Inspire Magazine - Spring 2016

INSPIRE
spring 2016
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine
homes | health | community | support
magazine
One year of
One Manchester
Celebrating
our apprentices
Free
business
help
Win a £50
shopping
voucher!
Enabling
Enterprise
Young
creatives
WELFARE REFORM
Help is at hand

Confused by
benefit changes?
Whether you’re concerned about
Universal Credit, losing sleep over the
Bedroom Tax or confused about replying
to letters, our Money Mentors team
are here to help and advise.
Our Money Mentors team are experts
in all aspects of finance including debt,
banking, benefit entitlements, affordable
credit and money-saving tips.
Want to find out more?
Why don’t you call the team
(CSM 0800 840 1444 /
Eastlands 0161 276 7300)
or drop-in to one of our help sessions
at the following locations:
Cornbrook House or Turing House
Weekdays 9am–4pm
(Appointment only)
Eastlands House
Tuesday 10am–4pm
(Appointment only)
The Place at Platt Lane
Tuesday & Thursday 10am–1pm
East Hub, Gorton
Tuesday & Friday 10am–3pm
2 | @onemcr

Featured
Inside this issue
Also
Inside this issue
Changes to benefits
that could affect you 5
Employment open day 5
One year of One Manchester
4
Celebrating apprentices
6
Work placements
and training 5
Are you receiving
Pension Credit? 8
Home contents insurance:
Don’t be caught out! 8
Will Griffiths Court retirement
housing wins bronze 12
Highlighting homelessness
9
Furniture recycling
10
Anson Estate and
Sunny Brow clean-up 12
Intergenerational
skills swapping 12
It’s time to get online 13
One Manchester Service
Commitments 13
Young creatives 17
Free business help
14
Enabling Enterprise
16
Age-friendly Manchester 18
Gaskell the Musical 18
Get involved 19
It’s competition time!
Your chance to win a £50 shopping voucher.
Just find the answer to this simple question
somewhere in the magazine:
£50
How many community projects has the
One Manchester Community Fund supported
in the last 12 months?
WIN
VOUCHER
To enter all you need to do is ‘like’ our Facebook page
www.facebook.com/InspireMagazine and email
your answer to inspire@onemanchester.co.uk with the subject
line ‘Inspire Competition’ by Friday 17 June.
Rent statements
You might have noticed you
haven’t received a rent statement
with this issue of the magazine. We
will now only send a rent statement
once a year, but you can keep
up-to-date with your rent payment
dates and amounts by logging in to
your One Manchester account or
calling the rents team.
Don’t forget it is your responsibility
to pay your rent to us on time
every month.
Congratulations to Mary Carvil for winning the competition in the previous issue.
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine | 3

One year of
One Manchester
On 1 April 2016 we celebrated One Manchester’s first birthday. This
milestone gave us a good opportunity to reflect on our hopes and ambitions
mapped out for the organisation when Eastlands Homes and City South
came together to form One Manchester back in April 2015.
Build 500 new homes
over the next five
years
Set up a One
Manchester
Community Fund
Open East Hub
one-stop shop for
employment
We’re playing our part in the city’s 10
year growth strategy to build at least
25,000 new houses by progressing with
our five-year target of 500 new homes.
Construction is already underway on our
Hulme Living project which will provide
172 homes on sites at Leaf Street and
Royce Road. These properties will be
available at rental prices equal to similar
sized private properties in the area,
with the profit made reinvested into the
communities in which we work.
In December 2015, we completed the
build of six new family homes in Clayton
and construction has now started
on four new homes at Stanley
Grove in Longsight. We have
also secured planning
permission for two sites in
Openshaw and hope to be in
a position to announce details
of plans for 40 new homes on
these sites very soon.
In its first year, our One Manchester
Community Fund has supported a
whopping 53 community projects with
funding ranging from £1,000 to £5,000,
benefitting more than 2,500 local
residents. Projects have included
sports sessions with Olympic coaches
for visually impaired young people,
DJ skills courses for young people
from the LGBT community, food share
programmes, as well as health and
wellbeing sessions for socially isolated
women from Black, Asian and Minority
Ethnic backgrounds.
Since it opened on 1 April 2015,
our East Hub one-stop-shop for
employment in Gorton has had more
than 1,200 visits from local residents
with over 260 of our customers regularly
accessing its services. Thanks to the
support on offer at East Hub, 69 people
have been helped into full-time work,
55 people have gained part-time work,
more than 170 people have accessed
training and work placements and
nine people have been helped into
apprenticeships.
We would like to say a huge thanks to the ladies
from the Anson Community House who kindly
baked over 300 cakes to commemorate One
Manchester’s first birthday. Their handiwork
can be seen on the left and on this issue’s front
cover. The question is, how big was the oven?
Thank you to Sammy Minshull, Liz Bryson,
Pamela White, Ann Cleaver, Tracy McLellan,
Katie Blackmore and Pamela McSporran.
4 | @onemcr

Changes to benefits
that could affect you
The Government’s recently
announced plans to change the
benefits system, known as Welfare
Reform, have already started to
take place. These changes are
going to impact a lot of people
in Manchester – do you know
whether you will be affected?
Whether you’re single, a family,
disabled or a foreign national currently
receiving benefits, it is important
that you read all letters sent from the
DWP. These letters may ask for more
information about your situation or
request that you re-apply for the
Work placements
and training
If a lack of work experience
is proving a barrier to work,
or you’re just not sure how
to find your ideal job, then
a work placement could be
the solution. Having proudly
supported many residents
through our Steps2Success service, there are
numerous examples of people who have successfully
completed work placements and gained employment
in a range of industries.
Work experience not only boosts confidence, but enhances
job skills and allows you to meet new people. Completing a
work placement also provides
you with a character reference
and certificate at the end, and
taking part in a scheme will not
affect your benefits. Recent
graduates of the programme
now work with big names in
the hospitality and customer
service sectors including
Premier Inn and B&M Bargains.
Opportunities exist in a range of industries including
construction, finance, grounds maintenance, administration
and health and social care to name a few.
To learn more about work placements contact
sarah.roberts@onemanchester.co.uk or
call 07932 345688.
benefit you are receiving, even if it is
a lifetime award. It is important that
you respond as failure to do so is likely
to affect the amount of money you
currently receive.
We know these letters can be
complicated, so if you need any help
contact the Money Mentors team (CSM
0800 840 1444 / Eastlands 0161 276
7300). They can discuss your situation
in confidence and ensure any required
forms are completed accurately. The
team has experts in all aspects of
finance including debt, banking, benefit
entitlements, affordable credit and
money-saving tips.
Employment
open day
As some of these
Government changes will
result in lots of people
receiving less money
each month, there are
steps you can take to
help change your financial
situation, such as taking free training courses to
gain qualifications, or getting help with looking for
employment from specialist advisers.
East Hub - Thursday 28 April 1–5pm
The open day is the perfect chance to meet local
training and apprenticeship providers as well as
employers face-to-face. These include Manchester
College, Aspire Recruitment and local businesses
who have previously recruited participants from our
Steps2Success programme.
You will be able to ask advisers questions about careers
and find out more about job opportunities from some
of the biggest employers in the area such as Belle Vue
Racing, Tesco and Mecca.
For more information contact
pat.eaves@onemanchester.co.uk
or call 0161 227 1377.
The Money Mentors team
are available at the following
locations:
Cornbrook House or Turing House
- Weekdays 9am–4pm
(Appointment only)
Eastlands House - Tuesday
10am–4pm (Appointment only)
The Place at Platt Lane - Tuesday
& Thursday 10am–1pm
East Hub, Gorton -
Tuesday & Friday 10am–3pm
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine | 5

Appre
Apprenticeships used to be a next step for school
leavers wanting to get a trade behind them. These
days the range of apprenticeships on offer has
grown making them suitable for people of all ages,
backgrounds and interests.
One Manchester are committed
to having at least 10 apprenticeships
on our books across the business at
any one time.
We caught up with a few of our
former apprentices to find out how an
apprenticeship with One Manchester
has benefitted them.
Jay-Anne McCabe
Grounds maintenance operative
Jay-Anne began her two-year
apprenticeship with the Grounds
Maintenance team in September 2014
and has just completed her NVQ Level
2 in Horticulture, six months ahead of
schedule.
In that time Jay-Anne has achieved
her spraying and Japanese knotweed
licences and will soon be doing her
chainsaw licence and driving licence
so she can drive the work van.
She’s amazed by how much she’s
learnt about so many different aspects
of the job in a short period of time and
takes real pride in her work.
Jay-Anne said: “This apprenticeship
has given me a different opportunity
and an insight into the variety this line
of work offers. You get loads of support
and are given responsibilities so your
confidence increases. Before I started
working here I would have just seen a
patch of grass but now I look around
and see what a difference I’ve made.”
6 | @onemcr

ntices
Amari Knott
Electrician
Amari Knott’s life could easily have
headed in a different direction had
he not joined One Manchester as an
electrical apprentice in 2012. The
21-year-old from Hulme overcame
lots of challenges in life but his
commitment and determination to do
something positive has paid dividends,
as he continues to grow in his role as a
full-time electrician.
Amari said: “The apprenticeship has
definitely helped me grow up. I knew
I had to just take the opportunity and
run with it. I wanted to prove that if you
graft hard enough you can get where
you want to go.”
“My apprenticeship at One
Manchester has made me see the
community in new ways. It’s great
to be part of a team that is making
a real difference and helping Hulme
to become a better place to live and
work for people like me.”
Daniel Marshall
Multi-skills operative
Daniel Marshall, 24, was a selfemployed
plumber before starting
a joinery apprenticeship with One
Manchester which he completed
earlier this year. Although it meant
taking a pay-cut initially, not an easy
decision for anyone to take, Daniel is
convinced it was the right decision.
He is now employed by One
Manchester as a full-time multi-skills
operative, which gives him the chance
to use both his plumbing and joinery
skills and provides a secure income to
support his young family.
Daniel said: “It can be hard at first,
especially when you feel like you could
be making more money but it’s worth
it. I always hated being in a classroom
but by doing an apprenticeship you
get the support of the team around you
who have already been apprentices
showing you the ropes.”
Keep an eye on our website for the latest vacancies at
bit.ly/onemcrjobs
Emma Connor
Electrical supervisor
Emma Connor knew she wanted
to be an electrician in her twenties
but felt the training opportunities on
offer locally seemed to be very maleorientated,
so opted for a different
career working as a marketing
manager for a buying and imports
company. Like Jay-Anne, she didn’t
feel like it was the right fit and so in
2008, aged 30, she made the brave
decision to embark on a four-year
electrical apprenticeship and is now
an electrical supervisor with One
Manchester.
For those considering a change in
career, Emma recommends looking
into all the options that are out there
including apprenticeships whatever
your age.
Emma said: “It’s a great way to
start – or change in my case – your
career, as you are both employed and
training at the same time. Being paid
to learn; it’s the ideal scenario. I love
what I do. Every day there is a new
challenge and you get a real sense
of accomplishment in being able to
fix something and resolve issues for
customers.”
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Are you receiving
Pension Credit?
If you are in receipt of Pension
Credit then you could be eligible
for the United Utilities Help to Pay
Scheme. The scheme caps your
annual water bill at a set amount,
meaning you know what you will
pay each month. The Help to Pay
Scheme and installation of water
meters have already proved a great
success, with 349 tenants making a
combined saving of £71,488.66 over
a six month period. That is a total
average saving of £204.84.
To be accepted onto the Help to Pay
Scheme, you or a person living with
you must meet the following criteria:
• Be in receipt of Pension Credit
(either Pension Guarantee Credit or
Pension Savings Credit);
• Live at the address which is on your
water bill; and
• Meet the affordability criteria (as
part of the application process you
must provide United Utilities with
income and expenditure information
for the entire household so that
they can carry out an affordability
assessment).
In addition, water supplied to the
premises must not be used for:
• Watering a garden (other than by
hand) by means of any apparatus;
or
• Automatically replenishing a pond
or a swimming pool with a capacity
greater than 10,000 litres
If you meet the eligibility criteria,
search for ‘United Utilities Help to
Pay Scheme’ and download the
application form from their website.
To discuss which method would suit
your circumstances, call Lesley on
0161 230 1076.
Home contents insurance:
Don’t be caught out!
Following a devastating house
fire at her Grandmother’s home,
a One Manchester employee
knows how important having
home contents insurance is.
Whilst trying to decide on the
most cost-efficient provider, the
pensioner’s annual policy expired.
Two days later during a power cut,
a candle caused a terrible fire to
the property, destroying most of
the lady’s possessions, many of
which held treasured, irreplaceable
memories.
It’s estimated that as many as 10%
of home occupiers in the UK don’t
have home contents insurance.
What would you do should disaster
strike? Could you afford to replace
your possessions, re-decorate
the house or cope with losing
sentimental items? In the event of
a catastrophe, One Manchester
will repair the building, but the
responsibility for personal items is
your own. Nobody can plan for a
candle fire, a flood, or a burglary
but there are measures you can
take to reduce the risks, such as
unplugging electrical items when
leaving your home and not using
appliances during the night Ensuring
you are covered could save you a
lot of money and heartache in the
long-term.
One Manchester has joined forces
with one of the biggest and longest
established insurers, Royal & Sun
Alliance, to offer you their Simple
and Simple+ insurance cover
that will offer peace of mind at an
affordable price. It allows you to
decide how much cover you need to
replace your items in case of loss or
damage, with premiums starting at
£1.05 per week.
For more information
contact Royal & Sun Alliance
on 0345 671 8172, or call into
your local housing office to
pick up an application form.
8 | @onemcr

Highlighting homelessness
Dave Power (left), our chief
executive, joined high profile
Manchester faces including Maxine
Peake, Clint Boon and Lemn Sissay
MBE to brave the rainy streets of
Manchester to help raise awareness
of homelessness and the valuable
work of Big Issue North by selling
the magazine during international
Vendor Week in March.
Dave said: “When you’re standing on
the street and people are ignoring you it
struck me that there’s a bit of a parallel
with homelessness in that it’s hidden
from people’s consciences. I believe the
Big Issue is worth supporting because
not only does it raise the issue of
homelessness in this country but it’s there
to help vendors work for themselves, to
gain independence and not to beg but
to sell a valuable magazine like the Big
Issue and to create their own sense of
self-worth and independence.”
Bogle charity walk
Meet Big Issue North vendor
Stefan
Working seven days a week for up to
15 hours a day, Stefan (pictured right)
sells an average of 10–15 magazines
daily, meaning he earns around £1.25
an hour. It’s by no means an easy life but
he hopes it will be a stepping stone into
more permanent and stable employment.
“I just want to work hard and live an
honest life. The idea behind the Big Issue
gets 10 out of 10 for me; it is a very good
invention. It helps people improve their
lives in a decent and honest way. By
selling the Big Issue I can help myself,
the Big Issue and other people.
And Vendor Week is a very good idea
because it advertises the Big Issue and
raises awareness for people to give help.
I think it’s also a very special experience
for the people who are guest vendors
because it gives them an understanding
of how it feels.”
When asked how it feels to work long
hours in the cold, often being ignored,
Stefan simply accepts that, “This is life!”
Stefan would love to set up his own
therapeutic massage business one day,
specifically for older people and people
with disabilities. It might seem like a
distant dream but he is no stranger to
achieving his goals having walked nearly
10,000 miles on a six month pilgrimage
back in 2001, taking him across three
continents.
We would like to thank Stefan for taking
the time to show Dave the ropes and
wish him all the best for the future.
A One Manchester team embarked
on a blister-inducing 55 mile walk
around Greater Manchester in
March for Openshaw-based charity
Justlife. The walk took participants
on a loop of the county, beginning at
Manchester University and heading
towards Manchester Airport and
Stockport, then north to Failsworth,
Farnworth and Salford, before finally
finishing back at the University.
Now in its 55th year, the Bogle Stroll
began in 1961 when a group of UMIST
lecturers missed the last bus home in
Lancaster and so decided to walk the 55
miles back to Manchester. Along the way
some of the group started to hallucinate
and saw the Bogle, a Lancashire imp
of folklore. In their imagination the Bogle
was taunting the walkers, willing them
to give up. It is in defeating the Bogle
that the event gets its name.
The day starting unseasonably for
March, with Mancunians waking up to a
blanket of snow, and it continued to fall
throughout the afternoon. By the 7pm
starting time, the ice and slush
on the pavements proved to be an extra
obstacle during the endurance challenge.
The walkers continued through the night
whilst the city was asleep, reaching the
finish line at 5pm the next day, some 22
hours later.
The charity’s mission is to raise
aspirations for vulnerable people by
opening doorways to healthcare,
housing and employment. Almost
£700 has been raised for Justlife so
far and if you would like to make a
donation please visit
www.justgiving.com/OneManchester1
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine | 9

Furniture
recycling
Whether you’re moving into a new home for the first time, you’re new to
the area or your circumstances have changed and you’ve moved house,
kitting out your place with furniture can be stressful and pricey. However,
organisations like the Wesley Centre and The Mustard Tree collect and
sell quality, affordable, pre-loved furniture to give your property a homely
feel without breaking the bank.
10 | @onemcr

Did you know 10 million household items are sent
to landfill every year? Three million of these items
could be re-used by people in crisis.
Wesley Centre
Richard Lockwood from Hulme is a
development worker at the Wesley Centre
having started out as a volunteer nearly 16
years ago. The Wesley Centre was set up
in Hulme back in 1993 and so has been
supporting the people of south and central
Manchester for 23 years. Now employing
around 20 volunteers as well as paid staff
at its bases in Fallowfield and Hulme,
it offers a furniture restoration and delivery
service to help people set up home. At
Wesley Community Furniture you can
purchase sofas from £25, wardrobes from
£12 and washing machines from £45.
www.thewesley.org.uk
56-58 Lloyd Street South, Fallowfield
M14 7HT - 0161 226 9051
St Wilfrid’s Hall, St Wilfrid’s Street, Hulme,
M15 5BJ - 0161 226 4266
The Mustard Tree
The Mustard Tree has been providing
emergency food, clothing, household
goods and furniture for more than 20 years.
An Aladdin’s cave of essential furniture
pieces at prices that are hard to beat, it’s
another great first stop to furnish your
home. What’s more it offers a 25% discount
on top of the already bargain prices
to anyone on Jobseeker’s Allowance,
Housing Benefit, Incapacity Benefit or
Universal Credit.
www.mustardtree.org.uk
110 Oldham Road, Manchester, M4 6AG
0161 228 7331
Useful Websites
If you have no money for household items
you should consider joining the Freecycle
Network. Working just like an online forum,
people list items they no longer want and
are giving away for free. You can also post
adverts for things that you need.
Joining the Freecycle Network is easy; log
on at www.uk.freecycle.org and you will
receive regular updates on items that are
being advertised. Delivery of products is
not usually included so you will need a
means of collecting goods.
Freegle works in a similar way to
Freecycle. Register with Freegle by
logging onto their website at
www.ilovefreegle.org
Another option is Gumtree which often
has posts for useful items that people are
giving away for free. Visit
www.gumtree.com/freebies/Manchester
Homekind
Homekind aims to offer a responsible
alternative to high interest stores and loan
sharks. Offering furniture, electrical items
and white goods at a significant discount
from the recommended retail price, they
also provide access to responsible credit.
Delivery is included in the product price.
One of the main advantages that
Smarterbuys can offer compared to other
retail websites is the choice of payment
options. For example, if you have a bank
account and wish to pay online with
a credit or debit card, you can do so.
However, for those people without a bank
account, or who don’t feel comfortable
using their card details online, simply print
off a barcode and then make payment in
cash at a Paypoint or Post Office. It also
includes an element of savings into your
repayments so you can save as you pay.
www.homekindshop.co.uk
Money Mentors team
One Manchester has a specialist team
dedicated to helping customers with any
money or benefit concerns. The team
offer advice and assistance on a variety
of issues including cheaper utilities,
dealing with your debts, benefit advice and
appeals, and maximising your income.
With strong links to advice and information
agencies across Manchester, we ensure
our customers have access to the best
support. The team can also make referrals
for furniture packages from organisations
such as The Mustard Tree and Wesley
Community Furniture.
If you are struggling to make ends meet
and are worried about your circumstances
please make an appointment with the
Money Mentors team to discuss your
situation on CSM 0800 840 1444 or
Eastlands 0161 276 7300.
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine | 11

Will Griffiths Court retirement
housing wins bronze
Retirement housing is sometimes
associated with sitting around, bored
and lonely, but that couldn’t be further
from the truth at Will Griffiths Court in
Moss Side. The retirement scheme
has earned national recognition at the
National Housing for Older People
Awards, winning bronze in the ‘Best
Retirement Housing Scheme (24 – 29
units)’ category.
The awards are run by the Elderly
Accommodation Counsel based
on feedback from residents. Views
are provided by residents who rate
their accommodation based on the
quality of the property, as well as the
care, support and general sense of
Intergenerational
skills swapping
It wasn’t too long ago that knitting
and crocheting was a family tradition
passed through the generations, but
in the age of digital technologies it’s
a skill that many young people have
failed to learn. A group of Fallowfield
ladies realised they could pass on their
expertise to keen youngsters and have
recently embarked on a six-week skill
swapping campaign.
Louise, Pat and Christine have been
delivering their knitting and crochet
masterclasses to willing learners
at East Hub in Gorton. Putting their
new-found talents to good use, the
knitting and crochet group have been
creating therapeutic gifts for people
with dementia. Twiddlemuffs are
made with contrasting fabrics and
appliquéd accessories providing a
wellbeing they enjoy there using an
interactive card game. Will Griffiths
Court scored particularly highly with
residents on the wide range of social
activities, events, entertainment and
classes on offer, alongside its strong
links with the wider community.
Pauline Omoboye, 57, from Longsight
attends the art classes, film club and
the weekly meal at Will Griffiths Court.
She said: “It’s a brilliant place to meet
people. I was living in isolation for
a long time after losing my mum so
getting involved has really helped
me meet people and deal with my
depression.”
Resident, Eddie Dukhie believes the
success is largely down to the hard
work of One Manchester’s floating
support officer, Anysie Kankindi. Eddie
said: “What Anysie has done in a short
period of time here in bringing people
together and getting everyone involved
is absolutely fantastic. She’s one in a
million and her energy is contagious.”
sensory experience for sufferers. The
learning didn’t stop there as the young
knitters were able to return the favour
by teaching Brazillian drumming
techniques to their new friends.
There will be more knitting and
crochet sessions taking place over
the summer at East Hub from 5-7pm
on the following dates:
10, 24 May
7, 21 June
5, 19 July
To find our more contact
Bridget Halliday on 07795 027 790.
Anson Estate
and Sunny Brow
clean-up
Community spirit has been in full
flow lately with the Anson Estate and
Sunny Brow benefitting from a bit
of TLC. Volunteers, local residents
and school children rolled-up their
sleeves with picking sticks in-hand,
filling bin bags and loading a skip
with discarded rubbish and items
during the three hour clean-ups in
both neighbourhoods.
The Anson clear-out focussed on
tidying up rubbish from the alleyways
and removing fly-tipped items, with
carpets, toys and even a double bed
having been dumped in the area. The
Friends of Sunny Brow worked with
kids from Old Hall Drive and Sacred
Heart Schools to remove masses of
litter from the playing fields, giving the
children a safer place to play and just
in time for their Sports Relief activities
that week.
Thanks go to both groups for the
fantastic effort in making a dramatic
improvement to the appearance of the
areas involved. Remember, fly-tipping
and littering is a criminal offence and
anybody caught doing so will be liable
to receive a fine from the council. To
speak to Manchester City Council
about fly tipping call 0161 234 5000.
12 | @onemcr

It’s time to get online
Do the thought of computers and
the ‘world wide web’ bring you
out in a cold sweat? Don’t have the
computer, smartphone or internet
connection you need to get online?
Don’t worry, help is at hand. Our
offices offer free use of computers and
Wi-Fi, Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm.
• Turing House - Archway 5, Hulme,
M15 5RL
• Belle Vue House - 27 Garratt Way,
Gorton, M18 8HE
• Cornbrook House - 217 Stockport
Road, Ardwick, M12 4DY
• Eastlands House - Victoria Street,
Openshaw, M11 2NX
Free public internet access is also
available at the following locations:
• East Hub (Next to Belle Vue House),
27 Garratt Way, Gorton, M18 8HE
• The Place at Platt Lane, Platt Lane,
Fallowfield, M14 7FB
• Anson Community House - 38
Meldon Road, Manchester, M13 0TR
Want some digital help?
If you need someone to show you the
ropes then pop along to one of the
following friendly sessions:
Will Griffiths Court Digital Inclusion
Club - every Wednesday 10am–1pm.
Volunteers are on hand at the drop-in
sessions to help improve your digital
skills. Bring your own laptop or tablet
or use one of the computers available.
The Forever Young IT Club - every
week at The Place at Platt Lane.
Improve your online skills by checking
emails and using the internet in an
informal social gathering.
Can you spare some time?
If you’re computer savvy and think
you would enjoy helping people
learn how to send emails and surf the
internet then we would love to hear
from you. We are also trying to improve
the online services we offer at One
Manchester and want your thoughts on
the types of digital services that would
help make your life easier.
To get involved with either
of these projects email
inspire@onemanchester.co.uk
One Manchester Service Commitments
1. We will respond to requests for
urgent financial assistance within
two working days.
2. We will aim to answer telephone
calls made to our contact centre
within 20 seconds.
3. We will action service requests
within agreed timescales and tell
you what those timescales are
when you contact us.
4. We will respond to stage one
complaints within 10 working
days. If you remain dissatisfied
with the outcome of the complaint,
you can ask that it be reviewed
explaining the reasons why you
remain dissatisfied within 28 days
of receiving our response.
5. Should your complaint escalate
to stage two you will be offered
a face-to-face or written review.
Your complaint will be considered
by a panel made up of a Board
member, a Scrutiny Panel member
and a senior member of staff
that has not previously been
involved with the case. Our written
response will be sent to you within
20 working days.
6. We will contact all reporters of
serious anti-social behaviour which
includes hate crime and domestic
abuse within one working day.
7. We will contact all reporters of
other anti-social behaviour within
five working days.
8. We will visit all new tenants within
six weeks of their tenancy start
date.
9. We will give you a decision within
42 days following an application to
mutually exchange your home.
10. When you request to succeed
or change a tenancy, we will
provide you with a decision
following receipt of all the required
information within 10 working
days.
11. We will commence an investigation
into any alleged tenancy breach
within five working days.
12. Where we are responsible we will
remove reported offensive graffiti
within one working day.
13. Where we are responsible we will
remove reported non-offensive
graffiti within five working days.
14. We will remove reported fly-tipping
on our land within 10 working days.
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine | 13

Free business help
If finding work is difficult, child care is holding
you back, or money is proving to be a barrier to
starting your own business, then we’ve found
some options that might just help.
There are now lots of workshops providing free advice
and support for new and existing businesses. They can
provide examples and insights of marketing tools and
services that will save you money and time, so you can
focus on the most efficient way to run your business.
We have listed some below, so keep an eye out on
One Manchester’s social media accounts for the latest
across the city.
PopUp
Business
School
If starting your own business
seems all too complicated, then the
PopUp Business School will bring
a whole new clarity to this crucial
aspect of modern business. Tearing
up the traditional idea of a business
plan, their face-to-face workshops
teach you how to create your own
website, master social media,
re-think your existing business
model or get your start-up trading.
The training sessions are free and
once completed, there is ongoing
support through the Facebook
community group. Even if you’re
an existing business, the PopUp
Business School is the perfect place
to chat through your plan and get
professional advice.
One Manchester will be
collaborating with PopUp
Business School to hold two
free workshops this summer.
South Manchester 20-24 June
East Manchester 4-8 July
If you are interested in attending
or would like more information visit
www.popupbusinessschool.co.uk/events
or contact
kate.ringrow@onemanchester.co.uk
The Digital
Garage -
Google
If you want the help of
Google’s experts to boost your
digital skills, they are running
workshops and 1:1 mentoring
sessions at Manchester Central
Library until the end of April.
https://events.withgoogle.com/
the-manchester-garage/
Their online advice – The Digital
Garage – is a fantastic one-stop shop
for mastering digital marketing. The
website provides free courses to
give you the digital skills necessary
to grow your business or career.
You can set goals, watch expert
tutorials from people that have been
in your position and test what you
have learnt, plus there’s a personal
dashboard to track your progress.
You can choose the topics you
want to learn or complete the
whole online course for a certification
from Google and IAB Europe.
Find out more at
www.digitalgarage.withgoogle.com
14 | @onemcr

Women in Business
Have you got a great business idea that you
want to take to the next level? Are you looking
for extra support to get your plans off the
ground?
For women thinking of or who might already have
taken those first steps in business, Women in
Business offer networking, business support and
free training for like-minded female entrepreneurs.
Giving local ladies the opportunity to talk through
their ideas and access training, the group helps
develop the knowledge required to get your
business off the ground.
To find out when the next meeting will take
place contact Jenny on 07984 872325.
Give your business
space to flourish
Flexible, affordable office space and hot desks
for new and small businesses, home-workers
and freelancers.
Prices from £40 per month / £1 per hour.
The Pod’s packages
Hot desks
£5 per 4-hour session (members only – £48 per year)
10 x 4-hour sessions a month for £40 (includes membership)
20 x 4-hour sessions a month for £70 (includes membership)
Office space
Single workstation in a shared office for £199 per month
Meeting rooms and business advice services also available.
Contact us to find out more
The Pod, 141-143 Princess Road, Manchester M14 4RE
Tel: 0161 375 5222 Email: info@thepodmcr.co.uk
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine | 15

Enabling Enterprise
Students from Claremont
Primary in Moss Side visited
the One Manchester offices as
part of an ‘enabling enterprise’
day and left our chief executive
Dave Power wondering
whether he might just have
met his successor.
Following a tour of the offices and
an opportunity to ask staff about
their job roles and how they make
a difference in the community, the
30 students who took part from
Years 3, 4 and 5 were challenged to
choose one of the issues that One
Manchester addresses in the local
community, such as helping people
into work, supporting people to
manage their money or to improve
their reading and writing, before
creating a campaign and television
news report to raise awareness of
the help on offer.
“I was proud of myself for
sharing my ideas, and for
aiming high at somewhere
that is a place of work”
Student, Claremont Primary
16 | @onemcr

Reputation Declined
‘What goes online stays online’ – that was the message being
given to young people as part of a hard-hitting play written by
14-year-old Amayna Solaiman from Rusholme and performed
by One Manchester’s youth network at The Place at Platt Lane
in Fallowfield for Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Amayna wrote ‘Reputation Declined’ to
raise awareness of issues around online
bullying and to encourage young people
to consider the potential long-term
consequences of their online footprint on
their future job prospects.
Having been a victim of bullying herself,
she wants the she wants the play to
encourage young people going through
similar struggles. She hopes that by
challenging them, it will make bullies
consider the potentially devastating
impact of bullying on the victim and on
the life chances of the people involved.
Amayna said: “I don’t think a lot of
people my age realise what a huge
impact what you say online can have.
One person says something and then
everybody comments and you don’t
realise it can make a huge difference in
the future. People see being online as a
shield but what you might think is one
little insult could be the end of your career
because it stays there forever and future
employers might research your past.”
She added: “It was a real
accomplishment for me; it’s not every day
that a 14-year-old girl does something an
adult would do. I feel proud of the actors,
proud of the script and proud of myself.”
Youth network
Are you 11-25? Looking for a
fresh challenge, a chance to meet
new people and give something
back to your community?
One Manchester’s youth network might be just what you’re
looking for. It’s a chance for young people to come together
and take part in a wide range of activities, helping you discover
talents you might not even know you have. From acting to
film-making, music to mentoring there’s a project to suit you.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t be shy!
Everyone was new once, so contact our
friendly youth coordinators Bridget and
Michelle now to find out how you can get
involved on 0161 227 1263.
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine | 17

Age-friendly
Manchester
Did you know that the number of
over 65-year-olds is expected to
double in the next 30 years? We’re
all living longer which means the
places we live in need to change
to make them more accessible to
older people.
Once again Manchester is leading
the way as the UK’s first city to be
recognised as age-friendly by the World
Health Organisation, but now the city
needs local residents to help create
more age-friendly neighbourhoods.
The Manchester Age-Friendly
Neighbourhoods team has helped
set up a new resident-led partnership
called Age-Friendly Hulme & Moss
Side to promote active ageing,
increase participation and make it
more age friendly. The team, based at
Manchester School of Architecture, will
be co-researching with residents about
how age-friendly their neighbourhood
is now and creating an action plan for
how it can be improved.
More than 150 people have already
attended the Age-Friendly Hulme &
Moss Side partnership launch at the
Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse,
taking part in workshops to map
people’s favourite places, people
and activities in the area and helping
to create a giant age-friendly
events calendar (http://tinyurl.com/
handmcalendar).
The Manchester Age-Friendly
Gaskell the Musical
A creative project for women
Following two taster sessions in
March, preparations for Gaskell the
Musical are now underway ahead
of two performances at Elizabeth
Gaskell’s House on Friday 10
and Saturday 11 June as part of
Manchester Histories Festival.
The project, which is delivered by
enJOY arts has received funding from
our One Manchester Community Fund.
It aims to involve women of all ages
from across Manchester in writing and
performing a musical inspired by the life
and work of Manchester literary icon,
Elizabeth Gaskell.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s writing includes
almost forty short stories. Her Life of
Charlotte Bronte has been described
as the first modern biography, and
Cranford has never been out of print.
Musical director, Claire Mooney, said:
“We’re creating Gaskell the Musical
with the brilliant talents of the women
in the local community. It’s going to
be about the author Elizabeth Gaskell
and about the times she lived here in
Manchester and the characters in her
books. It’s going to be a real good mix.”
Getting involved in creating
the musical is a great way to
boost your confidence, meet
new people and gain new skills
while learning about this iconic
Manchester woman. No experience
is necessary, just pop along to
rehearsals on Wednesdays from
3–5pm at Elizabeth Gaskell’s
House (84 Plymouth Grove) or
email info@enjoy-arts.org.uk
Neighbourhood team are now looking
for local people to get involved in
a series of workshops and walking
interviews to find out what it is like to
live in Hulme and Moss Side and what
the partnership can do to make it more
age-friendly. New partnership board
members are also being sought to
co-ordinate future events, support local
projects and help decide which projects
should receive Big Lottery funding.
To get involved or find out more
you can contact Emily Crompton on
07973 973 184 or 0161 247 5960 or
at e.crompton@mmu.ac.uk
The creative
place
Children can get in touch with their
creative side at the weekly arts and
craft session held at The Place at
Platt Lane. From 4.30–5.30pm every
Monday (except on bank holidays),
the fun workshops give kids the
chance to design, paint and make
anything from glittery masks to
personalised bookmarks.
The drop-in sessions are free and all
materials are provided. The classes are
for children between the ages of 5 and
12, but those under 8 years old must be
accompanied by an adult.
For more details contact michelle.
wright@onemanchester.co.uk or
call the team or call 07940 758168.
18 | @onemcr

Get involved
Would you like to have a say in
shaping the decisions at One
Manchester? We are committed
to involving our customers in the
direction of our services, and
with this in mind, two exciting
opportunities have arisen.
Through the ongoing development of our
digital service, we are offering customers
the opportunity to provide online
feedback to us from the comfort of your
home or whilst on the go when using a
mobile device. We may want you to help
us design a new service or let us know
about services you have received.
We are also recruiting new members
on to our scrutiny panel. The panel
plays a vital role in the organisation by
inspecting the services we deliver and
offering recommendations on how we
can improve them for all of our customers
to ensure they are of a high standard
and provide value for money. The
commitment level is high but it’s a truly
rewarding role with full training provided.
For further information about either of these opportunities please
email customer.involvement@onemanchester.co.uk
or speak to a member of the customer involvement team on 0161 230 1013.
Volunteer recruitment
for The Place at Platt Lane
Do you want to enhance your skills, increase your
employment opportunities or use your experience to
shape the future of others?
The Place makes a significant and positive contribution
to the local area by providing opportunities in learning,
skills, employability, education, culture and wellbeing. This
wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful volunteers
who help people of all ages in Fallowfield and the wider
community.
They provide invaluable help with the library and IT
suite, homework club, job search support, and building
management. This not only helps visitors to the centre,
but benefits the volunteers’ employment prospects by
increasing confidence and offering new skills.
Volunteers are currently being recruited for just three hours a
week in the following areas:
• Community library — assist library users borrowing and
accessing computers in the I.T. Suite
• Homework club — help schoolchildren access
information online or from books to complete homework in
a safe and supportive environment
• Caretaking — enable groups to access the building at
pre-arranged times by opening and locking up and during
their time in the centre
• Assisted job search support — assist the employment
and skills adviser in delivering effective job search support
As a volunteer you will receive an induction,
full training and ongoing support. For further
information on all of these opportunities contact
Sarah Roberts on 07932 345688 or
sarah.roberts@onemanchester.co.uk
Trustees wanted
for The Place at Platt Lane
Have you got the skills, expertise and enthusiasm
to provide strategic direction and support business
development for a sustainable, community-owned
asset? If so, The Place at Platt Lane wants to hear
from you.
When Fallowfield Library was threatened with closure due
to budget cuts, Friends of Fallowfield and One Manchester
set up a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to take
on the lease. The Place at Platt Lane Board of Trustees
developed a vision of creating a vibrant hub in the heart of
the community and a local venue of choice for all.
The centre has been a tremendous success and is already
generating income by offering a range of opportunities
to support learning, skills, employment and wellbeing,
alongside the library service. To ensure The Place at Platt
Lane realises its vision, it is looking for people with skills in
the following areas:
• Business planning
• Networking and influencing
• Social media and marketing
• Legal and accounting
• Bid writing and funding procurement
• Fundraising
• Community engagement
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the team and
make a positive difference to the local community.
For further information please contact Rob on
07875 009616 or robert.willis@onemanchester.co.uk
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine | 19

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How to
contact us
Inspire Magazine
is now on Facebook
Search for ‘One Manchester Inspire Magazine’
Catch up with news
whenever it happens,
wherever you are
Don’t wait for the next issue of Inspire to find out
what’s been going on in your neighbourhood.
Visit the brand new Inspire Magazine Facebook page for regular
news updates and opportunities to get involved.
Click ‘like’ to see posts from Inspire Magazine in your Facebook
news feed.
www.facebook.com/
InspireMagazine
If you would like information in another language or format such
as large print or audio, please ask us.
City South customers:
0800 840 1444
Eastlands Homes customers:
Belle Vue House (if you live in
Gorton North or Gorton South)
0161 230 1000
Cornbrook House (if you live
in Ardwick, Levenshulme,
Longsight or Rusholme)
0161 276 7300
Eastlands House (if you live in
Beswick, Clayton or Openshaw)
0161 274 2390
Call Monday to Friday 8am-
5.30pm. You can also phone
these numbers for emergency
repairs (where there is a danger
to health or safety), 24 hours a
day, seven days a week to be
transferred to the out-of-hours
service.
If your query relates to One
Manchester: 0330 355 1000
Useful numbers
We get lots of calls about issues
dealt with by Manchester City
Council. Here are some useful
numbers which might save you
time.
Permits car parking:
0161 234 4199
Fly tipping:
0161 234 5000
Bins / recycling:
0161 234 5000
Pest control:
0161 234 4928
Council Tax:
0161 234 5000
Housing Benefit:
0161 234 5003
Aids and adaptations:
0161 277 1704
20 | @onemcr