Salford-based charity I4YPC (Innit for Young People CIO) is pleased to announce a return appearance of its musical production Innit to The Lowry from Wednesday 13th to Saturday 23rd September.

Written and directed by Micky Dacks (Needles and Pins, Wired, Coronation Street) Innit is a tale of working-class life in Salford, dysfunctional families, teenage antagonists, and the decisions faced at forks in the road.

The show is based on the poignant real-life experiences of Micky and his childhood and features a visually-striking production design along with an eclectic array of original songs spanning ska to pop, hip-hop to rock and roll.

Meet Ashley (Will Bours), an 18-year-old boy who falls in love and find redemption from his troubled past through music. After one day discovering his mother battered and bruised at the hands of his father, a note addressed to Ashley leads him into fraternising with the wrong crowd and going down a road that eventually ends with his incarceration.

But rather than succumbing and becoming institutionalised, the opportunity to learn and embrace music gives Ashley the platform for hope and a positive future, until a visit to prison from one of his closest delivers a message that takes Ashley to the brink.

With an exciting cast of North West-based actors – some with professional experience and some making their professional debut – Innit delivers a raw, honest, and captivating story of Salford’s back streets, whilst also engaging the audience through compelling dialogue and musical numbers, to acknowledge those moments where a life choice can impact so many.

Micky Dacks, the show’s creator and director said: 

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“We are beyond proud to be performing on a stage that has graced so many wonderful actors, actresses, and shows. Innit is more than a musical to us – the messages it contains, whether they’re literal or symbolic, could play a pivotal role in someone’s life. If we can encourage at least one audience member to make a different decision in their life, or encourage them to express themselves through the Arts, then we’ve achieved our goal.

“The cast and crew of Innit embody everything theatre and the Arts should be about, inclusivity and opportunity, and we hope everyone enjoys this modern-day, working-class story, presented in a fresh and engaging way.”

 

Matthew Eames, co-Head of Theatres at The Lowry said: 

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“Innit is an inspiring musical, written and performed from the heart, with an exciting cast that we have no doubt we’ll see more of in the future. It’s a performance with purpose that we can all get behind.”

Wilko, has collapsed into administration putting 12,000 jobs, including those within Salford, at risk.

Wilko had been working to secure an emergency deal but none came to fruition.

Earlier this year, Wilco secured £40 million in funding from Homebase owner Hilco, which helped keep the family-owned chain alive for the past six months, sadly this was not enough and gaps on shelves were visible in stores as more and more suppliers turned their back on the company.

Mark Jackson, boss of the beleaguered company, said management had "left no stone unturned" in its attempts to save the company from collapse.

He continued:

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“We left no stone unturned when it came to preserving this incredible business but must concede that with regret, we’ve no choice but to take the difficult decision to enter into administration.

“We’ve all fought hard to keep this incredible business intact but must concede that time has run out and now, we must do what’s best to preserve as many jobs as possible, for as long as is possible, by working with our appointed administrators.”

Administrators from PricewaterhouseCoopers are expected to continue to seek a buyer for at least part of the business following their appointment.

The GMB union said that the collapse was "entirely avoidable".

National officer Nadine Houghton said:

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"GMB has been told time and time again how warnings were made that Wilko was in a prime position to capitalise on the growing bargain retailer market, but simply failed to grasp this opportunity".

Temperatures are set to soar from tomorrow (10th August) and as the mercury rises, some may be tempted to take a cooling dip into one of Salford's many stretches of open water.

Warnings are being given to make the public aware that doing so could easily put your life in danger.

However cooling and refreshing the basins at Salford Quays, or the rivers and canals may look, no matter how strong you think you are as a swimmer, entering the water can be deadly to those without the correct safety equipment.

The water on the surface may look calm and inviting but there are hidden dangers lurking below in the form of strong powerful currents and chilling temperatures, which have claimed the lives of many over the years.

The water beneath the surface can be far colder than at the top and those entering can very quickly and unexpectedly find themselves going into 'Cold Water Shock'.

There are three stages that your body goes through during this process, starting with one that you will be familiar with a mild version of from getting into the swimming pool… a gasp for breath, this is then followed by rapid breathing (hyperventilation).

At the same time as your breathing goes out of control, your blood pressure shoots up as your body tries to keep your blood warm by moving it towards the middle of your body (this is why you go pale when you’re cold).

Once your breathing is back under control, this is your window to get out of the water before the further effects of cold water shock kick in.

As your muscles cool, your strength, endurance and muscle control reduces to the point when you can’t swim any longer so can’t rescue yourself. The point at which you can’t swim any more is called ‘swim failure’, and if you haven’t got out of the water or managed to get hold of a buoyancy aid (like a lifejacket) by this time, you will drown.

Some claim that you will succumb to hypothermia, but the reality is, you will most likely have drowned long before that will be an issue.

As a news outlet we have reported on a number of those incidents and we can assure you that there is nothing worse than breaking the news of yet another preventable death to the people of our City.

So, with the school break well underway, we are making this plea to those who may find themselves tempted to take a dip in the coming days.

Please think before doing so as it could be the last and worst decision you will make.

Parent's, please be mindful of the dangers and speak with your children about the harm they could put themselves in.

We could be reporting on their premature deaths as we have done so many times in the past with others who have failed to heed the warnings, we really hope not to have to.

Water safety

If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in trouble after falling into the water, there are a number of things you can do to help yourself.

First, keep your mouth away from the water until you have your breathing back under control, you can do this by rolling onto your back and floating or paddling to stay at the surface.

Then, don’t waste any time and swim towards an exit before your muscles start to cool, or swim towards something that will help you to stay afloat whilst you are calling for help.

Finally, once you are out of the water re-warm yourself as soon as you can to avoid hypothermia.

If you wish to take a dip, please do so at a sanctioned and supervised venue, a local swimming baths.

These locations have trained lifeguards who are able to come to your aid should you get into difficulties. 

We hope not to have to report on another senseless death this year, each one is preventable by using a little common sense and each is a tragedy for everyone.

The NHS is facing another period of significant disruption this week, with potentially thousands more appointments and procedures postponed due to the latest round of industrial action by junior doctors.

From 7am on Friday 11 August until 7am on Tuesday 15 August, junior doctors across England will be on strike, as the NHS enters the ninth month of industrial action across its services.

This is the fifth strike from junior doctors, meaning services have seen over 450 hours without a third of the medical workforce over the last five months – the equivalent of 19 full days.

Following a recent ruling by the High Court, employers can no longer use agency staff to fill in for striking workers during industrial action, which means some of the cover arrangements used during previous strikes will not be possible. However, the ruling does not apply to a hospital’s own ‘bank’ staff, and NHS Employers has provided guidance to trusts on this issue.

To date, around 778,000 hospital appointments across the NHS have been disrupted due to strikes, with over 458,000 staff shifts interrupted. Previous action by junior doctors saw up to 20,000 staff off per day due to industrial action and the most recent industrial action by junior doctors in July saw 102,000 hospital appointments disrupted over five days.

The NHS will continue to prioritise emergency care during industrial action – the public should continue to use 999 in life threatening emergencies and NHS 111 online for other health concerns.

NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: 

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“This latest round of junior doctors strikes will again significantly disrupt services for patients and the additional challenge this time is that organisations are unable to use agency workers to cover staff out on strike. It is also a period of time where NHS staff often take annual leave, so there are already gaps in the workforce.

“We will continue to prioritise emergency care, but it inevitably means that many thousands of appointments will need to be postponed.

Please continue to use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency and 111 online for anything non-urgent. GPs and pharmacies are also open and largely unaffected by strikes. If you have an appointment and haven’t been told it’s been postponed, it’s also vital you turn up as normal.

“While NHS staff are doing all they can to manage, there is no doubt that the cumulative impact of strikes increases with each action, as the NHS continues to tackle the biggest backlog in its history.”

 

Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace the family of a man from Salford.

John Berry, 59, has sadly passed away at his home at Hyde Road, Manchester, on 4 August 2023.

Police say that there are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Anyone with information about John’s next of kin is being asked to contact the Police Coroner’s Office in Manchester on 0161 856 6816.

We were delighted to receive this photo of the lovely Leanne Tessier who now resides in Townsville Queensland, Australia. She can be seen here proudly showing off her Salford mug for the camera.

Leanne who used to live on Claremont Road, Salford moved to Australia in February 2009, was bought the mug as a reminder of Salford by our good friend, Dave Allen who also just happens to be her Uncle.

Dave has raised many, many pounds for our VIP (Very Important Pensioners) party by donating money himself and organising a whip round at his works and fellow drinkers in Wetherspoons, Eccles, a lovely man and a true Salfordian.

If you have purchased a mug either, Salford/Eccles/Swinton/Irlam etc for a loved one overseas, please ask them to send us a photo so we can share it on our pages and as a further incentive the cup owner who lives farthest from Salford will receive a free Tote bag, how good is that!

We shall be selling the Salford and Eccles Tote bags and mugs from the Eccles Community Art Gallery on Saturday 26th August from 10am onwards... see you there.

On Sunday 6 August 2023, officers patrolling in a violent crime hotspot in Salford identified and arrested a 35 year old man on suspicion of money laundering offences.

Following the arrest, a house search was carried out which led to the recovery of approximately £100,255 in cash which was hidden inside a rucksack and a bin bag in a shed at the address. A 66 year old man and 62 year old woman at the address were also arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences.

Sergeant Lisa Quinn of Operation Venture said:

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"Money laundering is not a victimless crime – criminals launder money in order to benefit from other types of crime such as serious organised crime and drug trafficking which in turn leads to violence in communities.

"Operation Venture is working hard to prevent such crimes from ever taking place and we regularly use data to identify violent crime hot spots across the force. These hot spots then become the focus of high-profile police patrols by specialist officers and aid us in detecting and arresting offenders.

"The arrest and seizure is a direct result of this hotspot policing approach and I hope it demonstrates our commitment to keeping the public safe."

 

Communities are our greatest asset when it comes to building the intelligence picture around violent crime and I would urge anyone with information to get in touch. You can make a report via the website https://gmp.police.uk or by calling 101.

Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Salford City Council has committed over £3 million to provide essential support to residents, families and young people facing challenges with the rising cost of living.

The funds come from a one-off refund of £3.203 million from the Greater Manchester Waste Levy and will form part of our on-going commitment to help address the economic hardships experienced by some of our households in the city.

The package of support includes increased funds for Salford Assist which helps people in crisis with essential items such as food, gas and electricity or furniture and in the last year this service has processed applications from approximately 20,000 families, with demand for support outstripping what funding is available each year. This further financial support for Salford Assist increases Salford's long standing commitment to tackling poverty and providing financial support directly to residents.

School holiday meal vouchers will be enhanced to £90 per child during the six week summer holidays for those eligible for free school meals, ensuring our children have access to a nutritious meal over the summer and all school holidays . The support is a lifeline for many families in the city as we continue to see those eligible for free school meals increasing in the city to over a third, from 24.2% in January 2019 to 34.3% in January 2023, highlighting the absolute necessity and importance of this work.

There will be additional support for care leavers with the cost of utility bills, further investment in Salford's Leaving Care Service and investment in the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme, supporting those residents, families and young people who may find themselves at risk of homeless, in temporary accommodation or tragically sleeping rough on our streets.

Increased investment will be made into the City Council's Welfare Rights & Debt Advice Service to deliver a benefit take-up campaign for people of pensionable age, along with support and welfare rights advocacy to support eligible residents in the take-up of pension credits within the city and any other associated financial support that may be required.  This investment builds on the work of the Welfare Rights & Debt Advice Service, which despite it not being legally required or funded by central government to deliver such services, has supported residents and families in claiming £6.3 million in missing and underclaimed social security and related entitlements in 2022/23.   

Salford's Credit Union is also set to receive financial support, to further develop its work in providing an ethical and secure alternative for residents and households to high-cost lenders and loan sharks, with the aim of increasing awareness, providing a junior savings club and reducing interest rates on loans for 12 months.  The work of the city's Credit Union has become especially important at this time as the cost-of-living crisis has further exacerbated the possibility of residents becoming victim to loan sharks and high-cost lenders.

Salford Community Leisure (SCL) will provide subsidised activities for low income families and the successful Holiday Activity Fund will be extended to provide a universal low cost offer to all, subject to demand, during school holidays for the next year.  SCL will also help to reduce food and energy costs for people over 70 by providing café discounts.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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"On the one hand it's absolutely tragic that we're having to use a one-off refund of £3.203 million from the Greater Manchester Waste Levy to deliver this much needed Cost of Living Support Fund as this funding should form part of the grant we receive from central government each year to support many of our residents, families and young people who are grappling with the tragic impacts of the cost-of-living crisis that has engulfed the UK.

Currently the government's Household Support Fund is only confirmed until the end of this financial year, after not being uprated by inflation this year.  It is critical the government urgently look to increase annual allocations of the fund by inflation and provide councils up-and-down the country with certainty about its continuation in the medium to long-term.    

Our new additional measures will provide much needed support to many people in need across Salford. We've put a lot of consideration into how we can make the greatest impact on those hit hardest by the national cost-of-living crisis. Bolstering funds in key places will be a real life saver, directly putting money in the pockets of our residents who continue to struggle with rising food, energy and housing costs.

We're committed to supporting residents through the cost-of-living crisis, with both financial assistance, advice & guidance, as well as through our partnership working in the city, as tackling poverty and inequality continues to remain a priority for the Mayoral Team and the work of the City Council.

This additional help also builds on existing support we provide, from the council's independent welfare rights and debt advice service to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme which helps those on low incomes with council tax bills. Our Back on Track initiative assists residents with council tax arrears, while our BetterOff Salford initiative provides in-person and digital support to help families and businesses to maximise their income.

In the Spirit of Salford, we're working together with organisations across the city to help support residents at this difficult time."

 

Residents can find help on a range of cost-of-living issues at https://salford.gov.uk/costofliving

People living in the 18th poorest area in the country could benefit from a share of over £3million as the local authority promises to get a grip on the cost of living crisis.

The move by Salford city council comes as the number of people suffering poverty turning to its support services soared more than three-fold from 3,000 to 10,000 in the last two years.

The authority is using a windfall rate rebate from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to enhance the provision of school meal vouchers during the summer holiday period and a number of other additional measures to help people affected by soaring inflation, mortgage payments and a rising tide of debt.

A total of £750,000 is going to Salford Assist – the council’s scheme which offers short-term help to people in crisis – with £32,000 in financial support specifically going to residents of the Duchy Estate.

Meanwhile, the council’s Welfare Right and Debt Advice Service will receive £406,521 for the delivery of a Benefit Take Up Campaign for People of Pensionable Age as it was revealed  £6m goes unclaimed in benefits across the city by people entitled to help.

A further £332,000 is being invested into the Salford Leaving Care Service and £23,100 to support care leavers living in semi-independent accommodation with increasing gas and electricity costs.

Salford Credit Union, which focuses on providing ethical and secure alternatives to high-cost lenders, is to receive £450,000, while £164,932 is to be invested into Salford Community Leisure to support free intensive swimming lessons to children from low-income households and subsidised activities and programmes for young people, including dance and football sessions.

And there will be further in the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme, supporting residents, families and young people who may find themselves at risk of homeless, in temporary accommodation or tragically sleeping rough on the city’s streets.

The city council will also plough in £75,000 to create a ‘tackling poverty’ fund to support the authority’s equality priorities.

Eccles Councillor Sharmina August, lead member of inclusive economy, anti-poverty and equalities, presenting her report to the city council cabinet meeting, said:

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“Many of the local authorities in Greater Manchester have had a rates levy rebate, but haven’t done this.”

Councillor August said cuts to the Housing Support Fund (HFS) from central Government – designed to alleviate poverty – were ‘a worry’. 

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“We would not have been able to meet the demand we’ve seen [from residents] without this money,” she said. 

“We’ve seen the number of people in crisis in Salford triple in the last two years. Without the HSF we would be turning away thousands of people.

“We need long-term sustainable funding for people in crisis.”

 

Salford city mayor Paul Dennett said he was worried about how the authority would continue ‘this great work’ once the windfall funding runs out as he called for a lobbying campaign to central Government to ensure the HSF keeps up with inflation.

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“We’ve only got certainty on it until 2024,” he said. “And we also know that when the Government announced this, they didn’t increase it by the level of inflation. So, in real cash terms the HSF, has in real terms been cut.”

He pointed out that the city of Salford is the 18th poorest local authority in the country.

On the report, Mr Dennett said:

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“I think this is an excellent piece of work. It speaks to the young, old and vulnerable people in our city and it certainly resonates with what I saw as a priority when I became mayor seven years ago, in terms of tackling poverty in Salford.

“There are financial risks [to the move] but this is the right thing to do. We could squirrel this [the rate rebate] away in reserves but that would be absolutely morally and ethically not the right thing to do when we’ve got residents, families, communities, children and young people struggling in the cost of living crisis, already having struggled through the Covid pandemic and as a consequence of austerity which has taken £240m out of our local authority budget since 2010.”

 

The RSPCA said the cat had an injury and suspect he had been kicked hard 

An injured cat was tied up in a pet carrier which was wrapped in a sheet and thrown into a locked churchyard in Greater Manchester.

A passer-by went to intervene after the helpless animal was heard crying in the Church of the Ascension, in Lower Broughton, Salford, on Thursday, July 27 at around 6.30pm.  

The pet had been put in a cat carrier which was then wrapped in a sheet and tied shut with a piece of white cable.

The gates of the church were locked and the concerned passer-by managed to climb over to rescue the male cat.

They freed the terrified feline - which was making desperate grunting noises - and was in a collapsed state. The cat then managed to move away and hid under some rocks.

The RSPCA were called and inspector Ryan King was able to take the poor cat to the charity's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where he was found to have a trauma to his stomach which had caused severe swelling. It is suspected that he had been attacked - possibly kicked - before he was placed in the carrier and left to suffer.

The case comes as the RSPCA has launched its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, in a bid to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams save animals from abuse and find those responsible.Ryan King said:

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"This is a very sick and callous attack and it really upsets me to think of the suffering this cat endured and the fear it must have felt.

"The person had placed the injured cat in the carrier which was then hidden by a sheet and then very deliberately tied it shut with cable ties so it had no means to escape and would have been terrified and in pain.

"It appears the poor cat - who was not microchipped - had been attacked before he was placed in the carrier as he had a very swollen stomach which we suspect was caused by being kicked. 

"I am keen to find who did this and am appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time of the incident to get in touch.

"This is why we have launched our Cancel Out Cruelty campaign to help us to rescue those in need and also to try and find those responsible for such horrific acts."

 

The condition of the cat deteriorated while in the charity's care and a vet decided to put the poor feline to sleep to end his suffering. He was mainly black with some white patches -  and it is not known if it was a pet or feral.

New figures released by the animal welfare charity reveal how five cats a day are suffering at the hands of humans- with reports of intentional  intentional cruelty to cats increasing by 25% last year.

In 2022, the number of reports made to the charity about intentional harm to cats was 1,726 - around five a day. This is up from 1,387 in 2021, an increase of 25%.

As the only charity in England and Wales investigating cruelty and rescuing animals, the RSPCA needs support to stay out on the frontline:

£2 could help to provide a meal for a cat or dog in our care

£6 could help pay to feed a dog for a day in our care

£10 could help pay towards bandages for a cat or dog

£15 could help pay for a cat or dog's clinical exam

£20 could help pay towards a bird catching kit

£30 could help pay for a life jacket for an inspector

£100 could help pay towards water rescue equipment

£500 could kit out a 4x4 inspector van

The RSPCA's frontline teams are working hard to rescue animals in need this summer but we can't do it alone - we need your help to Cancel Out Cruelty. To help support the RSPCA, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/cruelty 

Greater Manchester Police say that they are now in a position following initial enquiries for the public to help with their investigation into a stabbing that occurred on the evening of Sunday 6 August 2023 at around 9pm at the crossing of the River Irwell bridge on Hough Walk in Lower Broughton, Salford.

Two boys were injured in the incident as part of a larger group, so officers are confident witnesses have details to share after they were approached by two other boys who were unknown on Peel Park AstroTurf pitches nearby before being chased with what is believed to be a knife and machete.

Injuries sustained are thankfully not life threatening after treatment and no arrests have been made at this time, but enquiries are continuing.

Detective Inspector David Ogden from Salford's CID, said:

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"This is an incident that will cause understandable concern in the community involving young people and knives and I would urge anyone who knows anything to get in touch in confidence to help find those responsible.

"We want to be able to keep put local community safe and I can assure members of the public we are working hard to uncover the circumstances.

"We are now in a position following an initial investigation to appeal for additional details from anyone in the area at the weekend that saw something, whether that be eyewitness accounts, CCTV or doorbell footage that can help with our enquiries.

"This can be done by calling GMP direct on 0161 856 5049 quoting incident 3289 of 06/08/23 or alternatively details can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

 

We are being told that a large number of police officers have been seen on Regent Street in Eccles earlier this evening, with confirmation that several roads in the area were cordoned of from the Ladywell Roundabout to the Wetherspoons Public House, as officers responded to an incident in the town.

The nature of the incident is currently unknown and we have contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.

If you are driving around that area, we would advise you to seek an alternative route.

Photos ©: Supplied

Attending a part-time theatre school from the ages of eleven through to eighteen transformed the life of Ross Thompson, age 26, and now he wants to bring the same experience to children and young people in Greater Manchester.

Ross joined Razzamataz Theatre Schools where he was guided to develop a love for performing arts and the knowledge that this could be a career as well as a hobby. After leaving, he attended Salford University and graduated with a first in Theatre and Performance Practice and went on to work professionally as a performer, acting in theatres across the UK as well as in film and music videos and running his own theatre company.

He is now the new Principal of Razzamataz Manchester South and will be opening his doors to local children on September 16.

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“I know the Razzamataz brand well and know what a friendly, supportive environment it is, and I love the ethos and how community driven they are, which is very similar to my own values,” says Ross. “Even when I was a student, I always thought that I would love to run my own theatre school but at that age, it just seemed like a pipe dream really.”

Ross discovered more about running his own theatre school franchise by attending the Team Discovery Day in Pineapple Studios, Covent Garden, with Razzamataz Head Office and guest speakers from the world of musical theatre.

Here he found out more about behind the scenes of a theatre school business and franchising in general.

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“For someone new to business, franchising feels a lot safer than going it alone,” explains Ross. “You are surrounded by people with the experience and knowledge and they ensure that you have all the information, resources and support you need to be successful.”

Currently, Ross is busy preparing for the opening day of Razzamataz Manchester South where he plans to create an exciting open day for all children between the ages of 4-18 to enjoy a free performing arts session with experienced teaching and performing professionals.

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“I want to help children meet like-minded people, have fun, build confidence and try new things,” says Ross. “Manchester is a thriving hub of opportunities, so I plan to use my experience and connections to give students prospects within the performing arts industry. I know through my own experience that amazing things can happen when you are a student at Razzamataz.”

Ross is currently building his team of teachers and team members to ensure the students get the best experience possible as he explains:

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“I want to create a work environment where everyone feels supported, nurtured and has the opportunity to be creative. I know from working in schools that children face a whole host of different challenges, and I can’t wait to be a part of a team building their confidence and transforming their belief in themselves.”

The free taster session at Razzamataz Manchester South will be on September 16^th at UTC Media City, 100-102 Broadway, Salford, M50 2UW.

All local children and young people are encouraged to try the session that will offer classes in dance, acting and singing and cover a wide range of genres from classic West End and Broadway musical theatre through to the commercial elements of street dance, pop singing and screen acting.

The sessions will run every Saturday during term time and are for children from the ages of 4-18. There are numerous opportunities to perform both locally and on a West End stage as well as many workshops with performing arts professionals and professional opportunities.

To secure your child’s free taster session contact – Ross Thompson on manchestersouth@razzamataz.co.uk or call 07795677022. For more information visit https://manchestersouth.razzamataz.co.uk/

Police are asking the public to help find the next of kin of Andrew Bailey-Brown

Andrew sadly passed away at his address on Queen Alexandra Close, in Salford on 05/08/23 at the age of 62-years-old.

Police say that there are no suspicious circumstancing surrounding his death.

Any information? Contact Police Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 4687

“Everyone deserves a good home. You deserve a good home. And we are going to help you do it.” That is the key message in a new magazine that has been produced by a group of young adults in Salford.

The group has experienced the worst of the housing crisis. As part of a wider project on health and well-being, they have been working with senior decision makers in Salford to develop new solutions together.

The magazine, called Your Good Home, is about homes, not just housing. It covers the housing system, communities, practical advice from experts, and making your home your own.

“Good homes are the foundations that everyone needs for a good life, especially children and young people.” said Laura Edwards, Project Facilitator. “It isn’t right that so many people are in temporary accommodation, homeless, or struggling to pay their rent each month. We need to do better.”

“We know that getting your first place is just part of the solution. Knowing how to (and being able to) create a good home is how everyone will have a good life.”

“We want the magazine to fill other people like us with ideas, advice, and inspiration to make their first place a good home.” said Jordan Mannion. “We have crafted every page to make things that little bit easier. We want others to know that things get better.”

The project is facilitated by Unlimited Potential, a local social enterprise, and funded by Salford City Council on behalf of the Salford Health and Wellbeing Board.

On Thursday, 14th September, a very special fundraising cabaret will take place at The Edwardian Radisson, Manchester.

Curated by Manchester music legend Gary Mani Mounfield, his wife Imelda and their team, the cabaret promises an evening of excellent entertainment featuring music, poetry, comedy, and cartoons, plus a DJ set from Mani himself! There will also be the opportunity to bid on several auction lots donated by bands, footballers, actors, venues and promoters, as well as the chance to win some fantastic raffle prizes.

Hosted by broadcast, writer and presenter Terry Christian, the event will also feature a live auction hosted by Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers that will run simultaneously online in the room to make it accessible to people all over the world. Adam is a familiar face on TV, appearing as an expert on Bargain Hunt, Cash in the Attic, Flog it! and Dickinson's Real Deal.  

All proceeds from the cabaret and auction will go to Maggie's charity, who have supported Imelda and Mani during Imelda's cancer treatment.

As Imelda explains:

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"Maggie's charity has supported us from the start, with counselling and using resources to help explain to our children the enormity of cancer and its effects on the whole family. It's a continuing battle for me, and I'll be using their services more in the future."

Maggie's has more than 25 years of experience providing free cancer support and information in centres across the UK. Built within the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, the centres are warm and welcoming and run by expert staff who help people live well with cancer. The first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996. Maggie's now has 24 centres in the UK and a growing international network.

Maggie's Manchester Centre Head and Clinical Psychologist Robin Muir said: "We are so grateful that Mani and Imelda have chosen to organise this event to raise funds for Maggie's. It sounds like it will be a spectacular evening and, as we rely almost entirely on voluntary donations, will help us to help many more people with cancer from across the Manchester region. As Imelda knows we provide free vital psychological, practical and emotional support to help people at what is possibly the hardest time of their lives – I can't thank them enough."

Imelda and Mani have received lots of fantastic donations to support the event, including a Stone Roses' lemon' front bass drum head used by Reni at their legendary gigs at Heaton Park, which the band has signed, renowned artist Peter Savile's original cassette artwork for Joy Division's seminal Unknown Pleasures album, Zak and Ringo Star's signed snare drum head, Stone Roses drummer, Reni's signed drumsticks, David Beckham's signed boots he wore for the last match of his career on 18th May 2013 for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), a Platinum disc of The Jam's Snap album, plus several signed football shirts. Anyone can bid for these items online.

The cabaret will include spoken word and indie hip-hop artist Antony Szmierek. There'll be plenty of comedy throughout the evening from: Cold Feet & The Fast Show star John Thomson, a clairvoyant, medium and psychic best known for his appearances on Peter Kay's award-winning Phoenix Nights Clinton Baptiste; the 'Godfather of Comedy on the Manchester circuit' Smug Roberts.

There will also be live music from Ocean Colour Scene's Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison, who will perform an acoustic set. Mod-influenced singer/guitarist Kevin Iverson will also be playing some tunes, as well as Mary Pearce, whose powerful soulful vocals can be heard backing many music legends, including Lionel Ritchie, Chaka Khan, Courtney Pine, Mica Paris, Beverley Knight, Donna Summer, Roy Ayres and Primal Scream. 

During the evening, Cartoonist Tony Husband will open up his Cartoon Confessional Box, where people will 'confess their sins in exchange for a cartoon.

Tickets will be sold per table with 10 people on each table. The ticket price will include a welcome drink, a three-course meal, and table wine for each guest. Once guests are seated and ready to dine, they will be entertained throughout the evening with music, poetry and comedy. There will be a break for the raffle and auction.

Tickets for the event are on sale from 10am Monday, 7th August via the website https://imeldaandmanifundraiser.com

The Edwardian Radisson: Free Trade Hall, Peter St, Manchester M2 5GP

©: Photo by Paul Husband, artwork by Stan Chow

A twenty nine year old man from Salford has been jailed for 26 years for the attempted murder of a toddler in Blackpool

A jury at Preston Crown Court heard that the sickening and repeated assault by defendant Lewis Prince in which he slapped and punched the boy was captured in part on film.

He was also witnessed strangling and smothering the young victim.

The boy was taken to hospital with a number of injuries, including extensive bruising to his face and throat.

Expert medical evidence from the prosecution indicated that the toddler’s injuries were consistent with strangulation, and that the victim was in the penultimate stage of asphyxia.

Prince fled the address before police  arrived and was arrested in a vehicle whilst travelling towards Manchester.

During the trial Prince accepted that he had lied in his police interview and he had in fact slapped the toddler to the face and squeezed his cheeks in an attempt to stop him from crying.

The 29-year-old denied attempted murder, stating that he at no point strangled nor smothered the victim.

The jury rejected that notion and took around an hour to find Prince unanimously guilty. He had already pleaded guilty to an assault by beating charge, which related to an assault on a woman.

Sitting at Preston Crown Court Judge Robert Altham, The Recorder of Preston, jailed Prince for 26 years. He also deemed Prince to be a dangerous offender and imposed a further four-year extended licence period.

DS Isobel Garratt, of West CID, said:

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“Prince’s sickening attack could quite easily have resulted in the victim losing his life. Fortunately, he has since made a full recovery but anyone who watched the harrowing footage of the assault will know that the outcome could quite easily have been different.

“I cannot imagine what the victim’s mother went through having to watch the footage both at the time and then re-live it during the trial. I would like to take this chance to praise her for the bravery she has shown throughout this process. I know Prince’s abhorrent crime committed against her defenceless child continues to have a profound impact on her.

“I welcome the sentence handed down today, which reflects the serious nature of Prince’s crime and the dangerousness he poses.

“Finally I want to praise the professionalism of all my colleagues who worked on this case, from the officers who were first called to the scene, to the detectives, uniformed colleagues and police staff who worked on compiling the evidence that brought Prince before the courts and got justice for the victim and his loved ones.”

 

A man who dealt drugs under a brand he called 'KitKat' is now behind bars after being sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Ethan Rouse (01/02/2001), of Madams Wood Road, Salford, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, 3 August 2023 for being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police's county lines team investigated the 'KitKat' drugs for several weeks, with extensive phone work analysis revealing that drug users in the Cheshire area were receiving broadcast messages.

Further analysis of the messages sent revealed that crack cocaine and heroin were being offered for sale – with often twice-daily messages to dozens of people.

The phone was seen to travel regularly back and forth between Salford and Cheshire, with officers able to uncover the address in which the phone was most often activated.

On 7 June 2023, officers executed a warrant in Little Hulton, resulting in the arrest of Rouse. £2,000 in cash was subsequently seized.

GMP's County Lines Team worked closely with Cheshire Police, liaising regularly and ensuring a thorough and meticulous investigation.

Work from the Operation Arctic Team in Salford also saw Rouse sentenced for possession with the intent to supply class A drugs – in which he received 31 months to run concurrently for those offences.

PC Catherine Greenwood, from Greater Manchester Police's county lines team, said: 

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"Rouse was involved in criminality which ruins lives and this is a fantastic result for our team. We worked closely with Cheshire Police throughout the investigation, utilising phone-work and other evidence to strengthen this case and secure a conviction.

"We continue to work to clamp down on county lines drug dealing, and we want to send a clear message to those involved that we will never tolerate what they do. If you are involved, you can expect a knock at your door."

"If anyone in Greater Manchester has any information about drug dealing, I would urge them to get in touch with us. You can do this by calling 101, or contacting Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

 

DCI Amber Hodson, from the Cheshire Constabulary, said: 

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"As an organisation we're always keen to work with other forces to tackle crime, especially serious and organised crime such as county lines, because of the damage it does to our communities.

"It is great to see another fine example of our teamwork with neighbouring forces to put criminals behind bars and deny them the opportunity to sell drugs within our communities."

 

My good friend John Cooper Clarke is the latest in a long line of people who have been chosen to be made Freeman of the City of Salford, joining such other luminaries as, Ben Wallworth, Alan Henning, Nelson Mandela, Ryan Giggs, Mike Leigh, Harold Riley and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies to name but a few.

The Salford Council webpage lists all the recipients and describe the award thus:

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"To be granted the title of Honorary Freeman is a mark of distinction upon the person whom the council wishes to honour, the freedom itself carries no privilege and is purely an honour, reflecting the eminence of the person on whom it is conferred or as recognition of significant and valuable services rendered to the city by that person. 

It is normally an honour or award to men or women of note who have lived or worked in the city, and who are proud to be a part of the city's history by becoming freemen or in the case of HM Services Units, freedom of the city". 

"It is normally an honour or award to men or women of note".

 

I have looked at the list of people who have granted this award, 28 in total and there is only one woman in that list,  Charis Ursula Frankenburg, a JP in Salford and awarded this for service in the field of health and social welfare, way back in March 1973, over 50 years ago!

We can assure Salford Council that there are many more woman in this city, both past and present, who fit the required criteria.

Surely in these more enlightened times and in a city with such a progressive council, it would make perfect sense to bestow this honour more deserving female recipients... Shelagh Delaney who died in 2011 would be my choice for a posthumous award.

We are not accusing Salford Council of sexism as the reality is that they are one of the most diverse and encompassing councils within the country, but it would be nice to see some of our revered female characters joining the (so far), all male ranks and given the recognition they rightly deserve.

Salford has produced it's fair share of women with powerful voices over the years, who have helped raise the profile of Salford or in some way have helped better the lives of others both in our city and at a national level.

Hopefully this can be amended, and I am certain each one of us, has a female candidate in mind, so lets hear some of yours in the comments on social media.

Full list of the people who have been chosen for the award since 1899 to present day, makes interesting reading.

https://www.salford.gov.uk/your-council/awards/freedom-of-the-city/#:~:text=One of the oldest surviving,earn money and own land

A stunning 3.5ft x 2.5ft mosaic has been revealed to celebrate a local MBE winner whose 30 years' dedication to charity was announced in the December 2022 Honours List.

The mosaic, which took 400 hours to complete, was revealed to Bernadette Conlon, Charity President of mental health charity START, at their 30th anniversary art exhibition 'People & Portraits of Salford' which is currently taking place at Salford Museum and Art Gallery. The mosaic is now in place ready for summer visitors.

Bernadette's MBE commemorates many years of her working in mental health services within disadvantaged communities in Salford and Greater Manchester. She set up the UK's first 'arts on prescription' service in 1993 by delivering art therapy to those suffering with their mental health in Salford, which back then was taking art supplies to people from the boot of her red fiesta and running activities. She then went on to form the START charity, which has helped an estimated 20,000 people across all corners of Salford using creativity, connection, and recovery to improve people's lives.

START's Charity Director, Michelle Dennett, organised the surprise project, which took place with help from funding from The Arts Society.

International mosaic artist Robert Lally, who is from Salford, and who has worked with Bukayo Saka, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Lloyd Leisure and Nottingham Forest Football Club was commissioned to create the piece of art which includes intricate details of Bernie's iconic hairstyle. The mosaic, which worked from a photo taken by Jeni Sadler, is in ten monochrome tones using textured glass tiles on a matt grey background, creating a 3D effect. Rob used a photo of Bernie to create the mosaic in which she wears a necklace and the finished result glitters in the light.

Coaxed to the gallery to attend a fictitious meeting, colleagues from the charity, which is based just around the corner on Broad Street, as well as the team from Salford Museum and Art Gallery, the big reveal took place to a delighted charity founder now Charity President.

Bernie says:

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'I was extremely surprised when I saw all the staff at the gallery. Michelle had kept it very secret; I had no idea! When I saw the mosaic, I was amazed and thrilled that Rob had created such a stunning artwork. The detail and likeness is incredible. I am really touched that Rob had worked so hard on the piece and it is a wonderful way to mark our 30 years and I am truly grateful to Michelle and all the team at the museum for this fantastic accolade which I love.'

Claire Corrin, Exhibitions Manager at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, said:

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'We're honoured that we could reveal Bernie's mosaic here in the gallery. We are delighted to be working with START to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Salford Museum & Art Gallery has a long history of exhibitions and events that engage local communities, visitors and artists. It is important to us that we continue to support and represent local communities by working in partnership with organisations and artists in Salford and beyond.'

Many service users have been helped by START which is commissioned through what was Salford CCG and now NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and turned their lives around, going on to become volunteers, peer mentors, board members, staff and tutors.

The exhibition is running until September 24 at Salford Museum & Art Gallery. For more information go to https://salfordmuseum.com/event/start-23/