Inspire Magazine - Winter 2018

homes health community support
WINTER 2018
Health & Wellbeing Edition
Page 5
Loving
Page 17
Life
A WORLD OF
IMAGINATION
Page 16
Page 10
Money-saving tips for winter
Here for you
Page 18
facebook.com/inspiremagazine

Welcome to Inspire Magazine
Contact us
Email
enquiries@onemanchester.co.uk
Call us on
0330 355 1002
Call Monday to Friday from 8am-5.30pm.
You can also phone this number for
emergency repairs (where there is a
danger to health or safety), 24 hours a
day, seven days a week and you’ll be
transferred to the out-of-hours service.
Address
One Manchester, Lovell House,
Archway 6, Hulme, M15 5RN
We get lots of calls about issues dealt
with by Manchester City Council.
Please visit www.manchester.gov.uk
where you can find contact information.
COMMUNITY
Welcome to the first issue of 2018 which
is our health and wellbeing edition.
As many people think about new year’s resolutions, reflect on the
last 12 months and look to the future, the Inspire team thought
it would be the perfect time to focus on the wellbeing support
available through One Manchester and community groups.
We are more than just your landlord and our first priority is to
people and places - the area you live and the importance of
community.
This issue talks about support sessions taking place across the city
in community centres, schools and the 1-2-1 advice being offered
by the teams here at One Manchester. The help and advice you
will find in the magazine covers mental wellbeing, health, literacy
and online support.
There’s even a tasty recipe towards the back courtesy of our friends
at Back on Track.
We’re always keen to share your stories so if you have any news or
projects you think might be interesting to feature you can drop us
an email at inspire@onemanchester.co.uk
We hope you enjoy reading!
The Inspire team
Email: inspire@onemanchester.co.uk
Commitment
Caring for each other
ADVICE
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine @onemcr inspire@onemanchester.co.uk
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NEWS
Inside:
Talking the talk
Addressing mental health in school........................... 5
Book repair appointments online
See our brand new One Manchester website............. 6
New developments for 2018
We are always investing and building new homes....... 8
Stay warm this winter
Simple checks if your heating stops working............. 11
Condensation and mould
What causes it and how to avoid it.......................... 12
The man in the know
Find out what goes on at The Place at Platt Lane....... 14
Take care of business
Improve your business skills and knowledge............ 16
On Top of the World
Award-winning project in your community.............. 17
Support when you need it
Our support and wellbeing team are here for you..... 18
Get a Boost…
Give yourself a new lease of life ............................. 20
It’s never too late to start saving!
Saving is much easier than you think...................... 22
See how we’re doing
Our aim is to improve in all we do.......................... 23
Square meals
mean a great deal
Coverdale and Newbank Community Association’s
Community Grocer project is following in the footsteps
of the award-winning Anson Community Grocer.
Based at 217 Stockport Road, the Community Grocer opens
its doors to the residents of Ardwick every Thursday. Members
who have joined their food share scheme will pay only £2.50
for £12 to £15 worth of groceries.
The caring volunteers have also been running the Kids MealBox Project for local
children during school holidays, where youngsters who would usually receive
a nutritious meal at school are provided with a free meal out of term-time.
Running Monday to Friday at dinnertime, the project provides a safe and fun
environment with activities to keep the kids occupied as well as making sure
they get a lovely lunch.
Project Coordinator Elaine Lovesey says, “We recognised
that when children are off school for the holidays it can
really stretch a family’s budget by having to provide
lunches which would normally be given at school.
We wanted to do something to help and the Kids
MealBox Project was born.
“Since we started the project it’s gone from strength
to strength. We have great volunteers and lunchtimes
in the holidays are fun. Children love coming and
parents tell us what a great help the project is!”
If you would like to know more about the
Kids MealBox Project or Community Grocer
contact Elaine on 0161 274 2186.
73

NEWS
Making space for the community
Manley Park Community Centre is looking great
thanks to recent renovation work by WRPS.
The roofing contractors have given the centre and its facilities
a new lease of life as part of their commitment to provide
social value, after being awarded the contract to restore a
building in nearby Alexandra Park.
Social value means that we ask the companies we work
with to think about the added-value that they can bring
to our communities by delivering additional social,
economic or environmental benefits.
The Manley Park Community Centre is a popular destination
for local kids, and the Youth on Solid Ground project use
the building as their headquarters for activity in the area.
The centre now looks better than ever after WRPS fixed
new roof tiles and door frames, and repaired the building’s
electrical sockets. We were also pleased to help out
by contributing £4,500 for a new boiler, radiators
and a plastic water tank to be fitted in the building.
Majid Dar, co-founder of the Youth on Solid Ground project
explained what it meant to have the work carried out on the
community centre:
“It’s been a lifesaver for this organisation and this community.
We have hundreds of kids who use these facilities and
without this work it would have been an unsafe space for
them to use.
“I think it’s a brilliant initiative to get businesses involved in
community projects and programmes. With them giving
something back and doing something, residents from the
communities are benefiting. We’re helping these kids grow
and develop and so it’s all going in a circle; everybody
benefits.”
One Manchester chief executive Dave Power expressed his
delight at being able to help the project:
“We’re really pleased we were able to help the community
centre renovate their building. Now it can be enjoyed
safely and I think this really shows how businesses and One
Manchester can have a positive impact in the community.”
To tree or
not to tree?
The health benefits of trees
make them an essential part of
the future of any city or town
by decreasing stress, reducing
harmful pollutants in the air
and removing carbon from
the atmosphere.
That’s why over the last four
months we have been carrying
out a survey of the tree stock
in our neighbourhoods
in conjunction with the
contractor Urban Green Ltd.
By March 2018, all our trees
will be mapped and
assessed to identify trees
which require attention.
A programme of works will
then be undertaken.
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NEWS
Talking the talk at The East Manchester Academy
The benefits of young people talking about their thoughts and emotions are being promoted as
part of a new initiative in collaboration with Buzz, Manchester’s NHS Health & Wellbeing service.
Addressing mental health in school is vitally important as
it can affect classroom learning and social interactions,
which are critical to the success of students. The school
will work with 12 students acting as health and wellbeing
ambassadors, whose role will be to encourage fellow pupils
to discuss strategies to deal with stress, along with other
coping mechanisms when times get tough.
The school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Lead,
Amanda Ram says, “It’s my aim to raise awareness and
decrease stigma so that students are able to be open about,
and are signposted to, the appropriate services to support
their mental health and wellbeing.”
One Manchester staff received Boost training from Buzz to
enable them to deliver sessions to customers that would
improve their mental health and wellbeing. Buzz offers
a range of support and advice to help people live fuller,
healthier, happier and longer lives. Their services include:
• Techniques to improve your wellbeing
• Understanding yourself more
• Understanding the impact of stress and managing it better
• Recognising and challenging thoughts that are stressful,
upsetting or just unhelpful
• Feeling more confident and improving your self-esteem
• Useful techniques to communicate your needs better
You can find out more about how Buzz can help you
by visiting www.buzzmanchester.co.uk, calling
0161 248 1767 or following @buzzmanc on Twitter.
Making friends with dementia
A Levenshulme group set up for dementia sufferers and their carers is inviting others
living with the condition to attend their support sessions taking place every Wednesday.
Along with providing emotional support, the group
arrange fun activities such as bingo, quizzes, exercise,
sing-alongs and dancing.
The Peter Quinn Friendship Group is open to those
suffering from memory problems, caring for somebody
who does, or anybody able to volunteer their time.
When:
Wednesday 12pm-2.30pm
Where:
St. Mary’s Parish Centre, Elbow Street,
Levenshulme, M19 3PY
For further information contact
Marion Quinn on 07767 497625 or
email marionq32@googlemail.com
0330 355 1002 75

NEWS
You can now book repair appointments
online at www.onemanchester.co.uk
Following the launch of our brand new One Manchester website, we are pleased to
announce the latest development - you can book or change repair appointments online.
You can book
repairs on the go
from your mobile
phone.
It’s really easy, all you need to do is log in to your account and click ‘book a repair’.
If you have never logged in before
You will need an email address, your customer reference number
(available on all your rent statements or from our Contact Centre)
and your National Insurance number so that we can confirm that
it is you registering.
Once you have clicked ‘book a repair’
You’ll be asked to provide a reason for your request and further
details about your problem. You then select ‘submit’, where you
will be given a selection of timeslots to choose from - it’s that easy!
You won’t be able to book emergency
appointments online
If you have an emergency, please call our Contact Centre
as you would normally.
Once booked, you will receive a text message
confirming your appointment
You will also be able to see all of your appointments, including
those booked over the phone, within your account section on
the website. From here, you can easily cancel or change your
appointments; simply click on the appointment that you want to
change and follow the instructions.
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NEWS
Changing your preferences online is easy too
Now you can choose to see
only the topics and updates
you are interested in
Our website contains lots of information
on a wide range of topics, from help
finding a job, money advice, starting a
business, where money is spent and the
value we provide to our communities.
You will also find news and what’s going
on in your area.
If you are interested in a specific topic,
you can now register for updates online.
All you need to do is log in to your
account, check that your contact details
are correct and tick the boxes that apply
to you.
You can change your preferences at
any time, and rest assured, we will only
contact you in the way that you have
requested and will never sell data to
third party companies.
IMPORTANT
Missed repair
appointments
Every missed repair appointment costs
One Manchester over £40.
We are currently experiencing very high levels of missed
appointments, totalling £25,000 in some months -
money that could be used on important
community projects near you!
If you can’t make your appointment, please log
onto your One Manchester account and
reschedule as soon as possible.
0330 355 1002 7

NEWS
New developments for 2018
We are investing and building across our neighbourhoods, with many more developments
planned in the future. Here’s a snapshot of some of the new-builds we are launching shortly.
Atlas Place
Chapel Street, Levenshulme
The site of the former Atlas Engineering Works on Chapel
Street in Levenshulme will soon be 64 contemporary homes.
A mix of 2-bedroom apartments and 3- and 4-bedroom
houses will be available in early summer 2018.
Homes on this development will be available with both
Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy, allowing you to buy a
home with either a smaller deposit and a smaller mortgage,
or by renting at a lower rate for five years, giving you time
to save for a deposit.
For more information on Atlas Place
and to register your interest, please visit
www.onemanchester.co.uk/atlas-place
Kingfisher Gardens
Rainshaw Lane, Gorton
This fantastic development of just 10 houses is a mix of
2- and 3-bedroom homes, tucked away along a quiet
residential street in Gorton.
All the homes on this development are available with
Shared Ownership and the first homes will also be available
early in summer 2018.
For more information on Kingfisher Gardens
and to register your interest, please visit
www.onemanchester.co.uk/kingfisher-gardens
We’ll still be building more
homes for affordable rent too!
We’re building eight brand new properties for affordable rent on
Field Street in Abbey Hey. The build of these 2-bedroom homes
has already begun and they should be ready in summer 2018.
A former doctor’s surgery on Grizebeck Close in Gorton is
currently being converted into two homes, each with two
bedrooms. These homes will be ready to move in to in early 2018.
If you would like us to look at
building in other areas,
fill out your details at
www.onemanchester.co.uk/
new-development-registration
and we’ll let you know if we start
to build in the areas that you
are interested in.
These homes will be available
on www.manchestermove.co.uk
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NEWS
Are you interested in buying and want to know
how Shared Ownership or Rent to Buy can help
you afford to buy a home?
Shared Ownership
If you would like to buy your own home, but are
struggling to afford one in your area, then Shared
Ownership could be for you.
Shared Ownership is an affordable way to buy
a new home whereby you buy a share (e.g. 50%)
and pay a rent on the remaining share. The share
you can buy will range from 25% to 75%, depending
on what you can afford. It means that you need
a smaller mortgage to buy a home, and you will
also need a smaller deposit.
You can buy more shares as and when you can afford
them, with the option of eventually owning 100% of
the property, at which point you will pay no rent at all.
For more information visit
www.onemanchester.co.uk/housing/
find-a-home/shared-ownership
Rent to Buy
Rent to Buy is a new scheme that gives working people
who are currently struggling to save for a deposit the
opportunity to do so, whilst living in the home that they
could eventually buy.
With Rent to Buy you rent your home at 80% of market
rent for five years, giving you time to save for a deposit.
At the end of the five-year period, you can buy your
home outright or gradually purchase it before then with
Shared Ownership.
For more information visit
www.onemanchester.co.uk/housing/
find-a-home/rent-buy
0330 355 1002 79

ENERGY
Are you ready for winter?
As the nights get colder and darker, the chances of severe weather increase.
That’s why it’s important to be prepared for a cold snap or even a power cut.
Electricity Northwest say that since 1990, gas and electricity network companies have
invested over £80bn to make the UK’s gas and electricity supply more reliable than
ever before; but storms, floods and other extreme weather can still cause damage
and disruption.
That’s why the UK’s gas and electricity network companies have come together to
launch the Be Winter Ready campaign. The campaign aims to help the public betterprepare
for power cuts and gas emergencies that may result from bad winter weather.
Electricity Northwest have provided the following tips to ensure you’re Winter Ready:
Know your free emergency numbers
In a power cut dial 105 or, for a gas emergency, dial 0800 111999.
Prepare your home
Keep a torch handy and get your appliances serviced by a Gas Safe registered
engineer to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Vulnerable households can get
extra support by signing up to the Priority Services Register. Contact your gas or
electricity network to find out more.
Visit www.energynetworks.org to find out who your network operator is.
Keep your eyes open
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and if you have a power cut or a gas
emergency, check on your neighbours.
Switch to clean energy and save money!
We’re supporting a new campaign that aims to help you save money by switching your
home to a clean tariff - The Greater Manchester Big Clean Switch.
Visit www.bigcleanswitch.org/gm to compare
prices in minutes, and if you decide to go ahead,
you can switch there and then.
With savings currently averaging over £280 a year,
it may be worth switching even if you’re in the middle
of a fixed-term tariff.
Why clean energy?
Generating energy from renewable sources like the wind,
water and sun helps fight air pollution and climate change.
If just one in every 100 homes in Greater Manchester
switched to clean electricity, it would be equivalent to
taking over 10,000 cars off the road for a year. On top of
all that, the cheapest clean energy suppliers are market
leaders when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Doing more for Greater Manchester
For everyone who switches the supplier pays the
campaign a commission. This doesn’t affect the price
of the tariff and Greater Manchester Combined Authority
will use its share to help fund social and environmental
projects across Greater Manchester too.
If you have any questions about The Big Clean
Switch visit www.bigcleanswitch.org/help
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ENERGY
Switch on to staying warm for less
Stay in control of costs by ensuring thermostats, radiators and heaters are set to optimum levels.
Gas
Thermostat - how hot you want it
Set your heating controls to between
18 - 21 degrees. This should keep you warm
enough without the bills getting too high.
Radiator valves - which rooms to heat up
These allow you to set different rooms at
different temperatures. This can save you
money by not overheating rooms that
you don’t use. Most people prefer their
living room to be hot and their bedrooms
to be cooler. In rooms that you don’t use, try setting your
radiator valve to frost control (often indicated by an *).
This will protect your pipework and your wallet.
Programmer - how often
There are many different types of programmer
and they can be used to set how often your
heating comes on. Try using yours to set your
heating to come on before you wake up
so that the house is nice and warm, and then
to turn off 30 minutes before you leave the house. If you have
set a time pattern you are happy with but need an extra hour of
heat when your time pattern is at its off phase, then you can use
your boost button without having to change your settings.
Electric
Electric is more expensive to use than gas. If you have a gas
heating system, it is usually more cost-effective to use this than
using electric heaters.
Storage heaters and Economy 7
Storage heaters work by storing heat in a
well-insulated unit and releasing it slowly
throughout the next day. They are designed
to make the best use of cheap electricity that
is available at night time to customers that
are on deals known as Economy 7 or Economy 10.
If you only have electric at your property and have storage
heaters, then look at your last bill or ring your supplier to check
that you are on one of these deals, Ask them when your cheap
hours are active so you can make use of them by setting your
heating and hot water to use electric at this time.
*If you do not know how to use your controls, try searching for the model
number of your controller online to find the manual.
Be aware of boiler faults
If your heating has stopped working, please do
these simple checks before ringing us:
• Is your boiler switched on at the wall?
• Have you got credit on both of your pre-payment meters?
• Are your heating controls set correctly?
• Have you tried using the reset button?
• Is the boiler pressure too low or too high?
Some boilers have pressure indicators on them.
The indicator should be pointing to between
one and two like in the picture.
If you have done these checks and your heating and hot water
are still not working, then call the Contact Centre on 0330 355 1002
or log onto our website to book your repair. (See page 6 for more information)
Remember: If you have a gas service appointment make sure you have credit on your pre-payment meter when the
engineer turns up. If you don’t then the engineer may have to cap your meter until they can run the gas service.
0330 355 1002 11

HOME
Keep your home free
from condensation and
mould
Condensation can build up in your home, particularly in winter, but it can easily be prevented
and the mould it causes effectively removed.
What is condensation?
Condensation is caused when water vapour, which is always in the air, comes into contact with a cold surface like
windows, tiles or outside walls. This contact turns the water vapour into little drops of water, known as condensation.
Sounds harmless enough, so why is it a problem?
If condensation occurs and is not removed, these droplets of water can cause dampness and black mould growth in your
home. It tends to occur in corners, on outside walls, or behind cupboards; particularly in rooms you don’t often use.
How is this moisture produced?
Normal household activities (even breathing) produce moisture, which is held in the air. You won’t be able to see it, but it
can lead to condensation if you don’t do anything.
How many pints of water do everyday activities produce?
Having a bath or shower
Cooking and using the kettle
Family of four sleeping at night
Drying clothes inside or using
an unvented tumble dryer
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HOME
Tips & tricks
Here are some helpful tips for avoiding
condensation in the first place and what
to do if you already have it.
1. Cover pans on the cooker,
don’t leave kettles boiling and
remember to open kitchen
windows or use extractor fans
whilst cooking.
2. Dry washing outside or in
a closed bathroom with a
window open. Do not dry
clothes on radiators.
3. Put the outlet pipe of tumble
dryers through the outside wall,
not the window. If buying one,
a condenser type is best for
keeping moisture levels down.
4. Let warm air circulate by
pulling your furniture away from
walls and radiators. Don’t cover
radiators with curtains as the air
goes to the windows and not
into your room.
What if it’s too late?
Here’s what to do to reduce
condensation and remove mould
effectively when it has already formed.
• Wipe down windows and surfaces where water
has settled as this will prevent mould forming.
• If a few black spots of mould appear, clean them
immediately with a fungicidal wash as this will
prevent the need to redecorate. If you don’t take
any action, it can develop into a more serious
problem.
• Do not brush or vacuum mould as this can spread
mould spores and cause breathing problems.
• Mould is a living organism so requires proper
treatment to get rid of it permanently. The best
way to do this is by wiping down with an
approved for purpose fungicidal wash which has
an HSE approval number.
• Mildewed clothes should be thoroughly washed
and carpets shampooed.
5. Open windows on a regular
basis to air your home. Doubleglazed
windows can be locked
in a slightly open position that
keeps it secure, but still allows
air flow.
6. Open bathroom windows or
use an extractor fan when you
take a bath or shower. Make
sure you close the door to stop
moisture escaping into other
rooms.
7. Check your wardrobes or
cupboards aren’t overcrowded
and that air bricks, ventilators or
chimneys aren’t blocked. Good
air circulation is key.
8. Ensure all window vents
are kept open if you have them.
PLEASE NOTE
One Manchester can only be held
responsible for damp that has been caused
by a structural issue in your property.
Damp or condensation caused by normal
household activities is your responsibility.
If you call to report a mould growth
problem, we will check
whether it is a condensation
problem first.
0330 355 1002 13

A DAY IN THE LIFE
The man in the know at The Place
We visited venue manager Rob Willis
to find out what goes on at the thriving
library and community hub known as
The Place at Platt Lane.
Alongside some passionate and inspiring volunteers,
Rob embodies all that is great about The Place at Platt Lane
with his welcoming smile and customer-friendly attitude.
Whether people want to read a book, use the computer
facilities, attend the knitting group, children’s craft groups,
computer clubs, money or rent advice services, or even
sing with a local choir, The Place at Platt Lane has become
a hive of activity helping to unite the community.
Q So Rob, tell us about The Place
“The library opened in in 1932, but unfortunately due to
cut-backs closure was threatened more recently. As a vital
resource to the community, a group of local people formed
‘Friends of Fallowfield’ to organise meetings and add
pressure to the decision by the council. After a lot of work,
it was officially handed over to the community last year.”
Q
What activities will we find happening?
“We have funding for multifunctional use which allows a
range of organisations to book their sessions here. There’s
everything from English classes, the Credit Union, Citizens
Advice, story time for the little ones and a kid’s homework
club. We also have 14 public-access computers which are
available to use during library hours.”
Q
How does The Place run as a community
facility?
“We rely very much on volunteers and have had over 120
since we started. That can be anyone from the retired, people
looking for work experience, or those wanting to do it for
socialising reasons. Katie is the volunteer coordinator at One
Manchester and advertises and recruits volunteers for us.”
Q
What’s coming up for 2018?
“The biggest thing is the launch of the Community Grocer
working with Healthy Me Healthy Communities. We will
be using the upstairs of the building and have recruited
10 volunteers who have been given food safety training.
We have learnt a lot from the volunteer team over at
the Anson Community Grocer in Rusholme, and members
will have the same deal of paying £2.50 for £12 to £15
worth of food. Community Grocer is in addition to Fallowfield
& Withington Food Bank as both help massively to address
food poverty but help different people in different ways.”
To find out more please ring 0161 227 3744,
search for @ThePlaceM14 on Twitter or call in to
The Place at Platt Lane, Fallowfield, M14 7FB.
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What’s going on at...
EVENTS
There’s something for everyone, every day
of the week. It’s the place to be!
Monday
YouFirst South Manchester wellbeing sessions 1pm - 4pm
Forever Young
(A social get-together for older residents) 1pm - 3pm
Children’s Craft Club for aged 4+ 4.30pm - 5.30pm
(Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult)
Local councillors drop-in advice surgery 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Buzz MMHSC (NHS) wellbeing advisers
1-2-1 sessions Appointment - based
Tuesday
ABL Healthcare ‘Choose To Change’
(Fortnightly healthy lifestyle sessions)
11am - 4pm
Homework Club for children aged 8 to 16 3.30pm - 5pm
WEA Digital Photography courses 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Wednesday
ABL Healthcare ‘Enable’
(Healthy lifestyle sessions)
10.30am - 5pm
ABL Healthcare therapy and healthy lifestyle
1-2-1 sessions Appointment - based
Self Help Services
(Mental health support sessions)
9.30am - 4.30pm
Young Persons drop-in for teenagers aged 14 to 18
(Work, training & education advice) 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Rusholme & Fallowfield Foodbank
5pm - 6.30pm
Fallowfield Community Choir (fortnightly) 6.30pm - 8pm
Grateful Church service
6.30pm - 8.30pm
Thursday
South Manchester Credit Union
10am - 1pm
Citizens Advice
(Support includes completing benefit forms) 10am - 1pm
One Money debt & benefit adviser
1-2-1 sessions 10am - 4pm
Story Time
(For pre-school children with guardians) 10.30am - 11am
Job Club (Support with CVs, interviews,
job applications & Universal Job Match) 12.30pm - 3.30pm
Knitting Group
2.30pm - 4.30pm
Friday
Forever Young (Computer skills for mature adults)
Saturday
South Manchester Credit Union
Social Café
Sunday
Trinity Church service
Sai Baba Centre of Greater Manchester
New Destiny Church service
11am - 1pm
10am - 1pm
10am - 3pm
9am - 1pm
1.30pm - 4pm
5pm - 8pm
Supporting weight
management
Free weight management sessions are available throughout
Manchester, including weekly meet-ups at The Place at Platt Lane,
to help adults and families lose weight and lead healthier lives.
ABL Health, in partnership with Manchester City Council, run fun
and friendly sessions in the heart of the community. Experienced
lifestyle coaches are on-hand to encourage lifelong changes to
eating habits, help people overcome barriers to weight loss,
make sensible food choices and become more active.
To find out more please call 0161 393 7576 or visit
www.ablhealth.co.uk/manchester
0330 355 1002 15

BUSINESS
COMMUNITY SOUP WINNER ONE YEAR ON!
Open up to a world of imagination
A year on from the Gorton Imagination Library’s successful pitch
at a Community Soup, we caught up with the project to find out
how the funding has made a difference.
The Gorton Imagination Library is a book-gifting project with links to Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library which operates nationwide. Run entirely by a
team of dedicated volunteers, their aim is to send free books to children
every month from birth up until their fifth birthday.
Since the funding was awarded, the project has reached 142 children
under five years old living in Gorton. There are currently 4,090 children
in this age group in the area, and the long-term plan is for the project
to reach them all.
Parents of children already involved have expressed glowing praise for
the initiative.
“Whenever I read my child a story she will ask a lot of questions and wants
to know what will happen next”, one parent explained. “She will also sit
and read the story after she has heard it and read it to me.”
“Our English is not very good and we were worried about how we were
going to support our child reading the book, but the older siblings have
been reading the book with them and this has also helped both me and
my husband with our English.”
The project has now been awarded a further £2,000 as a result of
successfully pitching at a recent Community Soup. The additional funding
will allow them to register 16 newborn babies to the project with the aim
of encouraging a love of reading in the younger generation.
For more information contact Janet on 0161 245 7180, or visit
Gorton South or Gorton North Sure Start Children’s Centres.
Take care of business
Do you want improve your business skills and knowledge? We offer a series of free workshops
ideal for local small business owners and anyone looking to set up a new business.
Workshops & Events
Get your Business Started East Hub, Gorton Mon 29th Jan 10am - 4pm
Enterprise Drop-in The Place, Fallowfield Mon 12th Feb 2pm - 4pm
Start your Own Online Business The Place, Fallowfield Tues 13th Feb 10am - 3pm
Intermediate Social Media The Place, Fallowfield Tues 20th Feb 10am - 4pm
Marketing on a Shoestring East Hub, Gorton Fri 23rd Feb 10am - 4pm
Enterprise Drop-In The Place, Fallowfield Mon 12th Mar 2pm - 4pm
Enterprise Drop-In East Hub, Gorton Tues 13th Mar 2pm - 4pm
Selling Skills The Place, Fallowfield Fri 16th Mar 10am - 4pm
Intermediate Social Media The Place, Fallowfield Mon 20th Mar 10am - 4pm
Start your Own Online Business East Hub, Gorton Tues 21st Mar 10am - 3pm
We can help
you to develop your
marketing, selling skills and
social media techniques.
Call Wayne on
0161 227 1294
or email
wayne.wilson@
onemanchester.co.uk
16
@onemcr

Proud to be On Top of the World
PEOPLE
We were delighted to see the On Top of the World project gain some much-deserved recognition
at Manchester’s Be Proud Awards recently, winning in the Creativity in the Community category
for the great work involving One Manchester tower block residents over the last two years.
Run in collaboration with the Royal Exchange Theatre, the
project originally received £60,000 from the JP Getty Jnr
Charitable Trust for the three year project, and we recently
successfully pitched for funding to support additional arts
activities at the Hulme blocks. The pitch was put together by
Anne Finnegan who is one of our Cultural Ambassadors.
It has enabled tenants living in four high-rise blocks to
experience the benefits of arts and culture, with the aim
of enhancing their daily lives and reducing the levels of
isolation that can sometimes result from living in this type of
accommodation.
In September last year, a group of the project’s participants
stepped into the limelight to deliver a performance motivated
by the Grenfell Tower disaster called ‘Can You Hear Me from
Up Here?’. The aim of the performance was to highlight and
voice the concerns of residents living in high-rise blocks.
Tracie Daly from the Royal Exchange Theatre has been
instrumental in setting up the project and explained the
motivation for starting the group;
“When we first started the project, we found how
disconnected people were from their own communities,
living in isolation with no support networks in place. We’ve
been working with them on a weekly basis and they are now
taking part in these performances. It’s just brilliant to see.”
“The relationship-building and breaking through of the barriers
has increased the community spirit in the tower blocks. People
say they feel more connected and say hello to each other.
It’s really given them a fresh sense of purpose.”
Roy Steadman, a resident of Abbey Court for 22 years,
described the difference that he has noticed in his own life
since the project began.
“I think that laughter is one of the best medicines you can
have, and taking part in this group is bringing that out of us.
It’s making me feel like I’m not just a number. Before this I was
just the man who lived at number 44, but now my neighbours
know me as Roy. They’ll see me now and say hello, and ask me
how I’m doing. It’s making me feel a lot better.”
If you’d like to find out more about this project,
or discover other cultural opportunities near you
email culture@onemanchester.co.uk
Are you a One Manchester resident
wanting to experience the city’s culture?
Would you like to take part in the fun of the theatre, arts activities
or other fantastic cultural offerings across our great city?
We now have more opportunities for
you to become cultural ambassadors.
We work with first-class entertainment
and arts venues such as the Royal Exchange,
HOME and museums, along with many
other cultural providers.
By being a cultural ambassador you will…
★ Volunteer your time, ideas and feedback ★
★ Improve your health and wellbeing ★
★ Meet new people ★ Find new hobbies ★
★ Be at the heart of what’s happening in our communities ★
★ Contribute to shaping the future of One Manchester ★
Does this sound right up your street? Then get involved!
Email culture@onemanchester.co.uk
or phone 0330 355 1002 and ask for Phil Lukes.
0330 355 1002 17

PEOPLE
Support when you
need it - Jane’s * story
There are many reasons why somebody
might need support, as managing bills,
personal problems and work and health
issues can all affect a person’s wellbeing.
Jane, a One Manchester tenant who lives in Clayton, was
struggling to keep on top of her finances. After a member
of our income team paid her a visit it was quickly discovered
that she was also dealing with mental health problems.
“I’d had a few problems with bills and my rent”, Jane
explained. “I was getting lots of letters through the post
piling up. I’d recently lost my mum and dad, and now with
the bills, it was all getting too much for me. There was too
much stress and I just wanted to give up to be honest.”
“The rent officer who was dealing with my case at the time
recommended that I get in contact with Howard from the
support and wellbeing team because they had recognised
that I could do with some help.”
“I didn’t know that this service even existed before, and I
think I would probably have been too proud to get in contact
in the first place. When you have mental health problems it’s
very difficult to ask for the help that you really need.”
Howard was there for Jane to speak to about her problems
and listened to what she had to say. Together, they worked
through some of her problems and now things are looking
up.
“Without Howard and the team, I wouldn’t be here now, and
that’s the truth. The support he’s given me has saved my life.”
“The only thing I was thinking was ‘just give up’, and the
work I’ve been doing with Howard has got me back on track.
He never judges me and I always feel comfortable talking
with him about my problems. Now I feel confident to reach
out to Howard if I need to talk, and I know he’ll always listen
to me and it really helps me a lot.”
*Jane’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
Do you or
anyone you know
need help or advice?
Our support and wellbeing team are
available to advise, support and guide
vulnerable tenants to successfully
manage their lives and tenancies.
If you are struggling and feel like you need help, you
can contact the service directly or, with your consent,
a member of our staff, a relative or carer can make
contact on your behalf. A Support & Wellbeing
Coordinator will firstly arrange an assessment and
residents can receive support either within their own
home or from a local office.
The help and guidance of the team is available to all
One Manchester residents and includes:
• Parenting skills & promoting school attendance
• Motivation & taking responsibility
• Self-care & living skills
• Social networks & relationships
• Isolation & meaningful use of time
• Drug & alcohol misuse
• Physical, emotional & mental health
• Promoting employment & training
• Managing tenancy & accommodation
• Offending
You can contact the service directly using the details
below or, with your consent, a member of our staff,
a relative or carer can make contact on your behalf.
A referral may also be made by an Early Help Hub
or outside agency e.g. the Community Alcohol team.
Drop-in sessions are available in four locations:
Monday 9am -12pm: Worsley & Platt Court, Rusholme
Wednesday 9am -12pm: Cundiff Court, Levenshulme
Thursday 1pm - 4pm: The Place, Fallowfield
Friday 9am -12pm: Abbey Court, Gorton
Call our Support &Wellbeing team on
0330 355 1002, Monday to Friday, 8am-5.30pm
or email the team at
supportandwellbeing@onemanchester.co.uk
18
@onemcr

Have you heard?
Once a month the Sunday Assembly celebrates
communities coming together with the motto
‘Live better, help often, wonder more’.
Each assembly has a theme and includes everyone singing
together (famous pop songs played by a live band), listening
to inspiring talks and generally having some fun!
It’s a great place to meet new people, chat and
talk about the issues raised whilst enjoying tea,
coffee and cake.
If you would like to go but are worried
about going alone or not sure it’s for you,
contact Lesley who can arrange transport
to take you the first time, meet you there
and show you the ropes.
Contact Lesley on 0161 230 1013 or email
customerinvolvement@onemanchester.co.uk
MANCHESTER
Join the FREE fun at
Manchester Museum
Second Sunday
of every month
11am-1pm
PEOPLE
Community crafts
An initiative to provide activities
in the community to increase
skills, improve wellbeing and
reduce isolation is making a real
difference to people in south
Manchester.
HerArt use art and crafts as a tool to devise
unique projects that develop self-belief,
self-confidence and build self-esteem.
The accredited courses and arts and crafts
workshops are delivered to marginalised
groups living in disadvantaged communities.
Drop-in sessions are at Moss Side
Children’s Centre every
Friday between 1pm-4pm.
Can you help?
Medicines and treatments that help people live better and longer today
all came about because of research.
If you or someone you care for has experienced cancer, or a condition
that affects the hearing, skin, breathing, muscles or joints, then
you can help improve the treatments of tomorrow. By sharing your
experiences and telling us what you think about the research we do
and how we do it, you can make a real difference.
There are lots of ways to get involved including phone surveys,
Facebook group chats and face-to-face groups. We can help with
transport and care costs and you’ll be given up to £40 in cash or
shopping vouchers, depending on your involvement, as a thank you.
To find out more contact our friendly team at:
0161 276 6614 publicprogrammes@mft.nhs.uk
PublicProgrammesTeam
@researchdialog
0330 355 1002 19

PEOPLE
A much needed boost for Sue
One South Manchester resident has been singing the praises of a mental wellbeing course
she recently attended following a recommendation from a friend.
Sue enquired about Boost, a six-week course provided by
NHS and Buzz Manchester Health & Wellbeing Service,
after a chat on a coach trip, and believes the sessions have
changed her life.
For two hours each week, the sessions look at ways to
manage stress, recognise and manage thoughts, improve
communication and explore self-esteem and assertiveness.
“I’m a people pleaser and find it hard to say no” says Sue.
“Being all things to all people was having an affect on me and
my relationship. My mum died five years ago and I never got
over her death. I realised I was burnt out.”
Sue’s new lease of life has given her a different perspective on
matters that had previously become stressful,
“The sessions have given me the confidence to take control of
my life and the pieces of the jigsaw have joined together. I now
know it’s okay not to be okay. I looked forward to the sessions
and I still get the book out. I’ve since joined a knitting group
and a reading group and am about to start volunteering at the
Royal Exchange.”
Customer Involvement Coordinator Wendy (below) has taken
the course herself so has personally seen the benefits.
”There is a connection and bond from day one. The sessions
give you a different perspective and allow you to open up
in a non-judgmental environment. The team are also able to
accommodate different lifestyle needs as the course
is tailored to fit around your life, and transport
is offered if needed” says Wendy.
If you or somebody
you know would like
to know more about
Boost contact Wendy on
0161 230 1083 or email
customerinvolvement@
onemanchester.co.uk
Do you need help
to read or write?
We have champions in the community
who can help people to have the
confidence to read.
We are here to support adults who struggle with their
reading and writing. Perhaps you have a parent, relative or
a friend who has had difficulties and always asks for help.
They might even find ways to avoid reading and writing.
Do you know someone who:
• Struggles with their reading?
• Does not like to fill in forms?
• Pretends they have forgotten their glasses
when they need to read?
• Never reads a newspaper or magazine?
Please note this support is not a language service
and not open to people in any form of education.
For more information contact the team on
0161 230 1013.
20
@onemcr

PEOPLE
Manchester children
need foster carers
Fostering can mean taking in a child for
a couple of nights, several months, or even
having a child living with you for many years.
Fostered children and young people can’t live at home for
a variety of reasons - such as their parents might be ill
or going through a particularly difficult time.
By fostering you’ll make a real difference to children
and young people by making them feel safe
and secure, offering them a home and support
at a time when they need it most.
Manchester City Council will provide you
with an expert social worker, regular home
visits, support and development, training,
get-togethers with other foster carers, groups
for your own kids so they don’t feel left out
and 24/7 help at the end of a phone.
They offer generous allowances
(around £380 per week, tax-free
for one child) and pay for extras
such as holidays and school uniforms.
They particularly want to hear from you if you
have childcare or parenting experience, and if you
would consider fostering teenagers or sibling groups.
Visit manchester.gov.uk/fostering or call the friendly team on 0800 988 8931.
Have you got time to help others get online?
Could you offer a little time to help others get to grips with computer skills?
We’re recruiting Digital Champions to support people in the community
who struggle with the online world.
Whether it’s sending emails, searching the internet or typing
a letter, you could make a real difference to somebody’s life.
You would work with a learner on a 1-to-1 basis for a six-week
period and each session would be tailored to the individual
wishing to learn.
Digital Champions are non-professional learning mentors
who care about people and would like to share their
knowledge with others wanting to gain digital skills.
If you would like to find out more
call Wendy on 0161 230 1013 or email
customerinvolvement@onemanchester.co.uk
0330 355 1002 21

ADVICE
It’s never too late
to start saving!
Do you think that saving is what other
people do, or don’t see the point in keeping
some money aside?
It’s good to have a goal - a holiday, new furniture or something
new for you. Even the smallest amount can be handy when you
need to find money in an emergency. And saving is much easier
than you think! Savings apps are the latest way to save small
amounts each week, month or whenever you can.
Money Box
This rounds up anything you spend, swiping the difference
to your savings or investment account e.g. spend £2.40
on a coffee and it will transfer the 60p balance to your account.
Please note as your money goes into an investment account, your savings
can go up as well as down but you can control the level of risk.
www.moneyboxapp.com
Oval Money
A savings and financial education app which integrates with
Facebook, allowing users to contribute to their savings each
time they post on social media.
www.ovalmoney.com
Bank savings apps
Some banks have similar ways of saving such as Lloyds ‘Save the
Change’, which also allows you to put the savings into someone
else’s account to help them save. Check it out at:
www.lloydsbank.com/savings/save-the-change.asp
Ask your employer
Your employer might have a savings scheme. This could come
out of your wages.
Credit Union
Once you start saving you will be able to access low cost loans
should the worse happen. Even when you are repaying the loan
you will be contributing to your savings pot, so eventually you
shouldn’t need to borrow. What a great feeling!
www.manchestercreditunion.co.uk
www.smcreditunion.co.uk
Budgeting
Cutting down on your spending is the ideal way to save money.
Our Super Savvy Spending Diary will help you find out where
your money is going and how you can start to save. Call us or
search for Super Savvy Spending Diary on our website.
If you’re cooking on a budget, find the cheapest supermarket at
www.mysupermarket.co.uk
They serve us right
During our Community Soups we have
proudly worked with Back on Track,
a charity who support people that
have experienced problems including
homelessness, drug and alcohol issues,
and mental health problems.
Their café and catering service offer cookery skills to
help their volunteers find their way into employment.
Back on Track have kindly provided their very own tasty
Chicken Masala recipe for you to try.
Chicken Masala
Ingredients
500g boneless chicken
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 tbsp ginger & garlic paste
½ can or 3 fresh chopped
tomatoes
½ cup yoghurt
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp paprika
¼ tsp turmeric
1 ½ tsp coriander
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garam masala
Salt to taste
6 tbsp oil or clarified butter
½ cup chopped fresh coriander
¾ fresh green chillies chopped
(optional)
Method
• Heat oil in a pan. When hot add the onion, ginger and
garlic paste then fry until golden brown.
• Now add half a cup of water, the chilli powder, turmeric,
cumin, coriander and salt, and fry for one minute.
• Add tomatoes and stir for 10 minutes or until the oil
comes out, all the water is gone and tomatoes are soft.
• Add chicken and fry it with masala for five minutes or
until all the water from the chicken has gone.
• Add yoghurt and fry until it has gone and you can see
the oil.
• Now add ½ cup of water, garam masala, coriander
and green chillies. Lower heat, cover pan and cook for
15 minutes.
• Serve hot with rice or naan bread.
Our One Money team can provide individual advice
on managing your money, simply call 0330 355 1002.
22

Your quick guide to how well we did
during July to September 2017
Below are the top 10 performance indicators which were selected as the most important
by members of our Scrutiny Panel. The panel is a group of customers and members of the
wider community whose role is to challenge us to be the best we can and to help us to
continue to improve in all we do.
Amount of rent we have collected*
We missed our target but the trend represents an ongoing improvement
compared to the previous year thanks to a number of initatives, including
more efficient and modern ways of working.
(This includes payments made for rents as well as arrears, which is why the result can sometimes be higher than 100%)
Percentage of homes available to new tenants*
Fewer properties continue to be available, with only 246 new lettings,
compared with 249 during the same period of time in the previous year.
Average number of bids for each property
advertised on Manchester Move
Demand for our properties continues to increase and reflects the
need for more housing in the city.
Time to re-let properties once tenancy has ended
Relet times have increased slightly as resources were diverted to
support safety works during this period.
LAST YEAR TARGET JUL - SEP 2017
98.57%
100.5% 98.90%
2.17% 2.50% 2.13%
132 90 164
18.99 days 17.00 days 21.67 days
Calls answered within 20 seconds
Ongoing improvements in the contact centre’s performance
earned a result much closer to target.
74.22%
80% 70.25%
Number of formal stage 1 complaints received
The number of complaints received matches the equivalent point last year.
Each case is taken seriously and used to help us improve our services.
10
Not
applicable 10
Emergency repairs completed within 24 hours
Performance has improved steadily since the start of the year and is
expected to continue as we enhance our internal processes.
Repair appointments missed because we couldn’t
access the property
A high number of repair appointments could not be completed as
we could not gain access. We are therefore reviewing how we notify
customers about their appointment.
Not
available
Not
available
100% 97.32%
6.00% 14.53%
Properties with a valid Gas Safety Certificate
All properties had a valid gas safety certificate at the end of September.
99.9% 100% 100%
Properties sold through Right to Buy or Acquire
We have sold a similar number of properties to the same point last year
and aim to build 250 new properties by March 2018.
28
Not
applicable
27
*Result relates to April to September 2017
23

Are Are you ready for for the the NEW
Universal Credit?
step step 1 1
Get a bank or credit
Get a bank or credit
union account -
union account -
make sure you have
make sure you have
the right account
the right account
for payments.
for payments.
From
25 From October 2017
25 October Alexandra 2017 Park JCP
Alexandra Didsbury Park JCP JCP
Didsbury Rusholme JCP JCP
Rusholme JCP
From
29 From November 2017
29 November Newton Heath 2017 JCP
Newton Openshaw Heath JCP JCP
Openshaw JCP
From
From January 2018
January Longsight 2018 JCP
Longsight JCP
step step 2 2
Back cover - Welfare reform advert TBS
Get online -
Get online -
you will need an
you will need an
email address and
email address and
internet access.
internet access.
Most
Most
benefits
benefits
are
are
being
being
replaced
replaced
with
with
Universal
Universal
Credit.
Credit.
This
This
will
will
be
be
paid
paid
to you
to you
in a
in
single
a single
monthly
monthly
payment
payment
and
and
will
will
include
include
your
your
housing
housing
costs.
costs.
Therefore
Therefore
you
you
will
will
need
need
to budget
to budget
your
your
money
money
and
and
arrange
arrange
payment
payment
of rent
of rent
to your
to your
landlord.
landlord.
If you
If you
are
are
already
already
claiming
claiming
benefits
benefits
you
you
will
will
be
be
told
told
when
when
you
you
need
need
to apply
to apply
for
for
Universal
Universal
Credit.
Credit.
Bee
Bee
ready
ready
for
for
the
the
change…
change…
Find
Find
out
out
how
how
you
you
might
might
be
be
affected
affected
and
and
what
what
you
you
can
can
do
do
about
about
it.
it.
Visit
Visit
www.onemanchester.co.uk/welfare-reform
www.onemanchester.co.uk/welfare-reform
Alternatively
Alternatively
contact
contact
our
our
One
One
Money
Money
team
team
on
on
0330
0330
355
355
1001
1001
or email
or email
onemoney@onemanchester.co.uk
onemoney@onemanchester.co.uk
Read Read our our
article article on on
page page 8 8
step step 3 3
Get your ID ready -
Get your ID ready -
make sure you have
make sure you have
the correct ID.
the correct ID.
If you’re not sure,
If you’re not sure,
check with your
check with your
Jobcentre.
Jobcentre.
money
money
#BeeReady
#BeeReady