Loft and cavity wall insulation helps keep the warmth in your home, so you can turn your heating down and save money on your bills too. If you live in Greater Manchester you could be entitled to free or discounted home insulation from as little as £50* supported by your council.
Find out more online at www.getmetoasty.com or call the Energy Saving Trust freephone advice line 0800 512 012.
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The Council has launched a new, high-tech interpreting service, enabling deaf residents to gain immediate access to council staff, via video phones or a personal web-camera.
Simply by clicking onto the council's website, deaf people living in Manchester can be instantly connected with qualified and experienced British Sign Language interpreters working from a remote call centre.
Manchester City Council, which has become only the second local authority in the country to use the system, has installed a video phone in the new City Library and will shortly be installing one at its customer contact centre at First Street to work alongside the internet interpreting service, allowing deaf people to use the service to communicate with council officials. It can also be accessed through the Councils website from any laptop or PC that has a web-camera.
For more information visit http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/100010/healthandsocialcare
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We are launching a budget consultation for 2011/12. This follows the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review and the announcement that local authorities need to cut costs by more than a quarter over the next four years.
At the moment it is not clear how the savings will be weighted in Manchester, but we believe it is important to consult you on our budget focus and priorities at all stages.
We have been working hard to reduce the cost of delivering services for the past six years and for the last decade, we have had one of the three lowest Council tax increases in the country. We have committed not to increase our element of the Council Tax for the second year. The early action we have taken will help us to avoid any knee-jerk reactions and allow us to concentrate on what matters most to you.
While we must acknowledge the impact of having less money to spend, we are also committed to supporting the people of Manchester, growing our economy and creating jobs.
We'd like to know what you think about the ways we intend to make Manchester an even better place to live and to lessen the effect of future cuts to our budget at the same time.
The consultation closes midnight on Tuesday 11 January 2011 and the results will be available here shortly afterwards.
To have your say on how Manchester plans to spend its money, go to http://www.manchester.gov.uk/budget or look for leaflets in libraries, leisure centres and the customer service centre.
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A recent financial advice event in Wythenshawe has paid off after it gave individual help to 250 residents with specific money issues.
Money Week, which was held from Monday 16 to Friday 20 August, was organised by Manchester City Council, Willow Park Housing Trust and Parkway Green Housing Trust.
The aim of the event was to discuss all things financial and to give residents professional advice on anything from benefits to savings accounts and how to budget effectively. Experts, including staff from Moneymadeclear - a financial advice service from the Government - manned stalls in the town centre and gave confidential ‘money makeovers'.
In total, 250 residents were given information and advice on money matters; 39 people had one-to-one appointments with debt and welfare rights advisers; and 61 new savings accounts were opened with Manchester Credit Union. In addition, information was uncovered during the event about suspected illegal money lending, which was passed to Greater Manchester Police.
Councillor Sameen Ali, Executive Member for Employment and Skills at Manchester City Council, said: "The week gave residents the chance to ask specific questions about their own situations, rather than just listen to general advice. You can't underestimate how important that dedicated, personal service is, especially in today's difficult economic climate."
A follow-up event, called Wythenshawe Money Day, has been organised for Friday 10 December in the town centre. Advice will be available on avoiding debts and illegal money lenders. The Wythenshawe event will fit into the council's Helping Hands campaign, designed to help residents through the recession.
For further information about Wythenshawe Money Day please call Sandra Gaskill on 0161 499 7778.
For more information about Manchester City Council visit www.manchester.gov.uk
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Manchester City Council's Mobile Advice Centre is about to tour the city, giving expert advice to residents with concerns over employment, financial and benefits issues.
Trained staff will be giving advice on help with rent and heating costs, as well as information on council tax and education benefits, such as free school meals and secondary school clothing grants.
The advice team will also be handing out a range of free items including low energy light bulbs and computer power down plugs as part of the council's
Helping Hands initiative, which has been designed to help residents through the recession.
Councillor Bernard Priest, Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources at Manchester City Council, said: "Sadly, many people aren't claiming the benefits they are entitled to because they don't realise they are eligible to claim, or they are put off by the prospect of red tape and form-filling.
"By taking the benefits service out into the community we aim to increase benefit take-up by local residents and we want to ensure that the most vulnerable people don't lose out, especially in these hard times."
The purpose-built advice centre is fully equipped with office facilities, including private interview rooms and will be pulling up at the following locations in the city from 9.30am until 3.30pm:
Monday 8 November at Gorton Market car park
Tuesday 9 November at Wythenshawe town centre
Wednesday 10 November at Withington Community Hospital
Thursday 11 November at Sainsburys on Heaton Park Road, Blackley
Friday 12 November at Harpurhey Market
The Mobile Advice Centre is an initiative by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) with 12 local councils having the opportunity to make use of it for up to four weeks a year.
For more information about Manchester City Council visit www.manchester.gov.uk
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At the halfway point in the six week application window for the London 2012 volunteering programme, over 100,000 people have applied to be a Games Maker volunteer.
Applications have been received from right across the UK and from all communities, including thousands from disabled people. Research into applications has revealed that 52% of all applicants to date have said that London 2012 has inspired them to volunteer for the first time. Applications will be open until midnight on the 27th October 2010, so there are three weeks left to apply.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is looking for up to 70,000 passionate and dedicated volunteers for the London 2012 Games. They will make the difference between a good and a great Games for thousands of athletes, media and spectators alike.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee said: ‘We are thrilled with the response we've had so far from people and would like to thank everyone who has already filled in their application form and pledged to lend their time to the greatest show on earth. ‘The London 2012 Games simply could not happen without volunteers. Whenever I have spoken to previous volunteers, they've all said what a fantastic experience it was. So don't miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime. You've got three weeks left to fill-in your application form - don't miss the deadline of October 27.'
Full details on eligibility criteria, benefits of getting involved and the application form can be found at www.london2012.com/volunteering
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The search is on for the next Mrs Merton as Wythenshawe residents are about to learn how to tickle an audience's funny bone with a free stand-up comedy course.
The 12-week course starts today (Monday 6 September) at 6-8pm at Wythenshawe Forum and is open to any Wythenshawe resident over 18 years old.
Ashley Boroda, comedian and agent to award-winning stand-up acts, is running the course, on his return from performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The course, which is funded by Manchester City Council, provides a step-by-step guide to becoming a stand-up comedian, from writing material to microphone technique. Students will learn to source material, study comedic styles, and learn performance and confidence-building skills.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council, said: "The stand-up comedy course is part of our cultural regeneration programme. It ran in Wythenshawe last year for the first time and generated some terrific results because it gave people the chance to hone their natural skills with professional tuition.
"And, because the course is all about developing confidence and presentation techniques, those skills can be used in other areas of life too. I hope we find the next Caroline Aherne or Mrs Merton!"
When they complete the course participants will take centre stage at a special showcase night at the The Comedy Store in Manchester city centre and will receive a DVD of their 15 minutes of fame.
Case study
Last year 45-year-old Lewis Jones from Woodhouse Park went on the first comedy course held in Wythenshawe.
Lewis has four children and is a station manager for Oceansky Jet Centre at Manchester Airport. He decided to go on the course after years of hearing family and friends telling him that he should be on stage. This is his experience in his words:
"The comedy course was a brilliant experience and opened doors to me, so that I now perform stand-up comedy at venues around the region. I plan to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next year.
"During the course we were taught how to write material, where the emphasis was on creating your own work and not using other people's jokes.
"I've always had the sense of humour where I find day-to-day situations funny and my all time comic hero is Tommy Cooper.
"I rehearse my jokes and lines on my kids - and they can be the toughest audience to crack!
"I was 45 last week, so I'm the oldest newcomer to comedy and I'm loving every moment of it."
For more information about the Wythenshawe Comedy Course, please contact Dawn Warriner on 0161 499 7778 or email d.warriner@manchester.gov.uk
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A coach tour taking passengers through Cheetham's spiritual, cultural and architectural past is among the highlights of a weekend long heritage festival.
This year is the seventh anniversary of the Cheetham Festival and the tour is one of a series of completely free, family-friendly events, taking place from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 September, celebrating the unique character of this North Manchester ward.
Led by Blue Badge Guide and editor of Manchester Confidential website Jonathan Schofield, the tour takes place on Sunday 12 September at 12 noon meeting at Victoria Station (opposite the taxi rank) and takes in Chetham's School of Music, a Sikh temple, a synagogue, a mosque and an Eritrean Orthodox ceremony in St John's Church. Free food and refreshments will be served during the tour. The coach will then return to Victoria Station at about 3.30pm
Anyone wishing to join will need to call 0161 655 7850 in advance to book a place.
The theme of this year's festival is new beginnings, commemorating the historic role Cheetham has enjoyed as somewhere people from all over the world have put down roots.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "Cheetham has a long, proud tradition of welcoming different cultures which has given it a rich character. It's so close to the city centre but has a feel all of its own. The festival gives neighbours and visitors alike the chance to savour the area's warm welcome and fascinating heritage.
"From Victoria Station to the top of Cheetham Hill road you'll find doors open, meals prepared, tours and exhibitions laid on and a feast of cultural and architectural delights waiting to be discovered."
The Rev Daniel Burton, priest in charge at St John's Church and festival committee chairman, said: "Cheetham Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of the Cheetham Hill area. We are very lucky to live in an area which so many faiths and ethnic groups have chosen to make their home and this is a unique opportunity to learn about our neighbours."
Other highlights include:
Festival Feast - Friday, 10 September 7.30pm-9.30pm: A feast of Irish food, music and dance to start the festival in style at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Queens Road.
Carried away - Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September 10am-4.30pm: Catch a free heritage bus to the Museum of Transport in Boyle Street and take in its huge range of historic vehicles.
Soul food - Saturday 11 September 7.30pm: Prayer, gospel music plus African and Caribbean food on offer at the New Testament Church of God in Tamerton Drive off Heywood Street.
Open Day - Sunday 12 September 2pm-5pm: Enjoy free food from around the world and celebrate Eid with the local community at Al Khizra Mosque on Cheetham Hill Road.
In the Red - Sunday 12 September 10.30am-5pm: Visitors to Manchester Jewish Museum in Cheetham Hill Road can taste Jewish food, learn more about the history of Manchester Jewry and visit an exhibition about the Red Bank area where many immigrants first lived.
This festival is organised by the Cheetham Festival Group in partnership with Manchester City Council and English Heritage as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days celebration..
For more information visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk or www.manchester.gov.uk/events or call North Manchester Regeneration on 0161 655 7850
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Following recent reports suggesting that visitor numbers to libraries are down across the board, Manchester appears to be bucking the national trend. A report from DCMS last week revealed that the number of adults using local libraries across the UK has decreased from 48.2% in 2005/06 to 39.4% in 2009/10 but in Manchester the figures are rising. In the last five years, visits to the city's libraries have increased by 17% from 2.8 million to 3.1 million a year.
Book issues, computer sessions, online reservations and searches on the library web pages are all up on the last year. There has also been a 42% increase in the number of young people visiting library homework clubs and the issue of children's books is up by 11% (June 09 compared with June 10).
Add to this the thousands of members also making use of the library twitter and facebook pages and it's clear how Manchester is making the most of its library resources.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "The way in which we use libraries has dramatically changed in recent years and I think, in Manchester, we're keeping up with these changes extremely well. The variety of services and events we now offer is having a marked difference on the popularity of the city's libraries and as people turn their focus towards online and social networking resources we are meeting their demands to ensure a useful and relevant library service for everyone."
Manchester has also successfully opened two new, modern libraries this year. Longsight Library, which opened in April complete with a new adult learning centre, has issued 48,400 books in the last three months and welcome 2,500 new members. City Library meanwhile, serving the city centre while Central Library undergoes refurbishment, has welcomed 1,520 in the last two months.
The next plans are for new libraries in Beswick, due to open on 13 September and Brooklands, which will open in October while the new Overdrive service is now up and running to allow members to download books to computers, e-readers and other devices, without having to set foot outside their own homes.
For more information visit www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries
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All Manchester residents will be able to recycle their food waste at home thanks to new services being introduced this autumn.
The services, being introduced in September and October, will mean residents of another 67,000 homes across the city will be able to recycle their food waste, as part of an extension of an existing scheme.
Residents will receive small kitchen caddies, together with a supply of compostable liners, and use these to recycle all food waste ranging from vegetable peelings to meat.
These filled liners can then be collected, either in the garden waste bin or in a special outdoor caddy, and will be taken away to be turned into compost that will then be used on farms and allotments across the North West.
The service is being introduced to stop food waste being sent to landfill sites where it decays, producing gases such as methane which contribute to climate change.
Meanwhile, all residents living in flats in Manchester will also begin receiving a food waste recycling service later in the year.
Tahira Masood, who has been using her green bin to recycle kitchen waste at her home in Burnage, and will now receive the new service when she moves to Levenshulme, said: "It's a great system to use, it's really easy, and I can't imagine going back to throwing my food waste in the bin."
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "Residents who have been using this service for up to a year now tell us it is just as easy as throwing their waste into the regular kitchen bin.
"A large number of residents - those with gardens as well as those without - have told us they want to recycle their food waste at home and this service will enable them to do so in a very convenient way."
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The new-look Manchester City Council website is now officially launched and is set to be a hit with the quarter of a million people who use it every month.
The redesign of www.manchester.gov.uk is all about speed, clarity and easier access to information so that more people will make use of its online services, which will be available 24 hours a day, every day.
A simplified, wide-screen format is the basis of the design, along with a navigation bar on the homepage where all of the council's services can be seen and broken down into specific categories. These categories are then ranked in priority, so that the most searched for items will appear first in a list of options.
The changes follow an extensive user survey carried by Manchester City Council and Socitm - an independent organisation for IT providers in the public sector - and a breakdown of who visits the website, when and why.
Councillor Bernard Priest, Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources at Manchester City Council, said: "Fundamentally, this project has been about providing excellent customer service and listening to how our customers want to communicate with us now and in the future. The new website condenses information and distils it into clear options - almost like a flow chart - because we need to get visitors to the right spot quickly, so that they can find what they want easily."
Research showed that the events section of the previous website was one of the most viewed areas, which is why it now has its own icon on the new homepage, which takes visitors to a comprehensive source for all that's going on in Manchester.
Other changes include a link on the footer of each page, so that visitors can share information with a variety of social networking sites including Twitter, Facebook and Google Buzz.
Councillor Priest, continued: "This is a win-win situation where residents have an extremely efficient tool for constant access to council services, which also allows them to report concerns or pay bills online at any time of the day.
"This then, in turn has major efficiency benefits in reducing the volume of calls received by council staff during the day."
The website redesign is part of an ongoing investment in technology by Manchester City Council. This includes a newly-launched digital TV service, which allows residents to use their TVs to contact the council. The service is available through any TV with Sky or Virgin Interactive and can also be used via mobile phones or a Nintendo Wii.
For tips on how to get the best from the new Manchester City Council website, log on to www.manchester.gov.uk/howtouse
For more information about Manchester City Council visit www.manchester.gov.uk
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Manchester residents are being reminded that they have until September 15 to give their views on where they vote in elections.
By law the Council has to undertake a review of polling places and districts at least every four years. Initial proposals for changes to polling arrangements have now been published following feedback from councillors, MPs, and candidates and agents in the recent elections.
The Council is keen to hear what people think about these proposals and their local polling stations - including how convenient they are to get to and how accessible they are.
Proposals can be viewed at www.manchester.gov.uk/consultations
Alternatively, hard copies can be viewed at City Library, Deansgate; Chorlton District Library; the Electoral Services Unit at Manchester Town Hall; North City Library; Gorton Library and the Forum Library in Wythenshawe.
Final proposals, taking into account feedback from electors, will be published in late September before a final decision in October.
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Plans are already underway for the next Chorlton Book Festival this November and the search is on for volunteers.
Local people are being invited to put their skills and enthusiasm to good use to help the event run smoothly.
Organisers are looking for people to help with leafleting and other promotional work, organising events as well as stewarding and offering event assistance during the festival itself.
Chorlton Book Festival, which is now in its sixth year, will run between 8 and 21 November promising almost a fortnight of interesting author talks, inspiring writing workshops and exciting social events, which will all be aimed at people of different ages and interests.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "We had a great response from the local community last year and we're hoping to build on that for this year's festival and hope to have even more people involved. There are some really interesting opportunities for volunteers across all areas of event planning and management and we're looking forward to hearing from lots of people of different ages and from various walks of life."
The Chorlton Book Festival aims to showcase the best of Chorlton's writing talent as well as giving people an outlet to share their love of books and reading. It's also a great introduction to Manchester's literary scene.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Chorlton Library on 0161 227 3700.
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A new friends group is being formed for Southern Cemetery and local people are invited to become involved.
An initial meeting is being held on Thursday 26 August at 6.30pm at the cemetery for people who would like to find out more.
Opened in 1879, Southern Cemetery is the largest public cemetery in Manchester and holds a special place in the hearts of many local people. It is also the final resting place for many notable Manchester figures such as Sir John Alcock, John Rylands and L.S. Lowry.
With the cemetery holding such personal and historical interest to the people of Manchester, it is hoped that local residents will want to get together to form a friends group and help shape the future of Southern Cemetery.
It would mean having a say in how Southern Cemetery can be improved and inputting into future projects.
Councillor Rosa Battle, assistant member for culture and leisure at Manchester City Council said: "There is real affection for Southern Cemetery across Manchester and it would benefit incredibly from having an organised friends group. Gorton Cemetery and Philips Park Cemetery have both won green flag awards since establishing friends groups and it is something we hope to achieve in a space as well-loved as Southern Cemetery as well."
The aim of the friends group is to strengthen community links between the cemetery, its staff and the local community.
Members can take a direct role in improving the cemetery by, for example, creating new gardens, improving entrances, information points and seating areas, and organising clean-up events, bio-diversity projects and community activities in the cemetery.
They are also able to put forward ideas for the development and management of the cemetery and can apply for cash grants to undertake projects that would benefit the cemetery. The group, and its members would work alongside and be supported by Manchester City Council.
Anyone who thinks they might be interested in getting involved can come along to the meeting on Thursday 26 August at 6.30pm, at the North Chapel in Southern Cemetery (the Barlow Moor Road entrance).
For further details call in to the cemetery office at the Barlow Moor Road entrance of Southern Cemetery or call 0161 227 3205.
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Tens of thousands of social housing tenants across Manchester can expect consistent levels of service from their landlords thanks to a ground-breaking agreement.
Some 23 leading registered providers of social housing across the city - who between them manage around 70,000 properties - have signed up to a set of common standards guiding how they look after neighbourhoods, working in partnership with Manchester City Council.
From helping tackle anti-social behaviour and maintaining vacant properties to trimming hedges and monitoring performance and resident satisfaction, the minimum standards are designed to ensure the ongoing improvement of neighbourhoods.
As part of the scheme ‘mystery shopper' tenants will be used to help make sure registered providers are meeting their commitments.
The goal is to continually improve services by encouraging registered providers to match the standards set by the best examples.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "This agreement is a clear sign of our commitment to ensuring that tenants receive a consistent, quality service across the city.
"Manchester's registered providers have a very influential role in our neighbourhoods and I welcome this clear demonstration of their willingness to work together with the Council and each other."
Dave Power, Chief Executive of City South Housing Trust, said: "All Registered Providers have to make clear their local service offer to tenants and the Common Standards set a baseline for a consistent service across Manchester. I know we will all work together with our tenants to develop this even further."
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On 23 June 2010 the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State, Kenneth Clarke announced the court reform estate programme. A consultation is taking place on closing 103 magistrates' courts and 54 county courts across England and Wales. An important part of this process will be to assess the potential impact on the communities within the jurisdiction of those courts and those with special needs and requirements.
The consultation period will run until 15 September and during which everyone with an interest in local justice services will be able to give their views on the proposals. All the considerations will then be taken into account before the Lord Chancellor decides whether to close individual courts.
The Magistrates' Courts in Rochdale and Salford and the County Courts in Bury and Salford are being consulted on in Greater Manchester. Brenda Beckett from community Justice invites you to consider the potential impact on those your organisation represents and that may be affected by responding via the consultation documents or directly to Brendan Beckett. Alternatively you can arrange to meet with Brendan and your representatives to discuss any issues you wish to raise.
The consultation documents can be found on http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/consultations.htm,
For further information contact: Brendan Beckett, Change Manager - Community Justice, Her Majesty's Courts Service, Area Director's Office - 13th Floor, Civil Justice Centre, 1, Bridge Street West, Manchester, M60 1TE or call 0161 240 5956
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An historic document detailing the compensation paid to those injured, a truncheon taken from a policeman who attended, and a plaque honouring those killed are just some of the important items that will be viewed by the Lord Mayor to mark the anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre on 16 August.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Mark Hackett, will take part in a historic trail around the city tracing important items and documents relating to Peterloo. The trail has been organised to commemorate the 191st anniversary of what has become known as the Battle of Peterloo. Fifteen people died and more than 600 people were injured when the cavalry charged into a group of men, women and children who were attending a peaceful meeting pressing for political and economic change.
The blue plaque, which pays tribute to the events of 1819 is located on the site of St Peter's Fields where the meeting was held (now the Radisson Edwardian Hotel) and this is the first location the Lord Mayor will go to pay his respects.
He will then visit John Rylands Library to view an important historical document, detailing the compensation paid to the victims of Peterloo. Unesco- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation - has identified the document as a ‘memory of the world', which should be preserved as part of a project to protect and promote significant archive material.
Jan Wilkinson, University Librarian and Director of the John Rylands Library said: "The Peterloo Relief Fund Account Book is a unique and irreplaceable manuscript. It provides vivid, first-hand evidence of the Peterloo Massacre.
"With its graphic descriptions of the injuries sustained, it captures the shocking nature of Peterloo, and helps to explain the political impact that the event had in the immediate aftermath and in subsequent decades."
The Lord Mayor's tour will then end at the People's History Museum, which tells the story of Britain's struggle for freedom and democracy over two centuries.
The story begins with the Peterloo Massacre, and it is this section of the story that the Lord Mayor is going particularly to visit.
Among items of interest on display is a truncheon taken from a Special Constable at Peterloo by the great-great grandfather of Thomas Stone Williams, a former Lord Mayor of the city. After taking the truncheon, Williams' ancestor is then said to have hidden in a public house in Factory Lane on the corner of Rochdale Road, Barnes Green. The truncheon was donated by the Williams family in 1999 and is now on display in the Peterloo section of the new museum.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Mark Hackett said: "The 16 August marks Manchester's proud history of fighting for democracy, freedom and justice and we should remember all those Mancunians who gave their lives for this cause.
"We must preserve this history in order that future generations can learn about the city's radical past and I am very much looking forward to following this historical tour around the city to commemorate such an important date in our history."
Plans are currently underway to create a permanent monument in the city to honour Peterloo, which will be located in St Peter's Square as part of the town hall transformation project.
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Manchester City Council's Mobile Advice Centre is making a whistle stop tour of Manchester this month, providing advice for residents with concerns over employment and benefits issues.
It will provide advice for Manchester residents on getting help with rent, council tax and education benefits, such as free school meals and secondary-school clothing grants.
The Mobile Advice Centre was last in Manchester in June and gave advice and help to 146 people.
Manchester City Council's executive member for finance and human resources, Councillor Bernard Priest, said: "Sadly, many people aren't claiming the benefits they are entitled to because they don't realise they are eligible to claim, or they are put off by the prospect of red tape and form filling.
"By taking the benefits service out into the community we aim to increase benefit take-up by local residents and we want to ensure that the most vulnerable people don't lose out."
The purpose-built advice centre is fully equipped with office facilities, including private interview rooms and will be pulling up at the following locations in the city from 9.30am until 3.30pm:
Monday 16 August at Wythenshawe Town Centre
Tuesday 17 August at Harpurhey District Centre
Wednesday 18 August at Gorton Market car park
(Thursday 19 August - no event)
Friday 20 August at Merseybank Estate, Chorlton (outside the parade of shops).
The Mobile Advice Centre is an initiative by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) with 12 local councils having the opportunity to make use of it for up to four weeks a year.
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A life-sized reconstruction of a living room will be hoisted into St Ann's Square next week to launch a hard-hitting campaign aimed at cutting burglary across Manchester.
One in three burglaries happen through an open door or window and the mocked-up living room, which is open on two sides, will demonstrate how easily a burglar can get into your home if you don't take simple precautions.
The event, at 12pm on Tuesday August 17, will be used to mark the start of the new Think Lock campaign to encourage residents to lock up all doors and windows every time they leave their homes, no matter how long they'll be gone.
Around 25,000 households across the city will be receiving crime prevention advice including face-to-face visits from members of their local neighbourhood policing team, as well as door hangers containing crime prevention advice and window stickers which will act as a visible deterrent to burglars.
There will also be street banners and bus stop posters reminding people to take these simple measures to cut the risk of burglary:
Lock your windows and doors
If you're going out or going away, leave lights on a timer
Don't leave valuables on show
If you can, fit a burglar alarm and use it
Don't let cold callers into your home
Mark and photograph your valuables
Manchester City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Jim Battle said: "We are working closely with the police to drive down burglary. These simple measures can help keep our homes safe and secure and reduce the chances of becoming a victim."
Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "We made a commitment a year ago through Operation Storm to ensure that thieves in our county were brought to account for their crimes. I can assure law-abiding and law-breaking Mancunians that it does not end here. We will continue to work with our partners to reduce burglary, robbery and vehicle crime and bring offenders to justice over the coming months."
For more information about crime safety visit www.makingmanchestersafer.com
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Manchester residents are being asked for their views on where they vote in elections.
By law the Council has to undertake a review of polling places and districts at least every four years
Initial proposals for changes to polling arrangements have now been published following feedback from councillors, MPs, and candidates and agents in the recent elections.
The Council is keen to hear what people think about these proposals and their local polling stations - including how convenient they are to get to and how accessible they are.
The consultation runs until Wednesday 15 September. Proposals can be viewed at www.manchester.gov.uk/consultations
Alternatively, hard copies can be viewed at City Library, Deansgate; Chorlton District Library; the Electoral Services Unit at Manchester Town Hall; North City Library; Gorton Library and the Forum Library in Wythenshawe.
Final proposals, taking into account feedback from electors, will be published in late September before a final decision in October.
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There's plenty to put a spring in your step at this year's Hollyhedge Hoedown in Wythenshawe.
As well as the annual dance displays there will be a whole range of family entertainment including go-karting, street theatre, falconry displays and African drumming from 12 noon to 3.30pm on Thursday 12 August.
This year will also have a strong focus on man's best friend - with dog shows, working dog displays and dog obedience training, along with a free micro-chipping service to give pets permanent identification.
Councillor Rosa Battle, Assistant Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council, said: "There's always a good turnout at this event and it has a great community feel. There's a packed itinerary, which makes it ideal for youngsters during the school holidays."
Hollyhedge Park is off Stancliffe Road in Sharston.
For more information contact Hazel Keeys or Dawn Warriner on tel: 0161 499 7778.
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Following news that central Government has cut funding across the UK for free swimming, Manchester City Council has confirmed that it will keep the service afloat.
Government money was put in place in 2009 to enable everyone aged 16 and under and over 60 to swim for free at public swimming pools as part of a drive to encourage more people to be active and healthy.
The aim was to get two million people more active by London 2012.
Now, as part of £73m-worth of savings by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the national scheme has ended.
Manchester City Council however have put a contingency plan in place which will mean that free swimming for those over 60 will continue in its current form in Manchester and that free swimming will be available in the school holidays for those aged 16 and under.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "There is real value in the free swimming scheme with the biggest impact for us being seen during the school holidays when young people have really benefited from its availability. It was therefore a priority for us to continue this and I'm very pleased that we are able to carry on with the service for those over 60 as well."
Among the over 60s there are more than 5,300 registered swimmers in Manchester with more than 50,000 visits recorded in the last 12 months. Among young people, an additional 2,000 swimmers per month are now making use of the city's pools. In this age group more than 135,000 visits have been recorded since the initiative began in April 2009 with the biggest uptake being seen in Wythenshawe, where there has been a 56% increase in the number of young people swimming.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "It's clear just how important this provision is on the long-term health and wellbeing of local residents. The positive benefits it provides should not be underestimated or overlooked so I'm very pleased that we have reached a solution for Manchester residents. We will continue to review the situation with a view to keeping it in place long-term."
Free swimming is available to qualifying Manchester residents at all of the city's public swimming pools. Application forms are available at local leisure centres.
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Plans for this year's Moston Day are really taking off with confirmation that a hot air balloon will be taking to the sky as part of the celebrations.
People attending the event on Saturday 4 September will be able to enjoy a bird's eye view of North Manchester courtesy of a tethered balloon ride lifting them above Broadhurst Playing Fields.
The hot air balloon is being provided by Redrow Homes, whose new Hanson Gardens development in Moston is offering quality affordable housing as part of the wider regeneration of North Manchester.
More than 2,000 people attended last year's inaugural Moston Day celebration and organisers are confident this year's event will be even more soaring success.
Taking to the skies is sure to be a thrilling experience, befitting the theme of this year's Moston Day parade - magic.
The event, which runs from 1pm-5pm, bursts into life with a parade starting at Moston Lane Community Primary school and wending its way down Moston Lane before finishing at Broadhurst Playing Fields.
A packed programme of entertainment follows including dance, live music - including a special Moston Day song - acrobatics and of course magic shows. Look out for more details in the coming weeks.
Councillor Pat Karney, chair of the Moston Day Parade, said: "The hot air balloon rides are sure to be an amazing experience, in keeping with the magical theme of this year's Moston Day event.
"They are just one of an array of things happening on what is sure to be a memorable community celebration and I'd encourage everyone to come along and share the fun."
The tethered balloon rides are free but passengers must be at least four feet six inches tall and children must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. All rides are weather permitting.
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The future is bright at Manchester's libraries with the launch of a brand new service enabling people to download e-books and audio books for the first time.
Overdrive, is a service available to all members of Manchester libraries allowing them to borrow a wide range of virtual material including novels, non-fiction and biographies directly from the website www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries.
By clicking on the link you can download e-books and audio books to computers, mobile phones, mp3 players, e-readers and other devices free of charge and will be able to access to them for three weeks.
After this period the loan will expire and the books will be returned to the online library for others to use. With more and more people accessing information through the internet, Overdrive is a convenient system of borrowing books without having to physically visit the library or even leave the comfort of your own home.
Whether you're on a bus, in a bar or even in the bath, the Overdrive system is so flexible you can take out books any time, any where.
To find out more about Overdrive including a list of compatible devices and the stock available visit www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries.
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Following news that central Government is to scrap the scheme which allows free swimming for younger and older people, Manchester City Council has pledged to do it all it can to ensure that there is still free provision in the city for those groups.
In Manchester, those who are aged 16 and under and anyone over 60 are currently able to swim for free at public leisure centres in the city as part of an initiative to help people stay active and healthy.
But the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has cut the funding as part of £73million-worth of savings, meaning that free swimming will be axed at the end of this month.
However, at today's meeting of the full council, it was agreed that a review would be set up to look at options to allow free swimming to continue.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "We have already committed to extending free swimming until the end of the summer holidays and are looking very closely at how we can keep the funding for free swimming in Manchester going beyond that time.
"We recognise just how important this provision is on the long-term health and wellbeing of local residents. I am very confident that we will find a solution which will ensure that both young and old in Manchester will continue to benefit from free swimming in our fantastic pools."
Since free swimming for the over 60s was introduced in 2008, and for those aged 16 and under in 2009, there has been a big impact on numbers heading to the city's leisure centres.
Among young people, an additional 2,000 swimmers per month are now making use of Manchester's pools with more than 135,000 visits recorded since the initiative began. The biggest uptake has been in Wythenshawe where there has been a 56% increase in the number of young people swimming.
Among the over 60s, there are more than 5,300 registered swimmers in the city with more than 50,000 visits recorded in the last 12 months.
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Proposals to transform St Peter's Square into a world-class public space are about to go on display.
Manchester City Council is running an international design competition for leading architects to come up with designs for a square which will become a proud symbol of the city.
It is part of the Council's transformation programme which is also seeing the extensive refurbishment of the Town Hall Extension and Central Library to enable them to deliver state-of-the-art services and to preserve them for future generations.
The five shortlisted designs for St Peter's Square will be on display in the former Manchester Visitor Information Centre on the corner of St Peter's Square and Cooper Street on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 July (both 8am to 8pm) and Saturday 17 July (10am to 3pm). Visitors will have the chance to feed back on the proposals and learn more about the council's plans to improve public services, access and public spaces.
The transformed square will stand at the heart of an area which is attracting massive private and public sector investment - with an estimated £1 billion of redevelopment and up to 9,000 jobs on the way in the next few years.
This includes:
The replacement of Elisabeth House (the currently empty building opposite Central Library) with a major new office building.
The redevelopment of Peterloo House in Dickenson Street.
New transport facilities between Manchester Central and Deansgate station.
The extensive refurbishment of Manchester Central Library and the Town Hall Extension (the part of the Town Hall nearest to the Central Library) to preserve both Grade II*-listed buildings while enabling them to deliver state-of-the-art services.
St Peter's Square currently lacks a unified identity and is somewhat cluttered because it has evolved gradually over the years.
Now the competition offers the chance to transform the square into somewhere which will give a great first impression of the city.
Traffic will be substantially reduced to make the square more pedestrian-friendly. Buses will be re-routed and only Metrolink trams will run through it.
The square will become a livelier, more flexible space where people can relax and small scale events can be held. And the redevelopment of other nearby buildings will create cafes and other bustling ground floor activity.
Councillor Bernard Priest, Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, said: "St Peter's Square is an important public space. It may be slightly underwhelming at the moment, but this competition gives us a once in a generation opportunity to make it truly outstanding.
"Manchester is a city with growing international stature and we're determined to provide a world-class space which befits that reputation.
"The transformation of the square will also help attract and support jobs by complementing the huge investment taking place in the surrounding area."
Plans include the creation of a contemporary memorial to the 1819 Peterloo Massacre. The cenotaph will not be affected by the redesign of the square and will remain in its current position.
The winning design team will be selected later this summer and a separate artist appointed to work alongside them to create the Peterloo memorial.
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Nominations are now open for the Manchester Sports Awards 2010. Now is the time to recognise all those unsung heroes who make Manchester's sport scene what it is.
Do you know someone who gives up their free time to coach others? Is there a local club who really give their all at training and competitions? Do you know an individual who is shooting for the stars and making sacrifices along the way? Whoever they are and whatever their story, now is your chance to nominate your local sports heroes and show just how much their contributions to sport in the city are appreciated and admired.
The Manchester Sports Awards, organised by Manchester City Council, are a celebration of the achievements of Manchester's sports clubs with a big emphasis on the volunteers who give countless hours to their sports. The awards give the voluntary clubs, coaches, officials and volunteers the recognition they truly deserve.
This year's categories are:
Coach of the Year, Unsung Hero, Volunteer of the Year, Rising Star - Sports Achiever of the Year, Rising Star - Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year, Club of the Year and Junior Sports Achiever of the Year.
Special awards will also be given to schools that have excelled on the sports field in categories including Innovation in P.E. and School Sport and Innovation in Event Volunteering.
Anyone involved in sport can nominate an individual or a club by calling 0161 220 3855 for a form or enter online at http://www.manchester.gov.uk/sportsawards.
The deadline for nominations is Tuesday 31 August 2010.
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Details of planning applications for the refurbishment of Manchester's Town Hall Extension and Central Library go on display next week. Both historic buildings are being lovingly refurbished to preserve them for future generations while enabling them to deliver improved, state-of-the-art services.
Improvements to the Town Hall Extension, Central Library and St Peter's Square are part of the Council's wider transformation programme to improve customer services and access while investing in key public buildings and spaces.
As they are Grade II* listed any internal alterations require planning consent and Manchester City Council has been working closely with English Heritage to ensure that these are sensitive and fully respect the buildings' historic interiors.
Members of the public will be able to learn more about the proposals at a pre-planning consultation drop-in event in the former Manchester Visitor Information Centre on the corner of St Peter's Square on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 July (both 8am to 7pm) and Saturday 10 July (10am to 3pm). Project team members will be on hand to answer visitors' questions.
The transformed square will stand at the heart of an area which is attracting massive private sector investment - with an estimated £1 billion of redevelopment creating much-needed jobs for the city. Design proposals for Library Walk, the curved walkway between Central Library and the Town Hall Extension, will be brought forward separately.
A crucial element of the refurbished Town Hall Extension will be a new Customer Service Centre, allowing Manchester people to gain fast, easy and efficient access to a wide range of council services in a single visit. The Council's new temporary Customer Service Centre at Number One First Street, at the junction of Albion Street and Whitworth Street West, is already demonstrating the kind of improvements it will bring.
The transformation programme also involves an international design competition to transform St Peter's Square into a world-class public space.
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Alexandra Park in Whalley Range is in line to receive £2million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its restoration.
Manchester City Council's first round bid, which outlines the proposals for the park's improvement, has been successful beating off tough competition to progress to the second round of the bidding process.
Passing the first round is an endorsement by the HLF of the outline proposals and means that the project meets the required funding criteria. The city council now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award and is confident that the project will draw further investment from other stakeholders to capitalise on the project and help the park's potential to be realised.
The announcement is good news for the park, which was unsuccessful in a previous bid for funds last year. Manchester City Council and local residents have never wavered in their commitment to the park and news of this progress is the result of much hard work by the city council and friends' group to put together a revised bid.
The funding would help safeguard the park's future, which has served the local community for more than 130 years. It would underpin a major improvement programme bringing back the original Victorian landscapes and returning key design features to the park, including the full restoration of Chorlton Lodge and the Pavilion.
The landscape and building works will provide opportunities for young people to take part in work experience, skills training and apprenticeship programmes and the project will also provide volunteering opportunities for local people.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "I couldn't be more delighted with the announcement. This is the result of a lot of hard work from many people and shows our absolute commitment to this wonderful park. Alexandra Park is one of the earliest and most complete Victorian Parks in Manchester and is of real importance to our national heritage. We now have the opportunity to restore and preserve the park for future generations and are looking forward to working on the detail of what we are able to do here for the next round of bidding."
Designed in 1869 and officially opened in 1870, Alexandra Park is considered one of the finest examples of a Victorian Park in the North West. It is characterised by its sweeping lawns, lime tree avenue and its innovative design which made it one of the first public parks to combine facilities for sport with the Victorian fashion for promenading.
It is still a highly valued and well-used park that has recently seen improvements to play and sport provision.
The city council has been working with a range of partners to add value to the Alexandra Park Heritage Lottery Bid and improve the sports facilities in the park. The Tennis Foundation and the Lawn Tennis Association are two organisations that have been involved with the scheme from the outset.
Lancashire Regional Development Manager for the LTA, Scott Reid said: " We are excited about the prospect of developing Alexandra Park and the benefit it could bring to the tennis and wider community. We have been, and will continue to work with Manchester City Council to attract additional investment to improve the park's tennis facilities which will bring greater opportunities to develop tennis in the heart of Moss Side and Whalley Range."
The Friends of Alexandra Park have also worked with the council to provide community-based activities and events in the park.
Alexandra Park's current bid for funding has been made to the HLF's Parks for People scheme, which uses Lottery funds to support the regeneration, conservation and increased enjoyment of public parks.
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Parents in Chorlton are being urged to donate their children's old uniforms to help youngsters in Africa.
Primary schools across the area are collecting old and unwanted school uniforms from youngsters as they leave for the summer holidays.
The schools will be provided with recycling bins into which children and parents can place used but clean jumpers, trousers, paired shoes and PE gear.
The clothes will then be donated to the Kent-based Operation Sunshine charity, which will distribute them to disadvantaged children in countries such as Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The idea is the brainchild of Claire Law, a parent at St John's Catholic Primary on Chepstow Road, who has organised similar campaigns in the past, once collecting more than 1,300 items for the charity.
But she hopes this event, which also includes Barlow Hall, Chorlton Park, Brookburn Community, Chorlton C of E and St Ambrose RC primaries, will be even more successful.
Claire Law, a parent from St John's who organised the event, said: "Any parent with young children will know how quickly they grow out of clothes. While clothes can also be donated to other charities, most uniforms are so cheap now that many parents do not buy them from charity shops and branded uniforms are often not accepted."
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "I'd like to praise everyone involved in organising this wonderful campaign which guarantees that children's clothing is reused and goes to a worthy cause, and I'm sure parents across Chorlton will give this their full backing."
This campaign is being funded by a recycling grant from EnterpriseManchester, who work with Manchester City Council.
Any residents wanting to organise recycling campaigns or events should contact Andrew Turner at EnterpriseManchester for more information. Ring 0161 234 1389 or e-mail andrew.turner@enterprisemanchester.co.uk.
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England's World Cup hopes have been dashed, but the show must go on - on three dedicated screens at Castlefield, where football fans are invited to come and watch the rest of the tournament.
More than 13,500 people were at the Hyundai World Cup Fan Park at Castlefield on Sunday as England went out of the World Cup in a dramatic showdown with Germany in South Africa.
But, in true sporting spirit, fans can now watch the rest of the matches together and still enjoy the thrill of the World Cup from the city centre.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council, said: "It's devastating that our team lost, but despite that the atmosphere at Castlefield has been absolutely electric and it's without doubt the best way to see the rest of the World Cup in Manchester."
In-between the knockout matches over the next two weeks, the Fan Park will also be used to show other sporting events.
Bring your strawberries and soak up the sunshine as Wimbledon hits the big screens. Or, watch from the sidelines as UK Beach Soccer take Manchester's primary schools through their paces on the Castlefield sand as they stage their own mini world cup competition.
For non-sports fans, there will be a lively celebration of Irish music and dancing this Sunday (4 July) from 2pm to 9pm featuring top folk bank Quare Crack plus The Last Orders - a new band featuring Jimmy Doherty and Toss The Feather's Dessy Donnelly, the Keegan Kennedy School of Irish Dancing and the energetic celtic rock of The Green Hot Clover. And, for Friday (9 July) the Fan Park has joined with Manchester Jazz Festival to create very special night featuring South African township jazz and the big band sound of Big Band Theory, as a fitting tribute to the World Cup Hosts.
A special tribute to Chris Sievy and his comic creation Frank Sidebottom will take place on Thursday 8 July. More details of this special event will be announced shortly.
"There's something for everyone," said Cllr Amesbury. "The screens give crystal-clear views and the venue lends itself to a party. Let's show the world that Manchester and England still have a lot to be proud of."
For a full list of times and events to be shown at the Hyundai World Cup Fan Park, log on to www.manchester.gov.uk
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Details of planning applications for the refurbishment of Manchester's Town Hall Extension and Central Library go on display next week.
Both historic buildings are being lovingly refurbished to preserve them for future generations while enabling them to deliver improved, state-of-the-art services.
Improvements to the Town Hall Extension, Central Library and St Peter's Square are part of the Council's wider transformation programme to improve customer services and access while investing in key public buildings and spaces.
As they are Grade II* listed any internal alterations require planning consent and Manchester City Council has been working closely with English Heritage to ensure that these are sensitive and fully respect the buildings' historic interiors.
Members of the public will be able to learn more about the proposals at a pre-planning consultation drop-in event in the former Manchester Visitor Information Centre on the corner of St Peter's Square on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 July (both 8am to 7pm) and Saturday 10 July (10am to 3pm). Project team members will be on hand to answer visitors' questions.
The transformed square will stand at the heart of an area which is attracting massive private sector investment - with an estimated £1 billion of redevelopment creating much-needed jobs for the city.
Design proposals for Library Walk, the curved walkway between Central Library and the Town Hall Extension, will be brought forward separately.
Councillor Bernard Priest, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, said: "This programme is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to upgrade the services offered from these buildings and radically improve the experience of Manchester people using them.
"Investment in these historic gems will support the extensive private sector investment which is taking place in the area around the town hall complex.
"Changes to make Town Hall Extension offices more open plan will also mean we can save money by enabling Council staff currently located in a number of city centre buildings to move under one roof."
A crucial element of the refurbished Town Hall Extension will be a new Customer Service Centre, allowing Manchester people to gain fast, easy and efficient access to a wide range of council services in a single visit.
The Council's new temporary Customer Service Centre at Number One First Street, at the junction of Albion Street and Whitworth Street West, is already demonstrating the kind of improvements it will bring.
The transformation programme also involves an international design competition to transform St Peter's Square into a world-class public space.
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The World Health Organisation has confirmed that Manchester is one of nine cities, and the only city in the United Kingdom, to be included in the first wave of its new age-friendly programme to be launched in New York on 30 June.
The organisation has launched its global network of cities to determine the key elements of the urban environment that support active and healthy ageing.
It will allow cities from around the world to learn from each others' experiences and to develop solutions to practical problems such as street seating, greater access to toilet facilities and better IT connectivity, as well as, strengthening opportunities and activities for older residents.
The aim of the network is to focus on making it even easier for older people to live in Manchester - from developing accessible transport, outdoor spaces and buildings, as well as the need for appropriate housing.
Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council and lead member for the Valuing Older People programme said: "This is a great opportunity for Manchester to make the city even better for our older residents, they are assets to our communities with a significant amount of skills and experience to offer the city, neighbourhoods and young people.
"It will also allow older people to be active participants in society, to overcome ageism and to provide greater opportunities for civic participation and employment."
Valuing Older People, a multi-agency programme led by Manchester's Joint Health Unit, to improve services and opportunities for the city's older population, was set up in 2003.
Since then it has published a ten year strategy, ‘Manchester - A Great Place to Grow Older' and conducted a range of improvements from running an annual celebration of ageing, ‘The Full of Life Festival' and awarding 200 community groups grants, to improving health, care and housing services for older people and leading a programme of 13 Intergenerational projects, called Generations Together.
According to Dr John Beard, Director of the Department of Ageing and Life Course with WHO said the contribution of older people in the city are often overlooked, but are vital.
He said: "The Network will help cities create urban environments that allow older people to remain active and healthy participants in society."
The global network requires participating cities to start a process of assessment and implementation.
Councillor Sue Murphy said: "It is one thing to identify the problems confronting older people, but it's another to do something about it. We are committed to taking active steps to creating a better environment for our older residents."
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This weekend (Friday 25 and Saturday 26 June) will give book and art lovers the chance to mingle with writers, publishers and artists in St Ann's Square as two popular markets make a welcome return.
Manchester's independent Book Market, organised with Literature Northwest, will feature live readings from poets and authors along with stalls from some of the region's most innovative publishers of novels, short stories and non-fiction.
Running alongside this will be Manchester's Art Market where original prints, photography and glassworks will be amongst the works on display and available to buy direct from artists. Items for sale will include: original photography by Amy Gibbings and Deborah Benbrook, paintings on glass by Bharat Makanji, and handmade ceramics by Rhian Templeman.
The Lost Properties Project, by arts organisation and community interest company, Arthur + Marthur, will also occupy one of the art stalls. The project aims to celebrate the work of carers in society. The stall will exhibit work produced in conjunction with carers groups throughout Greater Manchester and will also engage members of the public at the event to create new pieces of work.
And, for those who are happy to browse and just enjoy the atmosphere, there will be a range of food stalls and even a summer cocktail area to bring some extra sparkle.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "Both markets are a great way of showcasing home-grown talent and making this thought-provoking work more accessible to local people.
"It's the sort of event which breaks down barriers to the art world in a lively and enjoyable way."
Both markets will be held in St Anne's Square on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm.
For further information and details of authors and reading times, log on to www.literaturenorthwest.co.uk
For more information about Manchester Markets visit
www.manchestermarkets.com
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Central Library has closed it doors for the final time for three years.
But no sooner has one door shut than another one opens in the shape of City Library at Elliot House on Deansgate. City Library opens at 9am on Monday 28 June and will be the library's new home while Central Library undergoes extensive refurbishment.
Having packed up around 25 miles of shelving and more than one million books, items and archives, Central Library can now undergo a full restoration which will see the building returned to its former neoclassical glory.
The work is expected to take until 2013 to complete so in the meantime, Elliot House will provide the city centre's library service.
Staff will be on hand to guide and advise visitors of how the new library operates, including the latest technology, which enables library users to issue books themselves to beat the queues.
The general readers library and research material is still available alongside DVDs, papers and magazines.
The local studies service is also available bringing with it its extensive collection of books, microfilm and computer resources for local and family history.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "We're heading into an exciting time for Manchester's library service and the improvements being made to Central Library will secure it for future generations. In the meantime we've got an excellent new library, City Library on Deansgate, providing all the services that our visitors have come to expect. There are of course a number of other libraries around the city, and a Manchester library card will enable members to use any of these as well."
City Library is located in Elliot House on the corner of Deansgate and Lloyd Street, opposite the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Opening times are Monday to Thursday 9am to 8pm and Friday and Saturday 9am to 5pm.
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Thousands of England fans at the Hyundai World Cup Fan Park have celebrated the team's dramatic win over Slovenia in South Africa.
Up to 13,000 people thronged the arena, where three giant screens are showing all of the matches in the tournament.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "Once again there has been a fantastic atmosphere at the Hyundai World Cup Fan Park and I'd like to praise the fans for their impeccable behaviour. We're the biggest football city in the world, and we've also got the best fans, as was demonstrated at the park today.
"It was fantastic to watch our team win and the reaction of the crowd at Castlefield was spectacular."
The next England match takes place on Sunday and tickets are available now.
Cllr Amesbury added: "I'd advise fans to get down to Castlefield early so they can enjoy the great atmosphere in the build-up to the next game.
"I'd also remind anyone that thinks they can misbehave at the fan park that we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour. Anyone who turns up drunk won't get in and anyone who causes trouble in the park will be dealt with quickly by security and police and risk not only being banned from our Fan Park, but from every football ground in the country."
There are CCTV cameras covering the entire Fan Park to ensure that anyone who tries to spoil the fans' experience will be quickly identified and removed. They also risk being made the subject of a Football Banning Order, which will not only bar them from any more matches at the Fan Park, but also from football grounds.
Access to the Hyundai Fan Park at Castlefield for England matches is strictly by ticket only and must be pre-booked. Anyone without a ticket will not be permitted entry.
Tickets are available from www.quaytickets.com or by calling 0843 208 0500 and are limited to four tickets per household. They can be collected at the Liverpool Road box office by the Castlefield Hotel on Friday and Saturday between noon and 7pm. Tickets can also be collected on the day at the Roman Gardens box offices (off Liverpool Road by the side of the White Lion pub). The box offices will open at 11am on Sunday and will close at 2pm - one hour before kick off.
Tickets are free of charge but there will be an admin fee of £1.50 per order to cover costs.
For more information, visit www.manchester.gov.uk/worldcup.
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This weekend (Friday 25 and Saturday 26 June) will give book and art lovers the chance to mingle with writers, publishers and artists in St Ann's Square as two popular markets make a welcome return.
Manchester's independent Book Market, organised with Literature Northwest, will feature live readings from poets and authors along with stalls from some of the region's most innovative publishers of novels, short stories and non-fiction.
Running alongside this will be Manchester's Art Market where original prints, photography and glassworks will be amongst the works on display and available to buy direct from artists. Items for sale will include: original photography by Amy Gibbings and Deborah Benbrook, paintings on glass by Bharat Makanji, and handmade ceramics by Rhian Templeman.
The Lost Properties Project, by arts organisation and community interest company, Arthur + Marthur, will also occupy one of the art stalls. The project aims to celebrate the work of carers in society. The stall will exhibit work produced in conjunction with carers groups throughout Greater Manchester and will also engage members of the public at the event to create new pieces of work.
And, for those who are happy to browse and just enjoy the atmosphere, there will be a range of food stalls and even a summer cocktail area to bring some extra sparkle.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "Both markets are a great way of showcasing home-grown talent and making this thought-provoking work more accessible to local people.
"It's the sort of event which breaks down barriers to the art world in a lively and enjoyable way."
Both markets will be held in St Anne's Square on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm.
For further information and details of authors and reading times, log on to www.literaturenorthwest.co.uk
For more information about Manchester Markets visit
www.manchestermarkets.com
For more information about Manchester City Council visit www.manchester.gov.uk
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Football lovers stocking up on refreshments to watch England's crucial match against Slovenia are to be offered advice about recycling.
Members of Manchester City Council's recycling team will be on hand at supermarkets across the city this week in the run up to the final group match on Wednesday June 23.
As part of Recycle Week, officers will be standing by checkouts offering information to shoppers about which items can be recycled, and into which bins the packaging should be placed.
Residents are being reminded they can put all cans, takeaway foil trays, glass bottles and plastic bottles in their brown containers, while any pizza boxes or match information in newspapers can go straight into their blue containers.
Shoppers will also be able to test their own skills by trying to kick a ball into a recycling bin, with prizes for the best attempts.
There will also be prizes for guessing the number of cans in a bale, while keen recyclers will be able to get into the patriotic spirit of the competition by using a special St George's recycling bin.
The events will take place at Netto's store on Old Church Street in Newton Heath on Tuesday June 22 and at the Stockport Road, Levenshulme store on Wednesday June 23, while another event will also take place at Gorton's Aldi store on Garratt Way on Friday June 25, all from 10am-2pm.
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "We've all enjoyed watching the World Cup games, and now that it's easier than ever for Manchester residents to recycle their food and drink packaging, this is the perfect opportunity to give advice about what can be recycled."
For more Manchester City Council information visit www.manchester.gov.uk.
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Crumpsall gets a taste of Rio on Sunday 27 June as its annual carnival dances to a samba beat.
More than 6,000 people got into the carnival spirit at last year's event and this year's carnival promises to be every bit as thrilling.
With a Brazilian theme expect an explosion of colourful costumes, dancing and live music at the free fiesta.
The parade starts from Herristone Park at 12.30pm, wending its way to Crumpsall Park where the main event runs from 1pm to 5pm.
Children from four local primary schools - St Anne's, Cravenwood, Crumpsall Lane and Irk Valley - have been working alongside artist Fay Flatt to prepare their costumes.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Mark Hackett will be taking part in the parade before declaring the carnival open at 1pm.
Attractions include a samba band, Crumpsall Concert Band, stalls including some selling international food, live entertainment and a fairground. There is also a Valuing Older People marquee providing free entertainment and refreshments. Football coaching sessions will also be on offer for anyone who wants to kick it like Kaka.
The event is organised by the Friends of Crumpsall Park in partnership with Manchester City Council.
City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: "The Crumpsall Carnival has established itself as one of the red letter days in North Manchester's social calendar and is an event to which many people look forward. It's going to be colourful, it's going to be loud and above all its going to be fun."
Tom Sogbetun, Chair of the Friends of Crumpsall Park, said: "The carnival just seems to get bigger and better every year. Everyone who comes along is sure to have a brilliant family fun day out. They certainly know how to enjoy themselves in Brazil but I'm sure we can more than match them in Manchester."
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At least 75,000 people lined the streets of Manchester to watch a spectacular parade to mark the first-ever Manchester Day. More than 1,800 people participated in the parade, drawn from more than 80 community groups, charities and companies from across Manchester. The parade, sponsored by Siemens, featured remarkable floats, inflatables, larger than life characters, dancers, acrobats and performers.
The event was commissioned by Manchester City Council and produced by internationally-acclaimed event organisers Walk the Plank. Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester Day chair, said: "This was the best parade Manchester has ever seen - a world-beater up there with New York, Sydney and Rio. "It was incredible to see how many people turned out in the beaming Manchester sunshine for the parade to celebrate everything that makes our city so great." Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure, added:
"The first-ever Manchester Day was an amazing event, with sights and sounds the like of which the city has never seen before. "What made it all the more amazing is that it was all created by Manchester people working together to celebrate pride in our great city."
It is hoped Manchester Day will now become an annual fixture in the city's exciting events calendar. Manchester Day was a UK-first as no city has ever had a day set aside to celebrate its success.
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Hundreds of people who live and work in Manchester will be given free training in cycling safely through the city.
Manchester City Council is offering the free sessions to up to 300 people over the next year, aimed at those who would like to start cycling to work or for fun, but who feel nervous about riding along busy streets.
The training is being announced as part of Bike Week, supported by the City Council, which starts on Monday June 21 and is aimed at letting residents know about the environmental and health benefits of getting back on the saddle.
Bring Your Bike To Work Day, held in Albert Square on Wednesday June 23, will provide free expert advice, information and bike maintenance for cyclists. There will also be demonstrations of bike skills during the day, while anyone who rides in before 10am will be treated to a free breakfast.
There will also be organised bike rides throughout the week, including the Mersey Valley Ride, setting off from Chorlton Water Park on Sunday June 27.
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "Cycling is a great way of keeping fit, is excellent for the environment and more importantly - it's fun.
"There's a lot of people who are nervous about cycling through busy city streets, and these free lessons, along with events taking place during Bike Week, should give those people the confidence they need to get on the saddle."
The City Council is supporting Bike Week as part of the Manchester: Be Proud programme, encouraging residents to care about the environment, enjoy Manchester's outdoor places and take pride in their communities.
Anyone who wants more information about Bike Week events should email bikeweek@manchester.gov.uk. Anyone interested in receiving free training should contact Dave Whyte on 0161 234 3394 or d.whyte@manchester.gov.uk.
For more Manchester City Council information visit www.manchester.gov.uk
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Despite headlines saying that the new Vetting and Barring scheme (VBS) - for England, Wales and Northern Ireland - has been halted, much of what the Independent Safeguarding Authority has already started will go ahead, at least for now. This includes ISA's role in making independent barring decisions and maintaining the two constantly updated lists of those barred from working with children or from working with vulnerable adults.
Employers are still legally obliged to refer information to the ISA if they have moved or removed an individual because they have harmed or there is a risk of harm to a member of a vulnerable group. Existing requirements concerning Criminal Records Bureau and Access Northern Ireland checks will remain in place, and those entitled to such checks can continue to apply for them.
What has been stopped is the voluntary registration with the VBS for new employees and job-movers working or volunteering with children and vulnerable adults, which was due to start on 26th July. This is to give the government time to 'remodel' the scheme, so expect further announcements in the next few months. The mandatory registration of new employees and job-changes is still (currently) due to come in from end of October. The two current consultations on the scheme (previously mentioned here) continue to 9th July, http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/
New CRB (purple) application forms prepared for the changes will still be introduced from 26th July. For more information, see Volunteering England summary at http://www.volunteering.org.uk/WhatWeDo/Policy/ISA+registration+halted.htm, or ISA at http://www.isa-gov.org.uk. One legal firm's views on the implications at http://preview.tinyurl.com/2v2rhx5
Volunteering England has welcomed the review on the basis that the scheme can be "streamlined much further, reducing the unnecessary bureaucracy for volunteers" http://preview.tinyurl.com/27jw75c, Home Office press release at http://preview.tinyurl.com/3ak7md9
Some news coverage: BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/10314055.stm,
Third Sector http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/1010052/, The Guardian http://preview.tinyurl.com/35v34eo
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With England's next World Cup fixture against Algeria taking place on Friday evening, even more people are expected to head to the Hyundai Fan Park at Castlefield Arena as local residents praise the city council for putting on a fantastic facility.
The clear message for Friday's match is that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated.
More than 10,000 people headed to the fan park for England's first match against the USA last weekend and fans were praised for the good atmosphere that largely dominated.
One minor incident was dealt with quickly by police, and security is being stepped up on Friday to make it clear that troublemakers will not be welcome.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, executive member for culture and leisure said: "There was a good atmosphere on Saturday night. These are decent Manchester people celebrating in their own city and it worked very well. There was one small incident, which saw a small number of troublemakers arrested immediately but as you would expect, everyone else just came to watch the match and have a good time. Feedback from those who attended was very positive and hopefully on Friday, we'll even get the right result on the pitch!"
Carol Middleton, chair of the Castlefield Residents' Forum said: " The world cup screenings have been very well organised and we're really enjoying them. Everyone's really getting into the spirit of it and even though there were one or two yobs on Saturday night they were removed very quickly. I'd say to anyone, do come down on Friday as there really is a lovely atmosphere and it's a great way to watch the matches."
Some changes have been made to the site for Friday's game to help improve the experience for fans. More box offices, for ticket collection only, have been introduced and will be located in the Roman Gardens on Liverpool Road (at the side of the White Lion Pub) to avoid lengthy queues. There will also be signs and security directing people to all the different entrances to assist access to the three screen locations within the Fan Park.
Once inside, the token system at the bars has been removed to save fans having to queue up twice and drinks will no longer be served in plastic bottles, instead being served in lightweight plastic glasses.
The beach area has also been extended, as this is proving a popular area for families in particular and will provide more space for them away from the standing room in front of the main screen. There will also be extra security staff at the beach and elsewhere in the Fan Park to ensure that any issues can be swiftly dealt with.
People are once again advised that they will not be permitted to take their own alcohol into the site and that anyone turning up to the area clearly worse-for-wear will not be admitted.
Councillor Mike Amesbury added: "Our priority is to keep everyone safe at the site and we're taking a no nonsense approach. Of all the alcohol and football-related arrests across the city on Saturday night, those at the fan park were the fewest in number.
"And if you are drunk or don't have a pre-booked ticket, don't even bother turning up - you won't get in."
There are CCTV cameras covering the entire Fan Park to ensure that anyone who tries to spoil the fans' experience will be quickly identified and removed. They also risk being made the subject of a Football Banning Order, which will not only bar them from any more matches at the Fan Park, but also from football grounds.
Access to the Hyundai Fan Park at Castlefield for England matches is strictly by ticket only and must be pre-booked. Anyone without a ticket will not be permitted entry.
Tickets are available from www.quaytickets.com or by calling 0843 208 0500 and are limited to four tickets per household. They will be available to collect at the box offices on Liverpool Road.
Tickets are free of charge but there will be an admin fee of £1.50 per order to cover costs.
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This June, the city of Manchester will pay tribute to the armed forces as part of the Armed Forces Day national celebrations.
Saturday 19 June
The Undentable Run
On Saturday 19 June, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Mark Hackett will greet a group of servicemen who are running from John O'Groats to Lands End in memory of their colleague Captain Mark Hale who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. They will run 851 miles in just 17 days - that's a double marathon a day each - and the Lord Mayor will be at the front of the Town Hall on Saturday to cheer them on and congratulate their achievements as they pass through the city centre.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Mark Hackett said: "I'm really happy to be supporting the lads during their run. Help for Heroes is one of my chosen charities during my year in office and I would encourage as many people as possible to support their efforts and give generously to raise money for those who continue to give so much for us all."
People can donate online at www.undentablerun.com
Monday 21 June
Raising of the Armed Forces Flag
The national celebrations for Armed Forces Day officially get underway on Monday 21 June, when the raising of the armed forces flag takes place around the country.
Cities across the UK, including Manchester will raise the flag at 10.30am prompt. The Lord Mayor will be accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant and the Greater Manchester Garrison, Adjutant and RSM as the flag is flown from the Town Hall roof.
Following this, the Lord Mayor and the Lord Lieutenant will present medals to armed forces personnel, including to those who have served in Afghanistan, at a private ceremony in the Lord Mayor's offices.
Tuesday 22 June
Armed Forces reception
On Tuesday evening (22 June), a special reception will take place at the Town Hall, again hosted by the Lord Mayor, to honour Manchester servicemen and women. This is the final event before Armed Forces Day itself.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester said: "I am so proud to be able to thank all these servicemen and women on behalf of the city and am looking forward to this week-long programme of events in honour of their sacrifices and achievements."
Saturday 26 June
Armed Forces Day
Albert Square
Albert Square will become the main venue for the main day on Saturday 26 June, where The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Mark Hackett, will be present throughout the day.
The city is proud to welcome Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE ADC, the First Sea Lord, Chief of Naval Staff, Lord Lieutenant and Peter Luff, the minister for defence equipment, support and technology who, together with the Lord Mayor, will review veterans from the armed forces.
A static veterans parade will take place in Albert Square at 1.00pm and live bands including The Band of the Life Guards from Hyde Park, will provide a musical accompaniment to the day. The Band has up to 35 musicians within its ranks and there and a varied repertoire from Bach through to the latest West End shows. They will be joined by The Greater Manchester Police Band, formed in the 1870s and who recently made the Radio One playlist!
The army will be providing two ceremonial guns, which can be viewed on the square. Information on Armed Forces Activities will be available from stalls on the square staffed by members of the Royal Navy, the Army, the RAF, the Royal British Legion, Air Cadets, Sea Cadets and Army Cadets.
Throughout the event there will be a seating area on Albert Square, allowing members of the public to relax and enjoy the afternoon. Refreshments with a traditional British flavour will be served including homemade soups and pies, rag pudding, Eccles cakes, Trifle and Manchester Tarts. There will also be a selection of British ales and soft drinks.
The elegant Sculpture Hall within Manchester Town Hall will be open and serving traditional Cream Teas.
Children and parents will be able to enjoy a family friendly workshop inside the Town Hall, where they will be able to make an Armed Forces Day memento to mark the day's celebrations. Mementos can be posted to serving members of Armed Forces - family members or garrisons linked to Manchester.
Piccadilly Gardens
12 noon - 4.00 pm
For a more action-packed afternoon, Piccadilly Gardens will be turned into an activity zone, where you can test your strength with taster sessions, run by Military Civilian Fitness
The Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Mark Hackett said, "Armed Forces Day has become a significant day in the life of our city when we honour and thank everyone who has served our country and all those who continue to do so. I hope that everyone in the city gets behind the celebrations and joins us for a fantastic day in the city centre on 26 June."
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There's no need to run away to join the circus in north Manchester this summer thanks to the Blackley Midsummer Madness event on Saturday 26 June.
Not only will there be some spectacular big top-style acts on show but anyone who goes along to the free event between 1pm and 5pm in Plant Hill Park can also try their hand at mastering circus skills.
There will be professional shows from Aviatricks, performing spectacular partner aerobatics, outdoor aerial circus including trapeze, stiltwalking and fire juggling plus comedy circus shows from Circus Sensible in a baby big top holding audiences of up to 200.
Workshops in juggling, stilt walking, plate spinning, Chinese Diablo, Chinese ribbons and balancing will give all-comers the chance to learn impressive new talents.
And if that's enough to work up an appetite, there's even a free ‘first come first served' clown barbecue as well as face painting and balloon modelling.
But even if the circus isn't your thing, there is lots more on offer.
Other highlights include a soccer skills session led by Manchester City FC in the Community and street dance routines. There's also an invitation to people to come along and display their talents on an open mic stage.
This annual event is supported by the City Council in partnership with the Friends of Plant Hill Park.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "Thousands flocked to Plant Hill Park for last year's Wild West-themed event and I'm sure this year's event will prove equally popular.
"Whether it's being wowed by the professionals, being inspired to have a go yourself or enjoying some of the other attractions on offer it promises to be a memorable day."
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