SNAP blog

Friday 10 September

Probation activities
Carol Johnson, Community Operation Manager, Salford Probation Office

Teams of offenders carrying out community payback have shifted tons of earth and painted fences as part of a project to improve an alleyway in Swinton.

The initiative was part of the SNAP week which is run in conjunction with Salford probation, the fire service, police and Salford City Council.

Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law, rigorously supervised and enforced by probation. Members of the public asked for something to be done about the alleyway - off Destructor Road, Swinton - because the overgrowth was providing a potential environment for crime.

Carol Johnson, Salford probation's Community Payback Manager, said: "We have been part of SNAPS for several years and the beauty of it is that the projects offenders undertake have been put forward by residents.

Community Payback is a way for offenders to make up to the community for the harm they have done, and this work, which has been a really hard graft, is evidence of that.

Three skips of earth have been shifted to reveal the old cobblestones which over the years had become covered. It's made a tremendous difference."

Rusty railings were also stripped down and repainted to make the area look better.

Stuart Greenwood, Community Payback Officer, helped supervise the scheme which involved more than 80 offenders working over a five day period - this equates to 595 hours worked by offenders paying back to the Swinton community.

He added: "This is the second time we have visited the site. Offenders have used everything from industrial strimmers to shovels to help shift everything and have put in a great deal of work of which they can be very proud."

The public recommended the scheme via Community Safety Partnership meetings hosted by Salford City Council. Former home secretary Alan Johnson visited the site earlier in the year on the run up to the General Election. 

Bulky waste collection and street cleaning
Malcolm Cooper, Environmental Coordinator, Salford City Council

During SNAP week, the council's environment team worked with other partners to clean up the area.

Over 22 tonnes of bulky waste items and two and a half tonnes of electrical items were collected for free; 23 pieces of graffiti were removed from cable boxes, fences, road signs and property; five areas were cleared of fly-tipping; and all primary and secondary routes in the area were swept, collecting six tonnes of street litter.

All in all, a very productive week!

Planting event
Bernadette Morrison, Neighbourhood Manager, City West Housing Trust

As part of the SNAP week City West decided that they would provide a planting scheme for Sindsley Court, together with a coffee afternoon.

The lucky residents had their services for the afternoon keeping our neighbourhood officer, Lucy Andrew and me busy pouring cups of tea and coffee and serving cake.  

A number of staff from City West attended to help, planting winter flowers to provide colour through the autumn and winter months. Great fun was had by all staff and residents.  

The coffee afternoon was also an opportunity for Marie Shields, Salford Council Neighbourhood Manager, to present a cheque to the group for IT equipment on behalf of the Community Committee.

Thursday 9 September

Poets festival
Chris Tucker, Community Development Worker, Swinton Neighbourhood Team, Salford City Council

Moorside Park was turned into a festival of fun as the Poets festival got into full swing tonight. Over 300 young people and parents flocked to the event, to enjoy dozens of live performers and demonstrations, that filled the area non stop for four hours.  

Activities included sports events, music, Morris dancing, circus workshops, clowns and jugglers. While all this was going on, others could try their hand at bird box making, arts and crafts, face painting, a graffiti workshop and lots more.  

Hot nourishing food was prepared and served up by the Swinton Health Improvement Team and devoured quickly by the hungry revellers.  

The event was joint funded by the Working Neighbourhood Team and Salix Homes and was a fantastic example of partnership working with many agencies including the Swinton Neighbourhood Team, Sure Start, Work Solutions, the police, Moorside and Swinton Cricket Club, Moorside Rangers FC, Salford Rangers and Salford Youth Service.  

Over 100 questionnaires were collected, gathering information about residents' health needs, training needs, and how to take up council services in general. There will be a draw for those who filled in the questionnaires and the lucky winner will receive a brand new push bike.

Neighbourhood walkabout
Lucy Andrew, Neighbourhood Officer, City West Housing Trust

As part of the Swinton North SNAP week, a multi-agency walkabout was conducted today on the Mossfield Road Neighbourhood in Swinton. Despite the grey weather the event was well attended with officers from City West, the council and the police. Like yesterday, the Chair of the Swinton North Tenants and Residents Association also joined us on the walkabout.

Two local residents walked round with us and on the way we met many others. Some of the issues that we picked up on the way round the neighbourhood included repairs to communal areas, and environmental issues such as fly-tipping and overgrown trees.

One resident came out to ask us about her door which was broken. The responsive repairs manager, John Shelmerdine, immediately arranged for a workman to come who arrived just 15 minutes later. An old door was also disposed of which had been fly-tipped on a communal green area nearby.

Wednesday 8 September

Youth activities
Dave Hollinghurst, Deans Youth Activities Centre, Salford City Council

The council has teamed up with Salford Youth Sailing Trust to give young people the chance to go on a voyage.

On Wednesday night, a session was held at Deans Youth Activities Centre to give young people (and future crew members) an introduction into what to expect.

The workers introduced themselves to the group, did some ice breaker games and went through the information about the boat - where the voyage would go, when and what to expect. All the necessary paperwork was given out and the programme of work to prepare them for the voyage, which will be mainly around teamwork and communication, was outlined. Sessions will run every Wednesday evening until the voyage in October. 

This is a unique citywide partnership to provide an annual voyage to young people aged between 14 and 24 who would not normally have the chance to have this kind of experience.    

This is delivered by the Greater Manchester Challenge at Oakmere College. Their sea staff work alongside youth workers to provide a personal development programme.  This programme is a pathway to certification and accreditation of the young peoples learning by involvement of The Duke of Edinburgh Award and Millennium Volunteers.

Neighbourhood walkabout
Lucy Andrew, Neighbourhood Officer, City West Housing Trust

During today's walkabout round the Manchester Road South neighbourhood, we were joined by the Chair of the Swinton North Tenants and Residents Association.  

Some of the issues that we picked up during the walkabout included repairs to communal areas and environmental issues such as overgrown land.

A list of all planned City West estate walkabouts for the next year can be found on the City West website.

Tuesday 7 September

Drug and alcohol awareness (for parents and carers)
Stefanie Wyke, Health and Wellbeing Officer, NHS Salford  

Moorside Sure Start Centre was a hive of activity that morning so much so that I decided to change the format of the sessions to an open door policy for anyone who was using the centre to feel free to come and talk to me if they wanted to.    

I spoke to parents about medicines, tobacco, alcohol, drug education and how to talk to your child about drugs. I had fun playing awareness games with children and parents around medicines (tablets and sweets) and alcohol (beer goggles).  

I have to finish by praising centre staff who were incredibly welcoming, helpful and more than happy to signpost parents to me, I can't thank them enough for their support on the day.  

Neighbourhood walkabout
Lucy Andrew, Neighbourhood Officer, City West Housing Trust

As part of the Swinton North SNAP week, a multi agency walkabout was conducted today on the Moorside Neighbourhood in Swinton.

We carry out regular walkabouts to help identify problems residents may be having and work with organisations such as the police and council to help sort them out. We identify and help with things such as untidy gardens, fly tipping and graffiti, as well as looking at any possible environmental improvements that could be made in the neighbourhood.

The event was well attended with officers from City West, the council and the police. Two residents also joined us for part of the neighbourhood. Some of the concerns they raised included overgrown alleyways, graffiti and untidy gardens as well as other issues such as underage youths drinking alcohol and causing anti-social behaviour.

Estate walkabouts are a great opportunity to look at ways to improve the neighbourhood. It's our job to work with the community and to help make the area safer, cleaner and a more pleasant place to live.

Monday 6 September

Police activity
Sergeant Johannah Connolly, Salford North Neighbourhood Policing Team, Greater Manchester Police

The SNAP week is underway in Swinton North and the Salford North Neighbourhood Policing Team are eager to follow in the footsteps of our colleagues across the city and make it an outstanding success.  

The work that will take place during the next seven days will not only improve people's lives but help develop relationships between police, the council and members of the public.

We scanned 59 vehicles using automatic number plate technology to see whether drivers are insured, taxed and whether the vehicle belongs to the rightful owner. Pleasingly, there were no major issues during the operation with drivers in the area abiding by the law.

The mobile police station was on Morrisons car park, with a stall inside so we could talk to shoppers about issues that affected them and their family.  

Residents also told us about issues they have with anti-social behaviour and off-road bikes. We will be looking at ways to target the problem and reduce the number of incidents that take place in the area.

The station will be at the Netto car park between 9.00am and 3.00pm on Tuesday and Morrisons on Wednesday between 9.00am and 3.00pm. Please feel free to meet and talk to your local officer about issues in the community that are affecting your everyday life.

Home fire risk assessments
Gary Crompton, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

Hi, I'm Gary Crompton from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

Today we spent a busy day in Morrisons supermarket in Swinton speaking to over 100 residents to give advice on fire safety and sign people up for a free home fire risk assessment.

It was surprising how many people told us they didn't have a fire alarm which is worrying but that's why it's good to do these kind of things. We're not here to judge, we just want all residents to be safe in their homes and we can help you take steps to make you safer.

If you would like to arrange a visit please call 0800 555 815 to make an appointment for our fire officers to come to your home.

This page was last updated on 6 October 2010