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Whalley Range Climate Action Group

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 next meeting 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

Here are the latest WRCAG Newsletters:

NEWSLETTER June 22

NEWSLETTER July 2021

Here’s the May 2021 edition that was included in our Celebrate Festival Wellbeing packs:

newsletter 2021 for wellbeing pack (2)

Whalley Range Climate Action Group – Build Whalley Range Back Better

Whalley Range Climate Action Group met our MP Afzal Khan with other groups as part of the Build Back Better campaign. We discussed the need for a green and fair recovery and called on Afzal to push the Labour party to step up their leadership role in climate and environmental and issues. We also urged him to pressure the government to build a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery whilst tackling the Climate Emergency immediately.

Whalley Range Climate Action Group believes we need new ways of thinking, shared inspiration and transformative action such as a Social Justice Green New Deal (for more detail see https://wbg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Feminist-Green-New-Deal.pdf). This will invest in infrastructure such as renewables but also invest in improving and increasing the low paid and low status jobs that are predominantly carried out by women and people of colour as caring, health and the arts.

We asked Afzal to support Whalley Range to secure investment for low carbon employment initiatives that are locally and equalities focused; local cycling and walking infrastructure, affordable public transport, including routes within the area, and car sharing and making our homes low carbon.

These initiatives would have a low carbon impact and help build a more inclusive recovery that has economic, environmental, social and community benefits for Whalley Range.

Next, the Whalley range Climate Action Group is hosting this exciting zoom meeting. Building Whalley Range Back Better – Lessons from Preston

Thursday 23rd July at 7.30pm

Please do come to it and tell others about it too.

Contact Judith.emanuel@myphone.coop to register

Whalley Range Climate Action Group latest news…

Everyone welcome to come along to discuss the climate emergency with other concerned people and get involved in actions to make Whalley Range a more sustainable place to live. We eat a vegetarian/vegan lunch together after the meeting. Bring a little food to share if you can. Whalley Range Climate Action Plan – Version 28.10.19 Introduction 2 Our current emissions 2 General information about Whalley Range 3 Average carbon footprint of a UK resident 6 Strategies for carbon reduction in Whalley Range 9 Existing organisations, social networks and projects 10 Sources 15 Read in full below: Whalley Range Climate Action Plan 28.10.19

Read the groups 1st edition Newsletter here:

WHALLEY RANGE CLIMATE ACTION GROUP NEWSLETTER 3 (1)

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Whalley Range Climate Action Group upcoming meetings:

The meeting in January will be at 11 am on 18th January 2020 at the

JNR8 Community Centre (back of Manley Park Church)

82 Cromwell Avenue, Whalley Range, M16 0BG

burned publicity

Chorlton and Whalley Range Dementia Action Group

Chorlton and Whalley Range Dementia Action Group brings together residents and local organisations to work together to make Chorlton and Whalley Range a better place to live for people with dementia and those that support them. It’s work has included posters, meetings, and working with local businesses. It meets every second Tuesday of the month from 12.30 to 2pm. All are welcome to join. Contact Nigel@macc.org.uk.

Hear to help service for hearing aid users: One of our audiology colleagues will be here the first Thursday of every month 9.30-11.30am to check your hearing aids, clean the tubing and give out free batteries and advice. No appointment needed ; just turn up & have a coffee while you wait
Stories of our Lives is a new project we have set up which brings older storytellers together with younger writers, sharing memories and experiences around a chosen theme. The morning is spent listening, laughing and chatting, and feeding back what we have learnt from each other. We plan to run some more sessions on a Saturday morning next year, on a monthly basis, so if you are keen to come along, either as a storyteller or writer then please get in touch. The first few sessions will be on January 25^th, February 29^th and March 29^th from 9.30 – 12. Venue to be confirmed but likely to be at Arden Court, Oakhouse drive in Chorlton. Topics discussed will be Music, early friendships and first dates, and food and drink.
If you prefer smaller groups then the Friday Gardening Club 10-1pm or Thursday Melodics singing group 11.45-1pm or Tuesday afternoon Snooker and darts session at South west manchester cricket Club 1-3pm might be worth considering.
Monthly History Talks ; always the first Thursday in the month 1.30 – 3pm.
Finally, I continue to get plenty of offers from local young people, in their 20’s and 30’s, who want to volunteer a couple of hours each week, to visit and offer some company and carry out small odd jobs for older residents. If you would like me to match you up with someone then please ring me so that I can tell you more about how it works. Currently we have 95 older people being supported this way, and everyone tells me how much they enjoy the visits and the friendship.

Thank you as always for your support to Good Neighbours. We are incredibly lucky to have a brilliant group of volunteers who help with visiting and transport, (amongst a lot of other things they do,) but we also appreciate the consistent attendance and support from our older people.

If you get a chance, have a look at the Chorlton Good Neighbours website www.chorltongoodneighbours.org and catch up with the latest posts and news.

Since the Whalley Range boundaries changed, some groups who were not based in the ward previously have now joined us.

The Kingsbrook Residents Association represents about 400 households from Kingsbrook Road and surrounding streets.

We aim to provide a means for people to get to know their neighbours through social activities as well as addressing issues of concern to residents. Our bi-monthly meetings are held at the Whalley Range Cricket Club.

They are attended by Councillors and Police and give residents the chance to raise concerns and work together to solve problems as a community. Issues such as litter hotspots, graffiti, speeding and security have been addressed.

We have an on-going planting project – A Blooming Community, which has recently been boosted by the receipt of a grant from Greggs. #GreenerwithGreggs. We have 10 street planters around the area which we maintain, as well as helping with the Cricket Club garden and in the Community area of the local allotments. Each year we hold a family funday at the Cricket Club.

If you live in the area and would like to get involved with the Association, please contact us at kingsbrookra@gmail.com and look out for our regular flyers for more information about events

You can also follow us on Twitter @kingsbrookra or Facebook Kingsbrook Residents Association

Celebrating all LGBT ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆ Diversity in amongst our leafy suburb. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2914038541955359/about/

Local and wider community initiatives

About The Chorlton Coop Cluster

In 2014 the Manchester Area Committee of the Co-op Group set up the Co-op Cluster as an experiment in involving local co-op members and staff. It chose the area around Chorlton and Whalley range. These are suburbs of south Manchester with a strong co-operative tradition.

The much-loved and celebrated Unicorn grocery – a worker co-op – is based in Chorlton, attracting trade from across the northwest. Before WW2 Chorlton was the base for the manufacture of CWS cars (yes, there was once a co-op brand of car). There are 5 food stores and two funeral outlets in the area, all part of the Co-operative Group. The food stores in Chorlton were originally part of United Co-operatives before it merged with the Group in 2008. The Whalley Range store was originally a Netto store, and the Wilbraham Road store in Chorlton was originally a Somerfield. Hardy Lane Coop Rooms The Cluster meets in the coop rooms above the Barlow Moor Road Co-op store on the corner of Hardy Lane. This is one of the few places in the UK that still has coop meeting rooms. The rooms have been used for coop meetings for over 80 years continuously.

Video about the cluster The Co-op recently made a short film about us aimed at people interested in forming groups like ours in other areas. Anyone who is interested in co-ops and co-operation is welcome to join us.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewhalleyrangers

We are a community action group working together to make living here even better – through community cleanups, urban gardening and promoting a cleaner and greener Whalley Range.
Lively discussion and debate very welcome. Sometimes it leads to improvement and gets local issues on the agenda with the council and police.
Please read the group rules.

Latest:

Lovely day today with Charlotte, Vera and Mark at the Potato Day event in Hulme. We’ve found a rainbow of spuds, Salad Blue, Pink Fir and Red Emmalie. Come and grow them and some at the Carlton Community Garden, every Saturday at 1.30pm.

We also got smitten by the beetroots. After growing the rainbow carrots last year, we’re hoping for rainbow beetroots. Life’s too short for boring veg … ????

Click here for Links to groups

Whalley Range Mental Wellbeing Group aim to promote a range of activities to support mental wellbeing and promote positive messages about mental health and reduce stigma and discrimination.

Time to Change – every Friday 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. JNR8, 82 Cromwell Ave, M16 0BG Contact: 881 3744 or Carol: 07788855544

Come along to a free, volunteer led, self help mental wellbeing group. Offering: Music, Art, Pool and table tennis, Tai Chi, Food and Good Company ‘It has been the highlight of my week’ Wellbeing group member

About us…. Time To Change, mental health and well being group.

We are a self help group that has been meeting every Friday from 6-8 at JNR8 youth and community centre on Cromwell Avenue, W/R. There is a range of activities based on what people share and are interested in, ranging from bike repairs, guitar, singing, Tai chi, , computers, pool, but our prime focus each week is cooking and eating a meal together. The group is usually about 10 to 15 people, who come when they can and we aim to always be there as a point of contact. We also carry out occasional trips, e.g a day trip to Southport, threatre visits, Vegetarian Society, cookery courses, and we have been involved in the annual Celebrate festival. The aim of the group is to provide a social space where people feel comfortable, have fun, make friends, and eat cheap, healthy food. If you would like to come along, please call Carol first on 07788855544, so we can look out for you. We are also keen to recruit more people who are happy to shop and lead on the cooking once in a while.

Whalley Range Mental Wellbeing group

Whalley Range Mental Wellbeing Group aim to promote a range of activities to support mental wellbeing and promote positive messages about mental health and reduce stigma and discrimination

Some of the thoughts/summary of what came out of the initial meeting of the group included:

Challenge stigma
Improve the expertise of staff working with young people in the area in supporting young people with mental health needs
To raise the profile of mental health and wellbeing in a similar way to Age friendly
To promote existing and develop new resources and facilities in the area that support mental wellbeing
Reduce social isolation
Raise awareness of mental health e.g in schools
Improved access to talking therapies
More prevention work with young people
Improve social networks and support for people e.g. Community circles
Improved understanding of the links between physical and mental health
More volunteering opportunities 2. Agreed aims / principles for the group
To support wellbeing in everything we do
Confidentiality with regard to group members personal information
To improve communication
Not to medicalise people but to take a public health / community approach to mental wellbeing that considers underlying causes
Reducing stigma and raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing
Talking about mental wellbeing in a positive way
Taking a preventative approach
Being inclusive and representative
Not making assumptions and looking at evidence
Building on existing community assets
Finding sustainable solutions
Developing partnerships
Focusing on whats achievable / community response

The group discussed what we understand by mental wellbeing. feeling good and functioning well feeling in control looking after yourself how you feel when you get up in the morning feeling like yourself Agreed that the approach should be about improving mental well being for everyone and recognising that mental health will vary across the community and for individuals at different times. Contact the group for more information on 0161 881 3744

ALEXANDRA PARK

The Park was opened to the public in 1870 and was designed by Alexander Hennell. The design of the Park was experimental in its use of oval shaped and curved pathways, which contrasted with the more rigid geometry seen previously in Victorian landscapes. It is located between the vibrant communities of Whalley Range & Moss Side, just off Princess Road and covers 60 acres.

The website has been developed to provide a range of information about the facilities within the Park, the various Groups that have been set up by Park users and the events and sporting activity that regularly take place. The park has recently been re-developed with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Manchester City Council, the Lawn Tennis Association, English Cricket Board and Sport England bringing the original landscape and community facilities back to life. Visit the website for Alexandra Park Manchester. https://alexandraparkmanchester.org/

Community on Solid Ground comprises a dedicated team that is driven to improve the life opportunities, personal development, health and wellbeing of children, young people and community. http://www.yosg.org.uk/default.asp

FLY TIPPING CAMPAIGN

Winners of the Be Proud Award for Clean Neighbourhoods. This is because of our fly tipping campaign in the Dukeries. Thanks to all the Whalley Rangers who shifted 65 tonnes of dumped rubbish, watch out for and report fly tipping, introduce planters into their ginnels and Love Where We Live! In 2017 Whalley Rangers and Manchester City Council will be working together to tackle fly tipping in Whalley Range. The campaign will focus on the avenues and back alleys along Clarendon Road, Bury and Cromwell Avenues and other fly tipping hot spots: The Council powers have just been increased so that Fixed Penalty Notices up to £400 can be issued. The maximum penalty for fly tipping is a £50,000 fine and/or 12 months in prison. Local residents are fed up with their neighbourhoods being blighted by piles of rubbish being left on the pavement and in back alleys. The campaign begins in March 2017 and will:

Raise awareness of fly tipping as an offence and as anti-social behaviour through leaflets, signs and stickers.
Work with community groups, landlords and letting agents, to encourage responsible behaviour.
Systematically clean the worst affected neighbourhoods and start making them more attractive and safe.

See more about the group on Facebook and the Recyling page

Age-friendly Projects

Age-friendly Southway

Age-Friendly Pilot Project – Old Moat & Withington The Old Moat: Age-friendly Research and Evaluation Toolkit brings together the methods and resources which were used in the research project. It is designed to be a useful tool for anyone wanting to replicate similar activities in other communities, or at a later date to evaluate improvements. TOOLKIT_060213 Southway has a strong commitment to working with our tenants, residents and other partners to deliver excellent services and to improve quality of life for people within our neighbourhoods. Southway has a particular focus on older people with 43% of households containing one person over the age of 65. In May 2012 Southway adopted an Age-friendly Strategy which sets out the priority actions we intend to take, with partners, to meet the needs and improve the quality of life of older people. Have a look at our strategy for more information:

Additional Age Friendly information;

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHAT’S ON IN SOUTH MANCHESTER Age-Friendly Pilot Project – Old Moat & Withington Manchester is the first UK city to be accepted into the World Health Organisations (WHO) Global Network of Age-friendly Cities in recognition of the work carried out by the Valuing Older People (VOP) Partnership. The WHO’s Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide is divided into eight key themes. More information can be found on the WHO Website. The partnership between VOP and Southway aims to work together to contribute to the overall objective of making Manchester a leading Age-friendly City. In May 2012 the Old Moat Age-friendly Research began. The project, which was commissioned by Southway Housing Trust and supported by VOP, aimed to address the environmental and social factors that contribute to active and healthy ageing in communities such as Old Moat. The research was undertaken by the University of Manchester, Manchester School of Architecture and Leech Rhodes Walker Architects. The Old Moat: Age-friendly Neighbourhood Report and Action Plan was formally launched at an event on 30th May 2013 held locally at St Christopher’s Church. It was well attended by local residents and a variety of agencies involved in the delivery of services in the area. If you would like to get involved and find out more about this project please contact: Catherine Morris, Age-friendly Project Officer on 0161 448 4281 or c.morris@southwayhousing.co.uk

Age-friendly walkabout: https://youtu.be/BInzPToc1-o

(Information posted on this website does not necessarily reflect the views of the Whalley Range Community Forum/Age-friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton)