The Branch - Spring 2014

February 2014

The Branch is back for the first edition of 2014. There’s been lots of work going on at Manchester Student Homes, we’re wishing you a happy and safe 2014 and we look forward to working with you over the next year!

Launch of the Good Neighbours Team Manchester Student Homes is proud to announce the launch of the ‘Good Neighbours Team’.

This launch heralds a new approach to dealing with off campus student affairs. The Good Neighbours Team will be working with the wider MSH team to offer students, landlords and long term residents a broad range of services.

We promote: • Strong relationships between the community and the University • Student integration in the community • Awareness of issues off campus • The culture of being a ‘Good Neighbour’ We will be holding our official launch event in February.

We would be delighted to see you, so come along and hear more about the new projects, initiatives and events planned for 2014! Visit our webpage for more details.

Poppy Humphrey is the new Off-Campus Student Affairs Officer and Jack Harrison is the new Community Cohesion Intern. Both have been busy since their appointment at the end of 2013, Poppy and Jack and have taken some time to answer some questions about their new roles and their plans for the year ahead.

What did you do before joining Manchester Student Homes & what attracted you to the role?

PH - I have held various roles, all of which have had a housing or community cohesion focus. I am delighted to be working for MSH and on behalf of the two universities (University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University). This is an amazing opportunity to work alongside long term residents and students to respond to opportunities and challenges in off campus areas.

JH - I recently graduated from University of Manchester after studying Economics and Criminology and have lived in South Manchester for four years. When I saw the internship with MSH advertised through the Manchester Graduate Internship Programme, I thought it was a really good opportunity to work with enthusiastic people on local issues.

What are the interesting projects and events that you have planned for the coming year and what are your aims for the Good Neighbours Team in 2014?

JH - This year I’ll be focusing on events aimed at bringing together the local community. These events will be run alongside student volunteers, residents and community groups. I will also be working on projects to respond to some of the issues raised when students move from halls into the off campus community.

PH - I’m really looking forward to working with our partner agencies such as Manchester City Council and GMP as well as community groups and individuals to work on loads of campaigns relating to student issues. In the next year I would like to see a growing awareness of the Good Neighbours Team in other parts of the city with a high proportion of students, such as Rusholme, the City Centre and Hulme, where we are looking forward to the opening of MMU’s Birley Fields campus in September 2014.

Manchester Student Homes is a free, university-run housing service for students. Based in Fallowfield, MSH runs a landlord accreditation scheme and can offer support to students in relation to property searches, providing housing advice and contract checking. MSH also works with students, the community and partner agencies to identify issues in off campus areas.

Need some volunteers?

We can help find you student volunteers for innovative, engaging and sustainable projects. Drop us a line on 0161 275 7756 or email poppy.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk

Community Planting Events

Working with the Students’ Unions

The community and local students have been hard at work planting and making Withington and Fallowfield look clean, green and beautiful along Oxford Road.

This is a great example of volunteer work in the community. Nice work guys!

MSH work closely with the Students’ Unions at both the University of Manchester and MMU. We’ll hear from the SU Sabbatical Officers about the work they’re doing to support local communities.

Charlie Cook, University of Manchester Students’ Union Community Officer Last year saw the first student representation on local residents groups which has been a positive step forward in student-community relations. We’ve got loads planned for 2014. Students will be hosting a Community Fun Day at the Ladybarn Community Centre, Fallowfield on the 22nd March. Expect loads of fun activities and we hope to see lots of you there. For more info contact me on charlie.cook@manchester.ac.uk

Christmas Carol Service

Katie Parker, Manchester Metropolitan University Students’ Union Community Officer

Many thanks to all those that attended the Christmas Carol event held by Fallowfield Brow and Whitebrook Road Residents Association and Manchester Student Homes. Despite the cold weather, there were some fantastic renditions of Christmas carols.

Over the past few months I have been elected to work with NUS on policy regarding students in the community. I will be writing policies on how we can increase student engagement in local communities. I have also been working on the new Birley Fields campus in Hulme along with Poppy to ensure that the campus is firmly integrated within the local community. To learn more contact me on S.U.Community@mmu.ac.uk

Thanks also to the University of Manchester Community Engagement and Volunteering Team and to the volunteers who helped out. We’d also like to thank Tesco and Sainsburys for providing hot Vimto and mince pies to keep us warm.

Community Impact The Good Neighbours Team recently introduced Community Impact Statements. These are for members of the community who would like to feed back to students the impact they have on their neighbours’ lives. This may be in a positive way, when they have volunteered or perhaps to let them know how noise or late night activity may impact on others. We think this is a very powerful tool when demonstrating to neighbours and the local community the impact of student behaviour.

Want to join our new mailing list?

Email poppy.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk

Neighbourhood Helpline Multi-Agency Visits since September 2013 The neighbourhood helpline is a 24 hour answering machine service for issues relating to students in the community.

We will respond to your contact within one working day and will liaise with GMP and Manchester City Council to respond in partnership to your concerns Since the start of term in September, we’ve carried out 174 visits - 48 referrals were made via the neighbourhood helpline. Please note that students themselves are very often affected by noise nuisance and we would encourage you to make contact if you are being disturbed.

Community Calendar Here are a few dates to put in your diary:

Week commencing 10th February: University of Manchester Student’s Union Earth Week Discussions and events based around key issues surrounding the environment and ethics.

Multi-agency events

13th February:

Throughout the year you’ll see the Good Neighbour’s Team out and about in the community with some key partners such as Manchester City Council’s Neighbourhood Delivery Team, GMP, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and the NHS. We held two events at the end of last year to speak with students about a number of issues including personal safety, recycling, fire safety and the expectations of their behaviour in the community.

Medlock Residents Association AGM.

Week commencing 24th February: Student Volunteering Week.

8th March: Withington Civic Society AGM.

22nd March: University of Manchester Student’s Union Community Fun Day You can find regular updates about forthcoming events by visiting our website www.manchesterstudenthomes.com

Calling all alumni!

Did you previously study at University of Manchester or MMU? The Good Neighbours Team would like to hear from you about your experiences of attending university and living in off campus areas. We’re keen to build up a picture of student life in the community over the years.

Perhaps you now live overseas but have fond memories of time spent in studying Manchester. If you have any stories or pictures we’d be keen to know more. Get in touch with Poppy for more information.

Times gone by...

You may be a long term resident who has stories to share with students about your life in Manchester. We’d love to hear from you about your memories. These maybe some tales of growing up in Manchester or specific historical events such as the Blitz, the Jubilee or the Madchester scene! This will enable students to build up a picture of off campus communities past and present.

For more information, to report any issues, make suggestions or if you would like to add a community event to our newsletter please contact: Poppy: poppy.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk Jack: jack.harrison@manchester.ac.uk Stop by and see us: Unit 1-3 Ladybarn House, Moseley Road, Fallowfield Give us a call: 0161 275 7680 Follow us on Twitter: @Man_Student_Hme Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ManchesterStudentHomes Visit: www.manchesterstudenthomes.com

Want to join our new mailing list?

Email poppy.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk