Organisation: Whalley Range Community Forum (WRCF)
Location: JNR8 Youth & Community Centre, 82 Cromwell Avenue Whalley Range, Manchester M16 0BG
Pay: £14.00/hr (£8,736/yr | FTE £25,480)
Hours: 12 hours/week (flexible between 09:30–16:30)
Reporting to: Board of Trustees / Community Development Worker
Whalley Range Community Forum is a local charity looking for a reliable, organised, and friendly Office Administrator to help run our busy community hub and support our small team.
Key Responsibilities:
Welcome visitors, handle general enquiries, and manage room bookings.
Assist Trustees with setting up Trustee meetings and bi-monthly public residents’ meetings.
Handle basic financial tasks, including cash handling and invoice processing.
Provide general administrative and office support for events, projects, and local communications.
Requirements:
Strong organisational and communication skills.
Proficient with Microsoft Office and day-to-day office IT.
Friendly, approachable, and comfortable working independently or as part of a small team.
How to Apply:
Please see the attached Job Description/Person Specification and Application Form for full details.
Regular walks can help reduce stress, boost mood, improve heart health, and increase overall fitness—all while enjoying the company of others. Hough End Leisure Centre are now running Wellness Walks, designed for all abilities! Meet at 10am on Wednesdays at the centre and join them for an outdoor walk to enjoy fresh air and walking to local green spaces, perfect for relaxation and connection with nature.
Walking with others makes it easier to stay motivated and build healthy habits. No sign-up needed however you can book online or via the link below or on BetterUK app or just turn up and walk your way to better well-being for free. Hough End Leisure Centre, 480 Princess Road, M20 1HD. www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/manchester/news/boost-your-health-with-wellness-walks
Overcoming Worry Workshop
NHS Manchester Talking Therapies are running six weekly sessions on how to overcome worry. The course is a 6-week online CBT-based programme delivered by Manchester Talking Therapies via Microsoft Teams. Learn about anxiety and unhelpful thinking; Build relaxation skills; Practice problem-solving and mindfulness; Gain tools to manage setbacks and maintain progress.
Ask your GP for a referral or visit their website to sign up.
Walking Mums Club is now in Alexandra Park every Tuesday at 11:30am!
Join a friendly group of local mums for fresh air, gentle exercise, good chats, and real connection. Walk, talk, laugh, and share your journey — pre or post-partum. Meet outside the Pavilion Café and stick around after for a brew!
EMAIL US/CALL US TO BOOK YOUR PLACE: SEE POSTER FOR CONTACT DETAILS
JNR8 (pronounced generate) is a warm and welcoming space for our community to meet with others, and on Fridays you are welcome to drop in to our Warm Hub, have a cuppa and a crumpet/piece of toast, fruit – and soup and a roll when the weather is colder!
Visit a warm space near you: meet people, enjoy a hot meal, get advice.
Whalley Range Community Forum Warm Welcome Space page:
Chorlton’s Repair Café takes place on the second Saturday of every month from 10am to 12 noon at St Margaret’s Centre, Brantingham Road, M21 0TT. The friendly volunteers fix and repair electricals, bikes, lamps, household items, toys and more for free. They save around 60-70% of items brought in from being thrown away. If you have skills that you think would be helpful and would like to volunteer please contact chorltonrepaircafe@gmail.com
News from the Friends of Alexandra Park…
The Friends and Café Bembe are joining forces to help park users give an approved type of food to the birds that live on the Lake. The food chosen is called “Duck and Swan Mix” from Vine Farms, an established supplier of specialised bird foods.
People will be guided by a notice at the Lake side to go to the Café and ask at the counter for a small paper bag of food. In this pilot stage of the arrangements, they will be asked to make a small donation for each bag.
On receiving the bag the Café staff will also give the person guidance on how and where to throw the food so that the wildfowl gets it rather than the pigeons.
A place to belong, make friends and have a place to talk… WEDNESDAY YOUTH NIGHTS | 7 – 8.30pm St Werburgh’s Chorlton
This weekly, free youth club is open for young people of all backgrounds in secondary school.
Keen to come join? It’s easy. All the info and consent forms on our website. www.stwchorlton.org/youth Or if you’re getting dropped off we’ve got paper copies for parents to fill out too.
We can’t wait to see you!
https://www.facebook.com /TalkCleanAirWR
Health & Wellbeing
This exciting new social group for people with leg conditions and those who are feeling isolated is on Wednesdays at JNR8 from 11:45-1:30pm
Who’s who at your GP practice
Our campaign aims to improve the understanding of the different professionals working in a general practice, including the skills, experience and benefits that different roles bring to patient care.
We want to help you understand what different members of the general practice team do and why you may be seen by someone other than a GP.
Plans for Russell Road, including the first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority Extra Care scheme in the UK, are now moving forward following the recent appointment of Great Places Housing Group as the new preferred provider.
The Extra Care scheme will form part of the new development on the site of the former Spire Hospital. It will offer affordable self-contained homes for people aged 55+ with access to flexible care and support services on-site if needed, enabling residents to keep their independence and stay in their home if their care needs change. All partners involved are delighted that the project is moving ahead. This is a great opportunity to develop and deliver a Centre of Excellence in Manchester providing safe, respectful and identity confirming Independent Living and Extra Care services for the LGBTQ+ community.
Co-production will be a key part of the scheme’s development. Great Places is working in close partnership with the Community Steering Group (made up of representatives from the local, LGBTQ+ and older people’s communities), LGBT Foundation and Manchester City Council to ensure the scheme achieves its agreed purpose and creates a lasting positive addition to Whalley Range. The Community Steering Group is already meeting with the project team. Initial meetings included a walkabout of the local area to look at how the scheme will fit in with existing buildings and architecture and to map out the existing nearby amenities and services. Planned future sessions include a visit to Elmswood Park Extra Care Scheme, and a trip to the LGBT Foundation Archive at Central Library. These sessions will form an important part of informing the co-production process as the Steering Group works with Great Places to develop design proposals for the planned development.
We also anticipate that site surveys and investigations will also begin at Russell Road in August, so neighbours are likely to see activity on the site at that time. As the project progresses, we will provide further updates, sharing proposed plans with the local community ahead of sending these for planning permission later in the year.
If you’re interested in becoming involved in this exciting project, the Community Steering Group is looking to expand its membership and particularly wants to expand the diversity and inclusion of the group. For more information on how you can get involved contact Adam Preston from LGBT Foundation at adam.preston@lgbt.foundation
Welcome to Greater Manchester Mature Minds Matter!
The purpose of our network is to ensure the voice of older people with lived experience of mental health are able to use their experiences to influence the transformation of mental health support across Greater Manchester.
We are here to join up existing networks and recruit individual members to act as experts by experience and leaders to inform issues around age-appropriateness, awareness, language, stigma, access and interventions. We aim to support and empower individuals and provide lived experience expertise to various projects across Greater Manchester such as complex emotional needs, eating disorders and self-harm.
We recently renamed our network from the Greater Manchester Older People’s Mental Health Network to Greater Manchester Mature Minds Matter.
We are always looking for people to join our growing network, so if you are interested and would like to learn more or have an informal conversation, please contact sophie@macc.org.uk or call
0161 834 9823.
Sport/Active Lifestyle
Support
Our mobile food clubs give access to nutritious and affordable food taken into the heart of communities starved of money, food and resources. This low cost weekly shop provides essential produce for family eating – fresh fruit and veg, fridge favourites and cupboard staples.
The group run local events and activities in Chorlton and Whalley Range to raise the profile of what it means to live with Dementia, and support family and carers who can often become very isolated.
One of the most recent activities has been to collaborate with some local carers and create a set of leaflets about Behaviour Change that comes with Dementia – people often think of Dementia being mainly about memory loss but actually the changes in behaviour that usually come with Dementia can be far more difficult to accept, as people can become quite different (in likes, dislikes and temperament) from the person you used to know.
Dementia and Behaviour Change
We’ve created 3 new leaflets, all of which are focused on people with dementia who change their behaviour over time and what to do. The first leaflet is a general leaflet for anyone. The second is for people who look after someone with dementia and the third is for friends, family and neighbours and why it is important to keep contact.
The leaflets also contain useful information and contacts.
This is the general leaflet for anyone who wants to know more about dementia and behaviour change.
Previous publication from the Chorlton and Whalley Range Dementia Action Group in 2020…
#10BigIdeas
The Chorlton and Whalley Range Dementia Action Group has the ambition of making where we live a great place to be for people living with dementia, and their carers and families. Although Dementia is mostly associated with older age, there are also 40,000 people with young-onset dementia in the UK. If 1 in every 14 of the population aged 65 years and over is living with dementia the chances are that you know someone or live close to someone who has dementia.
Chorlton and Whalley Range Dementia Action Group was started in 2016 by two local people who have some personal experience of dementia. Four years later we are a small but enthusiastic group of local residents and professionals that meet monthly and our recent work has focussed on creating a booklet entitled ’10 Big Ideas for Making Our Community a Better Place for People Living with Dementia’. Research shows that well-resourced neighbourhoods allow people living with dementia to get out and about; maintain connections with people outside of their family; and play an active role in the social life of local places (Dr Sarah Campbell, Dementia and Ageing Research Team, the University of Manchester). The #10BigIdeas booklet is designed to spark community interest and really encourage people to think about how they can play their part in helping to shape neighbourhoods, ensuring that physical spaces, groups and activities are accessible to all; including people living with dementia.
The Dementia Action Group really hope that #10BigIdeas will start conversations in your local community groups, streets and neighbourhoods about how we can all make a difference, and open up opportunities for people living with dementia. What ideas can you try?
Click on the picture to read the booklet…
(Information posted on this website does not necessarily reflect the views of the Whalley Range Community Forum/Age-friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton)
The Whalley Range Community Forum have drawn together ‘a Statement of Intent’ for solidarity, support and actions within our community. We aim to share the statement with as many people as possible within Whalley Range, via local groups, mutual aid/street groups etc.
Many of us are feeling vulnerable, shocked and angry about recent events and the ongoing situation.
Our common aim is to strengthen relationships in our community and to feel reassured by working together.
This page on our website is dedicated to the Statement of Intent and this action – and if any groups would like to share the actions they are taking, please email WRCF – and we will add to the page.
The page will also feature links to wider support and information.
Please send this message through all your networks and share with others
Wider community statements and support links coming soon…
A message to communities from Greater Manchester Police
We understand the uncertainty and worry that people are feeling about current tension, much of which is being fuelled by the widespread sharing of misinformation online which is sometimes being created with the purpose of creating fear and inciting intolerable hate.
Our advice to communities is to remain calm and to try to go about your everyday life. GMP continues to monitor the intelligence to ensure we can respond effectively to any incidents of disorder. And, if we believe there needs to be specific information about anything emerging we will tell people and offer advice.
We are heavily resourced, and we have specialist officers and staff who are working around the clock to tackle these issues and ensure our communities are supported. We are speaking to community leaders and elected representatives regularly to make sure they are apprised of all planned protests known to GMP. People living safely and peacefully, do not deserve to be frightened: we are here to protect you, and we will use all resources and capabilities to do so.
Our message is clear: there is no place for hate in Greater Manchester. If you come here to willingly participate in disorder and crime, we will be at your door, ensuring you answer for your crimes. We will police without fear or favour and use all resources and powers available to ensure those involved in this disgraceful behaviour are dealt with robustly.
This has been demonstrated with our relentless pursuit of offenders, many of whom have been arrested not only in Greater Manchester, but with the support of police colleagues across the UK and we have made crucial arrests in West Yorkshire and Lancashire.
To date, we have made 26 arrests for a variety of offences including assault, violent disorder, possession of weapons, and 20 have been charged. There is work to be done, and we will not relent until we have systematically located and dealt with all those responsible.
We ask that you remain vigilant. If you see something, or hear something, that does not feel right, report it to us so we can act.
All information and reports will be handled with the utmost severity and sensitivity. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, information can be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111. We don’t need to know who you are; we just need your information and concerns.
These are challenging times, but we are immensely proud to see the majority of our residents standing together and condemning this unacceptable disorder. Your unwavering support has not gone unnoticed.
ComeandvisitJNR8atthetimeslistedbelow – toseethewonderfulworkcreatedaspartofthisyear’sWhalley Range Celebrate Festival!
Featuring work from our pre-festival workshops, the Festival day, previous festivals – and including creative creations from Manley Park Church and other local artists!
Come and join the Communi-Tea Party on Saturday from 12-3pm for art, music and food!
Celebrate Festival 12-6 pm onSaturday June 8th 2024!
Celebrate will be held at Manley Park on June 8th 12-6pm – with lots going on for everyone!
Click below to view the Celebrate Programme for 2024
Workshops,2 stages of Live Music,Displays,Performance,Market & Information Stalls,Inflatables,Climbing Wall,Food & Drink, Health & Wellbeing, Age-friendly information,Cost of Living and housing advice, Health checks, Tai Chi,Environmental & Climate news, meet MCC Neighbourhood Team, Face painting, Henna, Community Groups,Big Bike Revival Fix & Ride area: Win a Bike! and of course plenty of… ICE CREAM!!
Plus lots, lots more!!!
We also have some free pre-festival workshops and a performance for you to attend! Come along to create something to display at Celebrate on June 8th
Our theme this year is ‘Crossing Oceans’
At the festival, immerse yourself in artist Lotte Karlsen’s “Oceanic Currents” installation – large turquoise fabric panels evoking the powerful, yet serene flow of the sea’s perpetual currents suspended from trees. This ethereal fabric atmosphere draws from the delicate, minimalist beauty of traditional Japanese ink wash paintings depicting marine environments.
The festival atmosphere is further enlivened by Karlsen’s eye-catching promotional poster, vividly blending a traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock style with modern, swirling waves in brilliant hues reminiscent of the island nation’s legacy of vivid mineral pigments.
Watch this space for news of our pre-festival workshops and more details of our festival attractions and delights!
We are always looking for Volunteers…
Celebrate festival – Getting involved
Hello All
The Celebrate festival organisers are requesting volunteers to help with this year’s event on June 8th at Manley Park – with the theme ‘Crossing Oceans’
If anyone is interested in getting involved, this could be in a range of ways:
– volunteering on the day e.g. a spell on the gate, volunteers food etc
Also – if anyone is interested in hosting a community stall to promote your local group or pay a small fee to run a stall selling craft items etc – contact Verity – the Celebrate Coordinator – at celebratewhalleyrange@gmail.com
Whalley Range Community Forum and Whalley Range Youth Opportunity Association invite you to join them at
Celebrate Festival 2024 ‘Crossing Oceans’
Saturday 8th June 12 noon – 6pm
Manley Park, Clarendon Rd, Whalley Range, M16 0AS
June 8th is UN Day of Oceans and our theme this year is ‘Crossing Oceans’, celebrating the diversity of Whalley Range and exploring wider climate issues. We look forward to seeing how our artists, performers and stall holders explore these ideas.
This is the 27th Celebrate Festival and our principles remain the same.
We bring together a wide range of community partners in Whalley Range to put on an exciting day of free activities celebrating the very best of our fantastic community, with a focus on fun, creativity and wellbeing, but also looking at serious issues. In the run up to the event we run workshops and pop up events in schools and a wide range of community settings.
The festival is run by volunteers from the community and staff from WRCF and WRYOA, working with partners from other local groups, businesses, schools and statutory services. However we are grateful for the professional assistance of our project coordinators and artists.
Our Festival Coordinator this year is Verity Gardner and our Music Programmers are Chia Norris and Ben Price.
The festival is made possible by donations from individuals and local businesses, fundraising by volunteers and grants from funders including National Lottery Awards for All and Manchester City Council.
The Aims of Celebrate:
To celebrate the talent, diversity and resources of Whalley Range
To promote positive image and improve quality of life in Whalley Range
To encourage participation of different communities within the area and work from an anti-discriminatory framework.
Celebrate is a separately constituted sub group of Whalley Range Youth Opportunities Association, an organisation made up of representatives of local groups e.g. Friends of Manley Park, WRYOA, Whalley Range Community Forum and others.
Celebrate Festival is our annual volunteer led event held in Whalley Range – traditionally on May Day.
See what the community thinks about Celebrate – and take a look at photos, videos, posters and programmes from Celebrate over the years – all the way back to 1998!
The aims of the group are to:-
– Celebrate the talent, diversity and resources of Whalley Range
– Promote a positive image of the area and improve the quality of life
– Encourage participation of the different communities within the area,
– Work in an anti-discriminatory and inclusive way (i.e. be low cost and barrier free).
The event is held in partnership between Whalley Range Youth Opportunities Association and the Whalley Range Community Forum.
We are committed to working with everyone in the community – especially newly established groups who have been supported to develop by the Forum and that all groups are represented to celebrate our diversity and showcase our local talent, building and maintaining links across the community.
We strive to challenge any negative perceptions people may have with regard to Whalley Range by encouraging active cross cultural community involvement in our age-friendly festival events, workshops and activities,strengthening community cohesion and encouraging participation from residents from all of the diverse cultures that exist within our ward.
A consultation was circulated about Celebrate: some of the responses are below.
Q1: How does the Celebrate Festival bring the Whalley Range community together?
Q2: Why is an event that brings members of a very diverse community together important?
An event which caters for all ages, young, old and in-between! One that has activities that are attractive to a wide range of cultures and interest groups.
Something for everybody. One of the highlights of the Whalley Range year.
Whalley Range has a diverse society, lots of religions and cultures and Celebrate Festival reflects this.
it brings rich, poor, middle-class, working-class, young and old together and those from other ethnic minorities besides English.
This is an opportunity for the vast number of small voluntary and community groups to showcase what they are involved in and promote their activities.
It a chance for neighbours to get together in an informal way. With so many people leading busy lives, it really wonderful to see everyone from across the community in the same place enjoying the activities, information sharing and each other company.
Community cohesion and integration must be encouraged to avoid people feeling isolated, abandoned and rejected. Events like this promote community cohesion.
In diverse communities like Whalley Range it is often not the case that people from the diverse range all get along. Often the different groups are isolated from each other and never really mix. Events like this are a good way to get people from the wide range of groups to talk to each other and share commonalities as well as celebrate difference.
It inclusive, everyone has a chance to get involved and it a chance to participate in free workshops
Celebrate is an ideal platform for local community groups to host a stall to promote themselves and get people involved in having a say in their community
The Whalley Range Community Forum, MICRA, Manchester University and Age-friendly Whalley Range/Chorlton provided lots of information, activities, refreshments, arts and crafts and entertainment at this year Celebrate Festival on July 16th 2016 at Manley Park. Read the Report here: age-friendly-marquee-celebrate-reportRead More…
Celebrate 2015 Festival Report “Our 18th Celebrate Festival took place on Saturday June 27th, 2015, with the theme Light up Your Life – in recognition of the global International Year of Light Festival 2015. We are grateful to Rev. Robert Boulter for agreeing to let us hold Celebrate 2015Read More…
Firstly: Thank you so much to everyone who pledged their support! The community response to our crowdfunding project to fund some of the Celebrate Festival costs for 2015 was amazing! We raised an incredible £2,326 in pledges from members of the community, businesses and local groups! This went towardsRead More…
We have reached our Spacehive crowdfunding target! Thanks to all of our fantastic supporters. Report coming soon! Whalley Range Community Forum Whalley Range youth Opportunities Association Your Housing Group: Cash4Communities Rev. Robert Boulter: St Margaret Centre & Playing Fields Arawak Walton Mosscare Housing Group Read More…
To celebrate International Year of Light, we have six themes to the Festival Performance/Information stalls/marquees/displays: The light fantastic: dance, performance, music, movement, exercise, visual light show the light touch: technology, computers, photography, healing and therapy, health and well-being I see the light: celebrating diversity: representation from all of the faithRead More…
Q1: How does the Celebrate Festival bring the Whalley Range community together? Q2: Why is an event that brings members of a very diverse community together important? • An event which caters for all ages, young, old and in-between! One that has activities that are attractive to aRead More…
We are launching our Spacehive Crowdfunding project for Celebrate very soon! See the preview of the Celebrate Anthem above! And here are the lyrics so you can sing along!! “We’ve danced, jumped, skipped, drummed, played, talked and sang, eaten, shared, joked, laughed, made food, music, conversation and plans, Climbed
For residents who are entitled to Housing Benefit or the Housing Element on Universal Credit, discretionary payments may be available to help if you are struggling to pay your rent. Find out more and apply for Discretionary Housing payments
If you’re being resettled or supported to move out of temporary accommodation, the Welfare Provision Scheme might be able to help you with basic furnishings for your new home. No cash awards will be made available and, due to the limited funding available and high level of expected claims, only essential needs will be met, unless there are exceptional circumstances. All furniture or goods provided by the Scheme will:
Be of good quality
Be covered by a supplier warranty
Be delivered to and, where applicable, installed at the address provided
Meet all current regulations including fire protection; all electrical goods will conform to legislation relating to domestic electrical appliances within the UK.
This will be a one off non repayable grant of up to £49 to support residents with an emergency fuel purchase. This would be normally paid via a PayPoint payment that when collected at the retail unit is transferred to the utility account. Find out more and apply for a fuel grant
Travel Grants
Provision of a one off non repayable amount equivalent to the most economic cost of public transport to and from the resident’s home address for the first four weeks of employment (for example to purchase a bus pass). Find out more and apply for a travel grant
Cash Grants
This will be a one off non repayable grant of between £30 and £60 to support residents following an emergency or crisis. This would be normally received via a PayPoint payment that can be collected at a PayPoint retail unit. Find out more and apply for a cash grant
Free School Meals
Free school meals are available to all pupils in reception, year one and two. If you qualify for certain benefits you can get free school meals for your children all the way through school. Find out more an how to apply for free school meals
This Easter, we can announce a free low-cost recipe book we have developed in collaboration with local NHS nutritionist Lucy Blackstone. Over the Easter holidays, we will be distributing over 20,000 copies to families in need across Manchester. We believe that no child should go hungry. We believe in widening access not only to activity, but to the knowledge of healthy eating and nutritious cooking for Mancunians young and old. With this recipe book, we hope to do just that. Eating well doesn’t have to break the bank, by sharing simple and affordable recipes, we can help families stretch their budgets further. Ensuring that everyone in Manchester has access to delicious and nutritious food, helping you become healthier and happier. View and download your copy of the book here.
Cost of Living
Advice Line for Cost of Living Crisis Support
To support Manchester residents through the cost-of-living crisis, Manchester City Council have an advice line that offers:
Support with benefits and help with your rent (this is an existing offer made available through the contact centre)
Advice about debt and paying bills (this will be done in conjunction with Citizen Advice Manchester)
Food support (residents will receive a call back to understand their needs and connected into a local food offer)
Support getting online (residents will be linked in with the Council’s digital inclusion team)
Open 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Phone free0800 023 2692.
The person you speak to will have access to language line for residents whose first language is not English. Sign Video will also be available
Every library in Manchester is a warm space; a free, welcome, safe space which residents of all ages can come in and stay all day with lots of resources and support, such as:
Hot drinks. The self-service hot drinks are free.
Comfy seating and spaces for all ages.
Free internet and free wifi
Newspapers.
Information and advice.
Digital drop-ins one day a week.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice Manchester offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects. Find out more on the Citizens Advice website.
Help your family stay healthy and apply for your prepaid Healthy Start card
For more information and to apply to the NHS Healthy Start scheme, visit: www.healthystart.nhs.uk Or call the on 0300 330 7010
Lets Get Digital
As the cost of living crisis continues, the MCC Digital Inclusion team want to share the support they can offer to residents who are struggling.
They also offer free telephone support to people who have internet access at home, but don’t have the skills or confidence to use it effectively. To access this free support,
Text: 07860 064128 or
Email: digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk
Digital exclusion is far more likely to affect those on low incomes, can cost
households up to £560 per year from the missed savings of shopping and paying bills online, and will negatively affect earnings. People with higher digital skills earn 3-10% more than those with low skills, make greater savings online and can access public services more easily. They believe that digital inclusion is an essential part of the response to the cost–of–living crisis. Please get in touch or see our website to find out more: www.letsgetdigitalmanchester.com
The Growth Company launched this initiative to support GM residents with the cost of living crisis. Max Your Money allows residents to easily understand what services they offer which can help them maximise their income whether it is finding employment, securing an additional job, gaining new skills to secure a better job or accessing support to develop their business.
They are working with a partner network which includes Citizen’s Advice, Trussell Trust & GM Poverty Action who will promote their offer to their customers, many of whom are accessing advice services for the first time.
Winterwise, A new guide to keeping well during winter
The Greater Manchester Ageing Hub has partnered with national older person’s charity Independent Age to launch Winterwise, a new guide to keeping well during the winter period.
More than 325,000 printedguidesarebeing distributed across Greater Manchester. The guidebrings togetherkeyinformationfor older peopleoncost of livingsupport with messages focusing on three themes: ‘Stay warm’, ‘Stay safe’ and ‘Stay well’.
‘Stay warm’: Providing information about the financial support that older people could access to help them with rising energy costs
‘Stay safe’: Focusing on home safety advice for older people, including fire safety, how to spot and report scams, and what to do if they fall
‘Stay well’: Tips and advice on mental health and wellbeing, eating well and keeping active
To get a physical copy please look out for local distributions such as at libraries, pharmacies, warm hubs and more, or call Independent Age on 0800 319 6789.
To support Manchester residents through the cost-of-living crisis, Manchester City Council will be providing an advice line that will offer:
1. Support with benefits and help with your rent (this is an existing offer made available through the contact centre)
2. Advice about debt and paying bills (this will be done in conjunction with Citizen Advice Manchester)
3. Food support (residents will receive a call back to understand their needs and connected into a local food offer)
4. Support getting online (residents will be linked in with the Council’s digital inclusion team)
How to contact
The advice line can be accessed via a free phone number 0800 023 2692. The line will be open 9:00-4:30 Monday to Friday.
Agents on the phone line will have access to language line for those residents whose first language is not English
Sign Video will also be available for residents who may require this facility.
The advice line will also have its own web page that will have links to information of how residents are
able to access support. https://www.manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands
Whalley Range Climate Action Group energy saving information
Warm spaces are opening up across the city: a place to keep warm and save on energy costs, a place to get advice, a cuppa, spend time with others or enjoy some quiet time.
St Margaret’s Centre welcome you to their Warm Cafe every Thursday from 13th October-1pm-3pm, over the colder months.
We want you to be able to switch your heating off at home to help save on your energy bills.
Drinks and snacks will be available free of charge.
So come to keep warm, have a natter and a brew with us.
From 1 October 2022, the Energy Price Guarantee will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas so that a typical household in Great Britain pays, on average, around £2,500 a year on their energy bill, for the next 2 years. Beware of scams – there is no need to apply and you will never be asked for bank details.
This will save the average household at least £1,000 a year based on current energy prices from October and is in addition to the £400 energy bills discount for all households.
How did Covid affect you? three events were organised earlier in the year for people to gather, discuss and write about their experiences through Covid…
Last year theCovid Commemorative Curve of Snowdrops was planted by people from Whalley Range, in Alexandra Park. The curve symbolises the ups and downs of the pandemic and the plants will make a green and living memorial, a place to reflect on the loss and pain that came with Covid.
This year we want to honour your experiences of living through Covid. We are organising gatherings where you can talk with others and share experiences. A local poet, Tony Curry, will work with you, to write and record your thoughts as poems.
Your words will be recorded and combined with songs performed by local schoolchildren to create a short film. The interpretation board QR code in the park will link to the film.
This will be a further commemoration of our responses to the Covid events.
GATHERINGS to talk and write; choose a date and time that works for you.
Tuesday 17th January 1045 to 1300 at the Pavilion Café in Alexandra Park.
Tuesday 17th January at 1715 to 1930 at British Muslim Heritage Centre, College Road M16
Thursday 19th January 1045 to 1300 at the Pavilion Café in Alexandra Park.
Booking not essential, just come along on your chosen date.
On Feb 11th 2023 at 11am come and see the curve of snowdrops in flower.
Tea and coffee will be served from the Park Lodge.
Why will local community groups and residents be creating a MASS PLANTING OF SNOWDROPS in Alexandra Park Whalley Range Manchester on March 12th at 10.30am?
We will be gathered together because we want to COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO SUFFERED FROM COVID AND THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, as well as the hard work of all those who cared for us during the pandemic. Planting snowdrops will CONNECT ALL OUR COMMUNITIES IN A COLLABORATIVE MEMORIAL to CREATE A CONTEMPLATIVE SPACE for us to remember the suffering and pain of loss every year.
Why Snowdrops?
Snowdrops flower in February, the time when the pandemic started in Europe, and once planted they will come back every year at that time as a living reminder. Snowdrops are pure white and tear shaped, symbolising grief, yet their arrival is often seen as the first sign of the returning spring and returning hope. This Curve will beautify the space permanently and expand every year as the snowdrops set seeds and spread under the trees.
We hope you can report this for us and inspire others to plan their own Covid Commemorative Curve of snowdrops!
Our free Celebrate Connections festival packs are ready for people to collect from JNR8! (or receive via our volunteers) Art packs, seeding growing packs and wellbeing packs – and decorate your window packs too!
COLLECT ON THURSDAY JUNE 10th – between 10-12 noon
Keep checking this page and Celebrate on Facebook for festival updates!
Whalley Range has been officially recognised as an age-friendly neighbourhood by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
The Mayor announced the winners of his Age-Friendly Challenge during Greater Manchester “Doing Ageing Differently†conference.
Held, in February 2019, the event brought together over 300 key figures in ageing from across the country.
Whalley Range was one of 32 areas from across Greater Manchester to be recognised by the award scheme designed to showcase the best places to grow older in the city-region.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said:
“I launched this challenge last year to unearth the positive work I know is going on in Greater Manchester, to find practical examples of what age-friendly really means, and to share best practice across the city-region.
The response to this challenge has been fantastic. The variety of age-friendly work displayed from all our winners clearly shows the commitment from our local communities to make sure that people in Greater Manchester are living not just longer, but happier and healthier too.â€
Chris Ricard from Age-friendly Whalley Range/Whalley Range Community Forum who applied on behalf of the area said:
“We are thrilled to hear the news that Whalley Range has been recognised as an age-friendly neighbourhood for 2019!
We will be celebrating this award with groups and residents of all ages as a neighbourhood committed to working towards making Whalley Range a great place to grow older.â€
The award recognises the hard work that organisations and older people in Whalley Range have carried out to make their area a great place to grow older.
An age-friendly neighbourhood is a place where: residents are committed to looking out for each other, older people feel they can have a say in what going on in their local area, and there are spaces where people can get together.
The award also showed that Whalley Range is committed to helping older people feel: independent, safe and secure, and informed about what is going on in their local area.
Submissions to Mayor Age-Friendly Challenge were reviewed by an expert panel chaired by Prof. Chris Phillipson from MICRA at The University of Manchester. Other panellists included representatives from Greater Manchester Older People Network, Ambition for Ageing, and the Centre for Ageing Better.
Notes to editors
Greater Manchester is the UK first age-friendly city region, as recognised by the World Health Organization.
The Mayor Age-Friendly Challenge represents a commitment to shape a city-region that recognises the contribution older people make and the value in keeping all residents socially, physically and economically active for longer.
The challenge was launched by Andy Burnham during Greater Manchester Festival of Ageing in July 2018, where he called for the voluntary and community sector, public services, and older people groups to submit their best age-friendly schemes and help deliver more age-friendly neighbourhoods across Greater Manchester.
The Mayor Age-Friendly Challenge was delivered by Ambition for Ageing on behalf of Greater Manchester Combined Authority Ageing Hub which works to improve older people quality of life in Greater Manchester, addressing the challenges and embracing the opportunities the UK is facing in response to a rapidly growing older population.
We are a group of local residents who are starting a local climate change action group. Climate change is a huge threat to us and the planet. Although it is easy to despair, we can make a difference by working with others for change and we want to do this in our area.
This new group will work to support each other to make positive changes to our lives and community and to act for change. Members will decide what we do and can get involved in as much or as little as you like – ideas so far include learning sessions, supporting each other, climate campaigning, and linking with other groups in and beyond the area.
We are hoping to build a supportive group that meets locally to share ideas and strategies and organise activities and campaigns. Everybody is very welcome to join no matter what your current level of knowledge. You are invited to contribute your skills and energy to build a self sustaining, learning, active group.
Come to our meetings from 11-1pm at the JNR8 Youth and Community Centre 82 Cromwell Avenue Whalley Range M16 0BG.
There is the option to eat lunch together afterwards, please bring your own veggie food. For more info see the Whalley Rangers Facebook Group, Twitter @RangeAction or contact climateaction@whalleyrangers.org
A community group, Age-Friendly Whalley Range, went for a walk near the Whalley Range Community Forum base to discuss ways in which the streets could become more age-friendly.
Cllr Mary Watson and Patrick Hanfling of Age-Friendly Manchester joined the group in their investigation.
Twice a year, the Age-friendly Whalley Range network plan local walks following the route of the age-friendly community benches in Whalley Range – as part of International Older People’s day in October and to acknowledge the GM Walking Festival in May.
This year for our May walk we are celebrating the addition of 6 new benches – bringing our total across the ward to 18!
We are also celebrating the life of Bill Williams – who was the main campaigner for the benches and the Chair of our age-friendly network – and the Chair of Whalley Range Community Forum.
Bill was a vital and much loved community leader in Whalley Range and we all miss him.
Our walk will be on Tuesday 12th May starting at 11:00am – meeting at the JNR8 Youth and Community Centre and visiting some of the new benches – which sadly Bill didn’t get to see.
See the walk route below
A plaque commemorating Bill’s life will be attached to the bench on College Road, closest to his family home.
Members of the JNR8 over 50’s music group – the Happy Tuesdays – will be joining us on the day, playing some music at the bench outside the co-op on Withington Road and of course at the bench on College Road.
Please join us if you are free – or take a seat on Bill’s bench if you are passing, to reflect on Bill’s contribution to our Whalley Range community.
Our approach to development plans and the Re:JNR8 process.
The Whalley Range Community Forum has a commitment to regularly reviewing and creating a development plan, based on the changing priorities of our diverse community. The plan identifies what we have achieved, the benefit the Forum brings as well as identifying areas for change and improvement.
We have a commitment to using a mixture of quantitative and qualitative information using participatory and asset based approaches, as the basis of ongoing review. We have increasingly utilised participatory approaches, aiming to increase representation, capacity building and a more accurate identification of priorities and assets.
Our first Development plan (1999) was carried out by a paid consultant, the two main priorities identified were for a resource building, and an administrative worker. These have both been achieved. The Forum 2002 W/R Community Network Development plan, was a mapping exercise compiled by our local community worker and provided a wealth of comparative data comparing facilities in W/R to those of neighbouring Chorlton and Moss side, the findings were used as the basis for community consultation meetings.
A major upheaval and much distress was caused by the unexpected death of our long-standing Chair, and link to many within our community, Bill Fatai Williams (29/12/2025). The loss of Bill highlighted the important of having trustees like Bill, who understood and took part in a range of activities at JNR8. In the community he excelled at listening to individuals and groups concerns and suggestions, and thrived on networking.
Annual General Meeting (10/4/2025) (12 people present, (including 4 out of a possible 10 trustees)).
Priority need identified for new trustees and separate regular trustees’ meetings
Trustees meeting(13/8/25) Through discussions about the submission of the OMVCS (sub. September 2025) we selected three categories that best described our organisations work as
Community hub/centre Mental Health and wellbeing support Community capacity building through partnerships.
Our selected 3 priority areas
Priority 1: Our people will: Be happy, healthy and active from childhood to adulthood.
Priority 3 Our people will: Be proud of our diversity feel valued and included , knowing they belong.
Priority 4.Our people will: Participate engage and influence decisions about their communities and neighbourhoods
Development Plan event agreed for Nov. 29th, and participatory appraisal approach to be used again, named Re:JNR8. Cyclical, evolving development plan process devised and started.
The event gathered people involved with the Forum from its inception, partner organisations, previous workers, volunteers and MC members (28 people attended, representing 21 groups, 9 had not been involved in activities for many years,(3 (P= Pakistani) ,2 (A/C=African Caribbean) I (I=Indian) 2(A=African) origins)).This event and its ‘just a minute format’ gave the opportunity for 20 people ( plus others who sent statements) to briefly share their relationship with the Forum and the outcomes.
The 30-year event and the review of our work identified how important our partnerships had been with universities. This had included offering (paid) student placements, to hosting overseas groups, benefiting from University facilitated participatory research and evaluation (e.g. Researching Age Friendly Communities (University of Manchester 2015 ) and various student community audits (MMU)and involvement in the NW TakePart Network(MMU).
‘Don’t ever get rid of the Forum, its as good as you make it). Please keep going, stay strong, your value is not seen but felt, in the long term you will have made a difference in Whalley Range’. Mick Thompson one of founders of the Whalley Range Forum
‘Don’t take everything for granted’
Bill Wiliams Chair
WRC Forum general meetingRe:JNR8 continues. (8/01/2026)
draws in large number of people (27, 8 new to the Forum) (5 P, 1 AC,2 A origins) representing 20 groups) interested in envisioning for the future of Whalley Range and exploring the role of the Forum (and trustees).
OMVCS (Dec. 20025) Notification that our application for funding was likely to be successful.
Whalley Range Community Forum Trustees Information
Whalley Range Community Forum (WRCF) has vacancies for 2 proactive, community-minded people to join our board of trustees.
Trustees help set our strategy, ensure we meet our legal goals, and improve the lives of the diverse voices of Whalley Range.
WRCF is a voluntary community organisation, (a registered charity) made up of local people, representatives of local groups and organisations. Working for over 30 years for the benefit of our diverse W/R residents, and their environment, giving people a stronger collective voice to tackle local and wider issues, and delivering a range of services supporting community resilience and wellbeing from our base, the JNR8 youth and community centre.
The Forum holds open general meetings every two months, for information sharing and networking. In addition, trustees hold meetings (4 a year) for the purpose of carrying out the business of the charity.
The Role of a Trustee.
As a trustee your role would include deciding on the direction of WRCF by forming its strategy and priorities; making sure we meet the legal obligations of a charity and any requirements from funders; and overseeing the day to day running of the Forum. You can find the full details of trustee responsibilities in this Trustee Resource Pack
WRCF Trustees expectations
We want our group of trustees to be active, positive and well-functioning as we work together for the benefit of Whalley Range. We should be:
a varied group that is representative of the diversity in Whalley Range;
working towards the aims and principles of WRCF;
prepared to take on executive committee roles;
actively developing the Forum through the Development Plan process;
providing guidance, support and positive feedback to staff, volunteers and other trustees;
contributing a variety of relevant experience and expertise;
sharing our experience of community development, collective and cooperative working.
using dialogue and active listening, as well as democratic decision making to reach consensus decisions.
Individual trustee requirements
To carry out the above responsibilities it is important for you as an individual trustee to be passionate, enthusiastic and have a desire to represent your community.
To be an individual trustee you should :
Have local connections: would live and/or work in Whalley Range;
commit to WRCF as a not-for-profit charitable organisation;
have been involved with WRCF for at least a year (eg as a participant, volunteer);
have a good understanding of the work, role and history of the Forum (see our website and reports);
have an understanding and experience of the day-to-day work of the Forum, particularly activities running from our JNR8 community hub.
contribute relevant experience or/and act as a representative for a group or theme (eg Age Friendly, Celebrate, volunteering);
use your lived experience to act as a link for underrepresented WR people/ groups (e.g. neurodiverse people, people with disabilities and, people from LGBTQ+ communities) where appropriate;
regularly attend (a minimum of three) trustees’ meetings and no less than three general forum meetings each year, and/or be actively engaged in trustees’ duties.
communicate effectively with other trustees and staff.
agree to undertake any paperwork necessary for the role (eg register with the Charity Commission or potentially being a signatory of our bank account).
What you will gain
You will be part of a thriving, well established community organisation, and youth and community hub (JNR8). We will recognise the assets you bring, and your contributions will influence our dynamic organisation as it develops. You will get to know Whalley Range more, as well as all those organisations that work here.
Our experienced staff will support you with their wide information base, social media and website and other resources by arrangement.
JNR8 (pronounced generate) is a warm and welcoming space for our community to meet with others, and on Fridays you are welcome to drop in to our Warm Hub, have a cuppa and a crumpet/piece of toast, fruit – and soup and a roll when the weather is colder!
