclist Reece Gledhill. They were then given the task of developing their own expedition, focusing on the countries that they would like to visit – with Dubai, Jamaica, Japan and Australia coming out as hot favourites.

Samantha Crabtree, a member of the Belle Vue Girls School staff, commented: “All of our Year 10 girls have now completed the Level 1 Bikeability Award and the majority the Level 2 Award. The girls have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and with the help of the professional instructors have developed better and safer cycling habits.

“Some of the girls had never ridden a bike before and many do not have the opportunity to cycle, but the course has made them more comfortable and confident in the saddle.

“The opportunity for some of them to then take away a bike at the end of the course has been a great incentive and will hopefully encourage more girls to cycle to school or in their free time.

“Cycling is a great way for the girls to get around, get some exercise and reduce the amount of time spent stuck in a car or on the bus and socialise with their friends.”

Belle Vue Headteacher Mary Copeland said: “It has been a great opportunity for one year to take part in this project – not only learning a skill for now and the future, but also exploring sustainability and environmental issues important to today society.”

Whalley Range on Wheels and Onna Bike received their awards at the Cycling UK Members Get Together in Manchester on Saturday (8 October). Making the presentation was transport campaigner Caroline Russell, London Assembly Member and national transport spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales.

Tony Upfold

Manchester Community Cycle Group in Alexandra Park

Whalley Range on Wheels comprises a band of committed volunteers who are working tirelessly to make Alexandra Park in South Manchester a real hive of cycling activity.

Over the last two years the group has engaged with over three thousand local residents helping more people to experience the joy, independence and wellbeing a bike can bring.

For adults

Regular activities take place every Monday in the park with learn to ride sessions, road training, improver sessions for rusty returners and social rides taking place 9.30-11.30 and 12-2.00pm,  supported by instructors from Transport for Greater Manchester.  Volunteer mechanics are also on hand to help keep the fleet in good working order and help people to get their bikes fixed and to learn basics of good bike maintenance. Monthly Women in the Workshop bike maintenance training, for both beginners and improvers, run throughout the year on Saturday afternoons.

For kids

Kid cycling sessions after school on a Monday between 3.30pm and 5pm have proved very popular so the club is looking for ways to run more in partnership with  the PushPedalScoot project run by BikeRight! Futures CIC.

For the whole family

Throughout the year the group organises cycling themed events for the whole family often in collaboration with other local groups.  Through a series of Big Bike Revival events, supported by Cycling UK, held across Moss Side, Hulme and Whalley Range, more than 200 bikes were revived.  Many had been gathering dust in people sheds and back gardens.   In conjunction with Manchester City of Sanctuary they also helped 50 asylum seekers to get riding and to then #ridefree by fixing up  2nd hand bikes donated from the police, general public and retrieved from skips.

For Halloween,  the group supported a spooky kidical mass ride from the park along the Fallowfield loop.  50 people of all ages participated.  Further events are planned for the winter period including a light your bike up like a xmas tree ride on 17 December.

Project co-ordinator, Eve Holt, a resident in Whalley Range, cycling instructor and campaigner, is clear that everyone is welcome.  “People attend the sessions come rain or shine and the atmosphere is always positive and welcoming.  The appetite from local people has been wonderful.  People of all ages and backgrounds come to the sessions and both participants and volunteers alike talk about the impact it has on their wellbeing and lives.  Happy bikes make for happy people and a happy planet. ”

Whalley Range on Wheels recently received an award from Cycling UK in recognition of their work.

More info:

Regular sessions in Alexandra Park are free and are run as an open drop in.  No booking needed.  All equipment provided.  We meet in the car park off Russell Street, M16 7JL (behind tennis courts) at 9.30am and 12 midday.  Kids sessions then start at 3.30pm and 4.15pm (all children must be supervised).  For details of other events, workshops and activities coming up see Facebook page or Whalley Range on Wheels.  Donations of bikes, equipment, money, skills and time always appreciated. Project co-ordinator can be contacted at eve@happencic.org or 07812 157761

Celebrate Festival update: Age-friendly marquee report

The Whalley Range Community Forum, MICRA, Manchester University and Age-friendly Whalley Range/Chorlton provided lots of information, activities, refreshments, arts and crafts and entertainment at this year Celebrate Festival on July 16th 2016 at Manley Park.

Read the Report here: age-friendly-marquee-celebrate-report

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