A ‘vital’ resource for residents

MOSS Side has a new Post Office which is open seven days-a-week and which also offers late night openings.

The new Princess Road Post Office was officially openined by Moss Side Councillor Sameem Ali.

Councillor Ali said: “I am very pleased to be officially opening Princess Road Post Office and I want to congratulate postmaster Mohamed Abdi on his hard work and to formally declare the Princess Road Post Office open.

She added: “Post Offices are vital to the communities around the country and I’m sure the new home of Princess Road Post Office, with the long opening hours, will be warmly welcomed by people who live and work locally.”

The new post office is open every day

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from 9am-9pm. The opening hours have been increased by an extra 46 hours-a-week to ensure it is more convenient for people, with no more lunchtime closures and with a new service on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and Sunday.

Post Office services are now provided from a screened counter in the internet cafe. The new branch has been designed to ensure easy access and that adequate space is provided inside for customers using a wheelchair to move around the store.

There is a hearing loop at the counter for deaf and partially-hearing customers and all staff have been trained to meet Post Office professional standards for service and security.

Mr Abdi said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to present the new style branch and I am very pleased to be officially launching it for the community. I hope our customers like their new home for Princess Road Post Office and I’d like to thank the Councillor Ali for taking time from her busy schedule to come here today.

“I’d also like to thank the local community for their continued support and use of the branch.”

Richard Hall, Post Office public affairs manager, said: “We understand how important having a post office is to residents around Moss Side and I am confident that this new modern post office will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the post office.”

WHEN Qalib Barud held the first edition of SASCA News in his hands, he probably didn’t think it would change his life.

But that’s where he first saw the advertisement for the Manchester Metropolitan University journalism scholarship that would take him all the way to Broadcasting House in London and the BBC Somali Service.

Not only did Qalib (pictured) win the Al-Habeeb scholarship enabling him to study full-time for a Masters degree in Multimedia Journalism at MMU, he beat off 500 applicants from around the UK to win a place on a prestigious training scheme at

BBC World Service. The high point of the four-week internship was broadcasting live on the BBC Somali Service to audiences in the Horn of Africa and across the diaspora.

Qalib, 28, who lives in Hulme and has a baby daughter, said: “I wanted to make a positive contribution to the reconstruction of my home country and I thought the best way to achieve this was through fair, impartial and objective journalism.”

Details of the Al-Habeeb scholarship for September 2016 entry at www2.mmu.ac.uk/hlss/courses/scholarships/al-habeeb-scholarship

We’re here to help

THE Somali community team offers comprehensive local services for people living in Manchester and the surrounding area. This project focusses on women of all ages and especially on elderly woman who may need help in different ways.

We have a variety of programs, including:

Socialising: Life can be lonely. Therefore, it’s important that we as a community communicate among ourselves and feel that we are a community. Even if you just come in for a cup of tea or a bite of cake, we all need to share our problems, sufferings and issues so they can be discussed.

Cultural activities: As Somalis we are very traditional. A culture that we all recognise and understand gives us a sense of belonging, almost like unity. That’s why we have included some cultural activities that may bring people together.

Mental health: Some days are more depressing than others. It’s not embarrassing to admit that. Unfortunately, mental health seems to be a stigma in the Somali community and that is something we need to fix. Part of this project focusses on that issue and we have qualified individuals in the mental health sector who will rise awareness in the Somali community.

Fitness / Nutrition: Many of us wonder how to do things right when it comes to diet and fitness. We are more than happy to help and there is a team that can guide and advise you through this journey. We understand how lonely and hard it can be trying to get fit and that many people can easily lose motivation and their will power to carry on drops off. That’s why we are here to provide all the support needed.

Counselling: For those who are very private by nature, it can make them uneasy speaking about their problems in a group. Here is a way for you to feel comfortable and speak about any discomfort you may have. Sometimes all we need is someone to be there just to listen.