Local news

SNAP comes to Walkden South

A SNAP week of action took place in Walkden South from 12 to 18 December 2011. There was something for everyone with lots of things for children and young people to do. Best of all, a lot of the activities were free!

ICT in the community stall The Little Hulton and Walkden Neighbourhood Management team worked in partnership with 17 other services and organisations to run a fun packed day of activities at Guild Hall Community Centre.

The event was aimed at residents over 50 years old who live in the Walkden South area. The day started off with an information event, which saw many services working together to help residents access services and support them with issues they were having. This was then followed by a free hotpot lunch, which gave residents and services the opportunity to share stories and talk in general about the area, activities and living and working in Walkden South.

Community payback work Community payback had 11 groups working on a project cleaning the loopline over 10 days. They collected an immense amount of waste. In one location a trailer load of car tyres was collected that had been dumped on the line behind fence panels of the houses. They also had items such as discarded UPVC window frames and patio furniture scattered.

Salford West neighbourhood policing team were kept extremely busy with the most diverse tasks including car checks using automatic number plate recognition technology, checks with First Bus and visits to pubs with specially trained drug dogs. Several people were arrested.

The council's environment team worked hard during SNAP week. They removed 29 pieces of graffiti, collected nine tonnes of bulky waste and removed 12 tonnes of street litter, including the many leaves that cover the pavements.

Christmas family fun day took place on Saturday 17 December. There were arts and craft activities where little ones could make their own Christmas decorations, a free bouncy castle, face painting and Santa’s Grotto at Fit City Worsley. Stalls included the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the youth service, the council’s neighbourhood management and health improvement teams and the Army. If that wasn’t enough, there was also a Christmas raffle and a cake stall if you were feeling peckish. Families could also take part in a fun splash session in the pool.

Madamswood youth space - have your say

Armitage Residents Association, City West Housing Trust and Salford City Council are working hard to apply for funding to build a youth space and skate park in Little Hulton. Get involved in the filming of a TV show around how young people want to see the space develop. Please telephone Eve Hunt on 0161 605 7645 or email eve.hunt@citywest.org.uk for further information. Come along to Walkden CSV on Tuesday 6 December from 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

Outreach and Engagement news

Little Hulton and Walkden's Outreach and Engagement group have produced their first ever newsletter. This edition celebrates all the fantastic events during this summer. Do take a look at the Little Hulton and Walkden Outreach and Engagement summer special, available to download below.

Love Little Hulton!

Lots of people, adults and children were not put off by the morning’s weather and came along to enjoy the festival at Peel Park on Sunday 7 August. Luckily the rain held off for the afternoon and everyone was able to join in the fun. There was plenty to do for all ages, a petting zoo where children were keen to help with feeding, a brilliant display by the Starletts and many people joined in and exercised with the Big Dance. There was free face painting, five-a-side football, planting, pamper sessions, a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and much more!

This event was organised by the Better off in Little Hulton and Walkden team and we were there on the day. We can help you get the most out of your area and can offer assistance and advice for dealing with things like money worries, childcare or getting back into work. To find out more contact Claire Fewings on 0161 779 8072 or claire.fewings@salford.gov.uk.

A smart way to fight crime and stay safe

Last October, Little Hulton was selected by Salford City Council’s Community Safety Unit to receive free SmartWater kits worth £60 for up to 2,300 homes in Amblecote Peel and Baronfold. The council’s Working Neighbourhood Team outreach and engagement team were involved in the delivery of these unique SmartWater kits, aiming to reduce crime and deter criminals while increasing the safety of the community. Smart water is a clear fluid which is applied to valuables and enables it to be tracked back to a property should it be lost or stolen. SmartWater also has a 100% conviction rate when used as evidence in court.

City West commenced delivery of around 800 SmartWater kits on the Kenyon Estate on 14 March 2011. Residents will also be able to collect kits from the tenants and residents association.

I love my park

Over 150 people attended the "I love my park" event at Parr Fold Park on Monday 14 February. The aim of the event was to promote Parr Fold Park and the improvements to the skate park, multi-use games area, installation of the green gym equipment and to engage people in positive park activities. The event was organised in partnership between Salford Ranger Team, Integrated Youth Support Services, Salford Community Leisure and the Health Improvement Team. The young people got to have a go on a smoothie bike and make their own smoothies and try out skateboarding workshops or play five-a-side football, whilst Walkden North and Little Hulton’s Detached Team treated the crowd to a set of music from Music to the Masses.

Community safety day

Approx 80 residents, many from Amblecote, enjoyed a community safety day on Thursday 17 February at Dukesgate School. The ambulance service brought an ambulance and environmental crime assisted people in making their own bin numbers. Money advisors helped with advice on debt and illegal money lending. Police and fire service dogs were very popular with everyone.

Where would you find Alice in Wonderland hanging out with Batman?

At the Sure Start children’s centre in Little Hulton. 60 families said 'bah humbug' to the winter blues this January and instead partied with ‘Better off in Little Hulton’. Held at the Sure Start children’s centre, the party got off to a good start with bacon butties all round, including of course for Batman and friends!

Everyone soon burnt off the calories with lots of games and activities. Musical story sessions were a big hit with the little ones but the overall winner of the day has to be the ‘Funny Faces’ t-shirt competition - the children (and some adults!) learnt how to pull, stretch and distort a photo of themselves through computer wizardry and the magic of Photoshop. There were lots of funny faces!

Manchester Road West / Clegg’s Lane improvements

Manchester Road West improvements which started 14 February 2011 include the resurfacing of 550m of existing carriageway from Clegg’s Lane junction in a westerly direction. Clegg’s Lane junction improvements provide new carriageway surfacing works, drainage improvements, upgraded traffic signals and introduction of improved pedestrian crossing facilities at the junction.

Smile... we’re on camera!

Passengers at Walkden station are enjoying improved safety and security thanks to an innovative link up between Little Hulton and Walkden Community Committee, Northern Rail and community volunteers the Friends of Walkden Station (FOWS). A unique three-way project saw CCTV cameras installed at the station late 2010 and incidents of anti-social behaviour have dropped dramatically since. Friends of Walkden Station are a group of passengers who work - unpaid - to improve the station and its services. To find out more visit Walkden Station's website.

Passport to a better future

From October to December 2010, ten school leavers from the Little Hulton area participated in an exciting eight week programme of activities aimed at motivating them to achieve future goals and moving into positive opportunities, whether that be employment, college or training. The programme named ‘Passport’ was devised by Noel Goulding from Moveo Training in conjunction with Connexions in Walkden and the Little Hulton Working Neighbourhood Team. Other local partners have been actively involved in programme delivery, e.g Rathbone Training. All young people participating actively engaged in a variety of activities, ranging from physical outdoor activities provided by NRG to ‘Winning Skills’ employability skills and training. Trainees also had the opportunity to undertake a range of work experience opportunities and formal accredited awards in Health and Safety at Work.

Call Inn

The Call Inn Community Café was started in 2000 by a group of volunteers who recognised the need for a ‘drop in’ type of luncheon club within the area: somewhere people could call for a bite to eat or just a cuppa at very reasonable prices and a chat. The Call Inn is open on Thursday lunch times at St Paul Peel Parish Community Hall, Manchester Road West, Little Hulton. Everyone is welcome - so why not ‘Call Inn’. Telephone 0161 703 8700.