Life in Salford magazine issue 28

INSIDE Elections are coming pg. 5

Route29 – care leavers design new service pg. 9

£5,000 extra for health degrees pg. 12

Salix delivers pg. 31

Welcome to LIFE IN Salford. In this issue we’re showcasing local information, activities, news and advice from across the whole of Salford, including a special section with news and activities from the local community.

We hope you enjoy reading LIFE IN Salford and we’d love to hear what you think about the magazine or any ideas you have for future content. Email lettersinlife@salford.gov.uk

£1.3million boost to help rough sleepers pg. 4 Cover image: City Mayor Paul Dennett at Route29

LIFE is managed by an editorial board made up of members of the partners, and is administered and designed by Salford City Council’s Communications Team.

This edition will be distributed week commencing 23 March 2020. Printing: Cliffe Enterprise Ltd. Distributed to more than 122,000 households by Royal Mail and other agencies. Contact: Salford Civic Centre, Swinton, Salford, M27 5FJ. Any leaflets or flyers inserted in or distributed with this magazine do not appear with the partners (listed below) endorsement or agreement and we discourage our distributors from putting material inside your copy of LIFE IN Salford.

In this issue...

RHS Garden Bridgewater free for Salford residents pg. 7

No cuts budget from Salford City Council pg. 11

£40,000 to raise cancer awareness in teenagers pg. 17

ON THE COVER

IN THIS ISSUE

5 Elections are coming 9 Route29 – care

leavers design new service 12 £5,000 extra for

health degrees 31 Salix delivers

P8 Join the Great British

Spring Clean P13 Making Salford Better Off P20 Hospital goes non smoking P21 Vaccines matter

REGULARS 3 City Mayor 10 In short 14-15 What’s on 28 Community news

An electronic copy is available on www.salford.gov.uk/life

New homes for social rent in Eccles pg. 19

P23

P24

P25

P29

Domestic abuse is not love Are you worried about a child?

Fostering? You’re part of the family too BBC Philharmonic £3 offer

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Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 3

No cuts budget announced by City Mayor For the last four years I have been privileged to be the Elected Mayor of Salford City Council, working with councillors, officers, partners and local people to make our city a better and fairer place.

The council has faced an exceptionally challenging financial situation, forced to make almost £211 million of cuts which have impacted directly on services and people who most need them. As highlighted by the Local Government Association over the last decade local authorities will have seen reductions of nearly £15 billion to core government funding. Despite this, Salford is a well-run council recognised nationally for our achievements. We’ve worked with partners, pooled budgets, implemented digital and automated solutions and continued to reform our services to deliver the best possible outcomes for our residents.

This year for the first time in a decade I am able to announce a no cuts budget. (See page 11 for details).

Although this is a relief, it is still not enough. We continue to face pressures particularly in children’s and adults social care with a funding gap of £13 million. The future remains very uncertain.

The core government grant is inadequate to meet our needs.

The government expects councils to increase council tax by up to 4% in 2020/21; Salford has agreed a rise of 1.99% council tax and 2% adult social care precept to fund vital services.

City Mayor Paul Dennett

I appreciate this has a negative impact on already hardpressed residents and I am ensuring we minimise the impact of these changes on our most vulnerable residents with an enhanced council tax reduction scheme. I have written to the Secretary of State urging the government to provide Salford and other deprived local authority areas with a fair financial settlement in future years to protect our services.

Despite these challenges we are working tirelessly to do the right thing. We believe passionately that tackling low pay is a major factor in lifting people out of poverty. We have taken the decision to lift care workers above the national minimum wage as a first step towards our ambition of delivering the real living wage.

We will continue to invest in social and affordable homes through Dérive, listening to local people by investing extra resources in street cleansing and will launch a Crowdfunding Challenge shortly to enable local communities to raise funds for local activities. I also hope to share plans soon for preserving Buile Hill Mansion and our flagship Buile Hill park.

We are still not out of the woods but working together we can still build a better and fairer Salford for the future.

Paul Dennett, City Mayor of Salford

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 4

Landlords offered new help Private landlords are being offered extra help to manage their tenancies through Salford City Council’s social letting agency.

The council launched Salford Property Link last year to match landlords and tenants as part of measures to reduce housing waiting lists.

Over 200 people have found new homes as a result and now the agency is going one step further.

It’s offering landlords a free advice service to tackle any problems they may have, such as rent arrears and disputes with tenants.

The agency is also in need of more landlords to meet the huge demand for good quality rented property in Salford.

Councillor Tracy Kelly, lead member for housing and neighbourhoods said: “Sometimes it’s not easy being a landlord so that’s why we’re offering help. We can often settle disputes early on before they get to the legal stage which benefits everyone.

“We need more affordable homes and rented properties in Salford and initiatives like Salford Property Link help to bridge that gap. There are over 6,000 people on the housing waiting list. We want to work with local landlords to find as many people as possible good quality, private rented homes that they can move into almost immediately. It’s a win-win for landlords and tenants but we still need to build more affordable homes.”

For details please see www.salford.gov.uk/propertylink

£1.3million boost to help rough sleepers Salford City Council has won £1.368 million to help get people off the streets and into accommodation.

The money will be used to help vulnerable rough sleepers get the vital support they need to help rebuild their lives.

The money was awarded after a successful bid by the council to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The Rough Sleeper Initiative was due to close in March and the Rapid Rehousing Pathway was due to end in August but the funding boost means these vital services can continue.

It is the ninth highest award to an individual local authority in the country from the national £112 million fund.

Councillor Tracy Kelly, lead member for housing and neighbourhoods, said: “This funding will make a real difference to rough sleepers in Salford and helps keep services available for local people.

“The housing team work tirelessly to help those most in need and I’m so proud of the service they provide for local people. Without this vital funding boost there would be more people on the streets and in desperate need of help.”

www.salford.gov.uk/homelessness

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 5

Elections are coming – don’t miss out Salford’s biggest election in years takes place on Thursday 7 May 2020 so don’t miss your chance to vote.

Salford will have three separate elections on the same day. As a result of a ward boundary review, all 60 seats for the Councillors to Salford City Council are up for election along with The Mayor for Salford City Council and The Mayor for Greater Manchester.

Salford City Council will declare the results of the councillors and The Mayor for Salford City Council elections on Saturday 9 May. The Mayor for Greater Manchester election result will be declared by Manchester City Council on Saturday 9 May too.

Each election will have different colour coded ballot papers.

The boundary review was carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), an independent body set up by Parliament and not part of the government or any political party.

Salford is divided into 20 wards and, because of population changes, the Commission wanted to make sure the number of voters in each ward is roughly equal. The commissioners listened to local views before making their final decision which means slight boundary changes to 19 of our 20 wards and the creation of a new Salford Quays ward.

Everyone eligible to vote, including EU nationals who can vote in these elections, will be sent a polling card which shows where to go to cast your vote. Your polling station may well have changed. Please check where you need to go to vote. Voting is from 7am to 10pm on 7 May. By law Salford City Council must also send every registered voter a booklet about the elections for The Mayor for Salford City Council. That will be sent out from Friday 24 April.

All polling stations are wheelchair and pushchair friendly and you are welcome to bring children and well-behaved dogs inside. This year, because voters will be given more than one ballot paper, there will be extra help at polling stations to explain the process.

If you can’t get to a polling station then you can apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote (someone to vote on your behalf).

Dates for your diary If you’re not already registered to vote, have moved house or turned 18 in the last few months, you have until midnight on Tuesday 21 April to register to vote.

If you want to apply for a new postal vote, proxy postal vote or change your existing postal or proxy postal vote you have until 5pm on Wednesday 22 April.

If you want to apply for a new proxy vote, please get in touch by 5pm Wednesday 29 April.

We will have a number of videos to explain the different processes.

Please visit www.salford.gov.uk/elections

There are three colour coded ballot papers.

The white ballot paper is for electing Councillors to Salford City Council. You will vote for your preferred three candidates. The lilac ballot paper is for electing The Mayor for Salford City Council where you will vote for your first and second choice candidates.

The yellow ballot paper is for electing The Mayor for Greater Manchester where you will also vote for your first and second choice candidates.

Election of The Mayor for Salford City Council

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Election of The Mayor for Greater Manchester

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Salford growth Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 6

Land sales generating income for Salford stadium Plans for Salford’s AJ Bell stadium are well on track and the city is already seeing benefits.

Jointly owned by Salford City Council and Peel Holdings, the stadium was conceived as a long-term way to regenerate derelict land with new facilities and jobs. It is run by a jointly owned stadium company.

In addition to Salford Red Devils and Sale Sharks rugby clubs, the stadium houses a commercial gym, financial services, a charity foundation, a fleet hire company and an accessible driving centre amongst others. Its 2,000 square metres of meeting space hosted nearly 500 events last year attended by over 37,000 people.

The community sports pitches were booked 450 times.

The stadium employs 235 people in catering and operations, most living locally, and will create more jobs through sales of land surrounding it. In 2015 Greene King bought £1million worth of land while Aldi’s new store will create 40 jobs. Selling that plot alone allowed the stadium company to repay nearly £1.2 million on top of its regular debt payments.

Salford City Council earns interest on loans made to the company which provide working capital until land around the venue is sold. The overall debt owed is now nearly £5 million less than it was in 2013.

Check out the facilities at www.ajbellstadium.co.uk

Superstore will regenerate Mocha Parade Lidl GB will help boost investment in Broughton and regenerate Mocha Parade to create a vibrant new shopping centre.

Building could start later this year bringing jobs and training opportunities for local residents.

Existing traders will be fully consulted on the redevelopment.

City Mayor Paul Dennett meets apprentices working for Morgan and Sindall and their supply chain partners who are building 199 apartments at Slate Yard in New Bailey. To date 17 apprentices have completed more than 260 weeks work on the project.

Giving Salford a Living Wage pay rise LivingWage Making Salford a

City Salford is aiming to become the first Living Wage City in England to make sure everyone benefits from the city’s phenomenal growth.

Thirty eight Salford businesses and public sector bodies already pay the Living Wage Foundation’s £9.30 hourly rate, calculated to truly reflect the cost of living. In 2013 Salford City Council became the first council in Greater Manchester to pay the real Living Wage.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “This will raise people’s income, employment standards and boost the local economy. It’s an investment in local people.”

See more details at www.salfordsocialvalue.org.uk

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 7

Berkshire pigs at RHS Garden Bridgewater.

November 2019. Photo credit: RHS/Mark Waugh.

Aerial drone image showing the latest development work at RHS Garden Bridgewater.

December 2019. Photo credit: RHS/Kestrel Cam.

Fixed view. PG5. RHS Garden Bridgewater.

December 2019. Photo credit: RHS/Mark Waugh.

Aerial drone image showing the latest development work at RHS Garden Bridgewater.

December 2019. Photo credit: RHS/Kestrel Cam.

View towards the Welcome Building from the Voronoi Garden with beech trees at RHS Garden Bridgewater.

November 2019. Photo credit: RHS/Kestrel Cam.

Volunteer Larsa and Pippa Goodall in the Walled Garden at RHS Garden Bridewater. Photo credit: RHS/Mark Waugh.

Free for Salford residents

RHS Garden Bridgewater will open on Thursday 30 July and Salford residents will have free entry on Tuesdays.

City Mayor Paul Dennett negotiated the agreement, which also includes concessions at other times for Salford schoolchildren, carers with disabled visitors and special education groups.

Mayor Dennett said: “It is the first time the RHS has given free access to the community around one of its gardens so Salford is already making its mark and doing things differently.

Since the first spade hit the ground the garden has brought so many benefits to our city, from boosting local suppliers to helping people’s mental and physical health through volunteering.

“Our garden will build on this for years to come, creating even more jobs and training opportunities for our residents with local businesses, hotels and suppliers sharing the prosperity.”

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is transforming the historic grounds at Worsley New Hall into its fifth national garden and its first new garden for 20 years.

At 154 acres, it is the biggest hands-on gardening project the RHS has undertaken in its 215 year history and the largest garden project in Europe. Development of the garden has been made possible by Salford City Council and Peel L&P. Salford City Council invested £19 million into the project which is creating considerable employment, educational, volunteering and community engagement opportunities for local people as well as economic, environmental and tourism benefits.

World-renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith has created the Bridgewater masterplan. The centrepiece is the 11 acre Weston Walled Garden, which is the size of six football pitches and is made up of 11 gardens, including the Paradise garden, Kitchen garden, Wellbeing garden and community grow spaces.

See www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/bridgewater for more details.

The online booking system and details of the Salford residents scheme will be added before the garden opens.

The RHS is planning a 10 day opening programme of events and celebrations at the new garden in August and two free open days a year for non-Salford residents.

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 8

Help clean up our streets Join the Great British Spring Clean

Do you love where you live? Then why not sign up to the Great British Spring Clean and join other people cleaning up local streets, parks and community spaces in Salford.

Last year there were more than 50 clean ups organised by local people and Salford City Council street champion volunteers.

These saw tonnes of litter picked up.

Please register your event with Salford City Council at www.salford.gov.uk/communitycleanup so we can provide litter picking tools, gloves and bin bags, collect the rubbish and say a huge thank you for your support.

Please also register your event with Keep Britain Tidy www.keepbritaintidy.org If you want to sign up as a street champion then check out www.salford.gov.uk/streetchampions

20 MARCH 13 APRIL 2020 Register your support keepbritaintidy.org

#GBSpringClean Brought to you by

In partnership with

Join in the Great British Spring Clean

Keep Britain Tidy is a registered Charity No. 1071737

Headline partners

Passes to go

Supporting partners

Teenagers aged 16 to 18 get free travel anytime on all Greater Manchester buses for just £10 a year with Our Pass.

Passholders also get offers such as free gym passes, work experience opportunities and discounts on Metrolink. Please see www.ourpass.co.uk

Vantage breaks more records

EU settlement scheme EU nationals who want to continue living and working here now the UK has left the European Union may need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Applications must be made online and there is free internet access and help for everyone to get online at Eccles Gateway, Pendleton Gateway, Walkden Gateway, Swinton Gateway and Broughton Hub as well as local libraries.

Help with applications can be obtained from any branch of Citizen’s Advice across Greater Manchester or Europia, details of which can be found on www.salford.gov.uk/leavingeu

Passenger numbers aboard the V1,V2 and V4 Vantage bus services have hit new records.

In December passenger numbers topped 70,000 in a single week for the first time. The service, which is operated by First Manchester, launched in April 2016 and has clocked up 7.8 million journeys in its first three years, with many passengers saying they have switched from cars to the bus.

The services, which operate part of their journeys along the Leigh to Ellenbrook guided busway, saw extra Regular recyclers in Salford are making a huge buses added in October 2018 and difference – can you join them? there are now 32 buses scheduled to arrive in Manchester city centre Thanks to you Salford City Council recycled 8,852 tonnes of paper and card, between 7am and 9am.

11,088 tonnes of mixed recycling and 17,174 tonnes of bio waste last year.

Greater Manchester only collects plastic bottles because there is a sustainable market for them, guaranteeing they will be recycled. Any plastic bottle you use in your home such as shampoo, washing up liquid or cleaning product can be recycled.

Don’t forget to remove the lids from plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars though as they can’t be recycled.

You can find out what goes in each bin at www.salford.gov.uk/recycling

Recyclers still needed

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 9

Care leavers design new Route29 service Salford teenagers on the verge of going into care can now expect a different experience.

Andy* who was on the verge of going into care, and Alice* and Sarah*, two young care leavers used their experience to help design Route29. Alice and Sarah have also secured jobs with the project.

Route29 houses a team of specialists, including an educational psychologist, clinical psychologist, speech and language therapist, specialist nurse and a police officer.

Instead of going to a children’s home, which could be miles from Salford, young people can now get instant access to the professional support they need. Most will stay at home and get help from Route29 during the day, for as long as they need.

Young people chose the name Route29 and had the interior of the building designed to their specification, choosing the furniture they felt best suited young people.

They were involved in drawing up job descriptions and interview panels to recruit new workers for the project.

Sarah said: “We have gone through the system and wanted to use our experience to make it better for young people. You need the right staff, with the right skills, attitude and support from other professionals to work with each child and get the best experience for them. Rather than let somebody else choose for us, we have made the decisions.”

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “We handed proposals over to young people who have been in care and they shaped it using their own experiences.

They were brutally honest and very vocal about the staff they wanted.

“The young people have done a fantastic job and we’d like to thank them for all their hard work and invaluable knowledge.”

Deputy City Mayor Councillor John Merry, added: “We’d like to give a special thank you to our contractors Sheila Bird and Quay Interiors. They have done an amazing job renovating the building to the young people’s specification. This has saved vital taxpayers’ money and we can’t thank them enough. They truly have the Spirit of Salford.”

Around 580 children and young people are currently in care in Salford. * names have been changed.

Gym area

Kitchen

Councillor John Merry, City Mayor Paul Dennett and Councillor John Walsh

Lounge Professional work space

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 10

Salford in short

Top prize Young people who spent two years building a full size traditional Gypsy caravan have won one of Europe’s top awards.

Salford Young Roots Irish Traveller wagon project: Bringing Heritage Alive, was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by Salford City Council.

Fight back against football vandals Salford people are being urged to report football pitch vandals who are ruining the game for children and local clubs and trashing their own community.

Salford City Council can prosecute but needs evidence.

Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org

It beat entries from towns and cities across Europe to take third place in the Council of Europe 7th Dosta! Congress Prize.

Mud, books and play Salford City Council’s five top rated nurseries currently have free places for two, three and four year olds.

Children receive outstanding care and early education, delivered by experienced and qualified staff who love working with children. Parents and carers can choose between full or part time attendance and all five nurseries are open 51 weeks of the year from 8am to 6pm.

To find out more, and take up a free week to see how your child settles in, please see www.salford.gov.uk/nurseries

On track Plans to upgrade Cleavley athletics track will cross the finish line this summer.

Salford City Council is investing £447,000 in resurfacing the eight lane synthetic track and creating extra car parking to manage demand.

It is home to Salford Met athletics club, Salford Harriers Juniors athletics club, Wheels for All Salford, which provides inclusive cycling for people of all ages and abilities, SAFA (the Salford Action For Autism Group), regular schools sports and club events and weekly Bootcamp sessions.

Schools are sanctuaries Twelve Salford schools have become Schools of Sanctuary to provide extra support for children forced to flee their homes and leave everything behind.

The scheme recognises schools which show a genuine commitment to learning and sharing knowledge about asylum seeker and refugee children and their families, the experiences they have gone through, their journeys to Britain and the hopes and dreams they are now safe to pursue.

Back in house Urban Vision, the successful 15year joint venture partnership between Salford City Council, Capita and Galliford Try, has ended with all services being brought back to the council.

Urban Vision ran Salford City Council’s planning, building control, property, highways and infrastructure services.

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 11

No cuts budget from Salford Council The council’s budget for 2020/21 is part of a three year plan. The budget documents are at www.salford.gov.uk/budget and you can see the webcast of the meeting and discussion at www.salford.gov.uk/livemeetings Whilst local authorities in many deprived areas continue to struggle, Salford City Council has managed to reach a no cuts position this year after careful financial management, innovative use of digital and technological solutions to provide services and growth.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Ten years of austerity has hit deprived areas of the north and Midlands hardest, with a 53% cut in core government funding to Salford. Worryingly, future government proposals could benefit the southern shires and wealthiest areas of the country.

Budget highlights: •

Salford will lift care workers pay above the national wage to £9 per hour from 1 October this year. The council’s ultimate ambition is to pay the real Living Wage of £9.30 per hour to all care workers who deliver social care.

•

An additional investment of £585,000 on a range of activities including 13 new street cleaners. This dedicated team will proactively remove flytipping, encourage behaviour change and encourage people to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle.’

•

£1.2m of investment in Buile Hill Mansion. This will not cover the full work required but will enable the council to leverage in other funding to secure the building for future generations.

•

£250,000 investment in a City Mayor’s Crowdfund Challenge where local communities can raise community support and funding for local activities, events and enterprises to benefit their area.

But it is not enough. We can’t “rebuild what has been lost with

what’s on offer. It is unclear how long some of our existing funding will remain and there is a widening gap between funding for social care and the needs of our ageing population.

The government has forced “council tax increases to protect vital

We’ve worked hard to protect “frontline services and make the best

use of resources to meet the needs of our residents. This comes with immense challenges. The cost of vital children’s and adults’ social care services continues to rise.

This year’s national settlement helped cushion us from some immediate financial pressures in the coming year and the additional funding for social care is welcome.

services for vulnerable people within a balanced budget that provides some future stability.

The government expects councils to add up to four per cent onto local council tax. In Salford this means a rise of 1.99% in council tax and two per cent adult social care precept to ensure we can provide support and preserve key services.

Life in Salford 24 • March 2019 12

ADDITIONAL FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE FOR DEGREES IN NURSING, MIDWIFERY AND HEALTHCARE The government has recently announced additional funding for students studying certain healthcare degrees.

If studying one of the following degrees with us, you will receive an annual maintenance grant of at least £5,000, and more for some courses. These grants do not need paying back when you graduate.

Diagnostic Radiography / Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Podiatry / Prosthetics and Orthotics / Midwifery / Nursing (adult, child, mental health) / Learning Disability Nursing and Social Work (Integrated Practice)

PLACES D E T I M LI on some

able still avail rting urses sta o c e s e h . of t ber 2020 in Septem 0161 295 us on Contact more, find out o t 5 4 at 5 4 courses r u o ll a e or se uk lford.ac. www.sa

TO FIND OUT MORE, WHY NOT COME TO OUR NEXT OPEN DAY ON SATURDAY 20 JUNE. BOOK YOUR PLACE AT WWW.SALFORD.AC.UK/OPEN-DAYS

N d help?

Join us for a coff and a chat

Making Salford BetterOff Coffee and chat Get help with everything from Universal Credit to debt and health over a coffee.

Our BetterOff drop in sessions are free, friendly and confidential or see our website to get the help you need at www.salford.gov.uk/betteroff All sessions run 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Swinton Gateway Crompton House, 100 Chorley Rd, M27 6BP. Mondays: 20 April, 1 June and 29 June.

Pendleton Gateway 1 Broadwalk, M6 5FX. Tuesdays: 28 April, 26 May and 7 July.

Broughton Hub 50 Rigby Street, M7 4BQ. Wednesdays: 1 April, 6 May, 10 June and 15 July.

Eccles Gateway 28 Barton Lane, M30 0TU. Thursdays: 9 April, 14 May, 18 June and 23 July.

Walkden Gateway 2 Smith Street, M28 3EZ. Fridays: 17 April, 22 May, 26 June and 31 July.

New: Irlam library Hurst Fold, Liverpool Road, Irlam, M44 6FD. Thursdays: 16 April, 21 May and 25 June.

Healthy start If you’re pregnant or have a child under four years old and get certain benefits you could get free vouchers each week for milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula milk. See if you can qualify www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 13

Summertime help is coming back

Salford’s Healthy Holidays voucher scheme will be back this summer.

Families whose children receive free school meals were offered £30 in shopping vouchers per eligible child to help cover extra lunches during the summer holidays. Nearly 3,000 children were helped. www.salford.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

Help in a crisis Over 2800 people who found themselves unable to feed their families or heat their homes were given help by Salford Assist last year.

The Salford City Council scheme offers short-term support to people who can’t meet their own or family’s basic needs because of a crisis, emergency or disaster.

Support is discretionary but could include help with baby items, essential furniture, gas and electricity or necessary documents for people who are homeless.

Salford Assist can also signpost to debt, benefits and affordable energy advice.

See www.salford.gov.uk/salfordassist for details.

Stay clear of pay day lenders Salford Credit Union is encouraging people to stay clear of pay day lenders and loan sharks.

Their new website makes it easy to find out about saving, getting affordable loans, repayments and budgeting.

The Credit Union is also developing a payday loan product and app with fair interest rates and repayment schemes to help people avoid high-interest pay day loan companies.

For more information please see www.salfordcreditunion.com

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 14

What’s on There’s so much going on in Salford. See www.mycitysalford.com and www.visitsalford.info for more details. Sign up for the Visit Salford e-newsletter packed with top tips on events and activities going on in the city www.visitsalford.info/e-newsletter

Festival fun Week 53 Festival

Friday 24 April to Sunday 3 May. The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ. Two performances for just £15.

Brilliantly bold, contemporary art and performances exploring the theme of power. www.thelowry.com

Follow us on social media @visitsalford

Exhibitions Salford Museum and Art Gallery Peel Park, The Crescent, M5 4WU. www.salfordmuseum.com

Magic Lanternist

Sunday 15 April 6.30pm to 8pm. £8 per person.

Come along for a night of Victorian amusements from a world before film. Moving slides and light trickery from over 170 years ago.

Sounds from the Other City

Saturday 2 May, various venues along Chapel Street, M5.

From £27.50.

Celebrate the best of new music, new bands, live performance, art, and discovery in this unique festival www.soundsfromtheothercity.com

Picture credit: Satoshi Araki, Movie Studio (detail) 2017 © Shu Nakagawa

The Superlative Artistry of Japan

Until 19 April, free.

Arts, crafts and the response of fine art students from the University of Salford to individual pieces. Curated by and co-presented with the Japan Foundation with advice from Yuji Yamashita.

Studio Ghibli cinema showing Irlam Live 2020 Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May. Prince's Park, Liverpool Road, M44.

From £11.19 to £128.49 for a three day VIP ticket.

Three days of music and fun starting with Yo-Fest for younger festival goers, followed by Madchester Tributes Night and headliners Sophie Ellis Bextor, Scouting For Girls, Martin Kemp, Hue and Cry, D:Ream, 911 and Space.

New second stage showcasing grass roots bands and singers. www.irlamlive.co.uk/

Wednesday 18 April 5pm to 8pm. £8 per person.

Continuing the Japanese theme to celebrate animation company Studio Ghibli.

Collier Street Baths art exhibition Until 26 April, free.

Drawings and colour studies by Ian McKay of the Grade II listed Victorian baths designed by Thomas Worthington, one of Greater Manchester’s greatest 19th century architects.

Working Class Movement Library 51 The Crescent, M5 4WX. www.wcml.org.uk

Posters from the Irish civil rights era

Wednesday 1 April to Thursday 4 June.

Wednesdays to Fridays 1pm to 5pm, and the first Saturday of the month 10am to 4pm, free.

Posters from People’s Democracy, a radical student movement responding to unrest in Belfast in 1969.

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 15

Easter events

Business Out and about

Spring foraging at Duke's Drive

The Manchester Duck Race 2020

Saturday 18 April, 10am.

Duke's Drive, Parrin Lane, Monton, M30 8AP. Explore spring’s bounty with naturalist Dave Winnard. Bring a bag as you discover which plants are edible and which are not.

Free but places are limited and booking is essential. http://est1761.org/events/springforaging-0

Good Friday 10 April, from 11am.

New Bailey, Salford, M3 5AX. Enter a duck from £1.

The Manchester Duck Race returns for its 11th year to raise funds for children’s charity, Brainwave. www.brainwave.org.uk/2020manchester-duck-race

Performances

The Kite Runner

Easter wreath making workshop

Tuesday 7 April to Saturday 11 April.

The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ. From £17.50 to £22.50.

Based on Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling novel, this theatre adaptation is about a friendship that transcends cultures and a man confronting his past. https://thelowry.com/whats-on/

Thursday 5 April 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

Ordsall Hall, 322 Ordsall Lane, Salford, M5 3AN. £15 per person including materials and a drink.

Join Ordsall Hall’s gardener to create Easter wreaths. www.ordsallhall.com

Marianne Dissard – Not Me

Sunday 8 April, 7.30pm.

The King’s Arms, 11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN. From £7 to £9 per person.

French-American actress and writer, Marianne Dissard, performs the stage adaption of her own book Not Me an exploration of trauma. www.kingsarmssalford.com

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For more information e-mail ladiesandgirls@roegreencc.com

K-Club Breakfast

Thursday 30 April, 7.30am to 10am.

AJ Bell Stadium, 1 Stadium Way, Salford, M30 7LJ. Booking essential, tickets £40.96.

Join Piers Martin, Premier League consultant, Chris Furber performance director for British para-swimming and Britain’s Olympic bobsleigh team pilot Lamin Deen, to learn how sporting performance and business link for success. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kclub-breakfast-manchestertickets-87781580069

Sports

From Thursday 23 April

Roe Green Cricket Club, Greenleach Lane, Worsley, M28 2QW. £3 per person per session.

Hardball training Thursdays 7.30pm, softball training Fridays 7pm. Email ladiesandgirls@roegreencc.com or call Sharon on 07738546248 for more information.

WOMEN’S

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 16

Salford lung health checks detect 13 cancers A free lung MOT offered to smokers and ex-smokers in Walkden and Little Hulton has been deemed a great success after spotting 10 early cases of lung cancer and three other types of cancer within the first five months.

The lung health checks, funded by NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to increase early detection rates of lung disease, were initially trialled in Walkden and Little Hulton inviting 4,165 smokers and ex-smokers to have their lungs checked out.

Half of the people invited for a check booked an appointment, which led to 13 cancers being found as well as other conditions such as emphysema and bronchiectasis (conditions which can cause shortness of breath).

Patients who were diagnosed with cancer are now undergoing the most suitable treatment.

The pilot, supported by Salford City Council and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, is now moving into Ordsall and Claremont with more than 160 appointments already booked from the first set of invitations.

Dr Steven Elliot, Cancer Lead at Salford CCG, said: “I’m pleased that this pilot is proving a success, helping to detect lung disease as early as possible.

“Smoking tobacco is the biggest cause of lung cancer in the UK and although the checks may seem daunting, it’s really important that people aged between 55 and 74 with a history of smoking book an appointment as it’s best to treat any problems as soon as possible.”

If you have a history of smoking and are registered with a GP in Ordsall or Claremont, look out for your invitation coming in the post for a free lung health check and make sure you book your appointment. The health checks will be available to eligible patients living in other areas of the city over the next 18 months.

More information on the free lung health checks can be found here: www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/age-well/lung-health-check

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 17

£40,000 funding

to raise cancer awareness in teenagers Teenagers across Salford are to be taught to recognise the early signs of cancer thanks to workshops funded

by NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The Cancer Awareness in Teenagers and Young People Society (CATS) helps young people know the common signs and symptoms and when to see a GP. The society has been granted £40,000 from Salford CCG’s Innovation Fund to deliver educational workshops to schools, colleges and the University of Salford to increase early detection of cancer amongst the younger generation.

Seren Hughes, Project Manager for CATS, said: Getting the news that Salford CCG will be supporting our project, through the Innovation Fund, was absolutely amazing. This will allow us to reach so many more young people in a variety of communities throughout Salford with our educational and informal workshops.

Ensuring all young people from all walks of life feel confident enough in their knowledge of the signs and symptoms of cancer and in knowing their own bodies is an essential part of our work. With this project we are aiming to reduce health inequalities throughout Salford by reaching young people who may not have been involved in this type of awareness raising before.

Each year, Salford CCG runs the Innovation Fund to support community projects that test and develop new healthcare products and services in a hope to improve outcomes for people living in the city.

For more more information please see www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/innovation or see www.thecatscampaign.org

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

To find out how to be bowel cancer aware visit www.bowelcancer.org.uk

Life Life in in Salford Salford 28 28 •• March March 2020 2020 18 18

ForHousing -

Radclyffe Park

Transforming lives and creating opportunities in Ordsall

ForHousing has recently completed work on a new housing development in Ordsall, Salford.

Radclyffe Park is made up of 39 new affordable homes, which are a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, and threebedroom houses overlooking Ordsall Park.

The Radclyffe Park homes are already making a difference to the lives of local families. Maria Caraus and her two children have recently moved in. She said: I’ve moved from a one bedroom, overcrowded flat to a beautiful new build three bedroom house that we can now call our home, with outside space and close to the park which is great.

The location is perfect for us, much closer for me and my job and the children’s schools. My son is in

Life Life in in Salford Salford 28 28 •• March March 2020 2020 19 19

New homes for social rent in Eccles ForHousing has started work on a £4.9 million development of 39 new homes for social rent on Boardman Street in Eccles.

The landlord is building the 39 homes to help address the housing needs of people on low incomes.

Designed by Grays Architecture, the development will be made up of 33 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments.

Henry Terefenko, ForHousing CEO, said: “Our goal is always to provide quality homes so tenants can create thriving communities where people want to live.

“There is a shortage of truly affordable homes for people on the lowest incomes so we know that this scheme will have a massive impact in improving people’s lives. We’re proud to be starting work on this development, which will create more possibilities for more people.”

The scheme is being developed with support from Salford City Council.

Councillor Tracy Kelly, lead member for housing and neighbourhoods, said: “This supports Salford’s plan to provide more affordable homes for Salford residents.

There is a shortage of one bedroom properties so this scheme is particularly welcome.”

Completion of the scheme is planned for spring 2021.

Funding for the Boardman Street scheme includes £2.7 million from Homes England.

The development is one of a number of social rent schemes ForHousing is bringing to Eccles.

Another of its developments on Haddon Road is now complete. It is the first of three sites delivering 39 new below social rent homes to help address a shortage of low-cost accommodation for people who face homelessness in Salford. his final year at high school and the location of our new home is perfect for colleges and employment opportunities for him.

Some of the homes are also available to refugees with professional medical experience who are training at Salford Royal Foundation Trust. They are part of the Reache programme, which provides training to enable refugees to work in the UK for the NHS. Last year, some Reache students couldn’t finish their training because of travel and accommodation

Nigel Sedman, Group Director of Homes, Henry Terefenko, Chief Executive Officer, ForHousing, Councillor Tracy Kelly and Martyn Hague, Director of Neighbourhoods

Paul Gerrard, Director of ForLiving, Martyn Hague, Director of Neighbourhoods Andrew Leigh, Salford City Council, Councillor Tracy Kelly, Nigel Sedman, Group Director of Homes, Henry Terefenko, Chief Executive Officer, ForHousing and Craig Bradley (Homes England)

costs, so ForHousing worked with the hospital to make sure more affordable homes were available for them.

Henry Terefenko, Chief Executive at ForHousing, said: We’re committed to building high-quality affordable homes and creating possibilities for people to reach their full potential. Homes are the first steps on the journey to a better life, and this development will have a positive and lasting impact on the wider community.

For further information visit www.forhousing.co.uk

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 20

Salford’s magnificent swimming seven inspire others

Hospital goes non smoking Salford Royal is going smokefree as part of NHS plans to help smokers quit and improve the environment for patients, staff and visitors.

Smoking shelters around the hospital premises will be removed.

Anyone admitted as an inpatient at Salford Royal who smokes will be supported by the CURE project, a Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and Greater Manchester Cancer initiative to reduce smoking rates across the city.

Inpatients will be given advice and support on stopping smoking and nicotine replacement therapy to help reduce cravings while they are in hospital.

Dr Pete Turkington, Salford Royal Chief Officer, Medical Director Dr Pete Turkington and respiratory consultant, said: “We have a responsibility to protect our patients, visitors and staff and there is no safe level of exposure to cigarette smoke.

“People should expect hospital to be a smokefree environment, something we hope will soon become the social norm, just as on a plane or in a pub or restaurant.”

Contact Salford’s specialist stop smoking service on 0800 952 1000 or see Cure at www.thecureproject.co.uk Salford Royal is part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group which includes Royal Oldham, Fairfield General and Rochdale Infirmary which are also going smoke free.

Seven young Salford swimmers are helping to inspire others to take to the water.

Salford Community Leisure has gathered its Magnificent Swimming Seven from the City of Salford City Swimming Club, who are helping to maintain the city’s impressive reputation in the amateur swimming world.

The group, marked as ones to watch for the future are visiting children in their schools and other schools and talking about how good swimming is as a hobby and for fitness, to encourage other Salford youngsters to stay in swimming longer.

The members are Katie Lee, 11, from Claremont, who took gold earlier this year in the 800 metres freestyle at the Lancashire Championships, Grace Jackson aged 12 from Swinton, Alissa Boslem aged 11 from Eccles, Alice Volkovaya aged 11 from Worsley, Jacob Camden aged 11 from Croft, Gracie-Louise Potts aged 11 from Salford and Libby Grovestock aged 11 from Irlam.

John Stout, who is aquatic development manager for Salford Community Leisure and head coach for the club, said: It’s rewarding to see local children progress from stage one onto competitions.

We have a great team of coaches driving impressive results and creating motivated young people who love swimming. We’d encourage any family interested in taking swimming as far as possible to speak with a team member to see how we can help further their development.

Interested? Email swimming@scll.co.uk

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 21

Vaccines matter Keeping up to date with vaccinations is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your children.

More technology for Salford GP patients Salford residents can look forward to a greater use of technology at their GP practice.

Salford Primary Care Together will be working with practices across the city to introduce more technology and digitisation for patients throughout 2021.

The organisation wants to develop a centre of excellence for digitisation in general practice and explore what telemedicine solutions could be offered to patients by healthcare professionals. Telemedicine is the practice of caring for patients remotely rather than the patient being physically in front of them.

Salford Primary Care Together Chief Executive Lance Gardner said: The invention of the smart mobile phone, along with many other devices, has revolutionised how we communicate and so it’s crucial that we follow suit with how we deliver medicine and health care.

Globally, computers, phones and even watches are used to deliver healthcare, for example, being used to monitor the blood levels of people with diabetes. In Salford, we already have some really great examples of technology being used and we want to start looking at how we adopt this more widely within primary care.

This might seem daunting for some people who are used to receiving face to face care but there are many benefits to patients of this, namely the convenience of being able to safely access care from the comfort of their own home.

Since vaccinations were introduced diseases which can kill or lead to disabilities have almost disappeared.

Unfortunately, due to false scares about the safety of vaccinations, Salford residents are missing out.

Measles, which can cause blindness, pneumonia and brain infections, and mumps, which can lead to viral meningitis in rare cases, are on the rise again putting children at risk.

Studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism and children are safe to have a number of vaccinations at once.

Vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child. Babies and very young children may feel unwell and run a temperature for a few days afterwards but that’s perfectly normal and shows the vaccination is working.

Vaccines protect you by teaching your immune system to recognise and fight a disease. The more people who have them the harder it is for infection to spread amongst the community.

Getting vaccinations at the right time is important so don’t miss out if you’re due a jab. If you or your children have missed a vaccination, contact your GP to catch up.

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 22

Get back on track

The Landing

Salford City Council can help if you’re concerned about paying council tax.

If you’re in arrears from last year and already worried about this year’s bill, get in touch. We may be able to extend your payment plan, check if you’re entitled to benefits or council tax reduction and stop things escalating.

There’s lots of support available to help you get back on track.

Visit www.salford.gov.uk/backontrack for more information and use one of our online forms to get in touch. Free internet access and help to get online is available at all Gateways.

You can also call 0161 793 2500 (lines may be busy).

Council Tax Get back on track Get in touch. We can help.

Digital boost for residents Twelve Salford community organisations which help local people get online have been given a high tech boost.

The Landing at MediaCityUK, which houses and supports high-growth, high tech companies, donated computer equipment which would have cost over £30,000 to buy new.

The equipment came from growing businesses which had moved on and is part of The Landing’s support for Digital You, Salford City Council’s programme to help 8,000 residents learn new skills and be confident with new technology.

Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Paula Boshell, said: “It means Salford people can learn on the latest devices so their skills are right up to the minute.

“Digital You has already helped more than 6,000 people to learn new computer and internet skills.”

Adam Micklethwaite is Director of Digital Social Inclusion at Good Things Foundation, the UK’s leading digital and social inclusion charity, which supports the project.

He said: “These devices will make a big difference to local people being supported by our network. Improving digital skills can help people feel less isolated, more connected and find employment. We're proud of all our Digital You community groups and the vital work they do."

To find out more about Digital You, please see www.salford.gov.uk/digitalyou

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 23

Domestic abuse is not love Emotional blackmail, isolating you, controlling your money and promises that violence won’t happen again – until the next time.

All that is domestic abuse, not love.

That’s the message from a campaign to help Salford people recognise domestic abuse for what it is and encourage them to get help.

One victim said it took her two years to realise she had no friends or money, never saw her family and was only allowed to go out when her husband allowed it.

The control had been applied slowly and subtly to isolate her and break down her confidence. With help, she was able to break free. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse and want to speak to someone about it you can contact the 24/7 national helpline (which has translators if your first language is not English) on 0808 2000 247or see www.salford.gov.uk/domesticabuse for details of organisations which can support victims.

The campaign is led by Salford Community Safety Partnership and the Salford safeguarding boards for children and adults.

Let’s end hate crime Sadly verbal and physical abuse of people because of their race, religion, disability, sexuality or the way they dress happens everywhere in Britain and Salford is no exception.

If you see or experience hate crime anywhere please don’t shrug it off – report it. It’s not acceptable and there’s no place for it in Salford.

Reporting it helps you get the right support and helps Salford’s Community Safety Partnership to monitor where incidents are happening, bring people to justice if possible and work to prevent it happening to other people.

Always call 999 if you are in immediate danger. The nonemergency police reporting number is 101 or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org or www.report-it.org.uk/home Salford has 33 centres across the city where you can report hate crime if you prefer not to contact the police.

You’ll be listened to sympathetically, offered help from an interpreter if you need it and they can put you in touch with Victim Support services to help you cope with the emotional impact.

Find out more at www.salford.gov.uk/hatecrime and let’s all #StandTogether.

IT’S NOT A CRIME TO BE DIFFERENT – IT IS A CRIME TO TARGET SOMEONE FOR IT. Abusing or hurting someone because of their race, religion, disability, the way they dress or because they’re gay isn’t just wrong. It’s illegal.

If you see or experience hate crime, please don’t stay silent. Reporting it helps tackle it.

Call 101 or see www.salford.gov.uk/hatecrime for reporting centres and support.

Always call 999 if you’re in immediate danger.

Hate crime has no place in Salford.

LET’S END HATE CRIME.

Are you worried about a child?

If you’re worried that a child is being neglected, abused or is not being looked after properly please don’t ignore it.

Trust your instincts and get in touch with The Bridge team if you’ve seen or heard something that you thought wasn’t right.

You can call the Bridge team on:

0161 603 4500

from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Outside these hours, you can call Salford City Council’s emergency duty team on

0161 794 8888 In an emergency ring 999 The Bridge team handles all concerns about the welfare or safety of a child in Salford. It’s made up of workers from different organisations including Salford City Council, Salford Royal NHS Foundadtion Trust, Greater Manchester Police, CAMHS (Children’s Mental Health Service) and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

We work together to make sure any concerns are dealt with by the most appropriate service and avoid any duplication.

What happens when you call?

Who calls The Bridge team?

You’ll get through to a real person straightaway. The team members are all very experienced at talking to people who are worried about a child.

You won’t get transferred to anybody else and you’ll only have to tell your story once.

All kinds of people, concerned neighbours, family members or even passers-by.

Why is it so important to call?

What if you’re not sure you’ve got it right?

Please ring anyway. We rely on people’s common sense and instincts. We can make a judgement about the situation based on your knowledge and information.

You have to put the child first. It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep children safe and protect them from harm.

It doesn’t automatically mean the parents have done something very wrong. They may just need help and support to change the situation.

What happens after I call?

Do you have to give your name?

Salford City Council, Greater Manchester Police and Salford NHS Clinical Commissioning Group work together as the Salford Safeguarding Children Partnership to develop policies, procedures and strategies to keep children in Salford safe. You can find out more at safeguardingchildren.salford.gov.uk

Not at all. If you do give your name and contact details these are never shared and are only used to call back and check information or get more details.

We will log the details you have shared as a referral, prioritise it and allocate it to a worker.

What else do we do in Salford to keep children safe?

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 25

Photo posed by models.

You’re part of the family too Ask any Salford foster carer what the best things are about fostering for Salford and they’ll say they amazing support they get – as well as the children, of course.

Caring for vulnerable children and teenagers is incredibly rewarding but sometimes you may need a little bit of help or advice.

That’s why there’s a network of support for Salford City Council foster carers to call on as well as chances to make new friends. Foster carers say it’s like being part of a big family.

Every foster carer has a supervising social worker from the start and, once approved to foster, is buddied with an experienced foster carer. The same social worker will usually support you after approval and you’ll meet every four to eight weeks depending on the type of placement you’ve chosen.

In between the ‘official’ meetings the social worker will stay in close and regular contact with you to build up a positive and supportive relationship. That means any questions or concerns can be quickly raised and dealt with.

In addition foster carers know they can contact their social worker at any time or turn to the duty social worker or out of hours support service. That means help is available all year round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Foster carers are also backed up by a network of health and other professionals and your social worker will make sure you know how and where to get advice and support if you need it.

We back all this up with regular training opportunities to help foster carers develop and enhance their skills. All feedback is used to update and adapt training so we’re covering the latest issues that children and young people face today.

It’s not all work and no fun though. There are plenty of opportunities for foster carers to meet each other and make new friends. There’s a day time fostering group which meets every other month where carers can chat over coffee and cake as well as men’s and women’s bimonthly groups.

Many foster carers have made good friends through these groups and meet up regularly. It’s a great opportunity for foster children to make new friends too.

Focus foster carers, who care for children aged five to 18 with more complex needs, have their own specialist group which meets fortnightly, as well as all the support listed above.

Interested in fostering? Visit www.salford.gov.uk/fostering or call 0161 799 1268 for a chat.

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 26

From barristers to baristas: New Salix Homes Customer Committee leads the way Housing association, Salix Homes, has announced the launch of a new Customer Committee, where members will be paid for their time.

The move places the committee on a par with board members recognising that their views are equally as valued and ensuring it appealed to as many residents as possible.

After receiving 129 applicants, from barristers to baristas, 12 customers were chosen from a range of backgrounds, professions and talents to make up the diverse committee offering the business a variety of insight and opinions.

The selection process included an in-depth application process consisting of written applications and face-toface interviews.

Lee Sugden, CEO at Salix Homes, said: “To get a truly representative and engaged group of residents we realised we couldn’t continue to rely on goodwill and free-time. It was important to us that our members were paid for their time and insight and given parity in our governance structures – the same way we would pay an accountant or lawyer for theirs.

“We set about coming up with a strategy to ensure our customers not only felt heard, but also have a direct involvement in the decisions we make as a business – and so, the Customer Committee was born.”

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 27

Lee added: “The launch of the Customer Committee feels like a big step in the right direction for customer engagement within the housing sector and we’re proud to be leading the way. We’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact the committee’s work will have on our communities and our customers that live within them.”

Maddison, a member of the committee and full-time law student, fully appreciates the support that the social housing sector can provide. She said: “I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Salix Homes was launching a Customer Committee – I think it’s such an innovative and brave decision. After being asked to leave my private rented property due to a change in my landlord’s personal circumstances and having nowhere to go at short notice, I was at risk of becoming homeless with my young daughter before Salix Homes stepped in. I applied for the committee for the chance to support the sector that helped me and to be able to give back to my community.”

Committee member and community volunteer Rashisah said “When my daughter became unwell, the kindness the local community showed me blew me away.

After seeing Salix Homes advertise the Customer Committee, I just knew I had to apply. I have a passion for volunteering and helping people, but after all the help and support I received during a difficult time I wanted to do something to give back.”

You can learn more about Salix Home’s Customer Committee and its members at www.salixhomes.org/customer-committee

Springboard programme kickstarts the year Salix Homes has kick-started 2020 with a brace of successful donations to two local groups through its Springboard community fund.

Time Out for Carers and flag football team Salford Scorpions are the first recipients of the popular community grant programme this year.

The Springboard fund supports projects and initiatives in Salford that boost community spirit, promote health and wellbeing, reduce isolation or improve the environment.

Time out for Carers which offers support, respite and information about carers rights to unpaid carers meets every Wednesday afternoon at the Sutton Community Centre in Langworthy.

The £500 cash boost they received from the Springboard fund means the group can continue to provide social events and activities for its hard-working members throughout the year.

The Salford Scorpions based in Ordsall is Salford’s first ever flag football team which is a non-contact version of American football. Instead of tackling their opponent, the defensive team must remove a flag from the belt of the ball carrier. The group were awarded with £1,000 to help fund the cost of the pitch hire.

Since launching Springboard in 2017, Salix Homes has donated more than £100,000 to local groups and projects in Salford. Recipients have included a care home, dance troupes, grassroots football teams, bowlers, computer clubs and community gardening projects.

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 28

Welcome to our community pages Events, activities and news from you and your local community. There are more events promoted on mycitysalford.com The information in these pages has been provided by members of the community. We try wherever possible to check its accuracy but please confirm details with the organisations involved.

Honoured to know you Salford’s Eva Neumann has been awarded an MBE for her work to educate people about the Holocaust and Jewish culture. Eva was the only member of her family who survived Auschwitz.

Former Salford teacher Margaret Woodhouse, of Ellenbrook, was awarded an MBE for services to education across Greater Manchester. She now chairs the Greater Manchester Learning Partnership.

Also recognised with CBEs were Professor Gordon Carlson, consultant surgeon at Salford Royal hospital and Professor Jacqueline Kay, MBE, FRSE and Chancellor of the University of Salford.

New members wanted Salford Angels Women’s Institute group enjoys everything from rock climbing to chocolate making and charity work and has a choir, allotment, crafts and other groups. Meet them at The Beacon Centre, London Road, Salford, on the third Thursday of each month at 7pm. See www.salfordangelswi.co.uk or follow them on Facebook or Twitter @salfordangelswi

Barton Belles Acapella choir meets every Wednesday 7pm to 9pm at Barton Hub, 5 Cawdor Street, Eccles M30 0GB, for women. No auditions. First two taster sessions are free, then it’s £5 per week.

Find Barton Belles on Facebook or call 07891897503 for more information. All ages welcome.

June Wilcock, Start Inspiring Minds, Councillor Stephen Coen, City Mayor Paul Dennett and painter Paul Jordan.

Art felt gift to city Retired miner and Start in Salford volunteer Paul Jordan has put brush to canvas to present a moving gift to his native city.

An earlier piece inspired the logo for A Bed Every Night scheme which helps rough sleepers into accommodation.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “I’m delighted to add Paul’s painting to Salford’s collection. He has captured a key social issue with dignity and compassion.”

Start in Salford uses the creative arts and horticulture to help people overcome mental health issues, build resilience and improve their self-confidence.

Buy a brick Salford’s Broughton House has launched a Buy a Brick Campaign to raise £1,000,000 to help build the UK’s first veteran care village.

The village will provide all the services required by veterans and their families to help them live with dignity and independence in life after service.

The campaign wants to encourage individuals, schools, community groups and companies to join together to make a significant difference to the lives of current and future residents.

Broughton House is the home of Salford and Greater Manchester’s veterans, providing care to the armed forces and Merchant Navy in the north west of England.

Lend your support at www.broughtonhouse.com/buy-a-brick

Life in Salford 28 • March 2020 29

Two unmissable evenings for £3

Bed, breakfast and evening meal with fresh,homecooked meals during your stay starts at £115 for a three night break.

The hotel has a warm and friendly atmosphere and is very well reviewed by visitors.

All rooms have en-suite with shower, tea and coffee making facilities, televisions and free Wi-fi.

The Salfordian is a fully licensed hotel with function room.

Door to door transport is now available on Mondays and Fridays  0161 925 1233 (office hours)  01704 538810 (out of hours)   salfordian@salford.gov.uk  www.salford.gov.uk/salfordian Reg. No. 3438263. Registered as a charity. Reg. No 1071111

Join the BBC Philharmonic and its Chief Conductor, Omer Meir Wellber, on Thursday 30 April for one of the most intense and astonishing works of the late 20th century – Schnittke’s first Cello Concerto.

Completed after the composer recovered from a colossal stroke, which saw him declared clinically dead three times, soloist Jan Vogler is a great match for this profound work. Paired with Strauss’s Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, a sassy homage to a German folk hero, and Shostakovich’s brooding Sixth Symphony this wide-ranging programme will make for a wonderful evening.

Don’t miss the final concert of the orchestra’s 2019/2020 season on Saturday 13 June. Conductor Mark Wigglesworth will be joined by an all-star quartet of soloists and the Hallé Choir to raise the Bridgewater Hall roof and bring the curtain down on the season with the towering tour de force of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.

Salford residents can enjoy an exclusive ticket offer of £3 stalls tickets for both concerts. Numbers are limited so do book early. Phone 0161 907 9000 or book online at www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk quoting SALFORDAPRIL when booking for 30 April and SALFORDJUNE when booking for 13 June. For online bookings please enter the promo code before selecting your seat.

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PAPERWORK If only I’D got a receipt.

I’VE now been fined.

Know YOUR DUTY OF CARE Let’s S.C.R.A.P. fly tipping

Greater Manchester ethical letting agency launched Salix Homes and ForHousing have joined three other housing providers to form Let Us, a Greater Manchester ethical lettings agency working with private sector landlords to provide affordable private rented homes to those who most need them.

The service, set up by the Greater Manchester Housing Providers partnership (GMHP), offers private landlords advice and support to improve property standards,

through to full property leasing and management options with guaranteed rental income.

Jonathan Drake, service director for Salix Living the private sector leasing arm of Salix Homes said: “A lack of available affordable housing has created a housing crisis, with many people living in unaffordable, insecure or unsuitable homes. To better meet demand affordable homes need to be sourced from private sector landlords.”

“The Transforming the Private Rented Sector Board 2018 report suggests that 23.7% of Salford’s private sector housing does not meet decent homes standards. This, plus reluctance amongst some private landlords to house tenants receiving housing

benefit has created a perfect storm of limited affordable properties and poor living conditions. That’s where the idea behind Let Us was born.”

Let Us homes are let through the housing provider members exclusively to households which are homeless or at risk of homelessness at affordable rent levels.

Landlords can register at www.LetUsGM.com

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Delivering on our promises March 2020 marks five years since Salix Homes became an independent housing association following a vote by tenants to transfer the ownership of homes from Salford City Council to Salix Homes.

At the time, we made a promise to invest in homes and neighbourhoods, provide job opportunities for local people and give customers a real say in how we are run.

Here’s a snapshot of how we got on:

Improved over

5,830 homes

Completed

160,000 repairs

Spent

Transformed

on improving homes and neighbourhoods

empty buildings into new homes

Donated

Supported

£80 million £140,000

170

1,207

through our community fund Springboard

local people into work and training

Invested

99.6%

£7.3m

in environmental upgrades Pictured: Our brand new Salix Homes Customer Comittee who will help our services for customers for years to come

customers satisfied with their last repair

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VOTED NO.1 MOBILITY RETAILER IN THE NORTH WEST HAVING A STAIRLIFT FITTED IS NOT AS COMPLICATED AS YOU MAY THINK !

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Come into your local store and try the working demonstration models before you purchase.

Ask for a local Ableworld engineer to come to your property to advise on what you need. Ableworld do not employ pushy sales teams and all engineers are DBS checked. Fitting typically takes half a day.

All stairlifts come with an extensive warranty package for parts & labour. Additional warranties available from £20.15 / month.

Ableworld offer a local 24/7 helpline manned by local Ableworld engineers.

Ableworld guarantee to buy back a stairlift when it is not needed.

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Brooks, Acorn, Handicare

subject to age & condition

Your one-stop shop for all your needs

Engineers available for stairlift call-outs, scooter & wheelchair repairs Bedroom & Lounge Furniture : Wheelchairs : Continence Care : Tables Slippers & Shoes : Mobility Scooters : Dining Aids : Medication Aids Lightin & Magnifying Aids : Walking Sticks : Bathroom & Kitchen Accessories Specialist Department for Hoists, Seating & Powerchairs WIGAN

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ABLEWORLD

ABLEWORLD

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SOUTHPORT ABLEWORLD

17 Caroline Street, Wigan, WN34E L

9 Eccleston Street St Helens, WA102PG

140 Rathbone Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L154H H

Burrows House, 10 Priestley Road. Wardley Ind. Est. Manchester, M28 2LY

01942 233200

01744 453038

0151 733 1118

0161 728 1880

01704 537 631

info@ ableworldsalford.co.uk

info@ ableworldsouthport.co.uk

200yards from BOC Gas

5 mins from Lord Street

info@ ableworldwigan.co.uk

info@ ableworldsthelens.co.uk

info@ ableworldwavertree.co.uk

Adjacent to Anrich Pet Healthcare Centre

2 minutes from ASDA

100yards from Wavertree Railway Station

Shakespeare Centre 43 Shakespeare St Southport PR 8 5AB

Further details on all our stores can be found on: www.ableworld.co.uk

facebook.com/

ableworld

twitter.com/

AbleworldUK

www.ableworld.co.uk Ableworld are the main mobility retailer in the area approved as a Community Equipment Dispenser

Prices may vary. Images for illustration only. * VAT exempt price. ** Warranty excludes wilful damage or neglect.

Prices valid until 28th March 2020 Insurance/Warranty isprovided through Mark Bates Ltd t/a Premier Care, Premier House, Londonthorpe Road, Grantham, Lincs, NG31 9SN who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FRN 308390.