For Diabetes Prevention Week (April 16 – 22), Dr Sheila McCorkindale, clinical lead for diabetes at NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, is urging people to make the most of services available in Salford to make simple lifestyle changes to prevent you from developing diabetes.

In Salford, around 19,600 people are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and around 12,300 are already living with it. In addition around 2000 will have T2 diabetes but don’t yet know about it. Diabetes is a serious long-term condition which can lead to complications such as blindness, so it’s really important for people to know their risk, understand what that means and do their best to avoid developing diabetes.

First, it’s really important to find out if you are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, or if you may already have it. You can find out by visiting your GP or pharmacy and asking for a test. They will test your blood and weigh you and give you the results.

If you already have diabetes, your GP will recommend the best treatment for you. If you are at risk, it’s important to make a commitment to changing your lifestyle straightway.

Some risk factors you can’t change, but you can help prevent or delay the development of Type 2 diabetes by making simple lifestyle changes, including eating a healthy diet, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and keeping active.

There are a range of services in Salford which can help you reduce your risk by supporting you to change your lifestyle. One is an exercise programme, led by Salford Community Leisure (SCL). GPs and the Diabetes Care Call Team refer people to the Active Lifestyles Team at SCL, who run a free 8-week personalised exercise programme. Activities include supervised gym sessions, swimming, exercise classes and many other sessions which are specifically designed for people who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, click here to find out more.

Another is a new service Salford CCG is currently trialling. This is the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. The digital part is a user-friendly website, provided by Hitachi Consulting, which allows patients to record their lifestyle habits and diet over time and shows the impact of their choices on factors such as their weight. This is backed up by a telephone support service called Care Call which is being delivered by Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust. The Care Call team is made up of expert call handlers who guide patients through a healthy eating programme. As well as regular weight checks and updates, patients are signposted to appropriate services.

NHS England’s Diabetes Prevention Week, which is taking place between 16 - 22 April, is a campaign raising awareness of the causes of Type 2 diabetes and the complications associated with it, to highlight the symptoms and to promote a healthier lifestyle to help reduce the risk of it developing.

There are two main types of diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2. They are different conditions, but they are both serious.

Type 1 diabetes develops when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. It can develop at any age but usually appears before the age of 40, and especially in childhood. Between 5 and 15 percent of all people with diabetes have Type 1, and it is treated by daily insulin injections, a healthy diet and regular physical activity.

About 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. It develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced doesn’t work properly (known as insulin resistance).Type 2 diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though as children become increasingly overweight and less active, it is becoming more common in younger people as well.

We all need insulin to live. It does an essential job. It allows the glucose in our blood to enter our cells and fuel our bodies.

You can find out your risk of developing diabetes in just a couple of minutes by using the Diabetes UK risk calculator, click here

To find out more about the Diabetes prevention programme, click here

This 3-day annual advocacy conference is exclusively for people with learning disabilities and is now in its 15th year.

The conference is organised by the North West Training and Development Team and Pathways Associates, both not for profit organisations who aim to facilitate the full inclusion of disabled people in community life.

Entitled “What about love? What about trust? What about us?” this year’s conference focussed on relationships.

Sean Dempsey (41) Mark Ashton (50), Graham Bent (50) and Keith Johnson (55) were invited to attend this year’s conference in their capacity as chairs or representatives of various regional and local groups for people with learning disabilities.

Each year individuals are elected to a number of regional forum committees by their peers. The committees influence North West decisions and decisions taken by the Greater Manchester Transforming Care Partnership.

It was Graham’s first time at the conference, as he became a member of the regional forum this year. Keith is also a member of the regional forum. Mark is a member of the regional forum, the NW Being Safe and the NW Campaigns group.

Sean is particularly active in the region. He has been a member of the regional forum for 15 years. He is co-chair of the NW Confirm and Challenge group and a member of the NW Campaigns group, the NW Being Safe group and the NW Living Well group.

All four are members of Salford Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) Citizens Panel and Listening to the People group, of which Sean is the chair.

The conference offered many creative ways for delegates to engage with each other including presentations, workshops, tablework sessions and making music, film and drama, with some helping to compose a song about the conference to share with those who were not able to attend.

Issues discussed included good and bad relationships, supported loving, human rights, health and first aid, depression, social isolation and advocacy.

All four Salfordians participated fully in the conference, taking part in presentations and contributing to discussions.

They raised issues and put forward their views, ideas and strategies both on behalf of the regional groups they represent and on behalf of people with learning disabilities in Salford.

On the final day a panel of four leading decision makers on learning disability, including the NHS England North lead, provided an update on the Transforming Care agenda and current Government initiatives. Sean took the opportunity to ask them some challenging questions, seeking answers on behalf of his peers.

Outside of the conference atmosphere, delegates had the opportunity to relax and socialise with zumba, line dancing, a quiz and a special Gala dinner with disco and karaoke.

Officers from Salford CCG supported the Salford delegation to have full participation in the conference.

Lindsey Brook, Engagement and Development Officer and Bill Skeer, Support Worker, helped them to prepare materials in advance and drove them to the conference. While there, they provided all their care needs, including emotional support. They made sure they were able to understand what was being discussed and helped them to think through what they wanted to say.

Lindsey said:

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”I have been going to this conference for the last ten years and it is always an extremely positive event. The self-advocates get a lot out of it. Not only is it an opportunity for them to get together with their peers, make new contacts, and get up-to-date information to share with people back in Salford, but being elected to committees builds their confidence and self-esteem. They feel they are being taken seriously as human beings and it energises them, which is fantastic to see”.

 

 

Sean said:

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“This conference is important for people with learning difficulties to have their voices heard. We get a lot out of it and we meet health and social care bosses, including NHS England.  When I asked my challenging question, the audience of about 200 people were cheering and said ‘Go Sean’. It is my passion to be able to speak up for people with learning disabilities.”

Mark said:

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“At the conference, I was excited and proud to be voted on to the Being Safe and the National Campaigns groups. It is an honour to be voted onto groups by your peers. My local MP is the shadow minister for health and social care so as a member of the National campaigns group I will be able to contact her.”

 

The 200-year-old, Council owned Ingleside ex-residential care home in Claremont's Oakwood Park has been successfully converted into Salford's first and only birthing centre.

In fact, the fully refurbished and modern, freestanding midwifery-led unit in Salford is the only one of its kind in the whole of Greater Manchester and offers women from across the city, the choice to give birth to their baby in a home from home environment, should they be suitable.

Ingleside will be holding a Coffee Morning this Saturday, April 7th from 11:30am til 1pm so why not pop along and check out the facilities?

Women who have been identified as having a low-risk pregnancy, and who are not expected to require support from a doctor during birth, will now have the option to give birth at Ingleside.

The centre, which is owned by Salford City Council, has been refurbished with the help of a crowdfunding appeal. Local businesses and members of the public donated over £130,000 to help bring the Victorian mansion back to life.

It has been a lot of work to get the building fit for purpose but contractors Seddon have done a fantastic job of restoring and bringing the facility back to life.

Women who would like to book to give birth at Ingleside should discuss this with their midwife at one of their antenatal appointments. Their midwife will be able to discuss their options with them and provide more information about the centre.

Women can also contact Ingleside@boltonft.nhs.uk or follow the centre on Facebook @InglesideSalford for updates and information.

Ingleside will be available for women to give birth 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The centre will be open to the community between 8.30am-4.30pm Monday-Friday.

So all that is left now is for the first baby to make an entrance, we wish to congratulate all those involved and we wish the staff, families and new Salfordians all the best for the future.

GP and pharmacy services will only be limited on Good Friday, 30 March, and Easter Monday, 2 April. On all other normal working days, GP surgeries are open from 8am to 6.30pm as normal.

The GP extended access pilot allows for additional GP appointments to be made on weekend mornings and weekday evenings until 8pm. Patients are advised to contact their own surgery to find out what appointments are available. Appointments may not be with your usual doctor.

Saturday 31 March is a normal working day for pharmacies, so pharmacists will be open as normal. SMS Pharmacy is open on Easter Sunday 1 April from 11am to 5pm and Tesco in-store chemists are open on Easter Monday between 9am and 6pm.

Your local pharmacy is the place to go to get any prescription medicines and clinical advice for minor health concerns. As well as helping with common illnesses – like sore throats, coughs, colds, tummy troubles and aches and pains – they provide advice on over-the-counter medicines.

Most local pharmacies have consultation rooms for private conversations. Your pharmacist can also talk to you confidentially without anything being noted in your medical records. 

Getting advice from a local pharmacist is the best first step for a minor health concern. Patients are advised to call their usual pharmacy before travelling as opening hours may vary.

Further information on opening times is given below:

Dr. Tom Tasker, Chair of NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and local GP said: “While self care is generally the best option for minor ailments, it is important that local people know where to go or who to contact if they are unwell over Easter, so that they can receive the best possible treatment for their condition in the quickest time”.

Where to go for the right medical care:

NHS Choices website (http://www.nhs.uk) for advice on less urgent health needs.

NHS 111 for clinical advice, assessment and for direction to the most appropriate services for treatment if you need medical help fast but it is not an emergency – available 24/7.

GP practices will be closed on the following bank holidays: 30th March (Good Friday) and 2nd April (Easter Monday). Appointments at the GP Out of Hours Service will be available on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday – but these should only be for people who need to see a GP urgently. If you are unwell and want to see a doctor, ring NHS 111 for free and you’ll be directed to the service.

Pharmacists for those feeling generally unwell.

Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments and the 999 ambulance service should only be used in a critical or life-threatening situation.

The first-ever Greater Manchester awards ceremony to celebrate the dedication and achievements of nurses working in general practice was held on 15 February at the Etihad Stadium.

The prestigious event, organised by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, honoured individuals and teams from across Greater Manchester that have worked to ensure the very best care for patients.

Salford Health Matters, a social enterprise organisation which runs three GP practices in Eccles, Little Hulton, and Salford, are celebrating a double win. The organisation won awards for Transforming Services and for Innovative Training Practice of the Year. 

The Transforming Services award was for a ‘Virtual Ward’ pilot which Salford Health Matters ran for over 12 months.  This was to improve the management of frail older people in the Little Hulton and Walkden neighbourhoods, with the aim of improving their quality of life and also to help reduce hospital admissions and demand on local GPs.

The Virtual Ward is a case management and acute home visiting service. It operates in the same way as a normal hospital ward, the difference is the patient stays comfortably and safely in their own home. Patients are referred to the ‘ward’ and assessed by the lead Advanced Practitioner. If the patient meets the criteria, the team works with them for 4 weeks then discharges them back to their GP, with a full assessment to develop a person-centred care plan.

Francine Thorpe, Director of Quality and Innovation at NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who made the nomination, said:

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“This pilot project demonstrated an integrated approach to testing out new delivery models between GP practices across one neighbourhood. It has helped to inform the development of a unified and seamless service between primary and secondary care and is an excellent example of locally delivered services.

“Feedback from service users and staff has been very positive and benefits have been realised in managing demand for urgent care”.

 

The Innovative Training Practice of the Year award was for training practices that consistently deliver confident contemporary care and provide an excellent setting for the practice nurse trainee.

Salford Health Matters is a training and development practice and is responsible for providing placements for non-medical undergraduates, including nurses, advanced health practitioners, paramedics and physician associates, within GP practices in Salford.

It offers a comprehensive induction programme, ensuring students gain the most benefit from their placements, where they learn about GP practice work and wider social care needs, such as social work, care homes, housing and debt advice.

It has promoted mentorship training and supported practitioners in their continuous professional development.

The judging panel said:

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“Salford Health Matters won the award due to the team’s commitment to providing high-quality placements for students and a structured career path”.

Kate Jones, Director of Salford Health Matters and lead nurse for the Virtual Ward project, and Moira Ogunsakin, Lead Practice Nurse, collected the awards.

Kate said:

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“Salford Health Matters are delighted that Salford was recognised in the Greater Manchester awards. Both awards show how well many of the practices in Salford are working together to expand our general practice workforce by tailoring fantastic placements, thereby introducing students from many different backgrounds to the realities of working in general practice. The success of our programmes is demonstrated by the fact that previous students are already increasing our workforce. Two well-deserved awards for Salford!”

Newbury Green Medical Practice Nursing Team were runners-up in the award for Practice Nursing Team of the Year and were commended for their commitment to patients, their work rate, positive attitude, initiative and overall contribution to the practice.

Tina Long, Chief Nurse for Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, said:

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“General practice nurses play a vital role in Greater Manchester’s health service. They are the first point of contact for many patients and undertake 70% of care for those with long-term conditions. However, all too often they are the unsung heroes of primary care, and we wanted to change that.” 

The Salford Health Matters photo shows the following people:

(left to right): Tina Long, Chief Nurse at Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (GMHSCP);  Kate Jones, Director of Salford Health Matters; Richard Leece, Executive Lead for Quality, GMHSCP; Moira Ogunsakin, Lead Practice Nurse at Salford Health Matters; Dr Philip Hammond.

The Newbury Green photo shows the following people :

Charelle Hughes, Assistant Practitioner;  Joanne Smith, Assistant Practitioner; Dr Deborah Larah, GP; Nicola Allan, Assistant Practitioner;  Claire Price, Practice Nurse.

The Lakes Medical Practice was branded as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and placed into special measures after a report found that they had failed to tell patients about concerns over the drugs they were taking.

A stark warning was given that the surgery could close altogether if changes aren't made quickly, although bosses at the surgery insist that they have already started to make positive improvements.

The report which was released this week after an inspection in January, highlights a number of issues, one of which includes a number of instances in which patients were not given the relevant information after concerns over a drug for which an alert was put out.

A full copy of the report can be found online here :  http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-568011290

The CQC report says that failures to contact patients to discuss the alerts were made by staff, also finding that administration staff had not received 'any formal training in assessing patients'.

In an example they made note that a number of patients were refused appointments for illnesses such as chicken pox, instead, being referred to a pharmacist. Concerns were also raised regarding record keeping and safety checks which were undocumented and in some cases unrecorded.

There was some evidence observed of meetings taking place but they were infrequent with the last team meeting having being held in October 2017 at the time of the report.

Although clinical meetings were frequently being held they were found to have not been minuted and significant events that had happened in the intervening time which had not been discussed.

However, the surgery did manage to receive good status for caring and requires improvements in its effectiveness and its responses. Praise was also given to the staff who are said to have treated patients with compassion, kindness and respect and also taking into account the personal, cultural, social & religious needs of patients.

In summing up his report Chief Inspector of General Practice, Professor Steve Field Said:

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I am placing this service in special measures. Services placed in special measures will be inspected again within six months. If insufficient improvements have been made such that there remains a rating of inadequate for any population group, key question or overall, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating the service. This will lead to cancelling their registration or to varying the terms of their registration within six months if they do not improve.

The service will be kept under review and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action. Where necessary, another inspection will be conducted within a further six months, and if there is not enough improvement we will move to close the service by adopting our proposal to remove this location or cancel the provider’s registration.

Special measures will give people who use the service the reassurance that the care they get should improve.

 

A spokesman for The Medical Practice said:

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“We became aware a few months ago that a few of our older processes were letting us down, and we have since made really positive improvements and this has massively benefitted the practice. We are confident these changes will be reflected in the re-grading in a few months time.

“We have taken the report very seriously and as a practice strive to provide the highest quality of patient care.”

 

The campaign encourages people, especially parents of children aged five years or under, to use pharmacies rather than visiting their GP for minor health concerns.

It aims to increase people’s confidence and trust in the advice given by community pharmacy teams.

If you or any family members have any minor health concerns such as coughs, sore throat, colds, a stomach upset, teething troubles or aches and pains, then your local community pharmacy should be your first port of call to get clinical advice and treatment.

Dipesh Raghwani, local pharmacist and Clinical Lead for the Greater Manchester Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said: 

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“Pharmacists are healthcare experts and are the right people to see if you need clinical advice for a minor health concern.

“Pharmacists train for five years to become experts in healthcare and medication, and with 95% of people living within walking distance of a pharmacy, customers can be assessed immediately, without the need for an appointment.

“The majority of minor illnesses can be effectively treated in the pharmacy with health advice and over-the-counter medicines.

“Parents can be assured that pharmacists are trained to identify any warning signs of more serious illnesses and will refer appropriately if your child needs urgent care.”

 

Most people live within easy reach of a pharmacy and many offer extended opening hours in the evenings and on weekends.  Pharmacy teams offer fast and convenient clinical support with no appointment needed.

Most pharmacies now have a private consultation room, suitable for a confidential conversation, should it be required.

Using a pharmacy for minor health concerns will help free up GP time to see patients with more serious illnesses and will help reduce non-emergency A & E visits.

For more information visit nhs.uk/staywellpharmacy, where you can also find your nearest NHS pharmacy services and opening hours.

The campaign runs from now until the end of March and aims to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms in women aged 70 and over. The key message is ‘1 in 3 women who get breast cancer are over 70, so don’t assume you’re past it’.

Around 41,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in England. Of these, around 13,500 are aged 70 and over, and around 5,400 of these die as a result of breast cancer.

The campaign also aims to highlight the various signs and symptoms of breast cancer, as having a lump is not the only sign.

Dr. Steven Elliot, Macmillan GP and Cancer Lead for the CCG said:

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“We are targeting women aged 70 and over because research shows that older women are less aware of non-lump breast cancer symptoms and are more likely to delay telling their GP about any changes to their breasts.”

Possible signs of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or armpit, nipple changes, changes to the skin of the breast, changes in the shape or size of the breast and pain in the breast or armpit. As soon as a woman has any of these symptoms or notices any changes in her breasts, she should go and see her doctor straight away.

The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance of survival. More than 90% of all women diagnosed with the earliest stage breast cancer survive their disease for at least five years. This figure is around 15% for women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of the disease.

Dr. Elliot emphasised:

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“Even into your 70s and beyond, breast cancer can be a threat, so women should make sure they continue to check their breasts, get to know the symptoms, and if they notice any changes, tell their doctor.

“You're not wasting anyone's time by getting your symptoms checked out. It's much better to be sure – and your mind will be put at rest if it's not serious. 

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed or scared about - the key thing to remember is that the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance of effective treatment and survival.”

 

For further information about breast cancer visit nhs.uk/breastcancer70. You can download a breast cancer leaflet from this site which explains what to look out for and what action to take.

UK health experts are urging people to get their flu vaccinations following news that a potentially deadly strain of 'Aussie' Flu has already taken the lives of several people in Ireland.

The Irish health services suspect this particular strain of flu to have caused 10 deaths already and the NHS fears it is inevitable that it will claim lives across the UK sooner than later, as an estimated 1,649 people have been struck down with the infection over the Christmas period so far.

Every winter we see a steady rise in cases of people suffering from flu, so this winter it is really not any different except that this particularly virulent strain of Influenza A sub-type H3N2 has seemingly mutated and become more of a danger to public health. There are currently two strains of Flu making their way around the UK, with both Influenza A and B causing problems for the NHS.

Flu viruses are constantly mutating and each season new vaccines have to be manufactured to help protect against the new strains.

The H3N2 sub-type, which is the one causing the concern, has already triggered two and a half times the normal number of cases in Australia where it is thought the strain originated from.

Symptoms can include...

• Sudden Fever with body temperatures raised to 38C or above
• Muscle and Join aches and pains
• A feeling of exhaustion and lack of energy
• A dry and chesty cough
• Soreness to the back of the throat
• Headache
• Disruption to sleeping paterns
• A sudden loss of appetite 
• Tummy pain and Diarrhea 
• Sickness and Dizziness 

The NHS is urging people with pre-existing health conditions to get vaccinated as they are more at risk and the flu could lead to further complications, people most at risk of catching influenza over winter are those aged 65 years old and older, children who suffer from chronic illnesses, pregnant women, people who are obese and those with lower immunity such as cancer patients. It can lead to serious issues such as pneumonia if left untreated.

The flu jab is offered free to adults at risk, over-65s, pregnant women and children at risk aged six months to two years old, and a spray is offered to children up to four.

You can get vaccinated at either your local GP's office or at a local pharmacist, and although not perfect the current flu vaccine is the best defense against the virus available.

To stop the flu spreading to other family members ensure you wash your hands, clean surfaces with anti bacterial cleaners and use tissues to catch any sneezes, then promptly put them into the bin or flush them down the loo so they can not contaminate others.

The best advise for treating flu is to ensure you keep warm, rest up and sleep of possible, drugs such as paracetamol can be taken to reduce temperatures and pain in joint and muscle pain. It is also imperative to drink fluids (water) to remain hydrated. If your condition deteriorates then seek medical advise over the phone with your GP, he/she will be able to advise you if a trip to the hospital is needed or not.

This advise comes after a leading doctor warned that the pressures have escalated rapidly over the festive period, with hospitals up and down the UK left experiencing bed shortages.

"Anyone concerned about their symptoms should stay at home and contact their GP, or call NHS 111, to seek further advice."

Dr Tom Tasker, Chair of NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

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“This rating is the highest that the CQC can issue so everyone involved at The Height General Practice deserves huge credit for this achievement.”

He added:

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“The inspectors noted how the practice was proactive and used innovative methods to improve patient care. This included regularly seeking feedback from patients and staff, which was then acted upon.

“For example, working closely with its Patient Participation Group, the practice appreciated the impact that loneliness and isolation can have on the health and wellbeing of patients.

“Then, working with the neighbourhood as a team, they addressed this through proactive community support approaches – such as arranging patient transport to those who had difficulty in attending the practice and also facilitating social events both in the practice and the local community hall.”

 

Nicola Guffogg, Practice Manager at The Height General Practice, said:

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“I am delighted the CQC recognised the hard work of the team at surgery.

“In particular, it was pleasing to read the inspectors’ comments praising the practice for our use of offering patient chaperones – whereby a trained person accompanies a patient to offer reassurance.

“Similarly, it was good to see that during their inspection the CQC considered our practice ‘well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs,’ that we displayed ‘clear leadership structure’ and that staff ‘felt supported by management’.

“However, we shall not be complacent and intend to keep up the good work and continue to provide the best service we can.”

 

The CQC inspectors rated the practice as ‘outstanding’ for responsiveness and well-led and ‘good’ for safety, caring and effectiveness. 

A full report of the inspection has been published at: cqc.org.uk/location

Empowered Conversations, which is run by Salford social enterprise Six Degrees, is a communication course that helps carers to consider their relationship with their loved ones living with dementia and to help them think about how they communicate. 

Emma Smith, Empowered Conversations project manager, said: “'We create a warm, safe space for family carers to press the pause button on life for a few hours. The course encourages carers to think about their relationship, how they feel, how the person with dementia might feel, what gets in the way of us having the conversations we want to have, and can we make some small changes to get over this. 

“There isn't an easy fix, we don't have all of the answers, but we do know that talking this through with others who know exactly how you feel really helps.” 

The training course will be held at Morrisons, Eccles on Thursday, November 23, from 6pm- 8.30pm for a total of three weeks.

For more information or to book the course call 0161 212 4981 or email emma@empowered-conversations.co.uk

We Run Salford has been awarded £200 for new club t-shirts thanks to Salix Homes’ Springboard fund, which supports local initiatives that promote health and wellbeing, boost community spirit, reduce isolation or improve the environment.

The club, based in Langworthy, was set up in 2014 by friends Rachel Morris and Karen Ainsworth to encourage more women to take up running.

The club’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of women by reducing isolation, increasing confidence, and encouraging women to make positive life changes and empower themselves.

Club founder and qualified fitness coach Rachel said:

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“You often have the motivation to go further when running in a group. It's also much safer and a good chance to nurture friendships.

“Running with others even brings out qualities and parts of your character you don’t realise are there.

“We were delighted to be given £200 by Salix Homes. Two of our beginners actually completed the Salford 10k wearing them.”

 

The club, which has more than 60 members, is open to all women regardless of age and experience and it’s free to join in.

Jeanette Green, Salix Homes’ neighbourhood manager for the Langworthy area, said:

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“We’re really happy that we were able to help out the We Run Salford group and contribute towards improving wellbeing of women in Salford.

“Overall health around the Langworthy and Ordsall area is quite poor compared to the national average, so these kinds of projects are vital and I’m sure the We Run Salford club will continue to grow from strength to strength.”

 

The project is one of the first to benefit from Salix Homes’ Springboard fund, which provides cash boosts to local groups and initiatives that are making a difference in Salford.

Since launching Springboard this summer, Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,300 properties in Salford, has donated, or pledged to donate, almost £30,000 to local causes.

We Run Salford meets at the Lifecentre on Langworthy Road every Thursday at 7.30pm. To find out more go to  http://lifecentre.org.uk/about-the-lifecentre/werunsalford