Life in Salford magazine issue 33

INSIDE RHS Garden Bridgewater opens pg. 8-9

Need a nursery place pg. 13

University open day pg. 18

Renew shops opening pg. 19

COVID-19 is still around As Life goes to print* the final stage of removing COVID-19 restrictions is scheduled for Monday 21 June.

Welcome as this is, please stay safe through good hand hygiene, testing and vaccination.

In this issue...

*Thursday 21 May

Spirit of Salford carries on Our Spirit of Salford helpline will continue to provide support for emergencies, benefits, council, tax, debt, housing, rights, jobs, skills, training and even support if you feel isolated.

You can call free on 0800 952 1000 Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm or ask for help online at www.salford.gov.uk/spiritofsalford Visit www.salford.gov.uk or @SalfordCouncil on Facebook or Twitter for the latest information.

Great Eight priorities pg.5

Life in Salford is online Enjoy Life in Salford online at issuu.com/salfordcouncil/docs from Monday 7 June.

Look out for extra pages on what’s happening in our great city and, if there’s a website mentioned in the story, just click the link to go straight to it.

Why not share it with family and friends outside Salford or catch up with previous editions?

For all enquiries, including large print versions of this magazine, please email letters@lifeinsalford.gov.uk

ON THE COVER

Cover image: RHS Garden Bridgewater - see pages 8-9.

IN THIS ISSUE

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 7 June 2021. Printing: APS Group. Distributed to more than 130,000 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.

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

Salford pioneers new spinal treatment pg. 20 8-9 RHS Garden

Bridgewater open 13 Need a nursery place 18 University open day 19 Renew shops opening 4 Meet your new councillors 6 Scams - stop, think

and say nothing 7 Rapid tests available

to all 10 Adult courses across Salford 11 ForHousing pledge

support for care leavers

Vaccinating Salford pg. 22

REGULARS 3 24 29

City Mayor’s column Foster for Salford Salford news

12

13 14 20

21

27

31

Young people kickstart a new career Summer of fun Re-discovering Salford Thousands take up lung health checks Help to quit smoking is available Neighbourhood takes another step forward Bins tell council when they need emptying

All enquiries including large print versions of this magazine – email lettersinlife@salford.gov.uk

This magazine is funded and produced by:

U n i v e r s i t y Te a c h i n g Tr u s t

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 3

Building on our success I was honoured to be re-elected in May. It is a privilege to serve as City Mayor for Salford.

I stood on my track record of delivering our priorities and fighting for local services and, as I embark on my second term, I am aware of the great responsibility I carry to make every corner of our city a better, fairer place for people to live and work.

Salford’s budget has been cut by over 50 per cent over the last 10 years leaving £220 million less to spend on services and jobs every year. Despite these cuts, we have battled to protect services.

As areas of England closed libraries, Salford opened new ones. We managed to keep our high performing nurseries open and after Salford Royal shut their maternity unit, we replaced it with a new birth centre.

We have also invested in our city to fuel economic growth, new infrastructure and the industries of tomorrow. Decisions made previously are bearing fruit – MediaCityUK is now the biggest home for digital and technical industries in the country outside London.

Port Salford is developing as a centre for logistics and manufacturing and reopening the Manchester ship canal to freight.

New businesses are coming to our city and 40,000 jobs are expected to be created in Salford by 2040.

While many parts of the north are struggling, Salford is growing and we are building council houses again – something most people told us was impossible.

Work is now underway at Buile Hill park to stop decay and restore our much-loved mansion. I have also announced plans for a Heritage Commission.

We have lived through the pandemic together and witnessed its devastating impacts. How the government will begin to claw back the enormous debt built up during this crisis remains to be seen, but I am committed to standing up for Salford and lobbying government for a fair funding settlement whilst delivering on our bold and ambitious agenda for our city.

The ‘Salford Way’ will be our city’s plan for an economy that benefits all our residents with a focus on co-operatives, community groups, social enterprises, independent local businesses and skilled industries.

I want our children to thrive in Salford and seize new opportunities so we are developing Salford as a Learning City. And for their futures, we will place the climate emergency at the forefront of everything that we do as a council.

The work has already started.

City Mayor Paul Dennett

Paul Dennett, City Mayor Know your councillor Barton and Winton

John Mullen 707 0484

David Lancaster 789 4723

Blackfriars and Trinity

Paula Boshell 279 9284

Ray Walker 543 1941

Cadishead & Lower Irlam

Joan Walsh 775 1358

Hannah Robinson-Smith 07515 878286

Lewis Nelson 07926 126513

Ari Leitner 07594 345292

Arnold Saunders 07814 603341

Neil Reynolds 917 4817

Wilson Nkurunziza 07404 960782

Michele Barnes 07500 965589

Colette Weir 07980 607837

Sammie Bellamy 07736 005240

Mike Pevitt 07368 290698

Robert Sharpe 07468 538598

Phil Tresadern 07395 359085

Jake Rowland 07935 828258

Barbara Bentham 07498 532998

Irfan Syed 07765 260453

Margaret Morris 950 0847

Bob Clarke 07967 567413

Nathaniel Tetteh 07429 142712

Mike McCusker 07986 630185

Kate Lewis 07949 495053

John Walsh 775 1358

Ray Mashiter 07968 389478

Broughton

John Merry 661 7101

Sharmina August 07539 469980

Gina Reynolds 917 4817

Bill Hinds 794 8783

Alexis Shama 07950 204758

Madeline Wade 07593 172110

Maria Brabiner 832 2846

Roger Jones 775 1261

Tracy Kelly 775 1874

Pendlebury and Clifton

Tanya Burch 07944 475756

James Dawson 793 5014

Weaste and Seedley

Joshua Brooks 07730 038193

Jim King 792 7824

Peter Taylor 07512 707818

Sophia Linden 07824 366915

Swinton and Wardley

Ann-Marie Humphreys 07951 378447

Liberal Democrat (1)

Higher Irlam & Peel Green

Ordsall

Walkden South

Adrian Brocklehurst 07984 244547

Darren Ward 07896 696990

Eccles

Quays

Walkden North

Jack Youd 07305 392745

Les Turner 07443 460847

Little Hulton

Pendleton and Charlestown

John Warmisham 279 1972

Jane Hamilton 07762 032077

Conservative (7)

Boothstown and Ellenbrook

Claremont

Kersal and Broughton Park

Andrew Walters 03300 271960

Stephen Coen 07450 234845

Labour (52)

Philip Cusack 07541 998294

Barry Warner 793 5545

Damian Bailey 07555 960849

Swinton Park

Stuart Dickman 07498 738307

Jim Cammell 07835 032280

Heather Fletcher 792 2849

Worsley and Westwood Park

Tony Davies 07563 645738

Robin Garrido 07970 483034

For more information about your local councillor please contact the Members' Services Unit.

Telephone 0161 793 3016 or 0161 793 3030. Visit www.salford.gov.uk

Karen Garrido 794 1574

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 5

The Great Eight Salford City Council’s vision is to create a fairer, greener and healthier Salford and it has picked eight top priorities to help achieve that.

Focusing on the Great Eight will help us plan how the city recovers from the pandemic, providing the right support and opportunities as well as bringing new jobs and investment to Salford. Visit www.salford.gov.uk/greateight for more details.

Salford City Council is already working hard to deliver results on the Great Eight but there is much to be done and we are focusing more resources to tackle climate change.

Last year the council’s welfare rights and debt advice service helped people claim £20 million in missing social security entitlements and tackle debt while Salford Assist provided 20,000 people with emergency support.

Over 1,000 new affordable homes have been built with more on the way. The council’s own ethical housing company Dérive is building council houses for the first time in a decade. Rough sleeping is down by 80 per cent.

Nearly 7,000 residents have new digital skills to help save money, apply for jobs and stay connected. The council has given 500 tablets to people most in need, is recycling donated phones and has created the Digital Everyone website https://digitalinclusion.salford.gov.uk as a one stop shop to find digital training.

The council is also working to tackle skills shortages and help businesses discover the talent they need to grow.

Salford City Council already buys around 55 per cent of its goods and services from local businesses, many of which also support Salford residents with training and work experience opportunities.

Salford is backing the Living Wage and, despite the pandemic, Living Wage accredited businesses in Salford grew from 38 in 2019 to 55 in February 2021 covering nearly 12,000 employees and putting money back into the local economy.

Salford is now the fastest growing economy in Greater Manchester with the largest cluster of digital businesses outside London and unprecedented levels of investment in the city. Port Salford, MediaCityUK and the Crescent are key investment sites but the challenge is to make sure everyone across the city benefits.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 6

Scams - stop, think and say nothing Stop, think and say nothing if you’re contacted unexpectedly by someone asking for your personal or financial details or for an unexpected payment.

It could be a scammer phoning, texting or emailing to trick you into confirming personal information or getting hold of your banking details so they can steal your money or your identity. It's called phishing.

Salford City Council’s trading standards team received over 70 reports of phishing scams last year with fraudsters claiming to be from PayPal, eBay, Amazon, banks, Royal Mail, mobile phone companies, TV Licensing, internet companies and local and central government.

If you have any doubts hang up or don’t reply and contact the organisation which claims to have contacted you through their official phone number or website. Avoid using details given to you by the person contacting you as these could be fake. Legitimate organisations will welcome you checking.

Scammers selling items will pressurise you into acting quickly and not telling family or friends about your ‘transaction’ in case they spot the scam. Don’t let anyone rush you. Please report any scam to Action Fraud via www.actionfraud.police.uk or calling 0300 123 2040 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm.

Friends against Scams has information and a quick course on how to protect yourself and family and friends.

Please visit www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk

Stay cool this summer Summer heatwaves can be dangerous to vulnerable people.

Older people, babies and young children, people taking certain prescription drugs and with underlying health conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease or mobility problems can struggle to regulate their body temperature.

Overheating can lead to heat exhaustion and onto heatstroke which can be fatal.

If someone is showing signs of being affected by the heat they need to be cooled down and drink plenty of water.

If they are very unwell or extremely hot or are not getting better with cooling, call 999 immediately. It could be heatstroke.

Visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke to learn what to do to help cool someone down.

Please look out for vulnerable family, friends and neighbours.

Ways to stay cool Drink plenty of cold drinks but avoid excess alcohol Take cool baths or showers or sprinkle water over your skin and clothes Wear light-coloured, loose clothing; add a hat and sunscreen and take water along if you go out Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm and avoid extreme exercise

Never leave anyone, particularly children or animals in a parked vehicle even with a window open Cool your house by shading windows, using a fan or opening a window if the air is cooler outside Don’t swim unsupervised at Salford Quays or in open water. The water is always cold and cold water shock is dangerous.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 7

Protect your family, friends, workmates and community – do regular rapid tests

Around one in three people with COVID-19 have no symptoms and can spread the virus without knowing.

That’s why free rapid tests are available to everybody. It’s the quickest and easiest way of finding hidden positive cases of COVID-19 and stopping the virus in its tracks.

Finding the virus and self-isolating ensures it won’t be passed on and is really important to help keep our rates low and get life back to normal.

In Salford secondary schools, for example, over 50 pupils and staff who had no symptoms tested positive for COVID-19 via a rapid test. They (and their bubbles) went on to self-isolate so they didn’t spread the virus any further. Without rapid tests, these cases wouldn’t have been picked up and more people would have been infected.

How do the tests work?

Full instructions are provided with the kits. You simply swab the back of your throat and up your nose and results will show in 30 minutes. You must then report your results to the NHS using the NHS COVID-19 app, online or by phone.

How often should I do the tests?

The recommendation is twice a week. Try and fit this into your weekly routine so you could choose to do tests every Sunday evening and Wednesday evening if this works for you.

Where can I get test kits from?

You can collect boxes of home tests kits from • Pharmacies • Broughton, Eccles, Irlam and Cadishead, Swinton and Pendlebury and Worsley Leisure Centres, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm • The libraries at Eccles, Pendleton, Swinton and Walkden Gateway and Broughton Hub • Salford Civic Centre (portacabins on staff car park).

You can have an assisted test here if you would like some help or advice.

You can also order the kits online at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Do I still need to do these tests if I’ve had the vaccine?

Yes. You can still get COVID-19, without any symptoms and pass it on even if you’ve been vaccinated.

If you feel unwell, you should book a PCR test. Whilst a new, continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in taste and smell are the usual symptoms people with COVID-19 report a wide range of symptoms such as headaches and fatigue. You can book a PCR test at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 8

RHS Garden Bridgewater is open RHS Garden Bridgewater Salford’s newest visitor attraction has opened its gates to the public.

The £35 million project is the first RHS garden in an urban area and has transformed the former site of Worsley New Hall, restoring the historic walled garden, lake and surviving buildings.

Salford City Council, which contributed £19 million of capital funding to make the garden possible and has invested in new walking and cycling routes to boost green travel in the wider area, say it is already bringing benefits to the city. It has already created 100 new jobs, with almost half of those employed living within five miles of the garden and offered volunteering opportunities to more than 800 local people since 2017.

As it grows and develops RHS Garden Bridgewater will bring substantial economic and tourism benefits to Salford and the north west region and by 2030 is predicted to be adding around £13.8 million every year to the local economy.

Left to right City Mayor Paul Dennett, RHS Chief Executive Sue Biggs and RHS President Keith Weed.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 9

Jewel in the crown The 11-acre Weston Walled Garden is one of the largest Victorian walled gardens in the UK. In its Victorian heyday a team of gardeners would have supplied flowers, fruit and vegetables to the house. The restored garden now showcases a range of growing techniques and edible plants, some familiar and some more unusual varieties.

The orchard hosts a wide range of fruit trees including apples native to north west England, pears, plums, mulberries, damsons, cherries, crab apples and quince.

The orchard has been designed for wildlife while a nearby bee and butterfly garden has been designed to attract pollinators all year round.

The walled garden is also home to the spectacular Paradise Garden showcasing exotic planting inspired

by Asiatic and Mediterranean gardens, while the Community Wellbeing Garden provides a space for people to garden with others, socialise and relax.

The Community Grow area will see up to seven Salfordbased community organisations get involved in regular growing activities, learning new skills and benefiting from being in a green space with friendly guidance from a Bridgewater horticulturalist.

The Peel Learning Garden, supported by The Peel Group, will help schoolchildren learn how plants affect our lives and the planet. It will also host courses and workshops for adults.

Beyond the walled garden

New era for estate

Visitors can explore the beginnings of the Chinese Streamside Garden which, when complete, will be a unique blend of Chinese and British horticulture that embraces seven acres of native woodland.

For young visitors, Woodland Play offers seven acres of adventure, including den building and plenty of features to encourage imaginative play, including Hobbit houses, mud kitchens and fairy homes.

Worsley New Hall, which was built for the 1st Earl of Ellesmere between 1840 and 1845, was a grand Gothic-style mansion which cost just under £100,000 to build (around £6.7 million in today’s money.)

The hall stood in glorious, formal landscaped gardens which took more than 50 years to develop and was visited twice by Queen Victoria.

During the First World War it was used as a hospital to treat injured servicemen and during the Second World War it housed Dunkirk evacuees and American soldiers, while the gardens were used for training by the Lancashire Fusiliers. Damaged by fire and its military use and weakened by dry rot and mining subsidence the hall was sold by the family and demolished soon after the war.

Salford residents go free Thanks to a unique partnership between the RHS and Salford City Council, all Salford residents can enjoy the garden for free on Tuesdays. It’s the first time the RHS has given free access to the community around one of its gardens.

You must book in advance by visiting www.rhs.org.uk/bridgewater and clicking on the ‘book garden time slot’ button. Use the ‘book Salford free Tuesdays’ option to choose your date and number of tickets required. There’s no limit to the number of children allowed with each adult free entry and you’ll find full information online including how to show proof of name and address on arrival to ensure your free ticket.

Events at the garden From workshops to exhibitions, garden tours and expert talks to fun family trails, there will be lots of great events to enjoy at the garden. Visit the RHS Garden Bridgewater website www.rhs.org.uk/bridgewater for more information.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 10

What’s on We’ve picked out a few key events between June and September but for the latest updates please go to www.visitsalford.info Please check with venues regarding the latest COVID-19 information.

Fun for the family

Open day and guided tours Saturday 3 July, 4pm to 8pm, free but donations welcome. St. Thomas' Church, Ford Lane, Salford, M6 6PE Celebrate the first meeting of the Friends of St Thomas with guided tours of this 190 year-old church.

Refreshments available. For more information contact: friendsofsaintthomas@yahoo.com

Follow us on social media @visitsalford

Buile Hill funfair Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June and Saturday 25 August to Monday 30 August. Buile Hill Park, Eccles Old Road M6.

Visit Salford Quays

Theatre

Box On The Docks

The Lowry

MediaCityUK Eat in style in our 30 sheds and greenhouses designed

by Salford-based artists. Visit https://boxonthedocks.co.uk for bookings.

Home to the world’s largest collection of paintings by L.S. Lowry and superb entertainment and exhibitions.

Check out what’s on at https://thelowry.com

Quayside MediaCityUK Makers Market

Salford Arts Theatre Kemsing Walk, Liverpool Street, Salford, M5 4BS.

Victorious

Saturday 24 July, 7.30pm. Tickets from £9 Join award-winning musical comedy performer Hannah Brackenbury as she presents a joyful and poignant musical tribute to the late, great comedy genius Victoria Wood. www.salfordartstheatre.com/whats-on

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June, Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August from 10am (Saturday) and 11am (Sunday).

Quayside, MediaCityUK. Free entry.

Monthly market with food and crafts from talented local makers and live music. www.themakersmarket.co.uk/markets/lowry

Fun for free Did you know there are 60 parks and open spaces in Salford? Visit the play areas and outdoor gyms, feed the birds, play games or take a picnic.

You can find your nearest park by putting in your postcode or see them all marked on the map of Salford.

Walk back in history

Go bird spotting

Clifton Country Park was once the site of the Wet Earth Colliery. Download the guide written by local schoolchildren and imagine working so far below ground.

Explore the woods and meadows sculpture trail and play area and there’s a dog friendly café open daily from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Or visit the Bridgewater Canal at Monton or Worsley and enjoy an I Spy trail, then visit Worsley Woods for the play area and sculpture trail. www.est1761.org/trails

Kersal Wetlands, off Littleton Road, was once a racecourse. Now it’s a huge nature reserve with fantastic views of Manchester’s skyline. Please stick to the paths and keep dogs under control to avoid disturbing the wildlife.

Some photos are pre- pandemic.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 11

Crowdfunder gets off to a flying start Salford’s new scheme to help turn great ideas into reality has got off to a flying start.

Nine appeals have been launched on Salford Crowdfunder ranging from improvements to a local rugby club to providing therapy sessions for children and parents of children on the autism spectrum, since its launch just two months ago and the idea has been praised for more than just its fundraising benefits.

Projects must clearly show how they benefit Salford and support one of the Great Eight – the council’s top priorities to create a fairer, greener and healthier Salford - and can be led by individuals, community groups, voluntary or private sector organisations or social enterprises.

Each project sets a fundraising target and sets out to crowdfund the first 25 per cent. If they succeed City Mayor Paul Dennett could then offer to match half the target, up to a maximum of £10,000, meaning they have 75 per cent of funds in the bag. If the project can then crowdfund the final 25 per cent, the City Mayor’s donation will be released to achieve the full target.

Sports charity Access Sport has partnered with Salford City Council to build a new BMX bike track in Peel Park, Little Hulton where it will run a community bike club and specialist coaching schemes.

Philanthropy Adviser Julia Wright of Access to Sport launched Cycling for Salford to raise extra funds to teach cycling to 150 local children with disabilities.

“Crowdfunding was completely new to our charity and has been extremely positive,” she said.

“We were allocated a crowdfund 'coach' who studied our appeal, helped us build a plan to get to target and has been available throughout. We’ve also advice and guidcance from other experts at Crowdfunder UK “The appeal brought us donations and opened up conversations with community groups, potential users and volunteers and more visits and interaction with our Facebook page which helps our profile. I expect we will run more crowd funders in future as a result.”

Please visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/salford for more information.

The Great Eight are: 1. Tackling poverty and inequality 2. Tackling health inequalities and providing the best possible care 3. Affordable housing and reducing homelessness 4. Promoting transport and digital connectivity 5. Skills and education (A Learning City) 6. Creating an economy for all 7. Tackling the climate emergency 8. Creating vibrant places and spaces

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Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 13

ForHousing pledge support for care leavers Giving young people the opportunity to thrive and flourish in their community is at the heart of ForHousing’s purpose to improve lives.

Our care leavers pledge is part of a commitment, with other members of Greater Manchester Housing Providers, to support young people.

In Salford alone, we invested £3.5 million in 44 homes as part of A Bed Every Night and our Forfutures team work closely with tenants for two years to link them to training and long-term employment.

Before moving to Chariot Close, Freya* lived in supported housing, provided by Salford City Council’s Next Steps team. Now she has a place of her own and her self-belief is growing every day.

“The scheme has given me the confidence to know that I can actually live by myself, and it was comforting to know that I had extra support through the scheme," she said We will continue working with other organisations to support care leavers into employment and training opportunities.

We believe every young person deserves a positive start in life and look forward to supporting more care leavers to achieve their potential and open the door to new possibilities. *Name has been changed to protect identity.

New licence rules for shared houses

New rules

Homes where three or four tenants share the property are to be brought under landlord licensing from July.

Salford City Council already requires all landlords in areas of Charlestown, Lower Kersal, Langworthy, Weaste and Seedley to have a selective licence. Larger shared homes with five or more tenants (known as houses in multiple occupation or HMOs) also have to be licensed. The new three and four tenant scheme is known as additional HMO licensing.

Licensing has raised standards and allowed the council to crack down on rogue landlords.

To be approved for a licence, landlords or their agents must show safety checks have been carried out, the property is not overcrowded and proper management arrangements, including recycling and waste disposal, are in place. It is illegal to rent out a property without a licence where one is required or to breach conditions of the licence.

Ninety per cent of three and four tenant HMOs inspected last year fell below required fire safety standards while many were damp and inadequately heated. Most landlords carried out improvements when problems were pointed out but 21 were issued with civil penalties for failing to comply.

Please visit www.salford.gov.uk/hmolicensing for more information.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 14

The Kickstart recruits Izzy, Alexie and Codie.

Young people hit by pandemic kickstart a new career A trio of young people affected by the downturn in the COVID-19-ravaged job market have been given a 'Kickstart' to get their careers back on track.

Izzy McGarry, Alexie Dean and Codie Ellis, all from Salford, have joined housing association Salix Homes as part of the government-funded Kickstart scheme.

Like thousands of young people across the country, they have all felt the impact of the pandemic, both personally and professionally.

Izzy, 21, is Salix Homes’ new learning and development assistant, but had been working in the hospitality sector – an industry devastated by the lockdown restrictions.

She said: “The pandemic gave me a lot of time to reflect on what I want to do. Working in pubs was great for a couple of years, but I couldn’t see myself progressing in that industry, which is why I wanted to join the Kickstart programme and try a new sector.”

Codie, 20, had started a dental nursing apprenticeship which was cancelled amid the pandemic. She’s now joined Salix Homes as an assistant in its people services team, which deals with HR matters.

She said: “After my apprenticeship was cancelled, I worked in residential homes, which I found very rewarding, but trying to find jobs at the moment is really difficult and it knocks your confidence a little bit.”

Alexie, 24, is the new project assistant at Salix Homes and had been unemployed for six months before Kickstart.

He said: “I’ve definitely felt isolated over the last year.

The learning side of the Kickstart programme is most important for me – I want to better myself and help my future.”

Kickstart is a £2 billion funded national scheme designed to create high quality, six-month, paid work placements for unemployed young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “Young people are amongst the hardest hit by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, so we’re very proud to be able to create these new job opportunities for local people who may have otherwise struggled to secure employment.

“Izzy, Alexie and Codie are motivated, enthusiastic and eager to learn and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the Salix Homes team and help them to develop the skills and experience they need to build themselves a bright future.”

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 15

Need a nursery place?

Salford City Council’s five amazing nurseries have vacancies now for children from birth to five years old.

Barton Moss in Eccles, Belvedere in Pendleton, Higher Broughton, Little Hulton and Winton are open from 8am to 6pm on weekdays and offer full or part-time places.

Experienced and qualified staff who love working with children will make sure your child receives outstanding care and early years education and is kept safe and healthy by following any government requirements.

Each nursery has a safe outdoor space for children to play freely and Barton Moss also offers forest school sessions, making use of nearby woodlands to encourage learning through nature. All the nurseries offer healthy snacks and meals which are cooked on site.

New children will be warmly welcomed but can take a free trial week to make sure they settle. Working parents can claim 30 hours free care, subject to eligibility, while 15 hours free nursery care is available for some two, three and four year olds.

You can find out more information and book a visit at www.salford.gov.uk/nurseries

Warm reception still available Salford Civic Centre remains closed to visitors but reception services are available at Swinton Gateway, Chorley Road instead for enquiries about council services or support.

Swinton Gateway is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. The building is next to St Peter’s Church and there is free, short term parking outside.

To register a birth, death or marriage please call 0161 793 2500 to make an appointment. Registration of deaths is currently being dealt with by phone but you will be asked to attend the Register Office at Salford Civic Centre to register births and for notices of marriage. Please use the buzzer at the top of the steps to contact staff when you arrive.

The office is open from 8.30am to 4.15pm Monday to Friday and you can find more information at www.salford.gov.uk/bmd

Summer of fun…

Schools and organisations across Salford have come together to offer an action-packed range of fun activities for four to 16 year olds this summer.

The activities, which range from baking and cookery to arts, crafts, crafts, sports, and music will run across Salford from Monday 26 July to Thursday 19 August.

Many activities will be free but, if there is a small charge, the money will be used to help less fortunate Salford children and young people.

Check out what is available in your neighbourhood and book at www.salford.gov.uk/summerfun

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 16

Rediscovering Salford is an exciting arts and culture project to explore and celebrate Salford’s green spaces, parks and gardens.

This ambitious programme, which brings together a number of organisations and stretches right across the city, includes exhibitions, new public artworks and events in a range of indoor and outdoor venues and online.

Rediscovering Salford will give local people opportunities to learn, make, connect and celebrate with others, both in and beyond our city.

With the opening of RHS Garden Bridgewater as a starting point, Rediscovering Salford aims to look at how arts projects and in particular those linked to our green spaces can inspire local people.

The exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery is open and the first public artwork has been installed in Peel Park. This Rediscovering Salford feature picks out some of the highlights, so read on and see what you can find.

As well as the exhibition and installation, the project will also see the organisations involved working with vulnerable young people, voluntary groups and adults dealing with mental health challenges.

Summer and autumn will bring more events, more workshops and more opportunities to connect. Dates will be shared online in the coming months for specific events, workshops, talks and celebrations. In the meantime, you can find updates at www.supremalex.co.uk/rediscovering-salford and sign up to our newsletter. Look for #RediscoveringSalford on your favourite social media channels to learn more.

Who’s behind Rediscovering Salford?

Rediscovering Salford is led by the Salford Culture and Place Partnership which brings together the Arts Council England, The Lowry, Salford City Council, the University of Salford, the BBC, Peel Media, RHS Garden Bridgewater, Salford Community Leisure, Islington Mill, home of local artists and designers, Salford-based arts organisation Walk the Plank and START Creative which uses art as mental health therapy. This programme is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as contributions from all the project partners.

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Peel Hall recording 27th Nov 2020.

Photograph courtesy of Joseph Stevenson (detail).

Rediscover the lost bandstand in Peel Park The Storm Cone is a new augmented reality artwork by artist Laura Daly with music by Lucy Pankhurst, that brings the lost bandstand in Peel Park back to life.

Commissioned by the University of Salford Art Collection and Metal, Southend, it takes its title from Rudyard Kipling’s 1932 poem. Kipling used the metaphor of a storm cone, which signals approaching gales, to express his fears about a second world war.

You can experience The Storm Cone by downloading a free app from www.thestormcone.com on your mobile phone or tablet and using the free wi-fi in Peel Park.

Listeners will be guided through the experience and immersed in the 360-degree sound of a brass band performing in the park. Moving amongst the absent bandsmen, you will hear the detail of every instrument, before encountering eight sound works where solo musical phrases merge. If your device is capable, you will also see a lost bandstand where the original stood in Peel Park from 1902 to 1965. Artist L.S Lowry frequently drew this bandstand and a selection of his drawings will feature in the You Belong Here exhibition (see page 16 for details.

Work began on The Storm Cone last year and, with students, staff and friends of the University of Salford performing and recording the music.

For many of the younger musicians, it was their first recording session and the only live music performance at the university during a year of COVID-19 restrictions.

The sound works bring together vocal contributions from a wide range of people including the university’s drama and music students and Manchester choir Chorus of Others. The app was designed and built by staff and students from the University of Salford’s Games Design course and the audio engineered by staff from Creative Music Technology.

The Storm Cone reveals lost bandstands in our municipal parks and explores their forgotten histories with a journey through music and sound that considers our relationship with the past and charts the fading away of a brass band during the interwar years 1918 to 1939.

The Storm Cone was commissioned by the University of Salford Art Collection and Metal in collaboration with Salford Culture and Place Partnership and supported by funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It is also supported by PN Daly Ltd and Zinc and Copper Roofing.

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You belong here: Artists Rediscovering Salford's green spaces - A Salford Museum and Art Gallery exhibition The new, free exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery focuses on the work of Salford-based artists Jack Brown, Cheddar Gorgeous, Hilary Jack and Lizzie King. The open of the six-month exhibition - You Belong Here: Artists Rediscovering Salford’s Green Spaces has been delayed.

Please keep checking the website for more details.

For this exhibition, the artists have been exploring our local parks and green spaces since autumn last year, to rediscover overlooked or forgotten stories, history and memories connected to our surroundings. Further inspiration has come from local history, archives and architecture and they have been influenced, inevitably, by the pandemic.

The artists were commissioned by the University of Salford Art Collection and Salford Museum and Art Gallery, working with Salford based artist-led spaces Paradise Works and Islington Mill. The exhibition will be accompanied by a website featuring a range of content, which can be found at https://you-belong-here.salford.ac.uk/ Jack Brown and Hilary Jack are based at Paradise Works while Cheddar Gorgeous and University of Salford graduate Lizzie King are from Islington Mill’s creative community.

Each artist has their own connection to Salford and has brought a unique perspective to the project.

Hilary Jack Hilary is a practicing artist who has worked across the UK and internationally.

She is based in Salford and is co-founder of Paradise Works.

Hilary began her research for this commission by exploring the ‘lost’ halls of Salford and quickly became interested in the changing architecture of the city as a whole – from the historic mansions, mills and terraces of L.S. Lowry's time to contemporary tower blocks.

She is also interested in the environmental impact of city redevelopment and her sculptures are also fully functioning bird boxes which she intends to re-home outside afterwards to provide new homes for local birds.

Facebook: @UoSArts Twitter: @UoSArts Instagram: @uos_artcollection

Untitled, 2021, Mixed media, Installation view.

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Cheddar Gorgeous Drag artist Cheddar Gorgeous uses makeup, costume and performance to ‘create living spectacles and tell stories’ inspired by everything from historical figures to environmental issues.

For this project Cheddar has been researching the area around Peel Hall and Madam’s Wood in Little Hulton, in particular the story of Madam Mort, aka ‘the grey lady’ who lived in the area in the 18th century and is now rumoured to roam the woods as a ghostly apparition.

Cheddar often works in collaboration with other artists and on this occasion has worked with two artists also based at Islington Mill, Natalie Linnie and Liquorice Black. Together they have created a new dress and headdress inspired by Madam Mort’s story. It includes fabrics hand-dyed using foraged natural materials from the area, as well as incorporating local people’s written memories into the fabric design.

Untitled, 2021, Digital photograph. Photography

by Lee Baxter.

Jack Brown Jack has spent time exploring many of Salford’s parks and green spaces across the city, something that many others have discovered over the past year.

While exploring Salford's green spaces Jack avoided the crowds, following unofficial paths away from the more public areas, onto the peripheries and into bushes, or through brambles and holes in fences. This has led Jack to uncover more playful, mischievous or deviant stories, coming across secret dens, animal tracks, rope swings, dead ends and lost Frisbees throughout Salford.

These explorations have resulted in three new works that will be shown as part of the exhibition, which, as with much of Jack’s work, focus on the things we may overlook or moments that benefit from some further attention.

Rope swing stereograph (reanimated), 2021, Still from digital video.

Lizzie King Lizzie King’s new work is centred on Peel Park, the first of three public parks to be opened in 1846 for the people of Salford and Manchester and paid for by public subscription. It is a place that Lizzie knows well and has visited since childhood.

She is interested in the history of the park, what it meant to visitors over 100 years ago and what it represents for visitors today.

For Lizzie, the park offers an important and inclusive space for rest, relaxation and reflection and this is symbolised for her through the park bench. Working with printmaking and photography techniques, Lizzie has created new work that celebrates Peel Park and the park bench.

Fascinated by historic postcards of Peel Park - some found in the archives of the Museum and others on eBay - Lizzie has produced a series of printed postcards that will be available in the exhibition for visitors to use to share their own reflections and memories of the park. Or you can do this on social media using the hashtag #rediscoveringsalford.

Rooted (detail), 2021, Giclèe print.

Facebook: @salfordmuseum Twitter: @SalfordMuseum Instagram: @salford_museum

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Renew shop will open in Salford Pre-loved items are getting a new lease of life as Greater Manchester makes it easier for residents to donate their unwanted items for re-use.

Boysnope Wharf recycling centre in Salford is to be the site of one of three Recycle for Greater Manchester and SUEZ’s Renew shops.

This waste prevention initiative will help reduce waste and give unwanted household items a ‘new’ lease of life, as well as creating jobs and helping to reduce our carbon impact. Donations to the shops can be made at Renew donation containers at Lumns Lane, Cobden Street and Boysnope Wharf recycling centres.

The Renew shops sell quality pre-loved household items such as furniture, bric-a-brac, gardening equipment, vintage goods, games, and toys. Money raised from the shop sales will be given to good causes across Greater Manchester. At least £220,000 each year will be given to the R4GM Community Fund which is available to support community projects around waste and recycling. Also £100,000 will be donated to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to support vulnerable communities.

Pre-loved items donated at your local recycling centre.

All profits given to good causes across Greater Manchester.

Coming soon

Help make a difference, donate, and buy pre-loved items from Renew.

To find out more about Renew visit recycleforgreatermanchester.com/renew

We will clean and repair them if necessary. nat Do e Re

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We will sell them in our Renew shop at an affordable price.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 21

Don’t want it?

Renew it Donate your unwanted household items and help create value from waste.

If it is too good to waste, you can gift your unwanted household items at any Renew containers which are open for donations. They can take most household items including: • Furniture such as tables, chairs, mirrors, bookcases • Garden items and equipment, chairs, tables, pots, watering cans • Bikes and sport equipment such as golf equipment, tennis rackets, footballs and bicycles • Hand tools such as spades, hammers and screw drivers • Vintage and collectables such as trunks, signs, musical instruments • Bric-a brac such as DVDs, books and ornaments Renew cannot take any electrical items, textiles, mattresses, crash helmets, car seats, cots, high-chairs or prams, however all of these can be disposed of at your local recycling centre.

Reuse donations containers are available at 15 recycling centres in Greater Manchester.

To find your nearest site visit https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com/renew

No place for hate in Salford If you experience or see violence or hostility towards people because of who they are or who someone thinks they are, please report it.

You could spare someone else from going through it and information helps the police build a true picture of local problems. There’s no place for hate in Salford.

In emergency always dial 999 or you can report it via 101 or www.gmp.police.uk Salford also has 33 hate crime reporting centres, including libraries and local housing associations where non-police staff have been trained to support you. You can report in person, by phone or online. You can find details at www.salford.gov.uk/hatecrime Hate crime might be damage to your home or car, offensive graffiti or social media messages, dumping rubbish outside your home, malicious complaints from neighbours as well as physical and verbal attacks or threats to harm you.

It’s targeted at people because of their sexual orientation, transgender identity, disability, race, religion or because of the way they look – such as goth, punk or another alternative culture. It can happen anywhere and affects victims’ mental health and makes us all feel unsafe.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 22

/ FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR COURSES / ATTEND OUR NEXT OPEN DAY / BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW

SATURDAY 19 JUNE SALFORD.AC.UK /OPEN-DAYS

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Covid-risk health checks

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 23

The checks are available for anyone aged over 18 who works in Salford or is registered with a GP in Salford and takes 20-30 minutes.

Your height, weight and blood pressure are checked and these results alongside other information taken are used to calculate both ten-year heart attack risk and the risk of health complications should the individual catch COVID-19.

The sessions are: Monday 1pm to 6pm, Swinton Gateway, 100 Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 6BP Tuesday 10am to 12.30pm, Broughton Hub, 50 Rigby Street, Salford, M7 4BQ Wednesday 1pm to 6pm, Walkden Gateway, 2 Smith Street, Walkden, M28 3EZ Thursday 9am to 1pm, Pendleton Gateway, 1 Broadwalk, Pendleton, M6 5FX Friday 9am to 1pm, Eccles Gateway, 28 Barton Lane, Eccles, M30 0TU

Book your appointment now online at www.salford.gov.uk/covidriskhealthchecks or call 0800 952 1000 and select option 2. Also available at Boothstown Community Centre upon request.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 24

Salford pioneers new spinal treatment Salford Royal has become one of 11 national centres to offer pioneering spinal treatment for adults.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) affects the nerves in the spinal cord, making muscles weaker and impacting on movement, breathing and swallowing.

James Lilleker (right), lead of the SMA service with Jo McNicol and members of the SMA treatment team.

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Jo McNicol, 44, who was born with SMA was the first adult patient to be treated with Nusinersen at the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal.

The drug, commonly used for children, has now been approved for adult use.

Jo said: “I’m really excited to have finally started treatment and I now feel that there is hope.

“I’ll have to continue the treatment forever but I am hoping it will stop the progression of the condition so I can at least maintain the strength I have now.”

Phillip Kelly, Neuromuscular Specialist Nurse and Care Advisor said: “Despite being in the midst of a global pandemic, we have been working incredibly hard to develop this new service which we hope will vastly improve quality of life for patients living with SMA.” Salford Royal is part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group - which brings together Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Thousands take up lung health checks C

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Over the past 18 months, more than 9,000 people aged between 55 and 74 with a history of smoking have been invited to a free lung health check.

Of those who had the health check, more than 1,700 needed further tests. That resulted in 39 early cancer diagnoses meaning treatment could start much earlier.

The service, which is funded by NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, delivered by Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and supported by Salford City Council, launched in Walkden and Little Hulton in 2019 before moving on to Ordsall and Claremont.

Throughout the pandemic the health checks have been delivered via a virtual service.

Residents living in Eccles and Irlam are now being invited for their lung health check.

If you have a history of smoking, are registered with a GP in Eccles or Irlam and receive an invitation through the post, make sure you book an appointment. Health checks are still available for those who have already been invited and all eligible patients from other areas of the city will be contacted within the next 12 months.

For more information visit: www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/age-well/lung-health-check

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 25

Help to quit smoking is available Emails, phone calls, a Whatsapp group and online meetings – it’s all there to help you stop smoking and stay stopped for good.

Smoking damages your lungs and weakens your immune system making it harder for you to fight infections. If you get COVID-19 you’re more at risk of complications.

The good news is that from the moment you quit smoking the body starts to heal itself which will help you fight off illnesses.

Salford City Council’s health improvement team will tailor a plan with you to help you succeed. You can get individual support online or by phone as well free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) patches, gum, mouth spray or nasal spray.

Visit www.salford.gov.uk/stopsmoking to contact them online or email healthimprovement@salford.gov.uk or call the Spirit of Salford Helpline on 0800 952 1000.

Catch up on immunisation Routine vaccinations for babies, pre-school children and adults are continuing as normal while vaccinations usually given in school are being rescheduled.

It's important to go to your appointments unless you, your child or someone you live with has symptoms of COVID-19. If you do have symptoms you should selfisolate and book a test to confirm whether you have the virus or not.

Immunisation is one of the best ways to protect your child from harmful and potentially life-threatening illnesses and is routinely offered to children at eight weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, one year old and three years and four months.

If you think your child has missed any vaccinations, please contact your GP for advice.

Get active this summer Make the most of getting out and about in Salford this summer to boost your mental and physical health.

Regular physical activity keeps your body in good shape but also boosts your mood, outlook and mental wellbeing. If you feel you need more support for your mental health then please visit www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/live-well/mental-health for local and national support or speak to your GP. Joining Salford Community Leisure gives you access to swimming pools, gym sessions and classes or enjoy Salford’s greenspaces and wildlife for free. With 60 parks, 16 outdoor gyms, miles of canal towpaths on the Bridgewater Canal and 29 kilometres of traffic free cycling and walking routes on our looplines you’re spoilt for choice.

Find your nearest park or go exploring by visiting www.salford.gov.uk/parks or check out Salford Community Leisure at https://salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 26

Vaccinating Salford As more people get the vaccine and life returns to normal it’s easy to think COVID-19 has gone away. It hasn’t.

If you’ve had your first dose, you might be tempted to skip the second. It is really important you go to your second dose appointment. You need both doses of the vaccine to complete your vaccine treatment and to stop you from getting seriously ill with coronavirus.

Why you need two doses One dose of either the AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna vaccine provides a high level of protection from coronavirus. Most of your short-term protection comes from the first dose. The second dose gives slightly greater overall protection but, more importantly, it increases your long-term protection – like an insurance policy.

What does the second dose do that improves on the first?

The point of the second dose is to train your immune system to respond to coronavirus more vigorously.

Think of it like learning to play guitar – one lesson may teach you a few chords, but you need lots of lessons to become an expert guitarist.

So, if you want your immune system to become an expert at protecting you from coronavirus, then you need to give your immune system multiple training sessions.

If I can’t make it to my second dose in time, do I have to start again?

No. The guidance from Public Health England is that if the second vaccine is delayed, the first dose does not need to be repeated.

When will I get my second dose?

If you’ve had your first dose through the Salford vaccination service, you’ll get a text message or letter with your second dose appointment.

Do all you can to attend the appointment you have been given. If that’s not possible, ring the call centre on 0800 953 0116 to rearrange. If you have not been contacted by the end of week 12, ring the call centre.

Please do not contact your GP as GP practices in Salford are not involved in the appointment booking system and will only tell you to ring the call centre.

Visit www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine for more information.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 27

Salford Primary Care Together Coronavirus vaccine and blood clots Recently there have been reports of an extremely rare condition.

The expert scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is that, if you are aged 30 and over or with underlying health conditions, the benefit of getting vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine to protect you against the serious consequences of coronavirus far outweighs the risk of this rare condition. If you are under 30 and have already received your first dose you should complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.

For the latest information, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ coronavirus-vaccination/

What should I look out for after vaccination?

Although serious side effects are very rare, if you experience any of the following from around four days to four weeks after vaccination you should seek medical advice urgently: • a new, severe headache which is not helped by painkillers or is getting worse • a headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over • an unusual headache that may be accompanied by blurred vision, nausea and vomiting; difficulty with speech; weakness, drowsiness or seizures • new, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding • shortness of breath, chest pain, • leg swelling • persistent abdominal pain

Putting GP practices at the heart of joined up care As the COVID-19 vaccination programme continues across Salford, you might have seen reference to an organisation called Salford Primary Care Together (SPCT) working with GPs to vaccinate the Salford people.

If you’re registered at one of SPCT’s GP practices in Eccles, Little Hulton or Willow Tree, SPCT won’t be new to you.

However, SPCT goes beyond its three practices with a much wider role bringing together primary care services across Salford.

All GP practices work together in five neighbourhoods – Broughton; Eccles and Irlam; Little Hulton and Walkden; Ordsall and Claremont and Swinton – pooling their services, staff and resources. SPCT works alongside these GP practices to integrate more closely with district nurses, social workers, pharmacies, mental health workers, hospital services, voluntary organisations and local community groups giving you better access to the help and support available in your local community.

As well as being a key part of Salford’s COVID-19 vaccination service, SPCT provides GP services for vulnerable people, GP out of hours and extended access, and many of the COVID support services in the city.

To learn more, go to www.spctogether.co.uk

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Getting creative in horticulture RHS Garden Bridgewater is a key partner in Rediscovering Salford and the Bridgewater Culture project will bring new creative activities to the garden and surrounding area.

Some of these activities will be led by Start in Salford, a local organisation which uses creativity to help people overcome emotional difficulties and mental health challenges by learning new skills. Start Creative, their commercial arm, has been an important part of the RHS Garden Bridgewater project from the beginning and its connections with the area go back even further.

In 2016, Start Creative and Est 1761, the Bridgewater canal transformation project, helped nine Salford men from communities along the Bridgewater Canal to build and launch a boat inspired by those once used in the Duke of Bridgewater’s coal mines.

It was part of a programme of activities as part of the £5.5 million restoration of the Bridgewater Canal, thanks to £3.6 million funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and contributions from Salford City Council and Peel Holdings.

Start Creative has created the Humphrey Booth Wellbeing Hub at the centre of RHS Garden Bridgewater using wood from the site and will build other shelters as the garden evolves this summer.

Visitors to the gardens will also be offered a chance to try some of the skills that went into creating the shelter and hear the story of the building and the history of wood within these beautiful gardens.

Start Creative will run workshops on using green woodworking techniques to make simple furniture from timber gleaned from woodland management. They will also work with a local primary school, linking their learning, their school-based workshops and garden visits to the Bridgewater Culture programme. Up to 7,000 local school children are expected to visit the RHS gardens.

Look out for more details coming soon on a series of workshops, demonstrations and hands on sessions delivered by RHS Garden Bridgewater and START Creative.

Rediscovering Salford offers opportunities for children and young people to enjoy creative fun at RHS Garden Bridgewater this summer.

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Photo posed by models pre-pandemic.

Love and laughter got me through lockdown Being a foster carer helped Jeff and his wife Gina get through the pandemic.

“I cannot imagine how lonely and quiet our home would have been if it wasn’t filled with the laughter and fun that these special children have brought us,” he said.

Jeff has been a foster carer for Salford City Council for 10 years and gave up his own business to make the switch.

“I felt very confident as a dad and, as I was working so much, often envied my wife being the main carer for our young children,” he said.

“When our children grew up and started their own families, I realised I enjoyed caring for children so much I wanted to do it as a profession. I thought I’d try it for a year. Here I am 10 years later and it was the best thing I ever did. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.

“We take in children for short periods when they are at their most vulnerable and work with them, their birth families and other foster carers to make their future brighter. They come to me as withdrawn, anxious, unhappy little people and leave with confidence, happiness and the ability to not only take on the world but to put their mark on it.

“It isn’t always easy to say goodbye but it’s always for the best whether they are going back to their family, moving to long-term foster care or being adopted. We stay in touch with a few children who have imprinted on our hearts and I am so proud of what I do.

“I have made so many friends with other foster carers and when restrictions lift I’m looking forward to meeting them again for support or play dates for the kids.”

If you’re looking for a new challenge, there’s a fostering role for you. You’ll get full support from our staff and other foster carers, on-going training and a generous tax free allowance.

If you have no children under 16 living with you and are available during the day, you could join our specialist Focus foster carers looking after vulnerable children.

Or be a short-term foster carer like Jeff or provide long-term care for a child until they’re at least 18 years old.

Call 0161 799 1268 or visit www.salford.gov.uk/fostering and change your life and theirs.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 30

Salix Homes commended for building safety A leading figure in building safety has commended Salix Homes for its commitment to fire and building safety as the housing association announced the completion of its cladding remediation programme.

Dame Judith Hackitt is Chair of the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) and led the government’s independent review of building regulations and fire safety following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017.

In a letter to Salix Homes, Dame Judith said: “As a social housing provider, it was clear to the ISSG that you have made a concerted commitment to address building safety. It was evident to us that there is a sense of genuine responsibility to put things right, supported

by Salix Homes’ participation in the Early Adopter programme.”

Salix Homes has now completed the multi-million-pound cladding remediation and safety enhancement work across its tower blocks in Salford.

The eight affected blocks, the majority of which were only partially cladded in aluminium composite material (ACM), included Mulberry, Magnolia and Sycamore Courts in Pendleton, Blackfriar Court, Riverbank Towers and Newbank Towers in Greengate and Arthur Millwood Court and Canon Hussey Court in Islington.

The cladding removal and remediation programme, supported by the government’s cladding remediation fund, was completed across six of the blocks in autumn 2019 and was finished at the remaining two blocks – Arthur Millwood Court and Canon Hussey Court – this April.

Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “The safety and wellbeing of our tenants is the utmost priority for Salix Homes. Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, we moved quickly to enhance safety measures across all our high-rise buildings and raise the bar on building safety, so to be commended by Dame Judith Hackitt is a real testament to our efforts.

“We’ve worked alongside technical experts to develop a permanent solution to replace the affected panels and cladding systems, as well as implement additional safety measures, and we’re pleased to announce that this extensive programme of work has now drawn to a close.

“Salix Homes is committed to raising the bar of public safety in all our buildings. Our residents can now rest assured that the replacement cladding systems meet the most stringent of safety requirements and the additional safety measures we’ve implemented cement our commitment to delivering the safe and modern homes that everyone deserves.”

New state-of-the-art fire alarm systems have also been fitted at all 18 of Salix Homes’ tower blocks in Salford as part of a wider safety enhancement programme.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 31

Neighbourhood takes another step forward An ambitious housing scheme to develop two brownfield sites in Salford has taken another step forward.

Salix Homes and partner developer Step Places have completed the land transaction for the two parcels of land off Kara Street and Liverpool Street in Seedley.

The 3.8-acre site will be home to Neighbourhood, an eco-friendly scheme, which will see 157 homes built comprising social housing, homes for affordable rent, properties for shared ownership and outright sale.

Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “Neighbourhood has been purposefully designed to combine innovative architecture and contemporary

The brownfield site will be home to ‘Neighbourhood’.

living to create a vibrant and aspirational community of modern, high-quality and energy efficient homes that will complement the wider regeneration taking place across Saford.

“We’re really excited to be working with our partners Step Places on this new era of housing in Salford, which we’re confident will help create that real sense of community and neighbourly spirit which Salford is so famous for.”

Work is due to start on site later this year and it’s expected the development will be complete in 2023.

Salix Homes launches affordable home ownership brand Housing association Salix Homes has launched Willo Homes, a new affordable home ownership brand, to support its bold ambition to deliver more affordable homes to help tackle the housing crisis.

Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “While Salford has been experiencing a housing development boom in recent years, the shortage of affordable homes in this area is well documented. Home ownership has become out of reach for many ordinary people, so we’re passionate about creating more affordable housing options.

The new Artifex development in Trinity.

“As a trusted social housing provider, with our foundations firmly rooted in Salford, we’re confident that we’re perfectly placed to deliver the right type of housing in the right places and ultimately help tackle the housing crisis.”

Willo Homes will specialise in affordable home ownership options including Help to Buy, shared ownership and Rent to Buy, as well as homes for market sale.

To coincide with the launch, Willo Homes has announced the first properties available for expressions of interest at Artifex, the flagship high-rise development in Trinity.

The £15 million apartment block comprises 108 one and two-bedroom apartments, which will all be available under the Rent to Buy Scheme.

Contact the Willo Homes sales team at their sales suite at Artifex, Blackfriars Road, email hello@willohomes.co.uk, telephone 0161 537 3123 or visit www.willohomes.co.uk

Life in Salford 32 • March 2021 32

PARK

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Arts in your parks – the story so far…

From pocket parks to country parks, small nature reserves to the ten acre Kersal Wetlands, Salford has a wealth of green, open spaces.

During the pandemic they’ve become even more important as places to relax,. Rediscovering Salford is all about how to open up our parks and greenspaces to everyone to enjoy, learn, share and celebrate.

Rediscovering Salford’s goal is to make it easier to develop creative activities in our parks and green spaces and encourage local people to join in long after this project has come to a close. This work started last year.

In summer 2020, Rediscovering Salford partners worked with Salford City Council’s Rangers team to identify what people want from parks, what they would like to see in parks and how they can play their part in managing and developing their local park.

As part of that Rediscovering Salford partners created Park Portals, a pack for use in schools and with young people to help them think differently about green spaces, show how they can get involved in shaping such spaces and share their hopes for the future.

Anna Cremin Horton, an Islington Mill-based artist who uses play in green spaces, led the project. Anna works closely with local schools and her unique insight into Salford’s parks, young people and the city’s creative community was crucial in getting the content right.

The pack will be used in workshops throughout the summer and autumn 2021 Rediscovering Salford programme.

In autumn last year, Salford arts organisation Walk the Plank ran Creative Explorers, a five-month programme for members of the Friends of Peel Park and local people. They learnt about the history of the park, how to make films with a smart phone and even took part in fire drawing workshops and are looking at possibilities for future activities in the park. The programme was supported by National Lottery Heritage funding.

Salford is a city full of creative minds and Rediscovering Salford wants to nurture that creative spark to make the most of our greenspaces and make sure that as many local people, particularly young people, as possible are involved in creative, arts and cultural projects in Salford’s parks and greenspaces.

Fire drawing workshop with the Creative Explorers cohort, March 2021, Photograph: David Marsden.

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 33

Salford News

Donate your phone Salford City Council, mobile phone charity Hubbub, O2 and Salford CVS are recyling unwanted smartphones to help people get online.

You can donate your unwanted phone at Pendleton, Eccles, Walkden and Swinton Gateways or Broughton Hub. Find full details about the scheme at https://digitalinclusion.salford.gov.uk

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The Salfordian Hotel, Southport is back in business after lockdown.

The hotel welcomes all ages but particularly older Salford residents and is fully accessible.

For more information or to book call 0161 925 1233 or 01704 538810 or email salfordian@salford.gov.uk or visit www.salford.gov.uk/salfordian

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Pregnant women and people with children under four can get help to buy milk, infant formula, fruit, vegetables and pulses.

The Healthy Start scheme provides vouchers or payments every four weeks, subject to eligibility. To qualify you must be in receipt of certain benefits unless you are under 18 and pregnant. The scheme also offers free healthy start vitamins.

Ask your midwife or health visitor or call the Healthy Start helpline on 0345 607 6823 or visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk Help is also available from Citizens Advice Salford by calling 0808 27 87 802 or at www.salfordcab.org.uk

Age UK Salford’s hospital aftercare team offers free help with shopping, meals and cleaning for over 55s without a formal care package and who live alone without close family nearby. Criteria apply and all staff are police checked.

Contact them on 0161 206 4607 or email: Salford.aftercare@srft.nhs.uk

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Citizen’s Advice Salford on 0808 278 7802 Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm or email via www.salfordcab.org Europia on 0333 305 8570, email support@europia.org.uk or visit www.europia.org.uk

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Free advice and support is also available from:

Would you like to get married at The Court House, Worsley? Tie the knot in Buile Hill Park Hall? Or sign the register or celebrate in the Salford Suite at Salford Civic Centre?

The new Venues in Salford website has details of costs, catering, services and accessibility at Salford City Council’s three venues.

For more information visit www.venuesinsalford.co.uk or email venuesinsalford@salford.gov.uk or phone 0161 793 3670

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EU nationals who want to stay in the UK must register with the EU Settlement Scheme by Wednesday 30 June this year.

Registration must be done online and there are computers with free internet access at Pendleton, Eccles, Walkden and Swinton Gateways and Broughton Hub and libraries across the city. Please visit www.salford.gov.uk/gateways

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Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 34

Keeping Salford safe Salford Community Safety partnership brings together a number of organisations all working to reduce crime, tackle anti-social behavour and protect vulnerable people.

The work ranges from disrupting organised crime gangs and steering young people into more positive activities to helping victims of crime, domestic abuse and hate and finding solutions to anti-social behaviour.

Salford City Council’s network of CCTV cameras monitors the city round the clock supporting police officers, helping to find missing people and capturing evidence to prosecute flytippers.

To find out more please visit www.salford.gov.uk/communitysafety

You can report problems in a number of ways: Report crime, anti social behaviour and off road bike nuisance online at www.gmp.police.uk or call 101; in emergency always call 999 Report a range of problems via www.salford.gov.uk/reportit or contact your housing provider Share information anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via https://crimestoppers-uk.org Call the national domestic abuse helpline 24/7 on 0808 2000 247 or the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm or see www.salford.gov.uk/domesticabuse Report hate crime and get support via True Vision www.report-it.org.uk/home or see www.salford.gov.uk/hatecrime for local reporting centres.

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Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 35

Bins tell workers – we need emptying Eighty-two litter bins in Salford can now let council workers know when they need emptying.

The bins, which are being tried out in Ordsall and Salford Quays are fitted with sensors which monitor how full they are.

Crews can then go to bins which are full instead of checking every bin in the area, reducing journeys.

The bins are also twice as large as the ones being replaced and, if successful, could replace more of the 1,800 litter bins across the city.

Thousands more people have visited local parks and greenspaces during lockdown and council workers are now emptying bins twice a day at popular hotspots.

More than 300 community groups have also turned out in the last year to support the council in cleaning up the city and fighting back against flytippers. Salford City Council has backed them with free litter picking equipment and bags and removal of the rubbish. In 2019/20 the council gave 1000 people fixed penalty notices or fines totalling £100,000 for littering or flytipping.

Please make sure you always dispose of litter properly when out and about.

We’re working with enforcement officers to INVESTIGATE and PROSECUTE flytippers

Let’s S.C.R.A.P. fly tipping

Life in Salford 33 • June 2021 36

Salford rallies to support young jobseekers Salford is rallying round to help young people Kickstart their careers.

Dozens of organisations have come forward to offer opportunities in everything from catering and administration to digital technologies and working with children under the Kickstart scheme which funds six months paid work experience.

Salford City Council is administering the government scheme for under 24s who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The aim is to break the no experience, no work, no work, no experience deadlock and put young people in a strong position for future jobs with their host organisation or others.

Over 30 young people are currently on placements in the council and with local employers in areas as different as youth work, project management, horticulture, engineering and finance and there are more opportunities coming in all the time.

Thanks to the Riding to Success scheme which teaches young people to repair and maintain donated bikes, Kickstarters will also be given a free bike, if they wish.

To find out as an employer or young person and see the latest vacancies visit www.salford.gov.uk/kickstart or email KickStart@salford.gov.uk.

Hear what young people are saying about Kickstart

Back on the road

Riding to Success is back on the road for summer.

Salford City Council launched the scheme last year to train young people how to refurbish and maintain donated bikes.

Twenty-nine young people took part last year, gaining a skill for life and a qualification and keeping their focus on learning and employment. Twenty two of them went straight on to further studies, apprenticeships, traineeships and volunteering.

They repaired 39 donated bikes, 18 of which went to the young people who worked on them. Two were returned to their owners and the rest were donated to families and young care leavers.

The six week courses are open to 16 to 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training and will take place in Little Hulton, Walkden Swinton, Eccles and Salford Quays. Full details can be found at www.salford.gov.uk/donateabike Both adult and children’s bikes which can easily be repaired can be donated until Friday 25 June. Please email Jordi.matthews@salford.gov.uk to arrange free collection.

Salford City Council is working with Access Sport, The Urban Fitness Collective (Tuf*C) and BikeRight! to provide the courses

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