Spirit of Salford to support you

I said in the last issue of Life in Salford that the costof-living crisis will require no less a response than the COVID pandemic if we are to get through it together.

In this issue we have pulled information together so that any resident who is struggling to manage can find support, including a central helpline, once again under the Spirit of Salford banner. You need to know that you are not alone and the council and our partners in the city will do all we can to make sure you know where to go to get help. It’s also vital that neighbours and communities look after one another where you can. We all have a role to play together.

Please share this information with friends and neighbours who also might benefit. We so often hear of people despairing as they don’t know where to turn. Most of this support is in place throughout the year.

Our voluntary and community sector will also be busy this winter, but they too need your support as they rely on a strong band of volunteers.

On a very practical level, the council is promoting activities in local warm places which will be open all winter. Your local Gateway centre and Broughton Hub will provide a warm welcome with movies, games and crafts with refreshments. Watch our social media for all the latest news.

It’s astonishing that the government continues to ignore the importance of local councils in supporting

communities. Once again, we’re expecting large cuts in public funding at a time when it is needed desperately.

We’re lobbying hard on key issues including more fair finances for councils so that we can provide the support that you need.

Salford City Council’s gas prices have risen by 500 per cent and electricity by 84 per cent as contracts came up for renewal. Just as your budget can’t cover rising prices without cutting back on other essentials, public organisations face the same dilemmas. Just providing warm buildings to provide a warm welcome to local people will hit the local public purse, including schools’ budgets.

We’re continuing to make our voice heard. We have had some success in protecting local facilities and against reductions in local services, such as keeping train line services at Irlam and getting a commitment for inclusive access facilities at all our main stations. We won’t stop there. We continue to push hard for Salford communities and stand up for what is right, for a fairer, greener more inclusive city.

City Mayor Paul Dennett