Inspire Magazine - Spring 2016

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