Life in Salford magazine issue 41

Recipe for success

Salford’s Councillor Sammie Bellamy has been recognised as a Coronation Champion and invited to one of the official celebrations.

The national award recognises her work in feeding over 1,500 people a week during the pandemic and more than 500 over 65’s last Christmas through her community interest company For The Love of Food.

Help to find work

A new service has been launched to help 140 unemployed adults with autism or learning disabilities find suitable paid work and support them in their new jobs.

Salford Supported Employment Service, run by Salford City Council and the Growth Company will provide support, training and guidance for people and employers.

To find out more visit www.salford.gov.uk/supportedemployment or email supportedemployment@salford.gov.uk or call 0161 793 2533.

Have your say

We’re always keen to hear what you think about Life in Salford or get in touch if you have any queries, including requesting a large print copy. Please email letters@ lifeinsalford or write to Life in Salford, Salford City Council, Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton M27 5DA. Your emails and letters will not be published.

Cover image: Celebrating at the 2023 Spirit of Salford Community Awards.

LIFE is administered and designed by Salford City Council’s Communications Team. This edition will be distributed week commencing Monday 12 June. Printing: Swan Print. Distributed to more than 130,000 households by Royal Mail and other agencies. Contact: Salford Civic Centre, Swinton, Salford, M27 5FJ.

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Armed Forces Week

Salford will mark the start of Armed Forces Week with a flag raising ceremony on Monday 19 June from10.30am to 11am outside the Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton.

Salford will celebrate Armed Forces Day on Saturday 24 June with a parade starting from Duke’s Drive, Monton at 10.30am and finishing at Winton Park in Dover Street, followed by a family fun day in the park with exciting activities and entertainment.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Armed Forces Week is about recognising our armed forces service personnel and their families for all they do for our country.”

Salford City Council has huge ambitions for our city

I would like to welcome new councillors and congratulate those re-elected in May. Councillors play an invaluable role in supporting residents and their communities, through casework and championing their local areas.

The local election results from around the country provided a signal nationally, showing a shifting mood towards change and the type of policies we are seeking to pursue in Salford, reminding those in power that we need to put resources where they are help those most in need.

We were reminded of the importance of quality, freely available, health and social care to every family in the city and we are working with Greater Manchester colleagues to improve services including those that help keep people safe and well.

But UK growth is predicted to be just 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, with inflation at 10 per cent..

Our nation's infrastructure is crumbling. Large scale projects such as transport are over schedule and over budget. More people are falling into poverty and needing help.

Meanwhile local government is experiencing our twelfth year of austerity. In Salford, we have lost over 50 per cent of our core funding, 50 per cent of our staff and dozens of services in the last decade.

This is a strong council, and we are determined to do everything in our power to protect Salford people from the worst impacts of under-funded services and the state of the economy.

From our pioneering council-housing company Dérive which has now official registered status helping turbo charge our ability to build new affordable and social housing, to our incredible Welfare Rights and Debt Advice service which we have shielded from cuts. From the economic growth we have been able to harness at MediaCity and around Salford Quays, to the huge projects we have still in the pipeline including Port Salford.

We are bring back bringing back decent, well-paid employment which has created new opportunities for our residents, investing in developing skills and work opportunities whilst bringing new employers to the city. Recently 100 Embankment was named ‘Manchester and Salford’s best performing office’ for 2022.

We have a strong regeneration vision for our towns which has been rewarded with national funding for Eccles which will help attract further private and public sector funding to bring new life to the historic area and its local communities.

We are protecting the city’s green lungs including Swinton golf course which has survived challenges and has been recognised as a local community asset, and at the same time developing new sustainable partnerships.

Dennett

City Mayor Paul

New homes and status for Dérive

Salford City Council’s housing company, Dérive has an established subsidiary Dérive RP that has now been approved as a registered provider (RP) of social housing.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “This paves the way for further delivery of more truly affordable housing.

“The market is not tackling the housing and homelessness crisis by providing affordable homes. Many residents are pushed into and trapped in the private rented sector, so we started Dérive in 2017 to combat what is a national

Tennis court investment

Eight refurbished tennis courts are breathing new life into the game in Salford.

Albert Park, Boothsbank Park, Buile Hill Park, Eccles Recreation Ground, Lightoaks Park, Parr Fold Park, Princes Park and Victoria Park have seen over £660,000 of investment from the UK government, the Lawn Tennis Association and Salford City Council.

Salford Community Leisure and We Do Tennis will deliver coaching and free sessions with equipment provided for people of all ages and experience.

The courts and sessions can be booked online via the Lawn Tennis Association at www.lta.org.uk/play

problem. We have over 200 homes now and a pipeline of nearly 600 more to come.”

Councillor Tracy Kelly, Statutory Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing, Property and Regeneration said: “RP status allows us to access the government’s and Homes England's Affordable Homes Programme so we can build more low carbon homes for social rent.

“Work to 109 homes in Clifton and Ordsall was completed recently, with 210 homes under construction in Weaste, Charlestown and Little Hulton. They range from one and two bedroomed apartments to two to five bedroomed homes and include wheelchair accessible properties.”

Salford City Council has appointed project managers for schemes to create nearly 400 homes in Ordsall, Weaste, Irlam and Broughton with the companies appointed offering staff time to mentor local young people and volunteer with city organisations as part of the council’s plans to create social value.

We

Live Here

Murals, art installations, photography and a family I-Spy trail will transform Eccles town centre this summer.

Local people, designers, makers and professional artists are taking part in the We Live Here art trail from Friday 21 July to September to celebrate the town.

We Live Here has been created with Wild in Art and is part of Salford City Council’s programme of events in Eccles town centre. The council recently bought Eccles Shopping Centre and was awarded £5.4 million from the government towards its regeneration plans.

Local artist Nick Hamilton (Hammo) who is taking part

INTO UNIVERSITY

A new partnership between the University of Salford, the University of Manchester and IntoUniversity, the UK’s largest university-access charity, has seen The Beacon Centre in Salford become a major learning centre for students aged 7-18.

The new centre is set to empower thousands of young people to achieve their academic and career ambitions. Support offered includes after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities.

Find

“I am delighted to support the launch of a new IntoUniversity right here on our doorstep in Salford. The new centre will engage traditionally under-represented groups and aid our mission to give all students the best possible opportunity in life to succeed.”

Professor Helen Marshall Vice-Chancellor, University of Salford

LOOKING TO STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD?

Join us on 17 June, 7 October and 4 November at one of our Open Days.

WHAT

TO EXPECT:

⁄ Take part in course talks

⁄ Speak to our lecturers and students

⁄ Explore our campus and facilities

⁄ Check out accommodation

⁄ Learn about settling into student life

Book your place today

Working together

Parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have set up a forum to share their experiences with health and care professionals and make positive changes.

Lucy Collins, Chair of Salford Parent Carer Forum, said: “The forum is important because parents find it difficult to understand SEND services and how they work. We want to help professionals understand our experiences and work with them to make positive changes.”

Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services said: “It’s important the council and professionals listen to parents and carers when creating and improving services for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Through hearing their experiences, we can look at what is and isn’t working and celebrate when services have a positive impact.”

More than 300 families, nearly 100 service providers, health and care professionals and volunteers attended the forum’s first in-person event at the AJ Bell Stadium, which will now become an annual occasion.

For more information, please search for Salford Parent Carer Forum on My City Salford https://directory.salford.gov.uk or email info@salfordpcf.com.

You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You’re all winners

Congratulations to our 2023 Spirit of Salford Community Award nominees, finalists, and winners.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “Thank you for your care and commitment to others, for your desire to improve your community and your city and for your courage in facing adversity and challenges.”

Citizen of the Year, the Community Group of the Year and Public Servant of the Year were chosen by public vote. The rest of the awards were decided by a panel of judges. Read more about our fantastic winners below.

Award winners on the night

Citizen of the Year Award

Keri Muldoon is a whirlwind of positive energy in her community, always there to help, from hosting parties at a sheltered housing complex, to promoting free access to arts and culture, organising community fun days and running community collections to support local, struggling families.

Keri is a member of the Manchester International Factory Academy, Greater Manchester Cultural Ambassadors Network, The Lowry Show Selectors, Salix Homes Customer Committee, Greater Manchester Flood Group, Friends of the Earth and Eden Communities. She uses these roles to bring opportunity and information to her community. She is also a careers officer at the Broughton Trust helping local young people and works as a crossing patrol.

Spirit of Salford COMMUNIT Y

Awards 2023

Community Group of the Year Award

Dancing with Dementia is a social, dance and entertainment group for people living with dementia, their family, friends and carers. Dancing with Dementia does tremendous work to tackle the loneliness and isolation that people living with dementia and their families can experience.

The group is run by five trustees who work tirelessly to provide people with the opportunity to socialise, take part in enjoyable and enriching activities and build a support network.

Find them on My City Directory Salford by searching https://directory.salford.gov.uk/

Public Servant of the Year Award

Jo Salim is a tenancy sustainment officer at ForHousing. She has been described as an amazing person and an ‘angel of life’, who goes out of her way to help sort things out for her tenants. Jo has been commended for providing support to people experiencing difficult circumstances.

Spirit of Salford Special Recognition Award

Revive has improved lives in Salford for 20 years, supporting refugees, people seeking asylum and wider communities. Revive's holistic, long term services support people to integrate and participate in their new neighbourhoods. Its casework on immigration, housing, health, and benefits helps people address practical challenges around settling in Salford and its enrichment programme supports mental and physical health and wellbeing and fosters integration. Visit www.revive-uk.org for details.

Young Person of the Year Award

Tom Barrow attends high school in Salford and is a resilient, hardworking and caring member of the school community. Tom has overcome several challenges in his life and has been praised by his school for working hard to get great results and always being compassionate and helpful towards others. As well as excelling at school, Tom is a carer at home and has taken part in extra-curricular opportunities at local universities.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Danielle Wright created Salford Litter Heroes, a dedicated community group which works to clean Salford’s streets and improve the local environment. Danielle has also worked on fundraising activities for health and wellbeing. Find out more and join in by visiting www.facebook.com/ SalfordLitterHeroes or www.salford.gov.uklitterheroes

Good Neighbour of the Year Award

Val Butterworth of Boothstown produces a popular email newsletter to keep local people up to date. She goes out of her way to support her neighbours, for example delivering food and collecting medication during the pandemic.

Best Health Achievement Award

Aspire 2 Age Better provides support for those living with dementia and older people. The volunteers have been inspired by their own experiences to work hard to ensure everyone can age well and has the support they need during difficult times. They run activities, social groups, and support groups from the Humphrey Booth Resource Centre, providing social interaction, emotional and mental health support and helping people remain active and independent. Visit https://iamaspire.org.uk for information.

Best Environmental Improvement Award

The Friends of Parr Fold Park group was set up in 2014 to enhance Parr Fold Park. They have 30 volunteers who attend several sessions a week to help maintain the park and their work culminated in Parr Fold Park being awarded Green Flag status, only awarded to the parks judged amongst the best in Britain. The group also runs events throughout the year and has replaced and rededicated a memorial plaque in the park. To join them or your local Friends group please visit www.salford.gov.uk/friends

Best Community Safety Project Award

The No More Knives Tour empowers high school students to make good choices about knives and knife crime. It teaches young people the dangers of carrying knives and how they can play their part to secure safer streets. The tour has delivered a great deal of activity in Salford, engaging with thousands of young people.

Do you like being in the loop?

Ever wondered what happens to the glass in your brown bin? Or your copy of Life in Salford after it goes in your blue bin? Where does it go? Does it actually get recycled?

The answer is yes. All the items you put in your recycling bins are part of a big loop and they can be recycled again and again. Recycling is a vital part of the circular economy which is about reducing waste by reusing, repairing and recycling things for as long as possible.

That aluminium can in your brown bin gets turned into a new can and is back on the shelves in just six weeks. Not recycling means new materials have to be mined from the earth which pushes up the price and is bad for the environment.

Before you bin something, think about the materials and effort that went into making it. Is there a better place for it than the bin? And is it going in the right bin?

Let’s work together to keep the items we use in the loop and part of the circular economy for as long as possible.

Want to learn more?

Visit www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com

Aluminium recycles indefinitely, keep it...

Honour for Alan

Caring Salford taxi driver Alan Henning who was killed on a charitable relief mission in Syria has been honoured with the Freedom of the City.

Alan tragically died in October 2014 and Salford City Council pledged to commemorate his memory when the family felt the time was right. A permanent memorial garden was officially opened in Eccles in 2016 with yellow flowers to remember the yellow ribbons which decorated the town when Alan went missing.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “The Freedom of the City is the highest honour we can give. It is a fitting tribute to Alan, a true son of Salford, loved and remembered fondly by so many for his kindness.”

one of our amazing foster carers and benefit from increased allowances

Foster carers help change children’s lives. That’s why Salford City Council has increased their allowance payments.

Fostering provides children with a safe and caring environment and the structure and support they need to develop important life skills.

Fostering can be challenging but rewarding and makes a huge difference to children’s lives. There is a wide range of training and support from courses to mentors and buddies as well as regular professional advice from a dedicated social worker.

Care leavers to get more help to thrive

Young people who have been in care now have more support from Salford City Council to give them the best possible future.

The council carries out equality impact assessments to consider how its decisions will affect the community. It will now consider how its decisions affect people who have been in care, as well as those with disabilities, different age groups, gender and ethnicity.

Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services said: “We highly value the care and commitment our Salford foster carers show and urge anyone interested in fostering to get in touch to find out more. In recognition of the tremendous contribution foster carers make to the lives and chances of our children in care, we are investing an extra £1.6 million into increasing their allowances.”

To find out more about fostering with Salford City council call 0161 799 1268, email  fosterforus@salford.gov.uk or visit www.salford.gov.uk/foster

Be

Photo shows, left to right: Councillor Sharmina August, Barbara Keeley MP, Alan’s daughter Lucy Henning with Maisie Henning his granddaughter, Alan’s son Adam Henning and City Mayor Paul Dennett.

for people with Learning Disabilities

The Learning Disability team from Salford Care Organisation, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust is making big strides to help improve care for people with learning disabilities.

They are working with colleagues in GP practices to give health professionals like GPs and practice nurses practical support when their patient has learning disabilities.

Amanda Anderton, Clinical Nurse, and lead on this project, explains why it is essential:

“People with learning disabilities face serious health inequalities and sadly die on average 25 years sooner and often from treatable and avoidable conditions.

“We know our primary care colleagues want to ensure their patients with learning disabilities get the best care possible. We’re there to look at how they may need to adapt how they do things, for example, when their patient needs check-ups, tests, or vaccinations. We’re also helping with items like easy-read materials.”

Most recently, the team helped people with learning disabilities access COVID-19 vaccines. They ran local specialty clinics in partnership with GP practices and provided home visits for people who were unable to attend clinics.

The next programme the team will be focussing on is working with GPs to provide support with cancer screening and improving diagnosis rates.

Walk, cycle, move –it all helps you feel better

Moving more can help you feel better and happier and you can start with very simple steps.

Salford has one of the highest inactivity rates in Greater Manchester, with over 45 per cent of children and young people and 32 per cent of adults doing less than 30 minutes activity a week.

People with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, women and girls, older people and people with disabilities are more inactive than others but have the most to gain from moving more.

You may wish to check with your GP before taking up activities and you can also ask about exercise on prescription.

Doing it yourself

Salford has 60 parks and green spaces and 29 kilometres of traffic free ‘loop lines’ which are great for gentle walks, cycle rides or kicking a ball around with the children. Visit www.salford.gov.uk/looplines for details and walking and cycling maps you can download, or https:// gmwalking.co.uk which has routes in Salford and beyond and details of walking groups you can join. Or download the Go Jauntly app to find and share routes or take on walking challenges or the Active 10 app to track your walking.

The NHS has a range of tips to improve your balance, strength and flexibility, a series of instructor-led aerobics, Pilates and yoga sessions ranging from 10 to 45 minutes and the Couch to 5k running programme. Try them out at www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise.

Join in

If you prefer to join a group or take a class, there’s plenty on offer in Salford.

Salford City Council’s health improvement service

www.salford.gov.uk/health-improvement-service has a wide range of free weekly activities, from kurling or bowling, buggy and toddler walks to netball, outdoor and home gyms. They also offer one to one support to get moving, stop smoking and make healthy lifestyle changes.

Salford Community Leisure has everything from short wellbeing walks to gym, swim and exercise classes throughout the city at https://salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk or search Salford Sports Network’s map for clubs in your area.

Age UK Salford offers weekly walking football sessions where running is definitely banned www.ageuk.org.uk/salford

The Ramblers Association, www.manchesterandsalfordramblers.org.uk welcomes new members as does Salford U3A https://salfordu3a. com/groups/walks/ which offers walks for retired or semi-retired people.

Salford Cycling Club www.salfordcycling.club welcomes over 18s while Wheels for All offers cycling for adults and children with disabilities or differing needs, using adapted cycles and wheelchair transporters. https://wheelsforall.org.uk/locations/salford-wheelsfor-all

Follow Salford City Council on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out what’s going on or visit www.salford.gov.uk/movemore

Fire safety campaign launched following e-bike fire at tower block

Salford housing association Salix Homes has launched a new fire safety campaign following a fire at a tower block sparked by an e-bike battery.

Salix Homes is urging its tenants to be aware of the potential dangers posed by the lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters.

It comes after a fire at Mulberry Court, Pendleton, last December, which gutted a tenth floor flat at the tower block, though thankfully no-one was injured.

Stewart Kerr, Building Safety Manager at Salix Homes, said: “We’ve carried out extensive fire safety improvements to all our tower blocks in Salford, and fortunately the fire was contained to the flat where it originated, but the ferocity with which the fire took hold is quite shocking.

“The fire service has seen a rise in e-bike related fires and we are seeing more of our tenants owning and using e-bikes and e-scooters, so we want to ensure they’re taking the necessary steps to ensure they’re not putting peoples’ lives or homes at risk.”

Most e-bikes and e-scooters bought from reputable manufacturers meet the stringent safety regulations, but many of the safety issues are arising from converter kits bought online, which are lithium-ion battery packs designed to convert a standard bike to an e-bike.

Salix Homes has now issued e-bike safety advice, which includes:

• Never charge your electric bikes or scooters while you’re sleeping or not at home

• Unplug your charger once it’s finished charging

• Never block your escape route with your e-bike or e-scooter

• Never tamper with the battery and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions

• Ensure your battery and charger meets UK safety standards and always use the correct charger

• Never cover your charger as this could lead to it overheating or setting on fire

• Be wary of DIY kits bought on-line to convert a standard bike into an e-bike

Boxing club comes out fighting

Salford Boxing Club has come out fighting to support people in Salford with a helping hand from housing association Salix Homes.

The popular club, founded in 1971, recently received a cash boost from Salix Homes as part of its Springboard grant scheme, which provides grants to local groups and initiatives that boost community spirit, promote health and wellbeing, reduce isolation and improve the environment.

Head trainer Nick Burke says boxing is about more than just physical fitness. He said: “Boxing and weight training is all about building strength, but that’s not just personal strength, it’s about improving strength in the community. The funding from Salix Homes will help us to continue to keep the doors open and reach even more people in the community.”

The club is based at Broughton Rec Centre, Camp Street, and runs several community programmes including:

The youth development programme: providing young people aged 10 to18 with a positive environment to learn boxing skills and develop selfconfidence, discipline and respect for others.

Anti-bullying programme: providing support to children who have been bullied or are at risk of being bullied. The programme teaches children how to build their confidence and develop self-esteem.

The club also offers fitness classes for all ages and abilities, including adults and children. These classes are designed to help individuals improve their fitness levels, lose weight and improve their overall health and wellbeing.

Sue Wilkinson, Customer Engagement Manager at Salix Homes, added: “Talking to the users of the club, it’s clear how important having somewhere to meet, exercise or just have a natter over a cuppa is. The club does incredible work and Salix Homes is proud to support them. We hope this Springboard funding will help them continue the work they do to provide such a brilliant facility in the community which makes a real difference to people’s health and wellbeing.”

Apply for a Springboard grant

Springboard is Salix Homes’ community fund that offers cash injections to local groups and projects that will improve lives and communities in Salford. Anyone can apply for a Springboard grant, whether you’re an established community group, a charity, school, or just an individual with a great idea for a community project.

You don’t need to be a Salix Homes tenant, just as long as your project will benefit the communities Salix Homes works in.

Find out more at www.salixhomes.co.uk/springboard

Dennett, City Mayor