Newsletter 19 June 2008

MRHF send out a regular weekly email bulletin on Thursdays, containing information for all our newsletter email group. For the convenience of our stakeholders and for those who might want to find out more about the Forum, we are also publishing that information to the BHA website. Feedback would be very welcome. If you have any information that you would like us to circulate in a future bulletin, please forward it to MRHF by Wednesday 12.00 pm the day before. Please ring us on 0161 872 4600 or email us at mrhf@btconnect.com if you have any queries.

Health angels of the north

The Moston and Harpurhey Health Fortnight returns for the third time from Saturday 21 June to Sunday 6 July with a host of free or discounted events.

This year’s theme is ‘health angels’ – highlighting the range of support and encouragement available to people in the area who want to boost their health, as well as encouraging them to listen to their ‘inner angel.’

The official launch event, a Bikes For All Family Fun and Cycling Day, takes place at Boggart Hole Clough on Sunday 22 June between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Throughout the fortnight family swim sessions at North City Family and Fitness Centre in Harpurhey will be absolutely free, from 9:00 am to 10:45 am on Saturdays and Sundays. The offer applies to up to three adults and two children. Visitors to the Broadway Leisure Centre in Moston will also be able to enjoy use of its health suite and pool for the discounted price of just £2.30 on Friday 27 June and Friday 4 July.

MANCAT in Ashley Lane, Moston, will also be offering free gym sessions every weekday to residents aged over 16 from Saturday 21 June to Sunday 6 July. They are described as being perfect for anyone who wants to get into shape ahead of the summer holidays.

During the fortnight a one week trial membership of North City Family and Fitness Centre, including a full gym induction, costs just £10.

The Family and Fitness Centre also plays host to the Harpurhey heat of the Manchester Street Athletics competition on Friday 4 July.

Parents with toddlers and babies can join in too. One Big Buggy Push, a gentle walk around Boggart Hole Clough, takes place on Thursday 3 July between 1.30 and 2.30pm.

But the health fortnight is not just about helping people get more active. It is also highlighting the wealth of health advice and information available. Special events also include a Pregnancy Advice and Information session at Harpurhey Children’s Centre, within the Family and Fitness Centre, from noon to 3:00 pm on Tuesday 24 June. Manchester Stop Smoking Service will be pitching up at North City Shopping Centre on the city’s Stop Smoking Day, Tuesday 1 July, helping people to pack in cigarettes.

Anyone hoping to get in trim can go along to a Waist Management Day at the NEPHRA allotment at Moston’s Northfield Day Centre on Friday 27 June from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. Activities include outdoor t’ai chi.

For details of the full range of activities available, both regular and one-off, Moston and Harpurhey residents should pick up copies of the health fortnight leaflet from local libraries and leisure centres.

For more Manchester City Council information visit www.manchester.gov.uk

Nadira Miah,a Regeneration Assistant working with Manchester City Council, is currently on a 7 week placement with Naomi Davies at Zest to help support a local project which is looking at women's wellbeing in Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill (not excluding the surrounding area of North Manchester)

The last community meeting was held on 9 April at Abraham Moss Centre. Click here to see the notes & plan from this meeting and an invitation to the next meeting, which is to be held on Wednesday 16 July 2008 from 12:00 - 2:00 pm at Abraham Moss Centre, the Confex room on the 2nd floor.

Please feel free to invite other local women residents and workers to attend.

There will be a free healthy halal lunch provided.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Naomi at Zest: 0161 655 7881 or Abraham Moss Centre 0161 908 8335
email: n.davies1@manchester.gov.uk

Roshni Sight Awareness Day for South Asian Families

Do you know someone with sight loss? Do they need support, information and advice? Benefits and welfare advice, education advice, employment advice, practical support, face painting, henna and refreshments will all be on offer on Monday 30 June, 10:00am - 2:30 pm at Longsight Library, 519 Stockport Rd, M12 4NE. To book a place please contact Zahida Khan 0161 872 1234 or John Warburton 0161 234 1989.

English poster
Urdu poster

Please encourage your members/contacts to display the posters prominently.

Involving Ethnic Minority Communities in Co-operatives and Social Enterprises
Wednesday 25 June 2008 , 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
The Mechanics Centre, Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD (Entrance on Major Street)
This event provides the opportunity to learn about developments in the co-operative and social enterprise sectors and how ethnic minority communities can be better involved. Co-operativesUK, supported by the Office of the Third Sector, is committed to finding out more about the barriers that hinder the development of ethnic minority co-operatives and social enterprises and the involvement of individuals in this movement.
This seminar will also discuss ideas for solutions, case examples and make recommendations for Government and Co-operativesUK on ways of supporting the involvement of ethnic minority communities.
Speakers will include:
Helen Seymour, Head of Projects and Development, Co operativesUK
Tamsyn Roberts, Social Enterprise Policy Advisor, Office of the Third Sector
Munir Malik, Co-operative Group BAME Network
Micaela Mazzei Centre for Local Economic Strategies Consulting

For enquiries please contact Atiha or Deyika on 0778 051 4143
For a booking form, please email atiha_equalaccess@hotmail.com

As part of their Capacity Building project, South Manchester Regeneration Team are providing free training to voluntary and community groups this summer. The training sessions will cover: Effective work planning; Fundraising; Supervision and appraisal of staff; Business planning. The sessions will be facilitated by their consultant Jonny Wineberg and are open to all community and voluntary groups providing services to the community in south and central Manchester. For a link to the course programme, please see the CN4M website:

For further information, please contact David Rogerson (Regeneration Officer) Tel: 0161 277 1893 , Email: d.rogerson@manchester.gov.uk or visit: www.manchester.gov.uk

News/Campaigns:

Southside News

The Summer 2008 edition of 'Southside News', the newsletter of the University Hospital of South ManchesterNHS Foundation Trust, is now available online - click here.

Manchester City Council are hosting their annual jobs fairs for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and Black and Minority Ethnic People.

These events will be an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the work that has been undertaken to reduce the barriers in employment faced by LGBT and BME members of the community and for organisations to encourage applications from LGBT and BME people.

This is the 3rd year the Council have hosted the LGBT jobs fair. Previous events have been extremely successful and have attracted a high level of interest from both the LGBT communities and employers alike. This is the first year they have run the Jobs Fair for Black and Minority Ethnic people.


The events will be held in the Great Hall, Town Hall, Manchester, 11:00 am - 4:00pm on the following dates :

Thursday 28 August LGBT jobs fair
Thursday 2 October BME jobs fair

If you are interested in taking part in these events, please contact Kate Fowler on 0161 2341885 or k.fowler@manchester.gov.uk and she will be happy to discuss any support you can provide

The latest jobs bulletin from Manchester PCT is now available - download it here.

Pitch your Project

Pitch your Project is part of TimeBank’s Journey to Health initiative, funded by the Department of Health.

Pitch your Project to a panel of experts and you could win £2000 and support to help your community group grow.

They’re looking for health, wellbeing and fitness projects with innovative ideas for using volunteers.
Pitch your Project gives you the chance to be filmed ‘Dragons’ Den’ style putting forward your ideas. Five shortlisted projects will be given £250 to develop a pitch as well as receiving face to face advice from a panel of experts in communications, design, health and volunteering. The project that comes up with the best pitch will win a prize of £2000.
The closing date for the current round is 30 June 2008.
For more information and to apply online, go to http://www.journeystohealth.org/pitchyourproject/