Miles Platting
Winter 2016 Issue 37
spotlight
S A M T CHRIS R E K C CRA Wednesday 7th December 3:30pm - 6:00pm Victoria Mill Community Building (Miles Platting Library) Lower Vickers Street
FATHER CHRISTMAS Come and meet
The event will feature: Santa’s Grotto Raffle Festive Food & Drinks (small charge) Cake Decorating ....and much more!
See page 5 for your chance to WIN a BIKE! This document is available in other languages, larger text, braille and on audio cd
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A spotlight on YOU Home For the Over 50’s For the Under 20’s For Everybody BIG Money Health & Wellbeing Money Matters Community Environment Pat’s Gardening Corner Adactus Miles Platting gets connected Facebook: Adactus Miles Platting Twitter: AdactusMP
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Contact us.. If you’d like to get in touch about anything related to Spotlight contact: Amy Holden on 0161 2032600 or by email at: amy.holden@adactushousing.co.uk
A Spotlight on YOU! With each new edition of Spotlight, we hope to feature a bit about you! If you have any news that you would like to share, a short story, poem or picture, then get in touch with Amy – she’d love to hear more!
Lesley’s Journey Back to Work In June 2015, local resident, Lesley Barrow read an article in Spotlight about the Miles Platting Work Club. Out of work, Lesley was keen to find out more and so she came into Baker House where she was greeted by Toni Snelson, who gave her the help she needed to get started. Lesley continued to attend the work club regularly and her computer skills and confidence grew week on week. Lesley said “Before I attended the work club I had very basic computer skills, by attending the work club I gained experience in applying for jobs, updating my CV and cover letter. I also completed an employability course to gain more confidence in interview techniques. The support I received from the staff was excellent and this made me even more confident.” With the help and support of the work club and a lot of hard work and effort by Lesley, she is now in full time employment as a Care Assistant at Holt House Care Home. Whilst at work Lesley will also be completing an NVQ in Care, “I really enjoy my job” says Lesley, “it’s something that I have always wanted to do. It’s nice to have something to look forward to each day and having the extra money is great.” To find out more about the work club, contact Toni on 0161 2032600 (option 2), or simply pop along to one of the sessions each Tuesday from 10:30am12pm at Baker House. 2 | miles platting spotlight
A Happy Life Poem by Miles Platting Resident, Brenda Devine. From the first time I opened my eyes, no lies would I tell you From the first time that I breathed, no harm would I cause you As I grew, our love did too. I shared your home, your life, your ups, your downs We’d go for a walk, a talk, a chat Oh! Mam look at that, a bone, must take it home. What do you mean I can’t have it? It’s dirty, it’s smelly, just how I like it. OK, OK, I can’t always have my own way You’re the boss, my loss, no bone do I take home. The shoe I chewed, the puddles I did You chased me to smack me, I’d better get rid. OK, I give up! Nowhere to run and then down came the paper on my bum. I knew you wouldn’t hurt me, I could see it in your eyes You can’t stand the pain of any animal cries. We’d have games of chase, a race, who’d get to the top of the stairs, it’s me again, I win, I win! I jump on the bed, it’s all great fun; I love this life, I love my mum! This is my home, no need to roam. Things are getting slower now and these old bones still want to run in the park After a cat, no chance of that. The sun is high and warms my body in my last summer days, In shimmering heat that bathes me in the sweet September haze. My days are nearly over now so please don’t sit and cry Only death will ever take me away from your side, but even then we’ll still not be apart Forever and for always I’ll stay locked inside your heart. BD 2005
Home A Wave of New Homes to Meet Rising Demand Platting Village is an exciting series of phased developments set to deliver more than 1000 new homes, transforming Miles Platting into a vibrant new community for all to enjoy. Developers Lovell homes who have sold out at Faraday Green and the first phase at Bramah Place, are meeting demand with additional homes at the second phase at Bramah Place, and properties at a new venture, Lockside, overlooking the Rochdale Canal. Built to outstanding specification, the traditionally built contemporary homes will be stylish to live in but low-cost to run, with money-saving features like energy efficient appliances, heating, lighting and water systems, plus a Smart Meter, to comply with Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. First time buyer Rachel Mason is one of many young professionals who has bought in the area. Running across the parkland of East Manchester, the insurance consultant was impressed and came back for another look, eventually settling for a new three bedroom home from Lovell. Rachel said: “I’d really only just started looking for a property to buy when I spotted Faraday Green. I’ve always moved around a lot but I was renting a similar style terraced home close to the Etihad Stadium and I decided I liked the area and wanted to put down some permanent roots. The two key factors I was looking for were space and location and Faraday Green ticked both boxes.” “My new home is modern and spacious and has the added benefit of a garden and patio area outside.”
Phase 2 at Bramah Place will consist of a range of 35 homes, in a mix of two, three and four bedroom styles, which will go on sale in the New Year. Whilst nearby, overlooking the canal, Lockside will offer 75 new homes, which will be on sale next spring. All of the stylish properties will offer a distinct advantage of many homes in the city centre, with a garden and driveway. Each high specification home comes complete with a fitted kitchen with top brand name appliances and includes ceramic kitchen tiles and stylish brushed chrome light switches. Clare Noakes, regional sales manager for Lovell (North West), said: “The community at Platting Village has proved appealing to young professionals and families alike who are drawn to the facilities and its proximity to the city centre. “But many have been concerned that they have missed out on the opportunity to live in an upand-coming neighbourhood as developments sell out due to the high demand. “So it’s exciting to announce that there is another chance to live in Platting Village with the launch of two new developments.” Landscaped schemes, play areas, an enhanced pedestrian network, new hedgerows, shrubs and green corridors have created a safe, sustainable environment. Added Clare: “Creating an attractive place to live to enable residents to benefit from outdoor spaces is an integral part of our work at Platting Village. As the landscape matures it will become an oasis for the community and wildlife to enjoy.”
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For the Over 50’s Platting Plodders Over 55 years? Looking for something to do? Do you want to get out in the fresh air, meet some new friends and have a good laugh? Fancy joining a gentle paced walking group? Miles Platting Plodders meet every Wednesday at 10.15am for a slow gentle walk either around Ancoats, often including one of the two lovely canals, or meet in Piccadilly, outside Morrison’s for a bus, tram or train trip to other parks around the Manchester area. On 1st and 3rd Wednesdays we meet at Trinity Church Butler Street Ancoats for a short circular walk. (On the 1st Wednesday we often end up at Miles Platting Library for their coffee morning which is a very short walk and a great introduction to the group if you are not sure about joining). On 2nd, 4th (and 5th) Wednesdays we meet at Piccadilly Gardens outside Morrison’s where we then continue by public transport (free if
you have a bus pass) to other parks and places of interest around Greater Manchester. On these trips there is always a stop at a cafe where you can buy a much deserved tea or coffee and lunch. Join us in January for a new programme of walks, starting on 4th January with a local walk around Ancoats and coffee morning at Miles Platting Library. Followed by a tram trip to Salford Quays on 11th January. Here are some photos of walks this summer at Pennington Park, Leigh and Heaton Park Blackley. For a full list of walks contact Diane Aronwich on 0161 2053851 or email diane.aronwich@ ageukmanchester.org.uk. Please ring or email before attending for the first time so I can expect you.
Tea Dance Christmas Special ...at Age UK Centre, Catherine Street, Openshaw, M11 1WF Our monthly tea dance (usually held on the last Tuesday each month) will be a week early in December, for obvious reasons! It will be on Tuesday 20th December 1.30pm-3.00pm and the cost is just £3! It’s very informal so no dancing experience needed at all. Most people jive, twist or shuffle around to the music! Let me know if you are coming for catering purposes. Diane Aronwich: Age UK Manchester 0161 2053851 or diane.aronwich@ageukmanchester.org.uk
Butler Court News
Age Friendly Miles Platting Become a Member It’s free to become a member of the Age Frie ndly Miles Platting Partnership! There are many benefits to sig ning up to become a member of the partne rship including... • Access to news abo ut Partnership activit ies through the Age Friendly Miles Pla tting newsletter. • Find out first what age friendly activities are going on in Miles Platting . • Personal invitation to the wider Age Frie ndly Miles Platting Partnership • Opportunity to dec ide on what age friendl y activities and projects should be dev eloped in Miles Plattin g. • Help to make Miles Platting more age frie ndly!
Want to become a m ember? Please fill out a mem bership form. This will help us keep in contact with you to keep you update d on Age Friendly Mi les Platting.
WHY NOT COME AND JOIN US AT BUTLER COURT FOR ONE OF OUR FREE WEEKLY SESSIONS: • Seated Tai Chi – every Thursday at 2pm • Bingo – every Friday at 2pm Book Swap – Do you have any old books lying around that you no longer read/need? Why not donate them to the Book Swap scheme and find out how you can get your hands on some new reads! For more information, contact a member of staff at Butler Court on 0161 2058578. 4 | miles platting spotlight
For the Under 20’s YPAC @ St George’s Youth & Community Centre Tuesday: Aspire (years 7-10) 6-8 @ St Georges Community Centre Wednesday: Everyone Can Play (years 1-5) 5-7pm @ St Georges Community Centre Thursday: Youth Hub (ages 13-19) 6-7pm @ Church of the Apostles (Ridgeway St) and then detached work around the area from 7-8pm Friday: Open All Day Yoga for all 10:30am, Community Café from 10am, Job Club for all 11am-1pm and Job Club for 16-24 year olds from 2-4pm Believe (Years 6&7) 4.30- 6.30pm @ St Georges Community Centre
WIN a BIKE at this year’s Christmas Cracker! This years Christmas Cracker will take place on Wednesday 7th December from 3:30pm-6pm at Miles Platting Community Library. Fill out this coupon and bring it with you on the day for your chance to win a FREE BIKE! Name:………………………………………………………………………………… Address:……………………………………………………………………………….. Telephone:…………………………………………………………………………… Email:………………………………………………………………………………… Please tick this box if you do not want Adactus to contact you via email miles platting spotlight | 5
For Everybody Books to Go If you want to stay warm and cosy over the winter months, why not snuggle up under the duvet with a book or warm by the fire listening to one of our audio books. The Books to Go service is part of Manchester libraries and is available to any residents who cannot access their local library. For more information call a member of the library staff on 0161 2273800. Books to
DOG CHIPPING AT ST GEORGE’S
Go
Come for Coffee? Why not come along to the next Coffee Morning at Miles Platting Library (Victoria Mill Hut). They take place on the first Wednesday of each month from 10:30am-12pm. Join us on Wednesday 7th December for mince pies, a brew and some festive cheer!
Find out more on Facebook… INTERESTED IN WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA? Well did you know Adactus have a Facebook page for Miles Platting which tells you all the upcoming news, events, job vacancies and general handy tips each day? We want you to keep an eye out for upcoming news and competitions on our page, so why not keep connected with what’s happening in Miles Platting and give the page a LIKE!
Daytime Leisure Art Classes in Ancoats Creative Art Courses are very excited to be launching daytime adult leisure art classes from January 2017. Suitable for all beginners and next step learners, there are classes in exploring acrylic painting, creative drawing and watercolours, where everyone can enjoy learning in a friendly, supportive and creative environment. Creative Art Courses is a community focused art studio based within Hope Mill, Ancoats, a grade 2 listed ex textile mill. For more information visit www.creativeartcourses.org or contact Brian on 07816 791023 or by email at brian@creativeartcourses.org.
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BIG Money
BIG Breathe Investment Grants
BIG Money for Miles Platting Adactus Housing have awarded just over £26,000 of Breathe Investment Grants (BIG) this year to worthy community projects in Miles Platting.
BIG has replaced You Decide and more money than ever has now been awarded to the local area. The projects were voted on by Developing Neighbourhoods. a panel of residents from Adactus 500 and a huge response was Inspiring Communities. received with many projects being marked as excellent. Samantha Hornsby, Enterprise and Funding Officer at Adactus said “We’ve been able to support some great projects with this year’s new BIG Fund. Local community groups came up with some really interesting ideas” For further information on any of the projects, or for details on how to apply for funding for your own community idea please contact Samantha Hornsby on 0300 111 1133.
Successful Projects RISING STARS SC (£2000.00) A series of football and multi-sports sessions at Parkview Community Pitch. FRIENDS OF MILES PLATTING COMMUNITY GARDENS (£2000.00) After school gardening sessions and ongoing funding for the community gardeners to continue to grow. LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE (£1577.77) Healthy cookery sessions with a focus on minimising food waste. MP HOLIDAY KITCHEN (£2000.00) An innovative programme of family learning, food and play during the school holidays. MILES PLATTING LIBRARY ART SESSIONS (£2000.00) Weekly art sessions for kids at Miles Platting Community Library. BUTLERS BUZZING BREAKFASTS (£1220.00) A healthy breakfast club followed by seated Tai Chi. AHA FOOD GROUP (£1320.00) Development for a new community food shop – Watch this space! MILES PLATTING CLEAN UP DAYS (£1485.00) Two community clean up days across Miles Platting.
ST CUTHBERT’S HOMELESS WINTER NIGHT SHELTER (£1998.00) Providing a roof, meal and shower for some of the areas most vulnerable homeless people on a weekly basis. APOSTLES COMMUNITY KITCHEN (£1932.64 Upgrades to the existing community kitchen which is widely used for the benefit of local people. FAMILY ACTION MILES PLATTING COMMUNITY HUB (£2000.00) Alterations to the Children’s Centre to transform the space into more of a community hub. ACTIVITIES FOR ALL @ ST GEORGE’S (£1979.99) Funding for a series of weekly sessions, primarily targeted at tackling social isolation to include line dancing – further details to be announced soon! NORTH MANCHESTER FM (£1950.00) 10 weeks of radio broadcasting training sessions for young people. ST GEORGE’S DAY PARADE (£2000.00) Ongoing support for the annual Parade which takes place in April. EAST MANCHESTER SPORT AND ACTIVITY FORUM (£770.00) A series of sporting sessions throughout the summer holidays at the multi use games arena in Victoria Mill Park. miles platting spotlight | 7
Health & Wellbeing Sitting Right With You As part of a new ground-breaking campaign, we are urging residents across Greater Manchester to get comfortable talking about domestic abuse.
staff and as a consequence have been able to help far more victims than we previously had. We want this to continue and encourage our The ‘Sitting Right With You’ campaign, featuring customers to talk to us if they feel that they are imagery of a yellow sofa accompanied being abused.” by challenging messages, aims to get The yellow sofa will be travelling around people thinking differently about what Greater Manchester over the next few weeks, domestic abuse is and encourage victims encouraging local people to talk about to take that first step and ask for help. domestic abuse and get help and support if #SittingRightWithYou they need it. One in three women and one in six men Follow the conversation at experience some form of domestic abuse, but #SittingRightWithYou or visit www. it isn’t only physical violence. Controlling what sittingrightwithyou.co.uk to find out more. someone wears, their money, where they go, and who they talk to, is just as damaging and If you or someone you care about has is abuse. Messages including ‘he checks my been affected by domestic abuse, contact phone all the time’, ‘she has control over my Adactus on 0300 1111133 or call the Greater bank accounts’, and ‘I can go out with friends Manchester domestic abuse helpline on when he says it’s ok’, encourage people to 0161 6367525. think and look differently about what makes a healthy relationship. Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on the lives of victims and their families – tragically sometimes taking a life. With this campaign we want to empower people to take a hard look at their own or a loved one’s relationship and, if it doesn’t sit right with you, make that first step to get advice and support.” Kate Sullivan, Tenancy Enforcement and Support Manager for Adactus, said: “No one should live in fear. Being controlled, intimidated, isolated, threatened, physically or mentally hurt or seeing your children live under that cloud is no way to live at all.” “Domestic abuse is a priority for Adactus and we want to make sure that victims do not suffer. I hope this campaign will let our customers know that there is help available and that they do not have to suffer in silence. Over the last two years we have been trying to raise awareness of domestic abuse amongst
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Manchester Talking Therapies
Health & Wellbeing Platting Pledgers With the New Year comes the dreaded New Year’s resolution. You know the sort; when you decide that this New Year is going to be ‘your’ year, and you promise to complete unrealistic goals that just make you feel guilty by January 2nd! WELL NOT 2017! Adactus are here to help you banish those New Year blues and ease you into a new beginning. HOW? Become a ‘Platting Pledger’. This is your chance to make 2017 really count! We don’t promise that we can magically make you quit smoking without the need for will power, get a new job without the skills to do so, or lose three stone overnight without having to do any exercise or healthy eating! What we do promise is good common sense advice and support to help you achieve your goals. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? Simply pop in to Baker House at some point before the end of January for your ‘Platting Pledgers’ Booklet, or contact Amy Holden on 0161 2032600 (option 2) for more information. WHAT NEXT? Once you have filled in your booklet, bring it
TITAN’s Drug’s Raid
back into the office, we will photocopy it and give it back to you. We will then send you any information or advice that we can to help you achieve your goals. We will also be on hand to give you further advice and support – with catch up calls 3, 6 and 12 months down the line to check how you’re doing! WHY BOTHER? Writing something down is more effective than just saying you will do it. Becoming a ‘Platting Pledger’ will help you to achieve your goals, for example, if your one goal is to start a community group then Adactus would give you as much help and support as required to assist you. WHAT’S IN IT FOR ADACTUS? The more booklets we get, the more we can find out what Miles Platting residents really want to see in the area. The more we know about you, the more events and projects we can put on for people, for example, if a number of residents pledge to learn how to make healthy meals, we can look to put on cookery classes. STILL NOT SURE? Why not get in touch with Amy for a chat and find out a bit more? Call today on 0161 2032600 (option2).
CRIME
The North West Regional organised crime unit (TITAN) arrested ten people after executing eight search warrants across Merseyside and Manchester in relation to the supply of Class A drugs, on Wednesday 14th September. The eight men and two women, aged between 27 and 56, were taken to police stations across Manchester where they were interviewed by detectives. Four warrants were executed in Miles Platting where three men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs; two were later charged and remanded in custody. Detective Superintendent Jason Hudson said: “This has come as the result of a lengthy and complex investigation by Titan. Titan exists to tackle the top tiers of serious organised crime. Illegal drug use causes a great deal of harm within our community. We will continue to target those that supply and distribute controlled drugs in our community and this investigation is part of that process.”
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Money Matters
BENEFIT CAP
There’s currently a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. This is called the Benefit Cap. On 7th November 2016 there was a change to the Benefit Cap, which means that the amount you get for certain benefits may be reduced to ensure that the total you get isn’t more than the cap amount. You’re not affected by the cap if you or your partner work, and either of the following apply: • you or your partner are eligible for Working Tax Credit • you or your partner get Universal Credit, and your household income is more than £430 a month after tax and National Insurance
Mother’s Allowance or Widows Pension if you started getting it before 9 April 2001) • Universal Credit (unless you’ve had a work capability assessment and aren’t fit for work) • Payments towards carer’s costs in Universal Credit won’t be affected by the benefit cap from 7th November 2016.
Benefits that aren’t included
You’re not affected by the cap if anyone in your household qualifies for Working Tax Credit or gets any of the following benefits: • Armed Forces Compensation Scheme • Armed Forces Independence Payment • Attendance Allowance • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Benefit cap amounts The new Benefit Cap affecting residents of Greater • Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the support component) Manchester is: • Industrial Injuries Benefits (and equivalent • £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re in payments as part of a War Disablement a couple, whether your children live with you Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation or not Scheme) • £384.62 per week (£20,000 a year) if you’re • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) single and your children live with you • Universal Credit payment for ‘limited • £257.69 per week (£13,400 a year) if you’re capability for work and work-related activity’ single and you don’t have children, or your • War pensions children don’t live with you • War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension
Benefits included in the cap
The cap applies to the total amount people in your household (you, your partner and any children living with you) get from the following benefits: • Bereavement Allowance • Carer’s Allowance (this won’t be affected by the benefit cap from 7th November 2016) • Child Benefit • Child Tax Credit • Employment and Support Allowance (unless you get the ‘support’ component) • Guardian’s Allowance (this won’t be affected by the benefit cap from 7th November 2016) • Housing Benefit • Incapacity Benefit • Income Support • Jobseeker’s Allowance • Maternity Allowance • Severe Disablement Allowance • Widowed Parent’s Allowance (or Widowed 10 | miles platting spotlight
If you have adult children or non-dependents living with you and they qualify for any of these benefits, you may be affected by the cap. This is because they’re not usually included in your household.
Get help
If you have any queries regarding the Benefit Cap, you can contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the following numbers between the hours of 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday: For Universal Credit – 0345 6000723 For any other benefits – 0345 6057064 You can also contact Tina Chadwick, Money Advice Worker, Baker House on 0800 2346826/0161 2032600 (option 2).
WARM HOME DISCOUNT SCHEME 2016/2017 What you’ll get
For winter 2016 to 2017, you could get £140 off your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme (*subject to eligibility). The money isn’t paid to you - it’s a one off discount on your electricity bill between October and April. The discount won’t affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment. You can also qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter. Eligibility You qualify for the discount if on 10 July 2016 all of the following applied: • your electricity supplier was part of the scheme • your name (or your partner’s) was on the bill • you were getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well) If you don’t qualify automatically, you may be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier for help if you don’t get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit but:
Money Matters
• you’re on a low income • you get certain means-tested benefits Check with your supplier to see if you’re eligible and how to apply.
How to claim
If you qualify for the discount, you’ll get a letter this autumn or winter telling you either: • you don’t have to apply - you’ll get the discount automatically • to apply by 28 February 2017 - the letter will tell you why and how You’ll receive your letter by 16th December at the latest. If you don’t get a letter but believe you qualify, you can contact the Warm Home Discount Team on 0345 6039439 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm from Monday to Friday. You can also make an appointment with Tina Chadwick, Money Advice Worker, Baker House by calling 0800 2346826/0161 2032600 (option 2). Tina can help by providing advice and help with completing the application form.
IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL FAIR PROCESSING NOTICE
Manchester City Council is committed to combating fraud and has a duty to protect the public funds it administers. It will again be participating in the National Fraud Initiative and to this end it may use your tenancy information for the purposes of prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. For further information about the National Fraud Initiative, see http://www.manchester. gov.uk/datamatching on the Council’s website, or contact Kathryn Fyfe, Principal Audit Manager on 0161 234 5271
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Community THE FINAL PIECE IN THE ANCOATS JIGSAW The Ancoats Dispensary project is embarking on a £33,000 fundraising challenge in the next stage of restoring and developing the Grade II listed former hospital. Since the demolition of the Hospital in the late 1980’s, and despite protests to save the Accident & Emergency Department, the only building just about standing is the Dispensary built in 1874. The artist LS Lowry painted ‘The Outpatients Hall’ in 1952 which shows the waiting room that was just behind the Dispensary building. Many people will be familiar with this picture. Fast forward to 2016 and the dispensary is now in a waiting room of a different kind. Its future has been hanging in the balance for far too long, but with a new fundraising campaign underway, the final piece in the Ancoats jigsaw will hopefully come to fruition. Saved from demolition by the people of Ancoats, its future now rests with the Ancoats Dispensary project delivery team, which includes the Ancoats Dispensary Trust (ADT), regeneration development specialists Igloo, and Purcell UK, one of the UK’s leading heritage restoration architects. Together they have pulled together a brave new vision to repurpose the dispensary for a 21st century community with 21st century needs. As Trevor MacFarlane, chair of the ADT, explains, “With the new dispensary, we want to create a contemporary community space within the remaining structure of the iconic building. The aim is to mix the very old with the very new, so that users can read the history of the building within an open space that is strikingly modern. Our vision is to be as pioneering and brave as the original, with communal areas dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing on the ground floor, along with a community cafe, with the upper two floors aimed at tenants who share in the wellbeing ethos of the building.
Help needed for a Community Canal Clean Up Do you have a few hours spare to help with a community clean up along the canal? Adactus are working in partnership with the Canal & River Trust to carry out a litter pick between the bridge on Butler Street and Alan Turing Way on Tuesday 6th December from 10am-2pm. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided so all you’ll need is sturdy footwear, appropriate clothing and some lunch. Meet at the car park of the Navigation Pub at 10am. For more information, contact Andy Edwards on 0161 2032600 (option 2).
“In essence, we want everyone who occupies or uses the new dispensary to buy into a community-led space that is for the benefit of everyone. It sounds ambitious, but our vision is to create a community-led building that will become the benchmark for others, both through its social programme and the way the building is designed and operated.” Ambition comes with a challenging price tag. Ancoats Dispensary’s phoenix-like rise from neardereliction to a fully operational building requires over £5m in voluntary funding. “The good news is that we’ve secured an initial grant of £771,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, who’ve played a key role in supporting the project so far,” explains Amy-Grace Whillans-Welldrake, a member of the ADT board. “Our next challenge is to prove that we can win more funders and supporters for a project which we believe will play a pivotal role in changing the lives of a community who have lost all their local facilities.” Watch this space for upcoming news and events. 12 | miles platting spotlight
DREAMING OF A FOOD WASTE FREE CHRISTMAS Christmas is a costly time of year. The Centre for Retail Research found that the average household spend at Christmas in 2014 was £775 - and £216 of that was spent on food and drink! At a time when we are spending more, we also seem to waste more. One third of us think that we are likely to waste more food at Christmas than at any other time of year, so how can we make the most of our Christmas foods? • Begin thinking about the meals you’d like to eat over Christmas, planning the ingredients you will need, discovering what you’ve already got and writing a shopping list. By planning you can build in ideas for making tasty meals from any leftovers, forgotten foods and meals from the freezer. • On that note remember to make the most of your freezer and pay attention to the use-by dates on the things you buy (Use-by dates are the only ones that really matter - they’re about safety). Many items, such as hard cheese and mashed potatoes, can be frozen and reused at a later date which saves on time and stops you throwing food you’ve spent good money on in the bin. • Thinking about how many guests you will have could also save you buying or cooking too much. • Encourage self-serving starting right now - let family and guests choose for themselves whether they really want 10 sprouts or solid bread sauce! If you start now any leftovers can be portioned up and frozen - then on evenings when you don’t have time to cook these perfectly portioned ready meals will be ready and waiting. • And finally for now, if you’re giving food as a gift, steer clear of highly perishable items and try to pick foods that you know the recipient will actually enjoy. In other words, if you’re buying for me skip the fruitcake!!
Environment A CHRISTMAS LEFTOVER LUNCH This dish is a delicious way to use up two festive favourites – turkey and brussel sprouts! You can also add in any left over parsnips or carrots, as well as cabbage. Ingredients: • 3 tbsp. oil • 1 onion, sliced • 500g (1 lb.) leftover roast potatoes, chopped • 300g (11 oz.) leftover cooked sprouts, chopped • 250g (9 oz.) leftover roast turkey, chopped • 4 medium eggs, poached Method: 1. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a large frying pan and fry the onion for 4-5 minutes until browned. Mash the potatoes roughly in a large bowl. 2. Mix onions into the potato with the sprouts and turkey, season to taste and mix well with a spoon. 3. Heat the remaining oil and press the hash into the frying pan and fry 3-4 minutes. Turn the hash over, (don’t worry if it breaks up) and fry for a further 2-3 minutes until golden. 4. Serve topped with a poached egg
WHAT A RUBBISH TRIP! On the 8th November, a group of 14 staff and residents from Miles Platting went on an educational trip to Viridor’s Materials Recovery Facility in Sharston, to find out what happens to all of Greater Manchester’s waste and recycling. Our first stop was back to the classroom for an interesting workshop on what waste can be recycled and how, shortly followed by a fascinating tour of the recycling plant where we got to see the machinery in action. The trip formed part of a wider project for Adactus aimed at increasing the levels of recycling in the tower blocks in Miles Platting. If you want to find out more about the project, or if you are interested in visiting the site yourself, please get in touch with Daniel Johnson from the Breathe Team, by calling 0161 2032600 (option 2). miles platting spotlight | 13
Pat’s Gardening Corner
With a frosty bite in the air and the nights drawing in, winter is well and truly on its way. But before the green-fingered among us can sit back and let nature take its course in the garden, there are a few things that must be done in preparation for the long-awaited spring…. • Pick a dry still day to rake up fallen leaves; don’t put them on the compost heap, as leaves break down in a cold process, whereas a traditional compost heap breaks organic matter down in a warm/hot process. Put them into a leaf composter, or make leaf mould. You can leave some of the leaves on your borders as your plants will benefit from a layer of leaf litter.
• Leave the old growth of tender plants unpruned over the winter months. This will help to protect the central crown of the plant and take the brunt of any frost damage. If plants are cut back hard in autumn new growth could be damaged by frost.
• How to make leaf mould - Left on the lawn, leaves will prevent light reaching the grass, and trap moisture, killing the grass and encouraging the spread of moss. Collect the leaves with a garden rake or leaf blower. I then run over the leaves a few times with my lawnmower (with the grass box removed), so the leaves are shredded, this speeds up the rotting process as well as reducing the amount of space needed to store them. Pile the leaves or shreddings into black bin liners, add some water and after tying the tops of the bags, poke some holes in the side with a garden fork and store them in a secluded part of your garden. In 12-18 months you should have some nice leaf mould.
CAPTURE A WINTER WONDERLAND AND WIN £20 HIGH STREET VOUCHERS. Send your winter pics to patrice.campbell@ adactushousing.co.uk before the end of February 2017. *Adactus residents only
• If you have any plant pots that aren’t frost proof, empty them of all soil and store them in the shed, greenhouse or garage. • Keep an eye on the weather forecast and cover shrubs that are likely to be damaged by frost with garden fleece, sacking or an old light blanket. • Fill up gardening pots with pretty violas and winter flowering pansies, primulas or wallflowers for a blaze of winter colour. 14 | miles platting spotlight
Photo Competition
Don’t forget to feed the birds! Don’t forget about our winter wildlife throughout the winter months – encourage birds into your garden by hanging up bird feeders and fat balls – a tasty welcome treat!
Q&A Q&A Q.
We’ve still got geraniums in flower on our balcony. Can we leave them out and is it too late to take cuttings?
A.
Your balcony may have kept the frost away from your geraniums but if it gets very cold they may die. You should put them in a sheltered place covered with horticultural fleece or on a cool window ledge inside. Pot up in the spring and take cuttings then.
Q. I grew some tomatoes in grow bags this year. Can I use them for tomatoes again next
year?
A.
Probably not. Even if your tomatoes didn’t get blight, its bad practice to grow again in the same compost. Also, grow bags have limited nutrients and they’ll have been used up.
Q. Every year I plant up my containers and slugs and snails destroy them. Will grit stop
them?
A.
Slugs and snails don’t like crawling over sharp objects so grit on the soil will help. Or try eggshells stuck in the microwave for two minutes then crushed. An old gardeners’ trick was to put two pence pieces into tubs – they give invaders a mild electric shock. Or buy copper tape which wraps around the pot, creating a zappy barrier.
Be the first to bag your free Christmas garden giveaways Mr Logan was lucky to bag some of our summer garden giveaways – happy planting Mr Logan! Check out our winter freebies below:• A selection of flower seeds and trays • Bulb baskets (for ground planting) • Selection of spring bulbs; daffs, tulips etc. • Handy hessian gardening bag • Garden twine Just ring Adactus housing for your free giveaway be quick as stocks are limited! *Adactus residents only
Thinking ahead to Spring – Bulb Planting As gardeners know gardening is all about planning and preparation. Develop a plan, decide what you want – the more the merrier. Bulbs tend to look wonderful in large groups or drifts, they are very easy to grow and most of them just want to be wintered under a blanket of soil till they push up when the days become longer. There are a few simple rules for planting, generally you place them two to three times their own size deep in soil. They are very easy, but to care for them properly they love a bit of slow release fertilizer to build up the bulb.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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