Your Square Issue 7

ISSUE 7 2016

YOUR SQUARE MR BLOOM! All the pics from Garden in the Square

Swinton Spooktacular Halloween comes to the Square

SANTA’S COMING! Swinton Square to have a Grotto this Christmas!

Oxfam We speak to the new store manager

The Chilli Festival Lots of Spicy goodness in the Square

PLUS GREAT OFFERS & BARGAINS

Your Square/Centre Information

WELCOME A WORD FROM THE CENTRE MANAGER - DAVE SIMISTER Welcome to issue 7 of Your Square Magazine and so much has happened since we were last with you. We have had another visit from the ever popular Mr Bloom for our ‘Garden in the Square’ event and we turned the Square into a ‘Hot Zone’ with the Chilli Festival last month. If you came down to Salsa along on that day then you may be able to spot yourself in the photos opposite!

Looking ahead we preview our Halloween ‘Spooktacular’ and this year with a twist! Along with our Halloween

parade, spooky facepainting and pot workshops we have a market of tasty, hot street food to keep you warm, it’s all happening on Saturday 29th October.

Talking of spooky, it’s scary how fast Christmas comes round and this year we have some spectacular events planned starting on Saturday 26th November and running for four Saturdays until 17th December. We will have Father Christmas himself down in the Square so bring the kids to ‘Santa’s Grotto.’ With just a small fee and a

Christmas gift included it is well worth the trip. This year we will also have free Elf Makeovers and Christmas Pot painting workshops along with entertainment from the Snowflake Sisters Frozen Show, Jazz Master Alexander Stewart and fun with the Key 103 team.

It looks like it’s going to be a fantastic end to 2016, so I look forward to seeing you down here in the square to sample some of the great offerings we have and use some of the money saving vouchers in the back of this issue.

Contact Dave: 0161 728 4388 dave.simister@gvafm.co.uk Other resources: swintonsquare.co.uk @swintonsquare facebook.com/swintonsquaresalford Read YOUR SQUARE online at www.yoursquare.org

YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT TEAM We work with residents across Swinton and Pendlebury, making sure they feel fully informed about what’s happening in their area, empowered to have their say in the decisions being made and able to get involved in improving things for themselves.

Community Committee Local priorities 2015-16 • Working to increase footfall and improve the vibrancy of Swinton town centre.

• Supporting young people to get engaged in positive activities • Maximising the use of green spaces in the neighbourhood • Supporting community groups and individuals with growing projects

Andrew Meadows Neighbourhood Manager Kelly Wray Neighbourhood Development Officer Jo Skeets Admin Officer

SWINTON THE HALLOWEEN HOUSE

T

he amazing Halloween House on Station Road have announced their opening times for this year’s terrifying event.

Enthusiastic residents Martin and Sam Lee have indicated that this will be the last such event so if you’ve never been to one before, you HAVE to go this year. Apart from all the scares, the House raises thousands of pounds of charity - this year the beneficiaries will be MIND. Visit the Halloween House Facebook page for more information, including a great drawing competition for kids, Mon 24th 5.30pm - 9pm Tue 25th 5.30pm - 9pm Wed 26th 5.30pm - 9pm Thu 27th 5.30pm - 9pm Fri 28th 6pm - 10pm Sat 29th 11am - 3pm Sun 30th 4pm - 8pm Mon 31st 5.30pm - 9pm

2

0161 603 4293 salford.gov.uk/communitypriorities @salfordcouncil

THE SALVATION ARMY

A

big welcome to the Salvation Army who have moved into the Square since our last issue.

They’ve done an excelent job fitting out the unit so pop in with a bag of donations and say hello!

Your Square/Centre News

GARDEN IN THE SQUARE BLOOM WAS BACK! After a triumphant appearance here last year, how could we not invite Mr Bloom back to the Square? Once again the weather was on our side as TV’s best known vegetable grower entertained a very enthusiastic crowd! we also had live music on stage as well as the fairground, pot and face painting as well as another Meet & Greet, where our lucky competition winners got to have a chat with Mr Bloom in private.

We particularly enjoyed welcoming the family whose three kids were all dressed up as Mr Bloom!

CHILLI FESTIVAL This year the Chilli Festival expanded to add craft stalls to the spicy mix. The new format seemed to go down well, with crowds packing around the stalls most of the day. Keeping the theme up throughout the afternoon was our brilliant salsa band. Once again we had the fairground in full swing and there was also a food and drink offer in the Square, where visitors could grab a bowl of paella or a cheeky prosecco! Even the pot painting got into the spirit of the event, with kids creating brilliant chilli designed pots!

3

Your Square/Meet the Tenant

KEVIN SPENCER OXFAM

You’ve been in the Square for five weeks, where were you before?

I was Deputy Shop Manager at Oxfam in Poulton-le-Fylde, near Blackpool.

You’re only 19, that’s quite young to be running a shop isn’t it?

I suppose so. I started volunteering when I was 14 and I took on more and more responsibility in that shop.

Then I became a volunteer deputy and I just fell in love with it. I knew I didn’t want to do anything else.

What does a day in the life of an Oxfam shop manager involve?

You never know, that’s the great thing about it. You never know what you’re going to walk into in the morning but, at the end of that day, you know you’re doing something good.

What is the process of getting stock into the shop?

In this shop it’s 100% donations. We don’t sell any new products so we are really relying on people in the local community to donate - and once they donate they can Gift Aid it, so we get 25% extra off the government if it sells.

So it’s literally people coming in with bin bags of stuff?

Yes. And we have to sort through it, price it and get it into the shop. And in Swinton we get a lot...

How much of the things donated end up on sale here?

It’s probably just under 50% of donations that ends up in the shop, but nothing goes to landfill. We have a warehouse in Batley where anything we don’t put in the shop gets resort-

4

ed. It might go back into the shop network while things like faux fur coats and wellies will be sent to our festival shops. We have a shop at every major festival in the UK and that brings in a lot of income for us. Bras and T-shirts, that we don’t keep are sent to a project in Senegal where women sell them as their own business.

Is there much difference between what is sold in the different Oxfam shops?

The first one I worked in was in Lythm St Annes, so we were getting things from footballers’ wives, loads of designer gear. We don’t get that here but we get a lot a Nike and Adidas which is always popular.

What are the best seller?

Oh, women’s tops. Trousers, forget it. Trousers are so hard to fit but a top is pretty much small, medium or large. Other than clothing, books do well. And women’s accessories.. shoes, bags and so on..

Are you doing well from the recent popularity of vinyl?

It does well but we struggle for donations. We have some shops which are just music - there’s a couple in Glasgow - and they do really well.

What happens to something worth a lot of money?

It probably wouldn’t sell in here but

we have an online shop so it would go there.

What sort of turnover does a shop like this have?

I can’t give you that information but I can tell you that last year we made a £57,000 Net Shop Contribution, which is the total amount that goes to Oxfam for project work. That’s a lot for a little shop in Swinton Square.

There are a few charity shops around here, do you see that as a problem?

No! I already get on with Headway brilliantly and I’m trying to organise everyone into doing some sort of Christmas market.The more the merrier. I’d rather see a filled unit than an empty one and anyway, you’ll never walk into two charity shops and find them the same. The only concern is with how many volunteers there are to go around.

How many volunteers do you have?

We have 23 at the moment but we need more. 32 would be about right.

The ones we have are brilliant. Some have been here 20 years and some are very young but we obviously couldn’t do it without them. And I have such an amazing group here, I couldn’t have wished for better. Just a few more...

Your Square/Events

COMING UP IN THE SQUARE SWINTON SQUARE SPOOKTACULAR SAT 29TH OCTOBER It’s going to get scary in the Square with the return of the Swinton Square Spooktacular - when we get dressed up and offer a day of fun activities including; Spooky Kids workshops, Frightening Face painting and the Children’s Halloween Parade around the centre with the Wicked Witch, all rounded off by the kids ‘devilish Disco. This year we are looking to add in some Spine Chillingly, Succulent food offerings as well, so keep your eyes peeled for the posters!

SANTA’S GROTTO IS COMING TO SWINTON SQUARE! SAT 26TH NOVEMBER SAT 3RD DECEMBER We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce that Santa will be bringing his grotto to The Square this Christmas!

We noticed that over the last couple of Christmases people were asking if we would be hosting Santa but we were never able to organise it with him - he’s quite busy in December!

SAT 10TH DECEMBER SAT 17TH DECEMBER Of course, there will be loads of other things to do on those days...

• Christmas Pot Painting Workshop • Elfin’ Around Elf Makeovers • Snowflake Sisters Frozen Show • Entertainment from Key 103 • Festive songs from Jazz master Alexander Stewart

This year we asked him to come to The Square ages ago and he agreed! And not just for a one-off appearance, he’ll be here for all four Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas Day. Entry to his grotto will cost just £3.50 and every child will leave with a gift. Santa might even allow them to open it on the day!

5

Your Square/Square Deals & Special Offers

2 Small Custards - £1 3 Iced Fingers - £1 2 Sausage Rolls - £1.30 3 Fruit Scones - £1 New Hot Pot - £1.60 Mix and Match Pies – 2 for £2.30

Free sunglassses when you spend £69+ on your first frames.

EXCLUSIVE PACKAGE: Professional photographer Premium Rightmove and Zoopla exposure. Audio video tours and more...

13 The Parade

40-42 The Square

135 Chorley Road

MOBILE 4 U

KATH’S TEA ROOM

THE CHOP SHOP

FREE SCONE

Jumbo Eggs £3 a tray (20)

95 The Parade

Kiosk 5

Spend £100 on a phone and get a free phone case and glass screen protector 14 The Parade

With every Cappuccino or Latte

GLEN’S CUSHIONS AND PILLOWS

£25 off completed spectacles when purchased from our £49 and above ranges 137 Chorley Road

Spend £20+ and get FREE pair of bounce back pillows

AUTUMN CATALOGUE OUT NOW

open unit Kiosk 2

1 The Parade

WRAPPERS FREE BREAKFAST Free Heels with every Stick-on-sole Every second key ½ price Three keys for £10 on selected keys

With orders over £15 from www.prego1.com (receipt must be presented to redeem offer and comment must be left on prego1.com website)

Commission-free currency Summer 2017 on sale Tui Discovery and Tui Discovery 2 cruises now on sale

8 The Parade

105 The Parade

1 The Parade

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

HAIR RAZORS

VALUEVISION

57 The Parade

27 The Parade

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 10/11/16

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 30/11/16

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

PARADE FISH BAR

EASYSMOKE

3 The Parade

Kiosk 9

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 30/11/16

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 30/11/16

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

SHAW’S AMUSEMENTS

MAX SPIELMANN

93 The Parade

10 The Parade

Over 18s only. The management reserve the right to refuse to accept this voucher Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 30/11/16

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 15/11/16

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

NAIL STUDIO

SWINTON PET SUPPLIES

Kiosk 3

Kiosk 7

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 30/11/16

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 30/11/16

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

Use this voucher to redeem the offer

TH JEWELLERS

SWINTON LEISURE CLUB

12 The Parade

Wellington Road

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 30/11/16

Offer on reverse side. Ts&Cs apply. Subject to availability. Vaid until 30/11/16

VALUEVISION FREE EYE TEST with purchase of glasses (normally £19.50)

EASYSMOKE

HAIR RAZORS 20% OFF ALL SERVICES Tuesdays,Wednesdays & Thursdays

PARADE FISH BAR

electronic cigarettes

STARTER KIT WITH UPGRADED USB BATTERY £20

MAX SPIELMANN Buy one, get one half price on all photo gifts

10% off any meal, eat in or take away

SHAW’S AMUSEMENTS £5 FREE PLAYS

20” x 16” canvas for £25 (was £39)

SWINTON PET SUPPLIES

NAIL STUDIO

10% OFF

Younique 3D Fibrelash Mascara only £20 with this voucher

SWINTON LEISURE CLUB

TH JEWELLERS

FREE: Snooker/Pool Admission with this voucher PLUS: Half price Snooker or Pool when purchasing any of our 2, 3 or 4 hour PLAY MORE PAY LESS deals

Celebrating 40 Years Up to 10% off selected items on production of this voucher