A festival designed to give new musicals their big break is coming to The Lowry in a couple of weeks, featuring a host of West End performers.

Musical Rewrites will run from Tue 8 to Thu 10 June in the Salford venue’s 1700-seat Lyric Theatre. It is the fourth outing of the event, which showcases new musicals for the first time, works-in-progress and ‘curtain raisers’.

Work under the spotlight includes: Game Theory by Rachel Bellman and Josh Bird which has been developed through Perfect Pitch by SIX producers, Wendy and Andy Barnes; A Mother’s Song by Tania Azevedo and Finn Anderson (Islander, Cameron Mackintosh resident composer); and 34, written and performed by Drew Dillon and developed by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainments (Addams Family, Cruise, A Killer Party, The Last 5 Years)

Casting has just been announced for all three shows with West End performers taking to the Lyric stage over the 3 days including: Ayesha Quigley (Back to the Future, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Jonathan Carlton (Kinky Boots, Pippin), Paige Fenlon (Pretty Woman), Luke Friend (American Idiot, The X Factor), Maiya Quansah-Breed (SIX).

Each musical will be performed live at The Lowry for a small, socially distanced audience who get to sit on stage in the midst of the action. The performances will also be live-streamed worldwide from Fri 11 June on the stream.theatre platform.

Tickets are available at www.thelowry.com and at www.stream.theatre/home and are priced at £10 for both in-venue or online experiences.

Matt Eames, senior programmer/producer at The Lowry said:

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“'It is a really exciting time for new musicals and there has been some incredible work developed and performed online during lockdown. Now is the time to make sure we drive that energy and focus through to our stages too.

“This is a unique opportunity to work with some really exciting people and to open up The Lowry’s Rewrites festival to a national audience by streaming it online.

“I am thrilled with the line-up and delighted that we are able to showcase the brilliant new musical theatre being made right now across the UK. A huge thank you to stream.theatre and all the companies involved for getting on-board this adventure and finding a way to make it happen in such challenging circumstances.”

 

Previous Musical Rewrites productions include: The Letter Room's No Miracles Here, Silent Uproar's A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Sad) and Leo & Hyde's The Marriage of Kim Kardashian. Spitlip's hit London musical, Operation Mincemeat, also started out as part of a Rewrites festival.

Tickets are on sale now at www.thelowry.com.

An arrest has been made following an incident on Amos Street (Off Langworthy Road) in which a man was left with serious head injuries this morning.

At around 8am on Thursday 27th May officers were called to reports of concern for the welfare.

Upon arrival a man was discovered to have sustained serious injuries to his head.

He was quickly rushed to the nearby hospital where is said he remains in a serious but stable condition.

An arrest of a man on suspicion of assault has been made.

A spokesperson for GMP said:

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"At around 8am this morning (27th May), officers were called to reports of a concern for welfare on Amos Street in the Langworthy area of Salford.

"A man was found with significant head injuries and taken to hospital for treatment, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

"A scene is still in place as enquiries continue

"A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault."

 

Anyone with information can report online or by using the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk. Police can also be contacted on 0161 856 3777, quoting incident number 658 of 27/05/2021.

Alternatively, information can also be passed on anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Photo: Ben via Facebook

A Salford shopkeeper continued to sell illegal and counterfeit cigarettes despite two previous raids by trading standards officers, a court was told.

Officers found counterfeit cigarettes and empty cartons at the Little Hulton shop on the day officers went to caution him for the two previous offences.

Mr Shujat Ali, (DOB 15/12/1981) owner of Super Discount Store, Hulton District Centre pleaded guilty to two offences under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 and the Trade Marks Act 1994 for possession of counterfeit cigarettes when he appeared at Salford and Manchester magistrates court on 20 May 2021.

He was fined £780, ordered to pay £740 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. The cigarettes were ordered to be destroyed.

The court heard that trading standards officers and a specialist dog handler visited the business on 29 May 2019 and seized illicit tobacco worth £7,000. They recovered 11,000 cigarettes, 7,780 of which were counterfeit and 107 pouches of hand rolling tobacco, six of which were counterfeit. 

Two weeks later on June 11, officers carried out a follow up visit and seized 720 cigarettes, of which 520 were counterfeit, worth £882. All the products were seized and Mr Ali accepted a caution for the offences.

On November 28, 2019, following more public complaints about the shop, trading standards officers and a specialist dog handler visited the premises and asked Mr Ali if there were any illegal products on site to which he replied no.

The premises were searched and a sleeve of Richmond King Size branded cigarettes, containing 200 cigarettes, was found in a box of umbrellas in the back storeroom.

Mr Ali was asked to explain them and suggested they were left over from the previous seizure of illicit cigarettes and that he had stopped selling them since then.

However, a further 17 outer cartons from illicit cigarettes were also found in the store room. The products were later confirmed as counterfeit.

Mr Ali admitted he had been selling illicit cigarettes daily and had continued to do so since trading standards last raided his shop in June 2019.

Officers identified £1,694.22 of cash on the premises and this was seized by trading standards as proceeds of crime and has since been forfeited. 

Mr Ali failed to attend two interviews to explain his actions and made no contact with trading standards.

Speaking after the case, Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, praised members of the public who had alerted trading standards:

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“This is great work by council officers. Selling counterfeit tobacco deprives the country of taxes to fund vital public services like the NHS and undermines all our attempts to help people quit smoking to protect their health.

“In 2020-2021 Salford City Councils trading standards team seized 110,0990 cigarettes and 875 pouches of illegal and counterfeit tobacco. We will not hesitate to take action against anyone who thinks they can flout the law in this way,”

 

Andrea Crossfield, of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership said:

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“Illegal tobacco might seem like a bargain but it comes at a high price to our kids and our communities.

“Legal or illegal, all tobacco contains a toxic cocktail of chemicals which will kill one in two long term smokers. Illegal cigarettes are often responsible for getting children started on this lethal addiction, because of their availability at pocket money prices and because dealers don’t care who they sell to. The crackdown on illegal tobacco is part of wider efforts to cut smoking rates and make smoking history for future generations.”

 

Salford City Council supports The Keep it Out campaign, which reveals the true cost of ‘cheap’ illegal tobacco, including links to organised crime and the devastating impact smoking has on people’s health. The campaign is being run by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, in collaboration with local authority trading standards teams and enforcement partners in the north. To find out more, visit keep-it-out.co.uk

The sale of illegal tobacco can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at keep-it-out.co.uk.

Officers from the Greater Manchester Police Transport Unit are investigating a violent assault which happened on a Diamond Bus North West outside Salford Central Station on Monday evening (24 May).

Police say that the victim received medical help after being left bloodied as a result of the attack, and that the defendants were detained at the scene.

An appeal has been made by officers for any other witnesses or member of the public effected by this to come forward and contact them stating GMP log 2315/240521.

Photo: GMP via Facebook

Three young Salford residents who love to cook are being offered a chance to Kickstart their career in catering.

Salford City Council is looking for an assistant chef to join its Citywide catering service which provides everything from daily school meals to wedding banquets and afternoon teas while local charity Basic, which helps people with brain or spinal injuries  is searching for two catering assistants for its Food for Thought cafe.

The young trainees, who must be under 24 and claiming Universal Credit, will learn all aspects of running a commercial catering service, putting them in a strong position to snap up future jobs.

The posts are part of the government funded Kickstart scheme which covers the cost of an organisation taking on and training a young person at risk of long-term unemployment.

Salford City Council, which is administering the scheme has already placed 30 young people with the council and local employers in areas from youth work, project management and horticulture to engineering, nursery work and finance and has more opportunities coming through all the time.

Councillor Jim Cammell, lead member for children’s and young people’s services, said:

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“Young people may have enjoyed cooking for their families during lockdown but not thought of developing a career from it.

“The Kickstart scheme gives them six months to try working in catering and gain new skills and confidence which will stand them in good stead in any role.”

 

An online information session about the posts is being held next Wednesday 26 May and anyone interested should register by emailing kickstart@salford.gov.uk before 5pm on Tuesday 25 May. 

Details of all the latest vacancies can be found at www.salford.gov.uk/kickstartvacancies

A donate a bike scheme which helped steer young people away from unemployment is back on the road once again.

Salford City Council launched the Riding to Success scheme last year to train young people how to refurbish and maintain donated bikes to bring them back into circulation.

Councillor Jim Cammell, lead member for children’s and young people’s services,  said:

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“The aim of the scheme is to teach young people a skill for life – and give them a qualification which can help towards finding employment. It also keeps them focused on learning and training to avoid them drifting into unemployment.

“Of the 29 young people who took part 22 went straight on to further studies, apprenticeships, traineeships and volunteering while others continued to explore where they wanted to go. 

“The public were very generous and we were able to repair 39 donated bikes. Eighteen bikes are now being used by young people who took part in the scheme, two were repaired and returned to their owners and the remainder were donated to families and young care leavers. The young people also helped repair and service bikes for Springwood school as part of the scheme.

“I hope the public will be generous this year and support the scheme.”

 

The six week courses are open to 16 to 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training and will take place in Little Hulton, Walkden Swinton, Eccles and Salford Quays. Full details can be found at www.salford.gov.uk/donateabike

Salford City Council is working with Access Sport, The Urban Fitness Collective (Tuf*C) and BikeRight! to provide the courses.

Both adult and children’s bikes which can easily be repaired can  be donated until Friday 25 June. Please email Jordi.matthews@salford.gov.uk to arrange free collection.

The Lowry has announced details of five new companies and projects that will be supported with £50,000 worth of investment through its Live Now commissioning programme.

They are: Limbik Theatre, Yewande 103, Swamp Motel, Dante or Die and Nigel Barrett & Louise Mari and Kerry Underhill.

The commissions have been selected from 224 submissions following a national open-call for the scheme – which explores what online performance can offer audiences following the re-opening of venues.

Each company will receive £10,000 to create a new show that will be shared through The Lowry’s digital programme over the next year.

Claire Symonds, senior producer for artist development at The Lowry, said:

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“Over the last year we’ve seen artists making incredible work for online audiences while venues have been closed and we want to see this innovation continue as venues begin to reopen their doors.

“We received so many strong applications that we decided to extend the programme from three to five commissions, meaning we are investing £50,000 in the creation of new online work over the next year to sit alongside the work happening on our stages at The Lowry.”

 

Nigel Barrett & Louise Mari and Kerry Underhill will create Mystery Trip, an epic digital excursion for live audiences this November. “We don’t know what we’re doing. We don’t know where we're going. But we do know that we need to get out of here. Come with us.”

Limbik Theatre’s Voice Thief is a live immersive audio experience for audiences at home. Through assorted technological shenanigans, the show transforms each audience member into the protagonist of a quirky existential thriller, on a quest to reclaim their voice from a Mr Hyde-like doppelgänger.

Dante or Die’s Odds On is a new digital production that submerges you into the world of Honey Money - a garish online gambling site. Dante or Die are experimenting with creative technologists to create an episodic, online theatrical experience. Audiences will follow an older woman through the gambling site's lens; peering through her screen as she spends more & more time consumed by racking up the ‘Honey Money’. Commissioning Partners: Ideas Test, South Street Reading, Farnham Maltings, New Popular, and in partnership with National Problem Gambling Clinic.

Yewande 103’s The Fountain is a new, visually striking CGI screendance. Building on Alexandrina’s choreographic and written investigations into the transformative qualities of water, this multidisciplinary work explores the systemic histories of water; somehow inseparable from autobiographical, embodied tides of experience. Working with a small group of artists, the choreography centres felt enquiry; offering up a mirage of a fountain designed to undo fixed gazes. Co-commissioned by Cambridge Junction.

Swamp Motel’s The Elevator (working title) is an immersive interactive film. A man lies dead in the lobby of a prestigious hotel. His killer has locked themselves in one of the elevators. You are drafted in to negotiate his release, investigate his motive, and protect the public. Every choice is yours to make. Every decision has consequences.

The Lowry has, this week, began a phased re-launch of its face-to-face programme following the latest round of lockdown easing.

Outdoor performances have resumed, the art centre’s galleries re-open on Saturday (22 May) and socially distanced indoor performances begin on Sun 30 May.

Salford housing association Salix Homes is celebrating a double win in the prestigious Northern Housing Awards.

Salix Homes, which owns 8,000 homes across Salford, won the Best Resident Involvement Initiative and the Best Digital Transformation categories in the awards, which celebrate the achievements of the housing sector in the North.

The landlord scooped Best Resident Involvement Initiative in recognition of its pioneering Customer Committee, which was set up last year in a bid to give tenants a greater say in how its housing services are run.

The Customer Committee has seen Salix Homes trailblazing a new approach to customer engagement, which was established ahead of national calls for greater transparency and for tenant’s voices to be better heard following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The Customer Committee is made up of 12 residents in a paid-for role, on a par with the organisation’s board members, who can commission a piece of scrutiny work into any area of the organisation.

The judges commended Salix Homes for its commitment to putting tenants first. They said: 

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“Salix Homes have reacted to the Grenfell disaster by putting tenants at the heart of what they do, ensuring they have a strong voice and are able to participate. A very well done to all of you.”

Salix Homes was also recognised for its digital innovation, which has seen the landlord launch a ground-breaking digital repairs service incorporating innovative chatbot technology; and becoming the first housing provider in the UK to fully embrace the public cloud.

Judges were also impressed with the MySalix customer portal – an online platform which enables residents to manage their tenancy at the touch of a button or tap of a phone.

Jim Battle, Chair of the Board at Salix Homes, said:

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“We’re an organisation that prides itself on being progressive and forward-thinking, with a bold vision to rethink the way our housing services are provided in order to meet the demands of a modern and digital world.

“Despite the challenges of the past year posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve pushed on with our plans to establish our Customer Committee and become a truly digital organisation, so to be recognised for our efforts for both these areas is a real honour and is testament to all the hard work of our colleagues and partners.

“We’re particularly proud that our Customer Committee has been recognised for the impact it’s having on both our organisation and the wider social housing sector. Never has it been more important for social landlords to listen to the voices of tenants and we firmly believe our modern approach to customer engagement echoes the recommendations made in the Government’s Social Housing White Paper, calling for greater accountability, transparency and engagement with customers, so we’re very proud to be leading the way.”

 

Salix Homes is no stranger to awards, having already been named Digital Landlord of the Year in the UK Housing Awards 2020, and coming in at number four in the recent Top 30 Digital Housing Providers roll of honour, organised by Housing Digital.

Salford’s hidden gem – Ordsall Hall is to reopen after being forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

And the reopening, on Tuesday 18 May, marks the 10th anniversary of the restoration of Salford’s oldest building.

The 800 year old manor house closed to the public in 2009 for a 2 year transformative £6.5k restoration, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. It reopened its door as a free museum and public garden on the 15th May 2011, and since has been visited by over 300,000 people.

To celebrate 10 years since the reopening of the site, from the 15th May to the 26th May, the museum will be running an online lecture series, with local historians and academics, exploring the history and architecture of the Hall and the redevelopment of Salford Quays.

The museum will reopen to the public on Tuesday 18th May 2021, following the reopening of the gardens on the 29th March 2021. The museum, shop and café will be open every Monday, Tuesday and Sunday and visits to the historic rooms and museum galleries will be available to prebook via their website from the 15th May 2021. www.ordsallhall.com

Jennifer Holland, Audience Development and Events Manager said,

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“We are excited to reopen our doors to the public this month and think this is the perfect moment to look back on the fascinating history of Ordsall Hall and the Quays with this exciting programme of events.”

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “It is great news that Salford’s historic Orsdall Hall is able to open to the public again. The 820 year old building has been so tastefully restored and I’d definitely recommend a visit.”

All profits made from the lecture series will go to the upkeep of Ordsall Hall & Gardens.

Deciphering Ordsall Hall’s Layers of Gothic History

Dr Peter Lindfield Honorary Fellow of History at MMU

Saturday 15^th May 6pm-7pm

Ticket £5

Deciphering Ordsall Hall’s Layers of Gothic History: Medieval to Victorian Tickets, Sat 15 May 2021 at 18:00 | Eventbrite

Upcoming Events

Explore Ordsall Hall and Area with AlexaTours: Greater Manchester Green Badge Tour Guide

Alexandra Fairclough Architectural Historian and Tour Guide

Sunday 23^rd May 4pm-5pm

Tickets £5.98

EXPLORE ORDSALL HALL AND AREA:770 years of History Tickets, Sun, May 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

The Quays at 20: An Architectural History of Salford Quays

Dr Mike Nevell, University of Salford

Wednesday 26^th May 6.30pm-7.30pm

Tickets £5

LINK (TBC when created)

To prebook a visit to the Museum please go to:

• https://family-showround.eventbrite.co.uk
• https://historic-tour.eventbrite.co.uk
• https://sun-showround.eventbrite.co.uk
• https://witchcraft.eventbrite.co.uk

Image: Ordsall Hall

Salford’s drive to become the first Living Wage City in England has been given national recognition.

Salford City Council Chief Executive Tom Stannard has been appointed as a Commissioner on the Living Wage Commission which oversees the annual calculation of the real Living Wage rates for London and the UK. The rate is independently calculated to meet the true cost of living and is uprated every year to account for inflation.

Commission members are drawn from across the private and public sector and leading Living Wage accredited employers.

Salford City Council was the first local authority in Greater Manchester to pay its employees the real Living Wage uplifting 1,200 low paid workers. In 2019 the city was recognised for its ambition to become the first Living Wage City in England and in 2020 over 3,000 care workers in Salford saw their hourly pay rise from £9 to £9.30 as part of a move towards paying them the full real Living Wage. 

Mr Stannard, who was appointed Chief Executive at Salford City Council earlier this year, said it was a great honour.

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“Salford is the fastest growing economy in Greater Manchester and has seen unprecedented private and public sector investment over the last 10 years but not everyone is benefiting from that,” he said.

“While our action group of private, public and third sector organisations has helped increase Living Wage employers from 38 in 2019 to 55 in February 2021 covering nearly 12,000 employees, nearly 40% of our city workforce (44,600 people) earn below the real Living Wage, compared to 30% nationally. We want to see an inclusive economy and everyone benefiting from Salford’s growth.

“Paying people the real Living Wage is puts money back into the local economy, boosts productivity for employers, aids with recruitment and retention and, most importantly, shows staff they are valued for the work they do.”

 

Laura Gardiner, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said:

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“We’re delighted to have Tom join the Living Wage Commission. The Commission’s work in overseeing an independent, robust calculation of the real Living Wage is essential, and given Salford City Council’s role as a leading Living Wage Employer, Tom is an ideal appointee.”

Mr Stannard was previously Corporate Director for Regeneration and Economic Growth at Wakefield Council, securing the £1.8 billion West Yorkshire devolution deal and Director of Economy and Skills at Oldham Council leading on economic regeneration, skills and employment.

In his previous career as a former Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Learning and Work Institute, he has also worked nationally to champion pay and skills improvement and in-work progression across the country.

He is a board member for the UK Institute of Economic Development and the Centre for local Economic Strategies (CLES), and is a National Policy Spokesperson for SOLACE, the UK local government CEOs’ professional body.

Police in Salford investigating the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl while on her way to school in Lower Broughton on Wednesday morning have made an arrest.

Officers were called before 9am on Wednesday 13 May to a report of a sexual assault and a robbery in Peel Park.

The girl is said to have been approached by a man who initiated in conversation before assaulting her.

The offender is said to have then stolen her mobile phone before running from the scene towards Chapel Street.

He is described as a white man in his 20s or 30s, with short ginger/blonde light coloured hair and a short crop fringe, a lightly-coloured faint moustache, and is 6ft tall with a skinny build.

An investigation was launched by detectives from Swinton CID and a 32-year-old man was arrested on Friday (14 May) on suspicion of sexual assault.

He was questioned in custody before later being released under investigation.

The victim is being supported by officers and specialist partner agencies.

Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Detective Inspector Gareth Humphreys, of GMP's Salford district, said:

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"Since this serious incident was reported to us we've been thoroughly exploring several lines of enquiry and, thanks to work from our detectives and information from the public, we have arrested a man to speak to him about the attack.

"We're doing all we can to ascertain as much as possible about the incident and are ensuring that the victim continues to receive specialist support and that the wider public are kept safe.

"Anyone in or around Peel Park on Wednesday morning is encouraged to get in touch if they haven’t already done so on 0161 856 2079 quoting incident number 746 of 12/05/2021. Information can also be passed on anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

 

The driver of a vehicle which was involved in a collision with a 5-year-old child in Lower Broughton, has been charged with a drunk driving offence.

A 40-year-old woman named by police as Ms Lisa ward, of Guildford Grove, Middleton, will now have to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday June 2nd.

Emergency services responded to a report of a collision having taken place between a car and a young child on Lower Broughton Road in Salford, at around 6.20pm on Wednesday, May 12th.

The 5-year-old, is said to have suffered serious injuries during the collision and was subsequently taken to hospital, however, police say that the child remains in a stable condition.

A 5-year-old child has been hospitalised from serious injuries after being hit by a white Mercedes car on Lower Broughton Road.

The accident happened yesterday evening (12th May) and the 40-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested as police suspected her of having committed driving offences. 

The child is believed to have sustained serious injuries but they are not thought to be life threatening.

A spokesperson for GMP said:
 

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“Police were called by the Ambulance Service to a report of a collision between a white Mercedes estate car and a child on Lower Broughton Road, Salford at around 6.20pm on Wednesday 12 May 2021.

“The child, aged five, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

“The driver of the car, a woman aged 40, was arrested on suspicion of driving offences."

 

An investigation has been launched after a young girl was sexually assaulted in a salford park before having her phone stolen by the offender.

The man is described as being around 6 foot tall, white with short light coloured hair and a short cropped fringe along with a light coloured moustache. He was of thin build and said to be in his 20's to 30's. 

He is said to have been wearing a distinctive pair of blue/black adidas jogging pants with white stripes and a blue hooded top with a large front pocket, as well as white, red and black running shoes and a grey Puma backpack.

The offender ran off in the direction of Chapel Street.

Greater Manchester Police say that the 13-year-old was not injured during the attack but was left 'shaken' after having been sexually assaulted and is currently being given support from specialist officers.

So far no arrests are said to have been made and police continue their investigations.

Detective Inspector Chris Horsfield, of GMP's Swinton CID, said:

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"This is a deeply concerning incident where a young girl has been randomly approached in broad daylight and subjected the victim to a horrific ordeal by an unknown man clearly with sinister intentions.

"Our dedicated team of officers will be investigating a number of lines of enquiry which will seek to identify this man, and we are working with specialist partners to support the victim.

"In the interest of public safety, there will be an increase in patrols in the area and are working with local authority to keep the public safe.

"We are asking for information to help us identify the offender, so that we can speak to him in connection with this sexual assault and robbery.

"If anyone has any information at all about the identity of this man, please speak to police. Even the smallest piece of information could help us to advance our investigation, find justice for the victim, and take this man off our streets."

 

Anyone who has any information about this assault is advised to contact police on 0161 856 2079 quoting incident number 746 of 12/05/2021.

Information can also be passed on anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Despite horrific losses across the rest of the country, Labour managed to make a few gains in its stronghold of Salford as Core Independents lose their only councillor and Labour make a spectacular push into the heartlands of the local Conservatives.

It was a good day and a bad day depending on how you look at things.

Labour had started off the morning with news of huge losses to the Conservatives in Hartlepool where the Tories gained an MP at the expense of a now battered and bruised Labour. The town had changed its colours after 62 years of being red and to add insult to injury, the numbers were almost 2-1 in the blues favour.

Labour leader, Keir Starmer instantly came under criticism for what amounted to a political bloodbath as Tory candidate Jill Mortimer claimed the seat with 51.9% of the vote and a staggering 15,529 votes compared to Labours meagre 8,589.

That was only the start of things to come as the Tories once more knocked down the red wall across the country and continued its conquest of the North, making gains along the way.

Salford however, somehow bucked the trend by fending off the big losses seen in other areas.

Even the Liberal Democrats managed to make a small resurgence as they snapped up the vacant seat in Kersal (Now Kersal and Broughton Park) left unoccupied after the death of Labour stalwart Peter Connor in 2019.

Avrohom Yitzchok Walter chalked up a very respectable 891 votes for the Lib Dems which saw him take the coveted third seat alongside the Conservatives Ari Leitner and mayoral hopeful Arnie Saunders.

The battle for Walkden South was one of the most anticipated results but Labour even managed to do well there, retaining its three seats with a margin of comfort, seeing conservative hopeful Lewis Croden lose out by just 6 votes to Irfan Syed.

In Higher Irlam And Peel Green, Labour made a comeback, ousting Cores Darren Goulden as in Cadishead.

And over in Cadishead & Lower Irlam, Cores Dave Pike fell just a handful of votes short of taking a seat back as he rolled in a respectable fourth. 

Labours Lewis Nelson gained a staggering 1829 votes to secure his position as councillor for the next three years, we suspect mainly as he has remained consistent in his commitment to protect the greenbelt, even positioning himself against his own party at times. The electorate clearly liked what they saw and came out to support him.

The biggest gain of the evening had the added benefit of a psychological one too, as Labour pushed its way into the local Worsley heart of the Conservatives to secure themselves a seat. In doing so sending a very clear message to the opposition that the boundary changes have evened up the playing field in the coveted ward.

There were just four votes between Robin Garrido and Tony Davies who came in second and third respectively. If that does not set off alarm bells then we don't know what will.

Other than that, there were no major surprises as Labour retained the rest of its seats and took control of the newly formed Quays ward.

One notable victory was that of renowned bedroom tax and now Labour Councillor Maria Brabiner who took one of the most spectacular wins of the evening with the highest number of votes in the Broughton Ward. As a new comer to the council she gained more than her fellow councillors Jim King and John Merry who came in 2nd and 3rd spots respectively. 

The obvious other huge win was Bob Clarke in Boothstown & Ellenbrook who gained 2205 votes after 39.84% of the electorate turned out to vote, compared with a paltry 19.52% in neighbouring Little Hulton. In a city which is clearly still red, Bob could be a real threat to the Mayoral title if he ever chose to go for it.

Individual election results for each area can be found on this link: Elections - Politics - salford.media

The premiere will now take place at COVID compliant venue, The DriveINSIDE Theatre, in Manchester on the 5th of June with a cast of stars including Vincent Michael.

MANCHESTER, UK, May 5, 2021 - WhiteWitch is an immersive rock opera created by acclaimed production company, Beyond Theatre. Due to premiere in Birmingham in March last year, the production had to be put on hold for more than 12 months because of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, but patient audiences will finally be able to enjoy this fantastic production in a unique venue in Manchester on June 5.

Beyond Theatre gained critical acclaim and five-star audience ratings for its immersive production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Nottingham Cathedral in the summer of 2019. WhiteWitch is the company’s first original production.

Paul Levin, Director of Beyond Theatre said:

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“WhiteWitch will take the audience on an immersive musical journey through a world of darkness and magic. The production will showcase the incredible talent of the cast and crew, providing a performance you will not forget.

“We were incredibly disappointed to have to cancel our planned run in Birmingham last year and for it to have taken so long to be able to finally stage this production. But we used the time during lockdown to create a portable venue that can accommodate between 800 people at Tier 3 Covid restrictions to more than 5,000 when restrictions are not required. The DriveINSIDE Theatre was a concept born of the need to conduct live performances in a socially distanced way, but we believe people will love this new way of viewing live events so much that it is a concept that will be here to stay.”

 

WhiteWitch is a story is told by the prophet, Ignisum. He explains how Alicia (the WhiteWitch) was born into a world of black magic, but could only use her powers to help others, making her an outcast. Desperate to escape a world where The Black Witch (Tenebris) and The Black Wizard (Mallum) use their magic for selfish and evil purposes, Alicia attracts the attention of Validus (The White Wizard played by International Star Vincent Michael). He is blinded by her light and as he falls in love with Alicia, her powers become a beacon for reform throughout the world of witches and wizards.

To accompany the incredible performance, there will be themed refreshments, that can all be pre-ordered, such as smoking cocktails to complete the mystical atmosphere in an evening that is sure to have all ages engaged, entertained and excited.

Unlike traditional theatres, at The DriveINSIDE Theatre, the show will commence the moment the audience arrives. Drive jockeys theatrically welcome the cars and so even parking underneath the largest marquee in the World is an entertainment experience. Audience members sit safely beside their vehicles socially distanced from each other group by the cars on either side. A contactless waiter service is provided and even the toilets have a traffic light system to maintain the safety of the audience at all times.

The show will kick-off in Manchester at The DriveINSIDE Theatre at the Trafford Centre, with two performances on the 5th of June (14:00 and 20:00). The show will then be taken down to London to commence a run from mid-July.

More information and booking details can be found here www.driveinside.co.uk

Salford based mental health charity 'Everyday Mental Health Heroes of the NHS' are crowdfunding to support staff at Salford Royal Hospital to create a positive and supportive mental health workplace in order to help save lives being lost to suicide.

Front-line Healthcare Workers often suffer from anxiety, depression, burnout, insomnia, stress-related disorders and suicide.  

In just six years between 2011 and 2017, at least 307 NHS nurses took their own lives.

Despite the huge magnitude of mental health problems among the front-line Healthcare Workers, their psychological health is often overlooked.

Front-line healthcare workers play a crucial role in providing care to Covid-19 infected patients. Working in such an unprecedented situation, usually beyond their capacities, and with a risk of contracting the infection themselves, poses Healthcare Workers at an even higher risk of mental health problems and suicide in the future. 

In response START's multi awarding campaign Reach Out; Start to End Suicide and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust will deliver the Everyday Mental Health Heroes on Salford Royals acute care wards. It’ll inspire, educate and empower them to meaningfully connect with people around them, raise awareness, improve attitudes and increase dialogue on suicide, while improving resilience, saving lives and challenge stigma.

It is anticipated that Everyday Mental Health Heroes of the NHS  will result in:

300 staff members qualifying as Everyday Mental Health Heroes of the NHS

Individuals having better awareness of suicide prevention and improved mental health and well-being.

Improved capacity of individuals to respond to and engage proactively with individuals in distress.

The Everyday Mental Health Heroes will see the implementation of this three stage model:

LEARN - Developed by the Zero Suicide Alliance the online program helps participants to play their part in saving lives. The program replaces quiz-based questions with real life stories and scenario videos from a range of ages, ethnicities and suicidal issues. Each clip describes potential warning signs and teaches participants how to feel comfortable when talking with loved ones, friends or colleagues about suicide and mental health.

PLEDGE- Participants, after completion of the online training, will sign and make a pledge a giant display of the pledge to commit to reaching out when they are or when they notice others struggling .  

WEAR- By choosing to wear the yellow Reach Our flag badge, staff are sending a message that "you can talk to me” both to their colleagues and patients. Wearing the flag badge doesn't mean they are expected to have the answers to all issues and concerns, but they are a friendly ear and will know how to signpost to the support available. 

Crowd Funder Link: Everyday Mental Health Heroes of the NHS

A leading figure in building safety has commended Salix Homes for its commitment to fire and building safety as the housing association announced the completion of its cladding remediation programme.

Dame Judith Hackitt is Chair of the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) and led the Government’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety following the Grenfell Tower Tragedy in 2017.

In a letter to the Salford-based housing association, she said:

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“As a social housing provider, it was clear to the ISSG that you have made a concerted commitment to address building safety. It was evident to us that there is a sense of genuine responsibility to put things right, supported by Salix Homes’ participation in the Early Adopter programme.”

Salix Homes has now completed the multi-million-pound cladding remediation and safety enhancement work across its tower blocks in Salford.

The housing association owns 18 high-rise buildings, eight of which were deemed to have cladding systems that did not meet the Government’s test criteria.

The affected blocks, the majority of which were only partially cladded in aluminium composite material (ACM), included Mulberry, Magnolia and Sycamore Courts in Pendleton, Blackfriar Court, Riverbank Towers and Newbank Towers in Greengate and Arthur Millwood Court and Canon Hussey Court in Islington.

The cladding removal and remediation programme, supported by the Government’s cladding remediation fund, was completed across six of the blocks in autumn 2019 and was last month (April) finished at the remaining two blocks – Arthur Millwood Court and Canon Hussey Court.

Sue Sutton, chief executive at Salix Homes, said:

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“The safety and wellbeing of our tenants is the utmost priority for Salix Homes. Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy we moved quickly to enhance safety measures across all our high-rise buildings and raise the bar on building safety, so to be commended by Dame Judith Hackitt is a real testament to our efforts.

“We’ve worked alongside technical experts to develop a permanent solution to replace the affected panels and cladding systems, as well as implement additional safety measures, and we’re pleased to announce that this extensive programme of work has now drawn to a close.

“We appreciate that it’s felt like a long and exhaustive process for residents, particularly those at Canon Hussey Court and Arthur Millwood Court where the complexity of the programme has led to challenges along the way and has been compounded by the Covid crisis, and we’d like to thank residents for their patience and understanding while this essential work has taken place.

“Salix Homes is committed to raising the bar of public safety in all our buildings and our residents can now rest assured that the replacement cladding systems meet the most stringent of safety requirements and the additional safety measures we’ve implemented cement our commitment to delivering the safe and modern homes that everyone deserves.”

 

Remediation work at Arthur Millwood Court and Canon Hussey Court has been the most complex of the programme, carried out under the shadow of Covid restrictions, and has included the removal and replacement of the defective cladding system, the installation of sprinklers and the refurbishment of communal areas.

New state-of-the-art fire alarm systems have also been fitted at all 18 of Salix Homes’ tower blocks as part of a wider safety enhancement programme.

As one of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Early Adopters initiative, Salix Homes is playing a key role in championing building safety culture change programmes across the sector.

The housing association has been instrumental in the development of the national Building Safety Charter and the consultation process on the Government’s draft Building Safety Bill, after being selected initially as one of just three housing associations in the country to be part of the Government’s Early Adopters programme to test the recommendations of the Hackitt Review into building safety following the Grenfell tragedy.

This has led to Salix Homes successfully implementing many of the new measures included in the Bill, such as establishing annual building safety inspections to all high-rise buildings and introducing a Mandatory Occurrence Reporting system to allow residents to report building safety issues directly to their landlord.

Ms Sutton added: “As we approach the four-year anniversary of that fateful night of June 14, 2017, we are proud to have implemented and embedded a new standard of building safety, and we will of course continue to develop and raise our standards, working closely with the fire service, the Government, safety experts, and our residents, to ensure all our buildings continue to be safe places to live, both now and in the future.”