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Welcome to Salford Now’s Live Blog!

James Crabtree is curating our live feed today and will be updating you throughout the day on news relating to the ongoing fuel and food crisis, how Covid and Brexit are affecting business in the area and ramifications for Salford from the Conservative Party conference, taking place today in Manchester.

Plus developments for the city’s sports teams, weather and live updates from the emergency services.


6.15pm

“One person made a difference in my life, all it takes is one person” – JD Dance celebrates its five-year anniversary

This month, Salford dance school JD Dance will be celebrating their fifth year of being open

Owner, Jennie Doolan started the school after returning home from numerous dance contracts abroad and was keen to make a difference in her area.

Jennie said: “I was so quick to run away from Manchester, I just didn’t like it there, so I thought if I set up something I love then I’ll want to stay here.

After setting up her first ever dance class and nobody turning up, Jennie wanted to give up. After words of encouragement from her mum, Jennie persevered and now runs one of the biggest community groups in Salford

Read Jennie’s story and watch an exclusive interview here


6pm

‘Naughty stories and big secrets’ – Explore Salford on foot this Autumn with the October Walking Festival

Salford Ranger Team have organised a full schedule of themed walks, set to take place all over the city throughout the month of October.

 

The Salford October Walking Festival will feature over 20 different walks of varying difficulties, designed for people of all ages and abilities.

Elizabeth Charnley will be leading two of the walks, which are designed to recreate the journey that Queen Victoria took through Salford when she visited on October 9th 1851.

A Right Royal Tour – Victoria’s Voyage will trace the monarch’s journey from Patricroft station to Worsley New Hall via Royal Barge, exactly 170 years later.

Elizabeth, who is a Green Badge Tourist Guide, said: “There will be stories of hundreds, if not thousands, of people lining the sides of the canal.

“We will throw in the odd salacious story and a bit of ‘men behaving badly’!”

To read more about the walks, read the full article here

 


5.45pm

“It’s got to a stage where it’s the biggest we’ve ever had it” – Salford Histories Festival returns with range of new events

A vintage bus and church tours are among the new exhibits at this year’s Salford Histories Festival.

 

Organsiers say the annual festival, which has not taken place since 2019 due to Covid-19 will also feature stalls, tours and a heritage walk. There will also be five talks from local historians, including subjects such as the history of Swinton, Locomotives and Hugh Stowell.

Paul Hassall, secretary for the Eccles and District History Society explained some of the events taking place throughout the day. He said: “We are delighted that this year we are getting a vintage bus from Greater Manchester Transportation Museum. They will be giving out (free) bus rides on the day”

Organisers, the Salford Local History Forum will stage the event on 30th October at Fletcher Hall and St Peter’s Church between 10am and 4pm.

To learn about The Salford Histories Festival, click here


5.30pm

Salford’s own Angel Gomes earns his first England U21’s call-up

Highly-rated prospect 21-year-old Angel Gomes has been handed his maiden callup for England’s U21 side for their latest round of fixtures

Gomes spent his youth growing up in Salford as a winger for Manchester United. He made his senior debut for United at the age of 16, becoming the youngest player to play for the club since Duncan Edwards in 1958.

Following his call-up, Angel Gomes has praised his godfather and former Manchester United player, Nani. He said: “His influence has been massive from when I was younger at United. He was someone I grew up idolising

Read Angel’s incredible story here

 


5.15pm

Salford’s tallest building construction set to be approved this week

A 55-storey tower, which would be ‘Salford’s tallest building’ and form part of a 542-apartment scheme, is set to be approved by planners.

The plans are for two mixed-use towers, 14 and 55 stories, on the land at the corner of New Bridge Street and Greengate. Proposed by One Heritage Tower Ltd, they include 542 apartments and almost 300 square metres of commercial spaces.

There will be a mix of one, two and three bed apartments, and residents will have access to facilities such as a roof terrace, a gym, a private dining space, a sky lounge on the 52nd floor and secure storage for 178 bicycles.

To find out more about the new plans, read the full article here

 


5pm

“We’ve got some really decent 50/50 fights”- Boxing returns to Salford as the AJ Bell Arena hosts local fight night

A boxing promoter in Salford says he is excited by the return of boxing to the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday night.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gary L Booth (@m31boxing)

Gary Booth, coach at Manchester 31 Boxing Academy and promoter at Manchester 31 Boxing Promotions says: “(I) can’t wait to get this show on the road”.

“I’m bringing boxing back to Irlam, with the lockdown, all the kids have been twiddling their thumbs and trying somewhere else, we’ve lost a few of them but we go again, we go again”.

Gary is keen to promote his belief that boxing can change lives and says it has the power to get fighters back on the straight and narrow.

To hear more from Gary and learn about boxing in Salford, read the full article here


4.45pm

“I just tried to picture the money I was raising… It spurred me to keep going” – Marathon runner David Blake raises thousands for Salford children’s charity

On Sunday, 3rd October, first-time marathon runner David Blake took part in the London Marathon, raising over £3,300 for Wood Street Mission.


The marathon was initially meant to be run by David’s wife Lucy, but she had to pull out after struggling with her asthma during training. David stepped in two months prior to the marathon, taking her place, and he managed to complete the gruelling race in just over four hours.

To learn more about David’s selfless journey, read the full article here


4.30pm

Salfordian Christopher Eccleston thought he was “going to die” amid mental health struggles

Christopher Eccleston Q&A video screenshot

Salford star, Christopher Eccleston, recently told how he “thought he was going to die” in 2016

The ex Doctor Who star, now 57, opened up about his mental health with Big Issue vendor, Clive. Christopher Eccleston recalls: “I think the received wisdom about people who sell The Big Issue is that they’ve never had a successful life.

He also opened up about struggling with a mental health episode whilst filming the first series of BBC’s ‘The A Word’:

“I was playing a character called Maurice, who was comic and bluff, spending 10 hours a day being him. Then I would go back to my room and wouldn’t sleep…I found out afterwards that I’d been in fight or flight for a couple of years and could no longer fight or fly. My brain chemistry was telling me I was about to die

If you are struggling with you mental health, or know someone who is, then support is available from The Samaritans, or locally through the Greater Manchester Mental Health hotline on 01204 483071.

To learn about Eccleston’s struggle, read the full article here


4.15pm

“She is already asking to change schools after only being there for four weeks” – Swinton school teachers go on strike after nearly 300 ‘angry’ parents sign a petition against new rules

Co-Op Academy strikes continue at this Swinton school. Photo credit: Nathan Bagnall
Co-Op Academy strikes continue at this Swinton school. Photo credit: Nathan Bagnall

The Co-op Academy in Swinton has seen over 30 members of staff go on strike, in support of the 276 parents who have signed a petition against the ‘unfair’ and ‘intimidating’ new school rules.

These rules include searching pupils’ bags every morning to check that they have the right equipment, having extremely high standards for school shoes, and, according to some parents, giving children ‘limited’ time to eat their dinners and not allowing enough toilet breaks.

The Co-op Academies Trust has released a statement on their website regarding these strikes, where they have stated: “Any lessons that have been missed as a result of the strike will be put back into the timetable this year.  We’ll also make sure that there is no further loss of learning time…it’s still important that every child has a valuable learning experience.

To learn more about the strikes and rule changes, read the full article here


4pm

Salford City Council face £21.8m worth of cuts to be made over the next two years

 

Local leaders are drawing up ‘savings proposals’ ahead of setting revenue budgets for the upcoming financial year and beyond.

These cuts come despite £222m of cuts since the Tory’s returned to government in 2010/11, as Salford Mayor Paul Dennett tweeted.


To find out more about the cuts read the full article here

 


3.30pm 

“This is a really good way of drawing people’s attention in a creative way” – Residents get crafty with rubbish at Walk The Plank’s recycling event

Salford outdoor experts, Walk the Plank, opened the doors to their creative workshop for the first time in over a year to eco-savvy Salford residents.

Their free-to-attend, ‘What a Load of Rubbish’ event focused on recycling rubbish, turning bottle lids into decorations and art, minimising food waste.

Walk the Plank’s reason for hosting the event are very personal. They are located on Cobden Street, it is in an area dominated by rubbish, with a recycling centre, waste management, skip lorries, and fly-tipping. which is why the event put such so much focus on the environment. Salford residents have already been organising their own environmental initiatives within the community, and this event is further proof that businesses are now getting involved too.

Find out more here


2.15pm

“It’s just nice to see those connections be made” – Eccles Community Garden welcomes visitors to their new Ivy Den Café

The boss of of the new Ivy Den Café, part of Cleavley Community Forest Garden in Eccles, says he hopes visitors and Salford residents can safely connect with one another and nature.

The new engaging outdoor space has been a long time in the making according to Ian Bocock, the Director and Horticulture Educational Lead at IncrEdible Education.

He said: “Because we had hoped to open the café in July, people were saying ‘Oh, is it open yet?’, but once people were able to come they enjoyed the fact that they could sit in a really nice setting, have a drink and be social.”

To learn more about the café, and the volunteers who helped build it, read the full article here  

 


2pm

“We believe everyone should have a place to call home” – New homes completed for people facing homelessness in Salford

Ten new homes have been built for people facing homelessness in Salford due to ForHousing and the Government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP).

 

ForHousing has been working closely with Salford City Council to identify the people who will be offered places in the homes. The £1.37 million redevelopment of these homes spread across Irlam, Eccles, Little Hulton and Central Salford received a total of £690,000 funding from the RSAP.

Nigel Sedman, Group Director of Homes from ForHousing said: “At ForHousing we believe everyone should have a place to call home. We are proud of all the developments we have built so far across Salford to help people at risk of being without a roof over their heads.

To find out more information about the project and homelessness in Salford, read the full article here


1.30pm

2.8 million people, including Salfordians, set to benefit from The Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement

The vice-chancellors of five Greater Manchester universities signed The Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement at a meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday 24 September.

All 5 universities will work together to support research and new businesses to drive growth in areas such as e-commerce, cyber security, data analytics, creative digital, smart cities and health tech, making Greater Manchester a top-5 European digital city-region.

“The Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement is the biggest and most ambitious partnership of its kind in the country covering two cities, eight boroughs and 2.8 million people and outlines how we will work together to level up our city region through innovation, reach our climate ambitions and support the creation of educational pathways into good quality jobs.”

To learn more about the agreement and what this means for jobs in Salford, read the full article here


1pm

“We’re fighting convenience” – Salford’s first zero waste shop hosts its own clothes swap event

 

The Dispensary, which is widely regarded as Salford’s first zero waste shop, hosted its very first clothes swapping event over the weekend helping to promote sustainable shopping habits.


Fay Watts, 35, has run the Salford Dispensary in Walkden since its opening in late 2019 and after surviving three national lockdowns, she’s finally ready to get back to bringing the people of Salford a more sustainable shopping alternative, she said: “We’ve opened up in Walkden in the town centre to try and be more accessible… these refill shops open in gentrified areas and yeah it’s great like going to Chorlton or Didsbury or somewhere like that but we were trying to make it accessible.”

To find out more on how to reduce waste and hear more from Fay read the article here.

 


12.30pm

National Golf Lovers Day: The Economic Impact

 

Image: HeungSoon from Pixabay. No attribution needed.

 

Today, professional and non-professional golfers come together to celebrate National Golf Lovers day.

Like all sports the golf industry has been affected by the pandemic with golf courses closing and fixtures cancelled.

But golf tourism remains profitable, as local businesses like Clubhouse Golf, a golf equipment store in Salford, said: “As a company we make £60 million annually in revenue, so we can say we are a customers favourite when it comes to our golf equipment.

 

Read the article here to find out what golf does for the Salford community.


12pm

“I’d not hugged my family for months, and there I was being all raucous on set” – Salford alumni Joanna Higson talks filming Brassic 3 in the midst of a pandemic

Joanna Higson, Salford University alumni says she “felt so lucky to be back at work” with the return of hit Sky comedy Brassic.

Returning to our screens this coming Wednesday, excitement has grown around the release of the highly anticipated series three. Graduating from The University of Salford in 2006 with a first-class honours degree in Media and Performance, Joanna returned to the University in 2016 to study Broadcast Journalism, following a break from acting. But after landing a role in Brassic, following her graduation in 2017, the actress is yet to adventure into a career of journalism.

Joanna, who plays the role of Sugar, has seen her character develop throughout the two seasons, becoming a crucial member of the Brassic ‘gang’. The comedy series is known for its wild humour stemmed from the criminal adventures of the working-class friends, but despite this it’s not short of dark moments that provide it’s northern grit.

 

To learn more about the show and Joanna read the full article here

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