Heatons Post September 2023 - Issue 44

SUCCESS AT LORETO SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

Loreto Sixth Form College students and staff have delivered another set of superb results! As a college community, Loreto has a long and proud history of academic achievement and outstanding results and the class of 2023 are no different.

• 99.3% Pass rate

• 57.2% A*-B grades awarded at A Level

• 40 Level 3 courses with 100% pass rate

• 2828 high grades (A*-B or equivalent) awarded

• 100% A*-B grades on the EPQ with 92% A*-A

• 100% pass rate on BTEC Level 3 courses

• 17 students have secured places to study at Oxbridge

• Highest performing Sixth Form College in Manchester

At Loreto, we are guided by the seven values of our foundress, Mary Ward: Joy, Justice, Truth, Sincerity, Freedom, Internationality and not least, the value of Excellence, which has been demonstrated with over 70% of students achieving at least one high grade (A*-

B) or more at A Level.

Michael Jaffrain, Principal said: “I am so proud of our student and staff community, they have once again achieved outstanding results which are a testimony to their hard work, adaptability and resilience. It would be remiss of me not to mention the unique challenges this cohort faced. Their Year 10 and 11 GCSE experience will have been unlike any previous cohort due to the pandemic. The successes of our student body spans our entire community, including our Pathways students, who achieved 100% pass rate in their NOCN Employability Certificate and functional skills.

“I wish our graduates of 2023 the very best in their next steps in Higher Education, training and employment.”

Scan the QR code for more on this story:

REPAIR CAFE OPENS 21 OCTOBER

by

Sustainable Living in the Heatons

What are the aims?

The aim of the repair cafe is to prevent everyday items from going to waste, reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing new items. Encourage learning and sharing of skills in a social setting, maintain repair expertise and to spread this knowledge.

How does it work?

and greet’ skills, and manage tea, coffee and cake! The Repair Cafes operate once a month for a period of two hours.

Is there a charge?

No, the repairs are free although donations are welcome to help build the stock of tools and materials.

Upcoming Repair Cafes

LIGHTS,

CAMERA, ACTION FOR HEATONS MEN IN SHEDS

SEE PAGE 5

It is run by volunteers, people who have specific skills that they would like to share with the local community. These skills may include: Sewing, furniture/wood repair skills, bike repairs, garden tools, small electrical items.

The Heatons Repair cafe opens on Saturday 21 October, and the third Saturday each month thereafter, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon at St Paul’s church, Heaton Moor Road.

If you are interested in being involved email: info@slheatons.org.

COMMUNITY NEWS

WYCLIFFE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH VISIT

by Stockport County Community Trust

Stockport County can trace its history back to 1883 when a group of teenagers met to form a football team, calling themselves Heaton Norris Rovers. They all lived in the Heaton Norris area of Stockport and first met as Sunday school scholars at the Wycliffe Congregational Church. Situated in the heart of Stockport on Wellington Road North, the church remains a place of worship to this day and has a special place in the hearts of County supporters.

With its roots firmly embedded in the local community, Stockport County Football Club has survived to this point, almost entirely down to the special bond that it has with the local community. This commitment continues to this day and can be seen in the many initiatives the Club has instigated recently. This includes a focus to support Wycliffe Church as it faces the challenge of maintaining a large Victorian building that requires constant funding for its upkeep.

When the Club decided to wear a special shirt for their recent 140th anniversary game against Preston, the earliest known colours of “dark blue” were chosen and a special badge was designed. Fittingly, at its centre was a proud representation of the church

from which the club was born. At the game, the church were invited to do a bucket collection and County fans generously donated over £480.

The Club framed one of the replica Heaton Norris Rovers shirts and Chief Operating Officer Tom Mahon and Community Trust Operations Manager Dave Wardle visited recently to present this. The church is very proud of its association with County, with a prestigious blue plaque celebrating this connection outside the main entrance, and this unique shirt will only cement this special relationship.

We are looking at other ways to further support the church and it is planned that they will be invited to make another Edgeley Park collection at a game later in the season.

ARTISAN MARKET

Saturday 30 September 11am - 3pm

Broadstone Mill Car Park, Broadstone Road, Reddish SK5 7DL

workerbeemarkets.co.uk

LOCAL ACTION AND UPDATES

by Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport

As GCSE, A Level and T Level results have now been announced, I hope all students got the results they had hoped for. I know results day often comes with nervous anticipation and can end in either satisfaction or disappointment, but there are so many opportunities out there to fulfill that hopefully all young people follow the path that they want. I particularly want to pay tribute to teachers and all school staff, who have spent years working in difficult conditions - with educational restructuring, the pandemic and low pay. That nervous anticipation ahead of results day is as much felt by them as it is by the students. My hat goes off to them.

Shockingly, figures released by the Labour Party show that under the current government, 90% of crimes go unsolved. I regularly hear from Stockport constituents whose lives have been blighted by some sort of crime - whether it be antisocial behaviour or violent crimes. Though Greater Manchester Police do a good job, they are operating in a difficult set of circumstances following years of cuts to their budget.

Stockport Car Scheme, based out of the Heatons Centre, does an excellent job helping residents who struggle to use public transport. They take people shopping, to medical appointments and more, but disappointingly, last month, the RAC Foundation, a transport

policy and research organisation, published research which showed that people that use their car for work or volunteer driving are out of pocket by an average of £6,000 a year due to out-of-date mileage rates. I have raised this issue several times over the years, including in a series of Written Parliamentary Questions, but given the stark figures presented in the RAC’s research, I will continue to press the Government when the House of Commons returns in September.

As ever, if you live or work in Stockport constituency, please do not hesitate to contact me at navendu.mishra.mp@parliament.uk or 0161 480 0833.

FANCY A GAME?

Several areas of Stockport have seen renovations to existing tennis court facilities.

The renovations have been managed by the Lawn Tennis Association and funded by UK Government, LTA Tennis Foundation and Stockport Council. This partnership has seen £576,000 of investment across seven of Stockport’s public parks, helping ensure quality facilities are available for the local community.

Completed projects include Torkington Park, Heaton Moor Park, North Reddish Park and Cale Green Park. These existing courts in poor or unplayable condition have been brought back to life through renovation works and improved court accessibility with new gate-access technology and booking systems, and additional renovation works at Alexandra Park, Bredbury Recreation Ground and Great Moor Park.

Alongside the investment, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and We Do Tennis will also work with the LTA to deliver a range of activities across the park sites, including free weekly organised park tennis sessions for all

ages, playing levels and experience. Where equipment is provided, meaning that people will not need someone to play with or their own racket. Local Tennis Leagues will also provide friendly, sociable opportunities to get active through local competition.

New booking systems and gate access technology make it easier to get on court by booking in advance to guarantee availability. Keypad access gates are in place at:

● Torkington Park

● Heaton Moor Park

● North Reddish Park

A small fee will be charged ensuring that the courts are maintained at their new high standard for years to come. There are plans to introduce charging at Bredbury Recreation Ground and Cale Green later in the year.

The fee will be £4.00 per hour, the equivalent of £2 or £1 per person per hour, depending on playing singles or doubles. Or £40.00 for a 12 month season ticket which allows access to all keypad access gate courts for 12 months (maximum six hours per week).

• Navendu Mishra MP

SEND US YOUR NEWS!

As a hyperlocal community newspaper, the majority of our content comes directly from local community organisations, schools, faith groups, support groups, sports clubs, businesses and residents.

Should you wish to share news with your community in print, details are as follows:

Content Deadline: 7th of each month

Issue Publication: 1st Thursday of the following month

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Submission: please send all content to news@communitynewsgm.co.uk stating your local area Post newspaper in the subject line eg. Heatons Post

Please note: Post community newspapers are positive news publications designed to support, inform, inspire and connect local communities. Inclusion of articles submitted by the community must meet this criteria and inclusion is at the discretion of the Editors.

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MEET THE TEAM

Co Founders: Amanda Fourie and Mel Page

Business Liaison and Community Events Co-ordinator: Sarah O’Brien

Funding Manager: Hannah Phillips

Design: Gemma Lamb (gemmarachael.com)

Printer: Reach Printing (reachprinting.co.uk)

Deliveries: Andy Mobbs

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS

Our Regular Writers: Andy Rayner, Tim Yates, David Ashworth, Hartley Pool, Sarah Freeman, Nathan Sutton, Carl Burkitt, Geoff Garnett, Andrew Simpson, Kirsty Hutchison, Isabella Barber, Katie Sheen, Stefanie Fowler, Sean Baggaley and Mike Bath.

Family Historian: Mary James

Puzzles: The Puzzlemaster

Family Histories

Ever wondered about your family history and interested to discover more about your ancestors?

Email:

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

This summer has seen a few changes here at Post HQ where we have been assessing our processes and how to make the papers work more efficiently. With the addition of three new Stockport-area ‘Posts’, we have now changed the date for the submission of articles each month, and each issue of every Post newspaper will now be released at the beginning of the month. Full details above.

We hope you all had a lovely summer.

Take care, Amanda and Mel

Should you have a news story you would like to share with the wider community, please submit to: news@communitynewsgm.co.uk

‘Post’ newspapers are trading names of Drawing Board Productions Community Interest Company registered at Briarfield Road, Heaton Chapel, SK4 5HT.

‘Post’ newspapers make every effort to report the truth and are considered as impartial publications. The views of contributors remain their own. If you spot any mistakes, please email us at: news@communitynewsgm.co.uk

Publications portfolio : Heatons Post, Cheadle & Bramhall Post, Romiley & Marple Post, Hazel Grove Post, Edgeley Post, Didsbury Post, Chorlton Post, Arts & Culture Stockport, and Arts & Culture Manchester

news@communitynewsgm.co.uk

07818 422722 (Mel)

Heaton Moor United Church Stanley Road, SK4 4HL (Back office) Mon & Thurs 10am - 3pm

Mel Page Amanda Fourie

Sarah O’Brien

STOCKPORT’S KEEN AS MUSTARD COWORKING SPACE

Are you looking for a place where your creativity can flourish? Do you need a space to grow your business? Then Mustard Cowork is the place for you. Nestled in the heart of Stockport Old Town, Mustard is more than just a place to work, it’s part of the local fabric. Set within a beautiful historic building, amongst the independent bars, eateries and shops, our award winning space oozes character and is flooded with natural light. It makes the perfect setting to do your best work.

Mustard Coworkers are a diverse and growing community of local creatives, professionals and small business owners, all making waves in our town and beyond. Our relaxed and friendly environment supports professionals from various fields.

“The people are fantastic, the space is gorgeous and the location is spoton, it’s a great little community. The space has a professional, yet relaxed atmosphere that I find really helps my focus and productivity.”

Ed SmithMustard Coworker

Whether you’re a small business owner seeking an affordable workspace, or simply tired of working from home, we’ve got you covered with our flexible membership packages. Reach

BEE NETWORK - A BETTER CONNECTED HEATONS AND REDDISH

by Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish

Anyone who knows me will appreciate how seriously I take the issue of good public transport. It has long been a frustration of mine that in London I can hop on a bus, then on a train, then on the overground - all at relatively low cost and with a single ticket. Compared to the public transport system in Greater Manchester, London sometimes feels like a different world.

This is all changing soon, with the introduction of the Bee Network –a fully integrated public transport system. The Mayor of Greater Manchester has fought long and hard to make this network a reality, and I’m really excited about what it will mean for local people.

out to us on: info@mustardco.work or 07462 015 381. We’d love to show you around and help you find your place in our creative community.

More information including packages and pricing can be found at www.mustardco.work

Most notably, the network will see buses brought back under public ownership. This is a huge step in the right direction and will mean cheaper fares, smoother travel and better service for passengers. The bright yellow Bee Network buses will start running on 24 September 2023 in Wigan and Bolton, with the plan being for the whole of Greater Manchester to be covered by this service in 2024.

This great work can’t come soon enough, especially after recent data

showing that bus routes have been slashed by nearly 50% in the last 13 years. I know this is something that has concerned local councillors too, who fought hard to protect the 7/7A bus route serving Heaton Chapel, Reddish and Dane Bank last year. Public transport is all about connecting communities. It is a precious resource and one that should not just be confined to the capital.

So here’s to the future of public transport; a future where local people in Reddish and the Heatons are better connected and better served by their bus, rail and transport services.

ST ANNE’S: ONWARDS AND UPWARDS TO OUTSTANDING

by

St Anne’s Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided School

St Anne’s Roman Catholic Voluntary

Aided school in Heaton Chapel, Stockport, is celebrating after achieving a very positive Ofsted report. This is a remarkable achievement and an important milestone in the school’s history. Despite the Ofsted process being more challenging, alongside the many issues post-Covid, the St Anne’s community rose to the challenge and achieved a ‘good’ judgement, the first time in its history.

Mr Logue said “This report is the culmination of the hard work, dedication, and belief of this proud community. Many tough decisions have had to be made but the outcome of these decisions is clear for all to see. The commitment of the great staff has been really humbling. Without their determination, St Anne’s school would not be where it is today. I am proud of each and every one of them

- support staff, teachers, and leaders. Now is the time to reflect upon the massive improvements, consolidate on our achievements and work towards our vision, which is simply to become ‘outstanding’ in all we do!”

The report highlighted strengths including the fact that leaders have made substantial improvements to the quality of education that they provide, ensuring a strengthened curriculum meaning that students build their knowledge well over time. This reflects the high expectations of the new leadership and a relentless focus on quality teaching in the classroom.

Furthermore, Mr Logue said that parents over the past two years have been excellent in their support of what the school is trying to achieve and wanted to say a simple ‘thanks’ for being so loyal to the school.

Working together is fundamental to a successful school.

Finally, Mr Logue praised the most important people in the school, the students, for representing St Anne’s with such pride and enthusiasm. The report commented that students said leaders have raised their expectations of their behaviour and typically, students’ conduct reflects leaders’ high standards. Most students feel happy and safe in school.

Mrs Sutcliffe, the new Head of School, was delighted with the outcome

saying, “I was proud of our staff and our students. Throughout the inspection, it was business as usual, with good quality teaching seen in lessons and excellent engagement from our students”.

Over the next few months and years, we will continue to work hard, have high expectations and ensure that this community continues to grow in strength. Next stop, an outstanding Ofsted judgement! If you want to come and visit our school contact Mrs Bentley on fiona.bentley@ stannesrcvoluntaryacademy.com and we will arrange a tour.

Looking forward to seeing you to showoff our great children and school.

• Andrew Gwynne MP

BIG BOYS DO CRY

by Heatons Men in Sheds

It has been lights, camera, action all over again this month for Heatons Men in Sheds. This time it was Brendan Cox, a TV journalism student at the University of Salford who, for his final project for a master’s degree, is creating a mini-series on community projects. Working title “Big boys do cry: can new community spaces help men’s mental health?” This recording was not quite as grand as the BBC filming Songs of Praise or even the crew from SMBC who filmed us for Mental Health Awareness week. Brendan (pictured) spent a Monday afternoon with us filming activities and interviewing a couple of members. He has promised to let us have a copy of the finished article and when we receive it, we will share it with you.

In our workshop at St Pauls, it has been a busy month with a lot of premises development going on including the setting up of our new saw room. We have also been carrying out some maintenance work on our fairground games, constructing another new notice board and completing a rather special gate.

If you are a big boy who cries or thinks about crying from time to time, if you feel a bit isolated or lonely, if you would like a chat or fancy helping with some community projects, get in touch. Type Heatons Men in Sheds into your

LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP INFO

Heaton Norris Friends of the Parks : HeatonNorrisParks@gmail.com

Sustainable Living in the Heatons : info@slheatons.org

Love Heaton Chapel : loveheatonchapel@gmail.com

Love Heaton Norris : info@loveheatonnorris.co.uk

Friends of Heaton Chapel Station : FofHCS@gmail.com

Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter : lamplightersrotary@gmail.com

Friends of Heaton Moor Park : hello@heatonmoorpark.co.uk

The Friends of Darley Street : friendsofdarleystreet@gmail.com

Heatons Men in Sheds : heatonsmis@outlook.com

U3a : membershipsecretary40@gmail.com

Friends of Reddish South Station : forss1@ntlworld.com

Heatons Mess WI : heatonmessmembership@gmail.com

Coffee, Chill and Spill at Heaton Norris Pavilion: coffeechillandspill@gmail.com

4 Heatons Friendship Group: 4heatonsfriendshipgroup@gmail.com

Marbury Road Edible Garden: contactmardarts@gmail.com

Heatons and Reddish Walkers: heatonreddishwalkers@gmail.com

Heaton Moor Strollers: daz156@googlemail.com

Lancashire Hill Coffee Morning, Lancashire Hill Community Centre, Mondays

Reddish and Heatons Job Club: nickyowen@capjobclubs.org

Walk Ride Heatons: heatons@walkridegm.org.uk

Welcome Cafe, The Triangle, South Reddish, Thursdays

Reading Friends: hello@heatonmoorpark.co.uk

Buddies: Moortop Pub & Kitchen, Tuesdays

Heatons WI : info@theheatonswi.com

Banter and Brews : Re:Dish

EGG: jonathan@egg.charity

Dads & Kids: office@emmanuelcc.co.uk

St. Winifred’s Monday Club

Empower Stockport: 07763 585919

internet browser or Facebook search and read all about us. If the internet is not your thing just pop down to St Paul’s Church Hall on a Monday around 1pm and have a brew and see what we do, you will receive a warm welcome.

If you run a local community group, support group or meet up group then please email the details to news@communitynewsgm.co.uk to be included in the list.

DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR RETIREMENT?

by Alun Cooper and Steve Taylor, Financial Advisers

Today, we all lead very busy lives and, unsurprisingly, focus our attention on the here and now. But it is more important than ever to look carefully at the future too. Sooner or later, you will retire. But the decisions you make today are the ones that will dictate the standard of living you will enjoy tomorrow. The amount we need to enjoy a comfortable, moderate, or minimum standard of living in retirement has risen by almost 20% in the past year*. You may need to rethink your long-term plans, perhaps working for longer or winding down from work over several years to reduce the pressure on your private pension.

Hymans Robertson’s report published in January 2023, “Risk sharing: an age-old solution to the old age problem,” states that the pensions industry needs to do more to support good retirement outcomes for DC savers. The report found that almost 20% of employees still do not save into a pension at all and only a small minority of the self-employed are saving into a pension. Of those who do save, Hymans Robertson’s

analysis reveals that an average earner with total contributions at the auto-enrolment minimum level of 8% has only a one in three chance of achieving the moderate standard of living under the PLSA’s Retirement Living Standards.

Everyone’s situation is unique, but together we can help you explore your options and build a plan that will help enable you to enjoy later life. Whether you’ve got 20 years before you retire or just a few, it’s important to have an idea of just how much money you’ll need for a comfortable standard of living once you’ve finished working.

*Rising Prices Add Almost 20% to the Cost of Retirement, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, January 2023

Get in touch!

If you’d like us to help you understand the minefield of financial planning for you and your family, we’d love to have a chat. Please get in touch with Steve Taylor at 07902 391 967 or Alun at 07939 867 788 for a chat.

Does Financial Planning frighten you? We’d LOVE to hear from you. Are there any themes you would like us to cover?

We are a Senior Partner Practice of St. James’s Place. This means you benefit from our personal service backed by a FTSE 100 company that guarantees the suitability of the advice given by our Advisers when recommending any of the wealth management products and services available from companies in the group, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website at www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

SJP Approved 1/8/2023

NEW WALL MURALS FOR REDDISH

Wall Muralist Heart Murals plans to brighten up two empty spaces in Reddish with his colourful, nature inspired wall murals.

The planned murals are at the back of a shop on the exit route of Reddish North Station which we hope will be a bright welcome to those visting our local area. The other is the disused public toilets on Reddish Road, which have become unsightly and very overgrown with weeds. A muchneeded wall mural we feel would transform the space.

We can't do this without funding, which is why we're asking for any donations and contributions towards this, we have set up a gofund me page where you can donate and find out more information:

These amazing murals will bring colour and nature to Reddish, bring our community together as well as creating a talking point to for residents and visitors of to our local area. We'd love to give Reddish and the people that live here some wonderful artwork to enjoy on their doorstep. Any donations to this would be greatly appreciated by us, and if you could please share our fundraiser far and wide to friends and family, it will help us reach our goal!

www.gofundme.com/f/68ay9revitalise-reddish-vibrant-muralsfor-our-walls

Alun Cooper and Steve Taylor, Financial Advisers

CHARITY URGENTLY SEEKING VOLUNTEERS by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People are looking for volunteers in Manchester and Cheshire to help train their young dogs who will go on to help deaf people leave loneliness behind and reconnect with life. Could you help train one of our puppies?

As a volunteer puppy trainer, you will:

• Look after one of our adorable puppies or young dogs for anywhere between six months to two years.

• Work with a trainer to learn more about dog training and attend local fun puppy classes.

• Meet like-minded people and make new friendships.

• Directly help deaf people leave loneliness behind and reconnect with life.

The role would be ideally suited to someone who has:

• A loving home with a secure garden and access to a vehicle.

• Access to a computer and the Teams app.

• Time to dedicate to training a young dog on a daily basis.

• Be aged 18 or over.

We are also recruiting volunteers for holiday cover and short-term stays.

No previous experience is required for the role - you will have full support and guidance from a Puppy Training Instructor both in person and online. The charity will also cover

FINANCIAL SCAMS

by Peter Crossen

People all over the UK are constantly searching for ways to improve their carbon footprint and embrace ways to make both our homes and ourselves more energy efficient.

all costs involved, from the moment the volunteer takes the puppy home, to when it is handed over to one of our deaf partners after its training is complete.

Caroline and Terry from Wilmslow have fully trained three puppies and their current trainee, Jayda is 15 months old. Caroline says “Jayda is making excellent progress. We start with basic training and when ready, we introduce them to public places and soundwork training to prepare them for their working role”.

For people who may be interested, we are holding an open puppy class:

Date: Tuesday 12 September

Time: 11am – 2pm

Venue: Woodford Community Centre, Chester Road, Woodford SK7 1PS

This will be a great opportunity to meet some of our current pups and their volunteer trainers and to see exactly what this incredibly rewarding role entails.

If you’d like to find out more, please head to the ‘Volunteer’ section of our website: https://www.hearingdogs. org.uk/volunteer/ or call our lovely Volunteering team on: 01844 348122.

As with anything that’s front and centre in people’s thinking, scammers will look for ways to exploit the dash to net zero.

In the last two years, over 19 million adults have been targeted by some form of “green” scam in figures reported by the Citizens Advice Bureau. And with around two thirds of UK families considering making their home more energy efficient, there is a big market for fraudsters to target.

Scams include doorstep and telephone sales callers offering free ‘no obligation quotes’ suggesting you can benefit from grants to assist with making your home more “Green”.

The scammers will often bamboozle customers with information about Government grants and how they are entitled to thousands of pounds off Green Home Improvements.

Fraudsters will then go on to ask for an admin fee or deposit to help customers apply for the scheme never to be seen again, leaving people hundreds if not thousands of pounds out of pocket.

Other examples are of cowboy scammers who do actually complete

work at a discount price, but not because of a green scheme, but because they have used cheap materials and often substandard, shoddy work at an inflated price again only to disappear without trace.

As always, never trust someone who has contacted you out of the blue and seek information and quotations from reputable companies.

If you are being told about a Green Scheme, speak to the Council for more information about certified schemes in the area.

Always be suspicious of an uninvited call, get quotes before beginning any work and as always use common sense. If it feels too good then it probably is.

Peter Crossen is a Financial Crime Analyst. Should you require more information on this issue, please contact Peter at: pcp1981@hotmail.com

ENCOURAGING READING

by Read Easy Stockport

Local charity Read Easy Stockport is encouraging adults who struggle to read to come forward and ask for help. Within the next few weeks our Reading Coaches will have completed their training and will be ready to offer their support.

We are asking people who know of friends and family members who cannot read, to pass on the Read Easy Stockport phone number and encourage them to make a call that could transform their lives.

There are about 11,300 adults in Stockport who either cannot read at all or can barely read. For those with low literacy skills everyday tasks such as booking a doctor’s appointment, reading road signs and bus timetables, or doing the food shopping can be incredibly challenging. During the covid lockdowns parents who cannot read found it impossible to home-school their children and keep on top of the Government’s ever-changing health guidance. Many are missing out on the important bonding time that comes with sharing a bedtime story.

Read Easy Stockport aims to transform lives by offering free and confidential one-to-one reading coaching from trained volunteers. Reading pairs meet once a week at approved local venues to work for up to an hour at a time through a structured, phonics-based reading programme, which takes up to two or more years to complete.

Those who struggle to read should not feel embarrassed about coming forward and asking for help. There are lots of different reasons why people don’t learn to read in childhood. For some it may have been a lack of support from their own family or school, for others it may have been undiagnosed dyslexia. But people should not feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. We are friendly, welcoming, and here to help, whatever your age. As one of our graduate Readers has put it “admitting that you can’t read and that you need help – it’s hard facing up to the problem if you’ve hidden from it all your life. You have to want the help, but once you’ve made the jump it’s the best thing you’ll ever do.”

For more information, please contact Marie Joyce on: 07957 516443 or email: stockportleader@readeasy.org.uk.

For more information on the work of Read Easy, go to the website: www.readeasy.org.uk

LATEST INTEREST RATE HIKE CALLS FOR INCREASED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CONSUMERS

by Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford is concerned about how this continuous rise will impact people already stretched thin by increasing living costs and skyrocketing housing costs.

The decision by the central bank to raise interest rates by 0.25% to 5.25% is the 14th consecutive rise in as many months. This continued trend underscores the financial challenges that millions of individuals and families across the nation are grappling with in an era of rising living costs.

Steve Hughes, Chief Operating Officer of Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford, said: “Many of our clients are facing rent and mortgage increases that are often larger than the energy cost rises we witnessed last winter.

“As an organization committed to helping individuals navigate complex financial situations, we believe that it is essential to address this growing concern urgently. It is a testament to the increasing burden on consumers who are already struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.

“We urge the relevant authorities and policymakers to consider the significant impact of these repeated interest rate hikes on everyday people.”

Steve Hughes continued, “A thorough evaluation of the present fiscal policies and the introduction of measures aimed at easing the pressure on vulnerable and low-income households is now more critical than ever. We remain committed to providing advice and support for those impacted by these financial challenges.”

For information and advice, contact Citizens Advice Trafford on 0808 278 7803 or visit our website: www.casort.org

STOCKPORT’S

CONFERENCE FOR

VOLUNTARY & COMMUNITY GROUPS

by Laura

Bowers,

Sector3 Meet, Greet and Grow explores different topics and challenges that Stockport’s Voluntary, Community, Faith-based and Social Enterprise sector faces, with the aim of learning from each other’s experiences.

This event focuses on Capacity Building - ways we can upskill our sector to work smarter, not harder. We’ll be discussing how we can maximise resources and will make a starters for ten on a bank of resources that we can share within the sector. Plus we’ll be talking about Volunteer

Management best practice and hear from organisations that have successfully increased the diversity in their volunteer pool.

The cost of your ticket will be refunded if you attend the event.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Thursday 14 September 9:30am - 1:30pm

Visit www.sector3sk.org to find out more and get your ticket.

STOCKPORT PRIDE 2023 - CELEBRATING UNITY AND DIVERSITY

The heart of Stockport came alive on Sunday 30 July as Stockport Pride 2023 returned with an explosion of colours, love and acceptance. This much-anticipated event, held at Stockport Market Place and the Underbanks, celebrated the vibrancy of the local LGBTQ+ community, leaving an indelible mark on the town.

The new parade route through the town centre, starting from the Underbanks, winding through Merseyway, passing Red Rock and culminating at Stockport Market Place, saw approximately 500 spirited participants, exuding love and pride, creating a kaleidoscope of joy throughout the streets.

Captivating performances on the Martyn Hett Stage featured an eclectic mix of drag queens, musicians, dancers and a DJ - captivating the audience from across the festival, all introduced by award-winning queer writer Jane Claire Bradley.

Queen Bayard made a triumphant return to the Martyn Hett Stage, infusing the air with high-frequency love as she strummed her electric guitar and belted out sing-along tunes, while the crowd grooved along with the longest running not-for-profit LGBTQ+ Line Dance Group outside London, the Manchester Prairie Dogs. WOLF, Britain’s oldest boy band, delivered an unforgettable medley of rock, pop, soul and motown, igniting a soulful and vibrant party atmosphere.

Headlining the Martyn Hett Stage was sensational singer, songwriter and fashionista, Jsky. He kept the crowd

dancing until the close of the festival, despite a sudden deluge of rain.

The community spotlight talks also shone brightly on organisations such as Forward Stockport LGBT+, BiPhoria and The George House Trust, who shared their inspiring work and dedication to fostering inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The Martyn Hett Stage was graced by the spellbinding storytelling of Drag Queen Story Hour UK, who also delighted the audience in the Family Space, spreading joy and imagination among the young attendees. Aida H Dee, from Drag Queen Story Hour UK, left an enchanting mark in the Family Space, captivating the young ones with fabulous tales, fostering a sense of inclusivity and empowerment.

Throughout the day, Stockport Pride 2023 raised £542.38 from raffle ticket sales and donations. This generous contribution will go towards supporting local activities that benefit the LGBTQ+ community and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

Stockport Pride 2023 is made possible by the support of local sponsors and community initiatives, including brsk, Totally Stockport, Stagecoach, Sky, CDL, Vernon Building Society, Stockport Homes, Adoption Counts, TPD and Wickes. Grant funding was also received from SKylight, Forever Manchester and Tesco Community Grants.

Stephen Bowyer, Chairperson of the Stockport Pride organising team,

expressed heartfelt gratitude to the performers, sponsors, volunteers and attendees, whose enthusiasm and support made Stockport Pride 2023 a resounding success. “Stockport Pride is a testament to the strength of our community and the power of unity. We are proud to have celebrated love, diversity and inclusion today, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.”

Stockport Pride 2023 was a celebration of equality, diversity and inclusion. The community came together to make a stand, leaving a profound impact that will resonate throughout the town until the next vibrant chapter of Stockport Pride.

NEW INNOVATION CENTRE OPENING IN

THE HEART OF STOCKPORT

Merseyway Innovation Centre will soon be opening its doors in Stockport Town Centre, with a fresh new offer for businesses looking to have a central presence in the town.

The Innovation Centre will support the growing sector of digital, creative and innovative businesses looking to locate in Stockport and offers flexible accommodation from coworking space, to shared office and individual units.

It also offers a 1,000 sqft business lounge and break out area with coffee stations and refreshment facilities along with two high quality meeting rooms.

Located on the first floor of Merseyway, with a ground floor entrance on the main mall, Merseyway Innovation Centre occupies 15,000 sqft of former hard to let retail space providing a new home for small and growing businesses.

The Centre will be managed by Oxford Innovation Space on behalf of Stockport Council and forms part of the Council’s portfolio of Innovation Centres in Stockport, known as “Innovate Stockport”, which includes Stockport Business & Innovation Centre at Broadstone Mill and Merchants House in the Market Place.

As well as a fully managed service, occupiers can also take advantage of wrap-around innovation and business support through its on-site Innovation Director.

It has been enabled through funding from Stockport Council, the EU’s European Regional Development Fund (through Northern Powerhouse), and from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport’s Cultural Development Fund managed by Arts Council England, which supports creative businesses.

The opening of Merseyway Innovation Centre will mark a key milestone in the Council’s long-term regeneration plans for Merseyway and the Town Centre. Works to improve the public realm on Merseyway will be complete later this year and work on Stockroom, a new Library and Discovery Centre will start later this Summer.

Two major high street retailers have been secured for the former BHS department store on Merseyway, with work to redevelop the site now well underway. It is expected that the new stores will open in Spring 2024.

Find out more about Merseyway Innovation Centre, and the wider Innovate Stockport community or send an email to the team at: info@innovatestockport.co.uk

NEWS FROM YOUR NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES

• It’s foraging season and Roy Chapman is enjoying gathering blackberries to go in a crumble with apples from the local orchard

WALKING CHALLENGE FOR AUTUMN

by Kevin Bradford

• Renovated Tennis Courts at Torkington Park now open

Walking – Most of us are fortunate to be able to do it. And almost all of us who can, probably take it for granted.

But walking everyday for some people is a challenge. For others, it’s impossible.

Children born with the ultra-rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder called HNRNPH2 struggle to walk, talk and learn. Some are never able to achieve those milestones.

My friends’ daughter, the beautiful and inspiring Autumn, lives with the condition, but has already defied the odds and has been able to take her first few steps.

And it’s her incredible courage and spirit that has motivated a group of us to take on a walking challenge to raise vital research funds that will drive further understanding of how to switch off the ‘faulty’ gene.

On the weekend of September 9-10, we will be walking 100km in 24 hours – from Bletchley to Camden.

My training walks have taken me from my home in Reddish through The Heatons, up to Chorlton, along the length of the Fallowfield Loop, onto the canal in Ashton, and back to the start, via Stockport.

It has been physically and mentally challenging. It has been painful. And it has been lonely.

But this is nothing compared to what Autumn and other children with HNRNPH2 battle with every single day.

The funds raised will go towards supporting The Yellow Brick Road Project – a charity that supports Autumn and children like her.

Please scan the QR code and donate what you can. It will help make a real difference to the lives of children and families affected by this devastating disorder.

LITTLE WONDERS

Quick games, short poems, fun facts, jolly jokes, and more for our wonderful younger readers by Carl Burkitt.

FUN FACT

Australia is wider than the moon.

TONGUE TWISTER

How fast can you say this tongue twister?

by Carl Burkitt

I know a man called Dougie. He’s very funny. When he’s full of food he rubs his tummy.

• The Friends of Ladybrook Valley working to improve Happy Valley - Bramhall’s ancient woodland and this local beauty spot.

• Year 5 children at Cheadle Catholic Junior School visit Chads Theatre

• Wildlife at Romiley’s Tangshutt

Local Nature Reserve are preparing for the colder months ahead and making the most of all the wild fruits available

• St Matthew’s recently appointed new vicar announces the return of the Community Open Day on 23 September

• Two new murals have been created to add a splash of colour to Chorlton and Beech Road parks.

• St Matthew’s Church, at the heart of Edgeley since 1858, sees the return of their Community Open Day

Sienna’s seal went surfing in San Diego.

JOLLY JOKE

What is an eggs least favourite day?

Answer: Fryday!

QUICK GAME

Think of a pet you’d like to have. Come up with 26 possible names you could call it, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. (eg. Alan, Beverley, Candyfloss, Doctor Woof-Pawtington)

GET WRITING

Grab a scrap of paper and write a poem with the title: THE WEEK THAT HAD AN EXTRA DAY

He’s so polite, he says ‘Yummy’ even when his Mummy cooks something unscrummy.

Dougie walks around town with a buggy to carry his pet sluggy.

Dougie’s best buddy is a man called Murray with fuzzy hair and muddy boots.

Dougie uses honey instead of money, studies in the garden when it’s sunny,

and likes his boiled eggs hard not runny.

Dougie’s funny and gives a good huggy.

GET DRAWING

Find some paper and draw a relaxing beach.

DOUGIE

SELF-CARE IN SEPTEMBER: THE RISE OF THE SOBER CURIOUS STUDENT

by The Sober Women Project

As September commences, many of us are re-entering the rhythm of school routines and new term commitments after cherishing the memories of local summer community events. Following a busy summer, you might be feeling weary rather than rejuvenated. September offers a chance to pause, prioritise self-care, and invest in your well-being. As an act of self-care, you might be considering taking an alcohol break.

For students entering a new college or university term, opting for an alcohol break has many benefits. Although the ‘student experience’ has long been tied to excessive drinking, especially during fresher’s weeks, this notion and myth is now being challenged and debunked. Recent statistics reveal that a significant number of students are choosing not to consume alcohol.

Recent studies demonstrate a decline in student alcohol consumption. Among 16-24-year-olds, 27% abstain from alcohol entirely, compared to 21% of the broader adult population. The surge of ‘sober curious’ or ‘teetotal’ students remains multifaceted in its origin. Factors include heightened awareness of alcohol-related health impacts linked to cancer and anxiety, the influence of social media, the cost-effectiveness of abstaining versus university expenses, and the detrimental effects of hangovers on academic performance. While pinpointing a single reason for reduced alcohol consumption is challenging, students are evidencing the statistics and taking to going alcohol-free, ‘for many Gen Zers…are actively shunning the notion of drunkenness’ (Prof. J. Holmes, University of Sheffield).

The rise of sober student societies, e.g. at the University of Salford, and the University of Liverpool, and the

MATT COMPLETES THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE

by Amber Kennedy, On The Up Intern

Model and influencer Matt Peacock said he’s in “pretty good shape” after completing his mammoth 500-mile mountain challenge.

The 41-year-old adventurer walked from Ben Nevis in Scotland to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Wales to raise funds for Leilani, a little girl fighting a rare heart and lung condition who needs specialist treatment in America.

inclusion of ‘sober socials’ in many Freshers Fairs reflect this shift.

Opting to remain sober while navigating the college and university experience offers numerous advantages that can positively impact both academic and personal growth.

Here are a few tips to support your sober curiosity as a student:

• Search for student alcohol-free events – there should be plenty on offer, if not contact the Students Union

• Join or start a sober social society – google to see how other institutions are embracing these

• Get connected – the online sober community is thriving with many IRL meetups and events

• Try alcohol-free options – the market has exploded

• In dealing with peer pressure – you don’t owe anyone an explanation on your choice to not drink

• Embrace your hangover-free student life and congratulate yourself for putting health and wellbeing first!

If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, contact your GP for further advice.

For sobering thoughts & quotes, connect via:

www.TheSoberWomenProject.com

STOCKPORT RESIDENTS URGED TO CONSIDER FOSTERING AS PART OF NEW FOSTERING CAMPAIGN

Stockport Council is proud to be part of the newly launched fostering campaign “Fostering Unfiltered”, a bold new campaign with an ambition to inspire more people in Stockport and Greater Manchester, from all walks of life, to become foster carers with their local council.

Fostering Unfiltered embraces the realities of fostering with refreshing honesty to show the ins and outs of foster care. It reflects the real lives of existing foster carers by sharing their everyday experiences and challenges.

Councillor Wendy Meikle, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, said: “Stockport is really proud of the Fostering Unfiltered campaign, we’ve spent time researching fostering to find out more about people’s motivations to foster and the barriers people face when

making an enquiry.

“Fostering unfiltered minimises these barriers and this is a clear demonstration of Stockport and Greater Manchester doing things differently. I cannot overstate the importance of foster carers in the lives of local children.”

Stockport foster carer Pam, is the face of one of the campaign’s adverts, she said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be part of this Greater Manchester campaign and we really wanted to play a part in encouraging others to come forward. It’s not an easy role but reading the carer stories in this campaign will give you a rounded view of the role, the support you get and the difference you can make.”

For more information, see: www.fostering-unfiltered.org

“This has encompassed my life since the end of April,” said an exhausted –perhaps more mentally than physically - Matt, who battled a torn muscle as well as the elements to reach the finish line.

“But I really enjoyed being alone in the wilderness. By far the Highland Way is one of the most breathtaking things I’ve ever seen.

“There was one moment when I laid down on the rocks and actually fell asleep - it was a magical moment that I’m glad I got to experience.”

And Matt, who was born and raised in The Heatons, has successfully raised £120,000 to help Leilani and is grateful for all the support he has received up to now.

The pair met on the penultimate day of the challenge in a heartwarming

embrace, that fueled him to the finish line at the base of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) where he was met by friends, family and even strangers who had been following his journey.

“I feel very fortunate to complete something like this, and even more so to support a little girl” Matt comments. “If it meant having to do it again, I would’ve done it again the next day,” he said.

Leilani is still in need of funds, so you can continue to donate via: www.3peaks1peacock.co.uk.

SHINING A LIGHT ON POST VOLUNTEERS

We’re so grateful for the support we get from all areas of our communities. From businesses, organisations, fundraisers and donors to all those who attend our events and read the papers – they all help form an integral part of what we’re trying to create through our Community Interest Company.

And there’s one group of volunteers who literally help spread our word far and wide – our amazing delivery teams.

Come rain or shine, they give up their time to deliver the papers in their local areas to ensure we reach as many people as we can.

So, we wanted to shine a light on some of our Post People and say a huge ‘Thank you’ for the work they do. This month we’re featuring father and son team Kevin and Stanley, who deliver the Heatons Post to their neighbours in Reddish.

They load up their blue Ikea bag and head out on their round, which usually only takes just over an hour.

Kevin said: “The paper is a fantastic way to engage people in the community, with positive, uplifting content.

“If our little bit of post helps put a smile on someone’s face, then it’s all worthwhile.

“It’s great getting out and saying ‘hello’ to our neighbours and it gives me a lovely morning wandering round with my little mate.”

Three-year-old Stanley added: “I like pushing the papers through the door and seeing the gnomes in the gardens.

“Sometimes my Dada gives me pocket money for helping*.”

(*This publication cannot independently verify the going rate for family paper delivery rounds).

We’re always looking for volunteers to help deliver our papers.

If you’d like to help out once a month by posting some to your local community or stocking the publications in your shop or business, please do get in touch via:

• (L-R) Joseph Kwan, Matt Peacock, Scott Thomas and Ryan Dignan

• Matt meeting Leilani for the first time

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

THE MEADOW – CONTINUED PROGRESS

by Roy G Chapman

After so much recent rain, a good long dry period is needed for the farmer to return to the grass for animal feed. In 2022, 40 bales of winter fodder were collected. Productive farming is now part of the annual cycle of the wonderful Meadow.

Autumn is harvest time and I am again foraging Blackberries. Also, the SLH Community Orchard has produced apples. That means Apple and Blackberry Crumble - lovely! Always forage to the proper guidelines:

• Minimise damage – never take more than you plan to consume.

• Stick to paths and do not to avoid damage to areas you are collecting from.

• Know what you’re picking. Never consume a wild plant or fungus unless you are absolutely certain of its identification. Fungi can be notoriously difficult to identify, so the rule is – if unsure, leave alone.

• Only collect from plentiful populations, i.e. when produce is in abundance.

• Leave plenty behind - Leave enough for birds and other species to eat and to ensure plants and fungi can regenerate and reproduce. Plants and fungi need to produce seeds and spores to reproduce. Others will be foraging. Forage responsibly, look after the Meadow so we can all enjoy it.

FUTURE PLANS

Nine Meadow volunteers had a great session recently clearing dumped rubbish along the Black Brook.

MEND AND MAKE

by Leofwine Island

Leofwine Island is really excited to tell you about a free art course we will be running in Heaton Moor, beginning in late September, in partnership with Sustainable Living in the Heatons. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, (which encompasses Kintsugi and Sashiko), over six sessions this visible mending course will show attendees how to revive damaged or worn clothing through artistic repair.

We hope to return in early September to clear the remaining rubbish, plant yellow rattle and more shrubs.

The Meadow is now a real community asset for the Heatons. With progress it could eventually link with efforts on Marbury Road, to Highfield Country Park and the Fallowfield Loop. That will create a sustainable, hugely environmentally beneficial green corridor linking the Heatons and A6 to Reddish, the Fallowfield Loop, Levenshulme and beyond. We want to work alongside individuals, schools, local businesses across the Heatons and SLH to encourage people to take action for wildlife. Watch the ‘Meadows Field’ Facebook page for updates.

Sorry my articles in July and August were missing, That was due to illness. Fingers crossed there will be no more gaps.

SUCCESSFUL SEED SWAP EVENT

by Kell Degnen

In a vibrant display of communal engagement, The Heatons Library played host to the second annual Seed and Plant Swap organised by our thriving voluntary community garden.

The event on 4 August drew an enthusiastic crowd of local residents and visitors from afar, all eager to embrace the joys of gardening while promoting a greener future.

Seed swaps provide a unique opportunity for gardeners to exchange and diversify their plant collections, contributing to the preservation of heirloom varieties and the revival of forgotten species. This practice not only enriches individual gardens but also fosters a sense of stewardship towards our environment.

One of the key benefits of seed swaps is their positive impact on the environment. By sharing seeds and plants locally, we reduce the need

for long-distance transportation and the associated carbon emissions. This localised approach promotes sustainable gardening practices, encouraging the cultivation of native and climate-appropriate species that are better adapted to local conditions.

An avid gardener and visitor, Rosemary, from neighbouring Burnage, expressed her delight at the seed swap: "I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the library today, it was great to meet you and I thought what a good job you are doing and how pleasant everything was."

If you would like to volunteer at Marbury Rod Edible Garden we meet on Mondays at 6pm on the farm site, Nelstrop Road North and Wednesdays on Marbury Road Park, near the beds at the Greystone walk Entrance. If you’re in a position to help us financially we have a fundraiser for our next growing phase; www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/mregpolytunnel

Presently, many of the things we own, have a short life cycle and are considered disposable, while they may still function perfectly well. Therefore, on this course we will explore whether in order to look after our planet, we may also need to take better care of the things we own too, rather than see them as transient (important one day and throwaway the next). Could we through the artistic repair and the unique customisation of our garments, not only satisfy our desire for the new, but at the same time appreciate and enjoy the things we own for longer?

We hope you will join us, to find out.

Book now and help to shape this course! You can do this really easily, by telling us which items of clothing you would like to learn how to repair and

the artistic techniques you are most interested in. Simply follow the link and complete our short questionnaire, leaving your details - we will then be in touch. Thank you in advance and we very much look forward to seeing you!

https://bit.ly/3s2kvTr

Leofwine Island is a brand name of Joined Up CIC, a not-for-profit organisation.

Black general waste bin

Green food and garden bin or caddy

LIFESTYLE & GARDENING

GARDENING TIPS

by David Ashworth

Without being repetitive about ‘Deadheading’, you really do need to continue doing this to all your flowering plants in September. Dahlias in particular will really benefit and give you a splendid display right until the first frosts if we ever get any these days! Be careful not to take off the rounded buds and just take off the pointed and watery dead flower heads. Marigolds, petunias, fuchsias, snap dragons and many others too will benefit from deadheading.

In the veg plot, lift remaining potatoes, onions and carrots and keep picking beans that can be easily par boiled and frozen for the winter. Don’t let the beans grow long and woody as they will not taste nice at all and will be wasted.

Lawns will now be in need of aerating and feeding after all the summer use, so get out your lawn aerator and go along and spike all across the lawn including any bare patches. You can also just use a garden fork but this is slow and time consuming but necessary to get some air down to the roots. After aerating, leave the lawn for a day or so and then spread a proprietary brand of lawn feed, normally branded as “Weed and Feed”. Some brands come in a special spreader container for easy and widespread even spread. After that, rake in a top dressing of fine sand mixed with some grass seed, but keep an eye out for birds pinching the seed. Net over or put some form

FREEDIVING FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH by

Bassel Ounah

Freediving has grown hugely popular over the past few years. Yet, because of its extreme nature, people who know very little about it tend to think it’s dangerous.

However, with the right training and guidance, freediving can be an incredibly safe and rewarding activity that provides numerous mental and physical health benefits.

In this article, I’ll focus on the ways in which freediving can benefit mental health and overall well-being.

1. Helps reduce stress

One of the key elements of freediving is learning how to control one’s breath. Slow and deep breathing can reduce stress and anxiety, and by concentrating on one’s breath, one can clear their mind and experience a sense of calm and relaxation.

2. Helps reduce depression and anxiety

DIVE INTO YOURSELF

This type of mindfulness practice can have a profound impact on mental health, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety and improving overall well-being.

3. Increases self-esteem and selfconfidence

Freediving can also provide a sense of accomplishment and empowerment as individuals master a challenging activity.

As divers improve their abilities, they can feel proud and confident in their achievements, leading to an increase in self esteem and self-confidence, both essential for maintaining good mental health.

Beyond the mental benefits, freediving can also have positive physical effects on the body. It helps improve lung capacity, increases oxygen levels in the blood, and strengthens the cardiovascular system.

of bird scaring windmills in to keep them off!

Finally in September, you can give all your flowers in beds, pots, tubs and baskets etc, a last high potash feed such as any “TomRipe” tomato feed. Cheap pound shop or wilko type brands are just fine. A long autumn show of really nice colour will follow deadheading and potash feeding.

Enjoy all the September colour in your garden and your bountiful vegetables too!

CALLOUT FOR GARDENING VOLUNTEERS

by Fiona Carroll

Buccleuch Lodge was established as the first NHS Intermediate Care Unit in 2000. It is an isolated building in West Didsbury and we provide 24 hour nursing care for 14 patients who require a period of rehabilitation either from home or hospital for up to four weeks. We have physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, nurses and a GP to support our patients.

About five years ago, Liz Graham was visiting a friend who was an inpatient and asked me if she could tidy up the garden. She started as a volunteer and then recruited Judith to her team with a few further adhoc volunteers along the way. They work tirelessly each week to maintain this beautiful, protected space for our patients. They have earnt an RHS Gold Award and Outstanding achievement award for sustainability and presentation. We have had community donations and council grants to support the garden’s development.

We now realise that the garden has become too big and successful for just two garden volunteers so are doing a local shout out to anyone who is a keen gardener or may want to become involved. Please email either Fiona or Liz should you be interested; we would welcome any new additions to the Buccleuch Lodge family!!!

Contact details:

Fiona Carroll: fiona.carroll@mft.nhs.uk

or Liz Graham: lizzie@xino.eu

Freediving requires a significant amount of mental discipline and concentration. Divers must remain focused and present in the moment as they navigate through the underwater environment.

These physical benefits can contribute to improved mental health, as physical activity has been shown to have a positive impact on mood and overall well-being.

COACHING CORNER: WHAT ARE YOUR BASIC HUMAN INGREDIENTS?

by Simone Callaghan, Purpose Fuelled Coaching

There will be things in your life that you use to inspire or motivate you to make change. Sometimes these ‘ingredients’ can be lacking and we feel stuck. The things that you require to get you going, encourage you to keep moving and creating action, even when it feels hard.

I have to check in with my ‘recipe’ regularly and tweak it when I’m feeling a bit off. Mine are Belief, Responsibility and Connection. I’ve recognised I need all of these in order to thrive.

A belief in myself that I can create the conditions and therefore the life I want. I need to take responsibility for making it happen. If I’m stuck in blaming everyone else around me for how my life is going I’m disconnected from personal responsibility and it reminds me I’ve handed my personal power over to someone or something outside of my control. There are ways we can take back control of a situation – that’s my core belief! My final key basic ingredient is connection. I’m a bit of an introvert so I have to get just the right amount for me. I can do people, and yet I need to do alone too. Connection is more than just drinking wine with my pals though.

For me it’s connection to myself firstly – real connection, taking the time to really consider what I need, how I want to be in the world and what my mind and body need – I have to tune in regularly as this can change a lot. I never said this stuff was easy! Then it’s connection to others. Not just at a superficial level either. Taking real time with some soul filling up people. Being vulnerable and asking for help and not feeling I have to do it all on my own – even though that can be my leaning. I’ve been let down and hurt in the past and I realised quickly if I stayed in mistrust the only person I’d be harming and would be losing out is ME.

These work for me but they might not be right for you. I’m happy for you to try them out. Maybe add one ingredient at a time and see what works. I really do encourage you though, if you’re feeling a bit stuck or your life feels a little lacking, check in with what’s missing and consider how you shake up your personal ingredient mix to get you out of that rut and reconnected to the energy to create positive and impactful change.

Find out more at www.pursposefuelledcoaching.co.uk and @purposefuelledcoaching

LOCAL HISTORY IS GLOBAL HISTORY

by Sean Baggaley, Local Historian

Local history is often also global history. Understanding the links between local wealth and wider stories of colonisation and exploitation is important. Previously hidden histories have been the focus of much attention and research in recent years. The Greg family, owners of Quarry Bank Mill and with extensive landholdings in Reddish, are an example of a local family whose wealth was closely tied to slave plantations in the West Indies.

In 1788 when Samuel Greg was only 20, he became a partner in the textile trading firm established by his uncles, Robert and Nathaniel Hyde. Samuel established the model industrial community at Styal which is a popular visitor attraction today. But for generations the family also benefited from slave plantations in the Caribbean and the trade connections they made through marriage to other families with businesses in the West Indies.

Samuel inherited the Hillsborough Plantation in Dominica and the Cane Garden in St Vincent from yet

FOOD

another well connected uncle. Both plantations produced sugar using enslaved labour and archival records show that enslaved people were being purchased to work on these plantations between 1817 and 1829. The Gregs supplied the enslaved people on these estates with blankets and clothing made in their mills.

Samuel bequeathed these valuable overseas assets to his sons and the eldest, Thomas, was able to claim over £5,000 in compensation from the British government when slavery was abolished. His claim showed that there were 136 enslaved people on the Hillsborough Estate and 82 at Cane Garden.

On the death of Thomas Greg, it was his brother Robert Hyde Greg who inherited the Hillsborough Estate. Robert was responsible for building Victoria Mill and Albert Mill on the appropriately named Greg Street in Reddish in the 1840s. As the cotton industry developed it was large mills like these, close to major transport links, that became more profitable. By 1853 Albert Mill was worth more

MY TAKEAWAYS OF THE MOMENT

by Isabella Barber

I challenge you to find five words more delicious than ‘shall we get a takeaway?’ Simple but effective, they’re the verbal equivalent of throwing on your dressing gown and snuggling up on a sofa you may never get up from. They are joy, they are relief, they are, perhaps, a sign I need to get out more.

When it comes to takeaways, some well-deserved heavyweights spring to mind (I once heard talk of The Great Kathmandu takeout in the smoking area of a club in Peckham). But for this article, I’m championing three places I’m currently defaulting to; my takeaways of the moment, if you will.

Crazy Wendy’s, Didsbury (Thai): You might know Crazy Wendy’s as the home of Burton Road’s quirkiest karaoke nights; I know it as the spot for the creamiest Thai curry in Didsbury. And while takeaways tend to be a household-only affair, I also find Crazy Wendy’s is the perfect choice for relaxed entertaining. Nobody’s going to turn their nose up at delicious Thai food, and if they do, you need new friends.

Moon, Withington (Indian): Moon is everything you want from an

POEM

NATURE’S PHILOSOPHY

by Victor Timmons

Nocturnal birds in sibilant causerie

Forest creatures in distant revelry

than the old fashioned Quarry Bank and had been valued at over £34,000. Much of the raw material that supplied these cotton mills was from plantations using enslaved labour in the southern states of America.

The next generation of Gregs, another Robert, continued to run Albert Mill in Reddish and also to hold the estate in Dominica. Robert eventually sold Hillsborough to a nephew, John Tylston Greg in the 1890s. When John Tylston retired and sold the estate in the 1920s he named his Oxfordshire house Hillsborough in memory of the property that the Gregs had owned for so long. It is a memory we should keep alive today.

DRINK

While nature’s blanket dims their rivalry

And stills the air to peaceful reverie

How brief is this tranquillity

As hostile meetings in darkened shrubbery

Remind, if only momentarily That man alone enjoys in camaraderie

A TIME FOR WINE

by Tim Yates

Indian takeaway. The Jalfrezi is hot and fruity, the tarka dal earthy and comforting. Every dish delivers on its promise of spice and flavour, and not to risk discrediting myself here, but their chips are also pretty great (you know, if you’re interested in that sort of thing, which I totally am).

Tasties, Fallowfield (Burgers et al): The Tasties menu is an homage to the very best of cheap and cheerful takeaway food, complete with vegan options galore. Burgers, chicken, shakes and kebabs are yours to choose from here — and that’s not even the half of it. P.S. I dare you to pass up a box of salt and pepper curly fries.

Isabella is a freelance writer specialising in food, travel and culture. Read more at isabella-barber.com or follow on: @isabellaisawriter

The other day, a rare sunny one in early August, I sat in the garden drinking the last glass of the last bottle of the last case I had bought of Cheverny - a white wine from the middle reaches of the Loire River near the eponymous small town. It is also close to wonderful chateaux like Chenonceaux and some classic vineyards. It was dated 2020 and had little information on the label because its vintners in their French way expect you to know a good thing when you come across it! But this odd and delicious mix of mostly sauvignon blanc grape with small percentages of chardonnay or chenin blanc is not well known in Britain, and added to a bottle price of £10-£12 means it is likely to remain so. They also provide red and rose wines in smaller quantities.

The area’s other vinous curiosity is a white made 100% from the rare Romorantin grape but it is not quite to my taste so I’ll leave it up to you to find and try. Let me know!

At the moment we are all wondering how much effect the 53p a bottle price hike will affect sales - beer being treated to a reduction - and also saddened by the closure of Laithwaite’s shop in Alderley Edge.

The coming of Autumn is a time for bargains as shelves are cleared for the supply of winter staples. I doubt that there will be many bottles of Italian pleasant drinking Gavi (Majestic £6.99) left now but keep an eye out.

It is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the notoriously demanding Master of Wine qualification. Nowadays some 40% of the Masters are women and the first female holder of the title, Sarah Stephen, who died recently was famous within the trade for her quotation for those who opposed female membership: “There is no reason why a woman’s palate shouldn’t be as good as a man’s”. In my experience that is an understatement! She was also a great leader of tasting groups on trips abroad - the participants were called the Twits (Tremendous Wine Imbibers Travel Society). Perhaps, more modestly, Post readers might like to be known as WITS????

Tim Yates, our local wine expert, was a columnist for Lancashire Life and other glossies. He has lived in South Manchester for 44 years and likes the choice of wine available here!

BOOK CLUB

brought to you by Kirsty Hutchison

Kirsty is a book blogger and book reviewer for our Post Community Newspapers. Here she highlights great reads, including some of the best new books to be released soon. To get more recommendations follow Kirsty’s blog: www.noveldelights.com or follow her on: @noveldelights or @KirstHutchison

AN OLD FAVOURITE

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

by Louis de Bernières

Inspired by my recent holiday to Kefalonia, I’ve recently reread the multimillion bestseller Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. I first read stunning novel around 20 years ago and loved it. Second time around I think I am loving it even more. This is a powerful, compelling and important novel full of humanity.

MUSIC A PRAYER FOR UKRAINE

by Andy Rayner

As the war in Ukraine continues, so does the suffering of its inhabitants. As well as the countless number of casualties, around 17 million have been displaced, with refugees fleeing to a number of European countries including around 174,000 to the UK. Many of us living in Stockport will quite probably know, or know of, locals who have hosted some of these unfortunate people.

Heaton Moor resident Marc Gwynne spent four years in Ukraine some time ago, and he and his Ukrainianborn wife Inessa have been heavily involved in helping some of these families. Marc, through his company Organon SIPP Services, has also been a long-time supporter of UKMed, the frontline medical aid charity based at the University of Manchester. The Ukrainian conflict has been their biggest emergency response to date, with 90 doctors, nurses, surgeons, and paramedics providing life-saving medical aid in the country.

Marc, together with some professional musician friends, came up with the idea for a fundraising concert for the people of Ukraine, and approached David Bradshaw, who since 2017 has been organising regular classical concerts at St. Paul’s church in Heaton Moor. The music has included chamber music and organ solos etc., with a performance of Handel’s Messiah earlier this year in particular attracting a large audience.

A number of high-profile musicians have now volunteered their services, including members of the BBC Philharmonic, the Liverpool Philharmonic and students and teachers from the Royal Northern College of Music. The programme will be varied and interesting, featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Debussy and Piazzola. Amongst the vocal works will be songs by Ivor Gurney, the first world war poet and composer.

The Continental Affair by Catherine Manganese Bedford Square Publishers, Hardback £16.99

Released: 3 August

From the bestselling author of Tangerine, The Continental Affair is a seductive cat and mouse chase full of intrigue, anticipation and suspense. Spanning across Europe and beyond, it is the story of Louise who is running away from her past. Pursuing her is Henri, determined to retrieve the money she has stolen.

The Devil Stone by Caro Ramsay Canongate Books, Paperback £9.99

Released: 31 August

Already available in hardback and receiving rave reviews, The Devil Stone is the first thriller in a new Tartan Noir crime series. The dark and gripping narrative set in the Highlands is full of twists. Now released in paperback, this is a great novel for fans of police procedural.

These pieces, written in the trenches of Flanders over a hundred years ago, will no doubt take on a new pathos in the light of the tragedy that has befallen modern Ukraine.

Giving the event its title, Prayer for Ukraine is a patriotic hymn which has become the spiritual anthem of the country. Published in 1885, it was written in Kyiv by Olexandr Konysky, a writer, poet, and civil activist. It was set to music by Mykola Lysenko, who is widely regarded as the central figure of Ukrainian music, and is sung at the close of liturgy at most Ukrainian churches, and on many state occasions.

Tickets for the fundraiser (priced at £20) are on sale now and are available from Inessa Gwynne by contacting her on 07980 535074. They can also be purchased on the night (cash only). We at the Post are happy to support such a good cause, and wish the organisers every success.

For details on future classical concerts at St. Paul’s, email David Bradshaw at: daveb76brw@tiscali.co.uk

Andy Rayner writes a regular monthly column on all genres of music.

Contact him with your music news at: news@communitynewsgm.co.uk

• Marc Gwynne (L) and David Bradshaw (R)

WHAT’S ON

LOCAL EVENTS ACROSS STOCKPORT

The Heatons & Reddish

• ‘A Sunday Thing’ (Live music, DJs, in conversation with Chris Warburton) - Sunday 15 Oct 2 - 6pm at Art Cafe, Shaw Rd. £10 in advance. Tickets from www.ukartclub.com

• Living Lounge - Monday - Thursday, 10am - 2pm at Heaton Moor United Church

• Crafty Coffee - Tuesdays, 10am - 12noon at St Thomas’s Church

• Brew in a Pew - Wednesdays, 10am - 12noon at St Paul’s Church

• Coffee Mornings - Wednesdays 10:30am - 11:30am at Heatons Library

• Warm Spaces - Glow - Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1pm at Emmanuel Community Church, Houldsworth Mill

• Community Choir (over 50s) - Fridays, 9:30am - 11am at St Margaret’s Community Centre

• Feel Good Friday - Fridays, 11am - 2pm at Heaton Norris Community Centre

• Crochet, Knit & Craft Sessions - Fridays 11:30am at Heatons Library

• Dementia Disco - 4th Saturday each month, 5pm - 7pm at Heatons Mersey Conserv ative Club

• Reddish Worker Bee Market - last Saturday each month, 11am - 3pm, Broadstone Mill Car Park

• Heaton Moor Market - 1st Sunday of each month, 10:30am - 2:30pm, Shaw Road

Bramhall and Woodford

• TGiM Men’s Group - 2nd Monday each month, 12:30pm at St Michael’s & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall

• Active Angels Toddler Group - Tuesdays, 10am - 11:30am (Term Time Only) at St Michael’s & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall

• Bramhall u3a - 3rd Thursday each month, 2pm at Bramhall United Reformed Church

• Mother’s Union - 4th Thursday each month, 2pm at St Michael’s & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall

• St Michael’s Voices - every Thursday, 8pm - 9:30-m at St Michael’s & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall

• St Michaels Walkers - 3rd Saturday each month at St Michael’s & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall

• Bramhall Park Run - every Saturday, 9am at Bramhall Park

• Modern Line Dance - every Thursday, 1:30pm - 3pm at Bramhall Methodist Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme and Gatley

• Trinity Church Toddlers - Monday Mornings (Term Time Only) at Trinity Church

• Welcome Cafe by Deckchair - Mondays, 1pm - 3pm at Elm Road Church, Gatley

• Gatley Barn Dancing - Mondays 8pm - 9pm at Bethany Church (upstairs)

• Drop-in Cafe - Wednesdays at All Hallows and St Cuthberts Church Halls

• K@sta Kids Youth Club - Fridays 5:30pm - 7pm at St Andrew’s Church, Cheadle Hulme

• Stockport Historical Society - 3rd Friday each month, 7:45pm at Stockport Sunday School, Nangreave Road

• Decibelles Choir - Wednesdays, 7:30pm - 9:30pm at Christ Church Hall, Heald Green

• BBQ In The Park - Saturday 23 September at Hesketh Park

Romiley, Bredbury, Marple & High Lane

• Make it Marple - Saturday 16 September, 10am - 2pm

• Marple Fest Christmas Even t - Saturday 25 November, 10am to 7pm

Stockport Central

• Crochet, Knit & Craft - Tuesdays 11am (Central Library), Thursdays 1:30pm (One Stockport Hub)

TRAVEL A

HOME AWAY FROM HOME!

by Sarah Freeman

During Covid, villa bookings became more and popular as clients wanted to have their own personal space and this trend has continued to rise for 2023 and 2024.

As partners have increased inventory the type of villa holiday available now varies widely. The traditional type is self-catering, you select your preferred accommodation and then cook for yourselves while away, shopping at the local supermarket and enjoying meals as and when you prefer. A lot of villa companies will offer an initial “welcome pack” so you have the basics already there on arrival and spme offer the chance to pre-order your groceries and have them delivered.

However, for a lot of clients, cooking for themselves is not really a holiday! So, if you prefer being looked after, you have a couple of different choices. You can plump for a catered villa, where you have a personal chef who will cook for you daily or you can simply book them for a one off special occasion. Alternatively, a number of my clients are selecting villas that are part of resort complexes, so you get access to all the wonderful onsite facilities; restaurants, gym, watersports, kids clubs etc but still have your own dedicated space and private pool.

Villas are the perfect choice for multigenerational family getaways, larger

families where the alternative could be multiple hotel rooms, couples or groups of friends. Traditional sizes of villas range from 1 to 4 bedrooms, although of course larger villas are available in specific locations.

Destinations are now more wide ranging, this year I’ve had clients enjoying villa holidays in Florida, Barbados, St Lucia, Majorca, Corfu, Cyprus, Maldives, Mauritius, Vietnam and Dubai.

A few key things to think about before hiring a villa: Where do you want to go? How many bedrooms do you need? Do you prefer a traditional or modern style? Do you want to hire a car? Does the villa need to be walkable to town/beach? Do you need it catered? Do you want a private pool?

If you’re thinking about a villa holiday for 2024, feel free to get in touch, I work with partners all over the world so have access to 1,000’s of options.

Sarah Freeman, Personal Travel Consultant, has travelled to over 85 countries and lived in New York for 12 years.

Find out more: Facebook @sarahfreemantc or www.travelcounsellors. co.uk/sarah.freeman

NANTWICH LAKE AND RIVERSIDE WALK

by Nathan Sutton

A local's step by step guide to walks in Staffordshire, Cheshire and the Peak District! Get further inspiration for regional walks at @findyourfootsteps

Pleasant little walk for all abilities, with plenty of places to set up camp and enjoy that british ‘summer’!

Starting from the main car park, you can go either clockwise or anti-clockwise, and simply follow the path round. Wouldn’t take long around the lake, say 30 minutes at the very, very max. If you would like to make it longer, then on the right handside of the lake, you will see signs for a riverside walk. Simply follow these for a pleasant walk along the river towards Nantwich town centre. Once you’ve reached the town centre, simply loop back round and the path will take you back to the lake, along the otherside of the river! Throughout this walk there are plenty of picnic benches for a sit down, and loads of spots if its dry enough for a picnic and games! Flat enough for the elderly, wheelchair and pushchair friendly as well, I would however advise dogs on leads on a lead around the lake due to the wildlife, but fine once along the river. There is a waterfall and spot where dogs can go

for a swim as well when along the river! For the curious walkers, plenty of little paths and bridges coming off the main riverside path, which have you thinking, ‘where does that go?!’

Overall, a great walk if you just need a change of scenery, and don’t want to travel to the end of the earth for it!

Car park : CW5 7AG is the main car park, and free! Spotted another free car park next to Brookfield Park, which is not far from the main car park, CW5 5TG.

Refreshments : There is a little portable cafe there most days on the car park called The Hub and they have hot and cold drinks and many delicious sweet treats! Brownies, cookies, they have it all! Check them out at @the_hub_nantwich_lake

Take a picnic as well if you can, plenty of spots! Also spotted a kids play area at Brookfield Park!

• Anantara Veli Maldives

• Maldives Beach villa

• Sugar Beach - St Lucia

• Maldives Beach villa

DON’T MAKE THESE BIG MISTAKES!

by Steven Glicher

Over the past 35 years, I’ve seen hundreds of clients from all walks of life and have been chatting to business owners about the challenges they face. They often talk about the mistakes they made and with hindsight, what they would have done differently. So, in this column, I thought I would share with you what I think are the five most common mistakes business owners and entrepreneurs make. Hopefully, you will steer well clear of these but if you need help, please get in touch.

1. Cash is always king. So many business owners get hung up on turnover that they forget about the cash position. It’s all very well striving for more and more sales but if you are offering extended credit terms to achieve them, this can have a disastrous effect on your cash flow. The initial solution is to prepare a cash flow forecast and profit projection which will highlight where any future deficit is likely to arise.

2. Not having a plan. If you don’t have some sort of plan, how do you think you are going to get where you want to be? This is easy to solve. Work on a five year plan to determine what you want from your business, where do you want to be and how are you going to get there.

3. Taking out too much money too soon. It is often very tempting to see the money in the bank and think, well it’s been a hard month, I think I’ll take a bonus this month. In general, you can’t take any money out of a limited company bank account without it being taxed in some way. So not only do you have to keep money aside for income tax, there is also VAT, Corporation tax and PAYE to consider. So always make sure you have enough reserves to be able to keep HMRC happy.

CLASSIFIEDS

4. Keep accurate records. Make sure you have a good financial management system in place. It can be as simple as using one of the cloud accounting packages out there, such as QuickBooks, Xero or Sage. Don’t go to your accountant and ask him “How have I done last year?” as you should already know. How can you make decisions if you don’t know how well you are doing?

5. Get a great accountant! OK so it’s now time to blow my own trumpet! But seriously, you should get a good advisor who will help you through business, someone to bounce ideas off and help you navigate the way round all the financial and regulatory requirements. They will also have worked with a range of businesses over the years and can pick and choose some great ideas that might just be able to help you.

So that’s my top five. What are yours? I would love to hear from you.

GIFTS

UCzv9pE6YDO7ZJIwaMLtDiPg

POST NETWORK

by Drawing Board Productions Community Interest Company

The Post Network is made up of business and community organisations based across all of the areas covered by a Post hyperlocal community newspaper, bringing together and supporting local organisations both online and offline.

Being part of the Post Network means you will be joining 120+ businesses across the Post areas being connected and supported.

We now offer two options that enable your business to gain extra visibility and be supported:

• Post Network Membership - a wide range of benefits with online and offline support

• Post Network Plus membership - all the benefits of Network membership plus a printed advert option.

For full details and to join see: www.bit.ly/3kdnPHS

YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT NETWORK

1. Support over Social Media

As a member of a Post Network your posts wil be shared across the Stockport/Manchester Post socia med a platforms -just tag @PostNewsSK or @PostNewsMcr

2 Local Area Trails

As a member of a Post Network and if you have a presence on the high street your business wi l be eligible for priority inclusion in Post Community Seasonal Trai s

3. Support and Socials

As a member of a Post Network the post team wil be avai able to connect you to relevant organisations/businesses pass on re evant information and run regu ar get-togethers to help connect you to other oca businesses

4 Print Advertising

As a member of a Post Network you wil be e igib e for a discounted advert space within a dedicated feature of our Stockport or Manchester Post newspapers

5. Stockist

As a member of a Post Network and if you have a shop you wi l be eligible to be a dedicated stockist of your local Post newspaper al owing the community greater access to their community newspaper

JOIN YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS NETWORK

Just £35 per year!

news@communitynewsgm.co.uk

BUSINESSES - ADVERTISE WITH US

by Post Community Newspapers

Post hyperlocal community newspapers operate on a not-for-profit basis and work to support all sectors of the community they serve.

Being hyperlocal, reader engagement is high and advertising with us means that your business is accessible to all.

Business advertising allows our Post newspapers to be produced each month with any revenue after our core costs are covered directly going to increase paid door-to-door distribution to allow local news to reach even more people.

We currently produce seven hyperlocal newspapers covering and supporting local communities, community organisations and ]local charities across South Manchester. And with a total distribution across all Post newspapers of over 40,000 copies each month, we support local residents by ensuring they have access to hyperlocal news and information regardless of circumstances. As such

COMMUNITY SUPPORT DISTRICT

by Drawing Board Productions Community Interest Company

With the aim of bringing together all of the community projects developed and delivered by Drawing Board Productions CIC, a Community Support District covers a defined local area which will be supported by and benefit from:

● A Post hyperlocal community newspaper

● In Bloom Projects

● Urban Fronts Projects

● Art Sculpture Safaris

These not-for-profit projects aim to support local communities by ensuring they are better informed and connected, improving the look and feel of local areas, helping to foster a sense of community and pride in our local areas, raising the visibility of our local areas, and helping to encourage and generate additional footfall.

New community-focused projects and events will be developed and added to those listed over the years to come – we welcome the input of the local community as to what they would like for their local area.

As a CIC, Drawing Board Productions operates on a not-for-profit basis with its purpose and work being entirely to support and benefit local communities. Our work and projects are not influenced by any political or external organisations, nor are they financially supported by an external organisation.

Securing funding through grant applications to contribute in some way to the cost of our projects is extremely limited and becoming ever more difficult. And so we are asking you, members of the local community, to be part of all we are trying to achieve, to have a say, and to help to support our work.

Costs:

● £150 to have a copy of your Post hyperlocal community newspaper delivered directly to 1,000 homes through a distributor

● £150 for a planter, compost and plants as part of In Bloom projects

● £300 to part-fund a shutter art project as part of Urban Fronts

● £800 to fund an animal sculpture and the materials needed to decorate as part of an Animal Safari Trail

Any donations towards the costs of the projects above will help these projects to grow and develop, improving local areas for the benefit of all and making a real difference to our local communities.

And just a £5 donation per household, per year would enable all of the above projects to be fulfilled and sustained in full, meaning each Community Support Area would have:

• A copy of their Post hyperlocal community newspaper delivered to every single home in the area it covers each month

• Seasonal trails around local shops and community venues

• A full In Bloom project with plants able to be replaced when needed

• All shops that have shutters and want to be part of the Urban Fronts projects could have shutter art

• A full Animal Sculpture Safari, with each Community Support District having a different type of animal sculpture decorated by local artists and schools, creating a safari around our local areas with a minimum of five sculptures per Community Support District

• The potential to develop and deliver additional community events and projects to add to the above

Want to help your community achieve the above?

Follow the link for your local area Community Support District at: https://bit.ly/3JwRRja

SPOOKY TRAIL RETURNS THIS OCTOBER

by Drawing Board Productions Community Interest Company

This October, one of our most popular trails around local shops and community venues is back.

Post community newspapers are well read and see high engagement.

Help us to support local residents by ensuring they have access to hyperlocal news and information regardless of circumstances.

Why not advertise with us?

https://bit.ly/3XWYyj6

The Post Halloween trail will see local venues decorate their window to a halloween theme and a trail sheet will guide participants around the local area to see the displays - there may even be a few treats to collect along the way and we want you, the public, to score the displays and vote for your favourite!

The purpose of our seasonal trails is to provide free, fun activities for residents to enjoy and help to generate additional footfall and engagement around our local shopping areas.

The Halloween Trail will run from Saturday 21 October to Saturday 28 October. For shops or community venues that would like to decorate their window space and be part of the trail, please confirm participation by Sunday 1 October to: news@communitynewsgm.co.uk

Many thanks to the sponsors of this community event who enable the trails to continue each year:

EIGHT WORD TALES: –FREEDOM OR FREEFORM

brought to you by Peter Devonald

HOW IS YOUR BODY REALLY FEELING AND PERFORMING?

by Stephanie Fowler

Do you long to be pain and restriction free, or to do something that you currently can’t? I come across so many people who have spent months, or even years ignoring niggles, twinges, weaknesses and limited movement. Even worse, people who push through pain to carry out intense physical labour or exercise (and later regret it).

But, did you know that INCOMPLETE MOVEMENTS (range), can become INCIDENTS (pain) and eventually lead to INJURIES? We often put up with things we know don’t feel right - painful knees, pinchy shoulders, twingy elbows, clicky ankles, tight hips or achy necks. This discomfort is your warning signal telling you that something is going on within your body that needs some attention.

If we stop and take note, it’s highly possible, and often relatively simple to halt this path to injury. I have been working with clients for years, using specialisms in corrective exercise, movement and mobility and sports massage to restore

optimal, pain free functionality and performance. I work with clients and look at lifestyle habits, posture, movement patterns and identify tight or weakened muscles and then design treatment plans involving massage, soft tissue release, joint distraction and corrective strengthening and conditioning exercises to create the right muscle synergy and lengthtension relationships to enable efficient movement and exercise without the risk of injury.

For me, if your body is talking, it’s time to listen. You don’t have to be able to tie yourself up in knots, but if you can’t achieve full range through your joints, then you’re on a path to pain and restriction. If you have a niggle that’s talking to you, feel free to get in touch for a chat!

by Julia Wolfendale

Stand up tall

Face those fears

Smile breathe

THE FREEDOM TO GO ANYWHERE by Roger Morris

Pellets on the carpet. The hamster’s escaped again.

COMING OUT by Philippa EastMum…Dad?

This is who I really am.

TEMPUS FUGIT by Paul E McGrane

Incredible! Today is Saturday but yesterday was Thursday. by Roger Morris

Seeds on the wind showed him the way.

THE NOTICE READ by Jenny Mitchell

Lost property: Our father’s heartonly slightly used.

OUR CHRIST by Navin Dev

He died for us to set us free.

by Paul

Campbell

She waited until his flesh reached room temperature.

WRECK OF THE TITANIC by Paul

E McGrane

Unopened champagne bottles, statues and dozens of shoes.

Submit your eight word stories before the 7th: news@communitynewsgm.co.uk. Future themes: FREEDOM, MIRACLES, CHRISTMAS (sorry!)

FIVE GROUNDING EXERCISES TO REDUCE ANXIETY

by Rachel Brislane, CBH Therapist

Stefanie Fowler is a personal trainer, nutrition coach and sports massage therapist. Find out more at www.fannysrealfitness.com or @fannysrealfoodandfitness.

BECOMING YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND

by Katie Sheen

Can you recall a time when you were a wonderful friend to someone? What did you do or say? Maybe you listened with compassion whilst they shared something that was troubling them. Perhaps you sent an encouraging message when they needed one. Maybe you were there to celebrate a special occasion, or just sit quietly together and enjoy a peaceful view.

Can you remember how it felt to be a great friend? The set of your shoulders. The tilt of your head. Your train of thoughts as you considered how to support and encourage them.

Now imagine doing exactly the same for yourself. Respond to your emotions with compassion. Take actions (large and small) to enjoy life more, celebrating the good times and finding time to rest. Many of us find this difficult, yet we already have the skills and insight to be a great friend, we just need to practice putting ourselves at the centre of those.

What a difference it makes to check in with how we are multiple times each day, offering ourselves encouragement, or challenging thoughts, beliefs and behaviours that undermine our happiness. We can shower, dress, move around and feed ourselves with care and kindness. Every small act that we do anyway can become infused with a sense of friendship between mind and body.

Some people worry that this may make them lazy, but a true friend encourages you to get out of the house when the company of others would be helpful. To exercise as an expression of care for your body. To nourish yourself by finding the time and energy to eat food packed with nutrients.

It takes practice at first, but changing an inner critic to an inner cheerleader really can be a game-changer.

For more information, try the book ‘Resilient’ by Rick Hanson, selfcompassion resources by Kristin Neff, or any books by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Grounding exercises involve tuning into your five senses with the aim of bringing you back to the present moment. They are helpful for reducing anxiety at times when anxious thoughts or worries about the future take over. Here are five simple grounding exercises you can do anytime, anywhere to regain a sense of calm and peace of mind.

1. The ‘5 Things’ exercise

Look around your environment. First focus your full attention on noticing 5 things you can see. Next, notice 5 things you can hear. Finally notice 5 things you can feel against the surface of your skin.

2. Feel the warmth of your coffee cup

Hold your mug, cupping it in your hands and focus your full attention on noticing the warmth radiating from it. (You can do this with a cold drink too by noticing the coolness).

3. Focus on an object

Bring your full attention to focus on an object in your environment. What details can you notice about that object? Colour? Shape? Texture? Size?

4. Pay attention to your feet Place both feet flat on the ground. Focus your full attention on the feeling of the soles of your feet against the floor underneath them.

5. Take a breath

Take a breath in through your nose, hold your breath for a moment and then exhale slowly and gently out of your mouth through pursed lips (as if you are blowing bubbles).

Katie Sheen is a mindfulness teacher based in Cheadle Hulme, offering corporate webinars and workshops as well as classes and courses for the local community.

TIME OUT TIME

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Thank you to Gerry Whitwham for this photograph of St. Mary’s Church, Cheadle showing the south aisle window in the Brereton Chapel, with a fragment of ancient glass to the lower left panel.

Gerry would like to thank the volunteers at St Marys for their assistance and for allowing photography.

POETRY PROMPT

A chance to write a poem with Post newspapers’ poet in residence Carl every month in a few simple steps. Good poetry draws you into the joy it wants you to experience or the misery it wants you to feel. Playing with tone and detail to best paint your wordpainting is something I very much enjoy, and I thought of a prompt we could try this month.

STEP ONE

Search online for the term “bucket list examples”. You will discover lots of “things you must do before you die” like swimming with dolphins or going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

STEP TWO

Pick one from the list. It can be something you’ve done before or not. It can be something you like the sound of, or something you would absolutely despise.

STEP THREE

Take a few moments to list all the things

you would imagine is involved in that activity. For example, swimming with dolphins: the sea, swimsuit, dolphins, an instructor, a boat, a towel, etc.

STEP FOUR

Now write a poem in the style of a two-star TripAdvisor / Google Review about the experience. I want it to be a two-star review because it’s easy to write a glowing five-star review about something you loved or an angry one-star review about something you hated.

A two-star review is an interesting category to write because there was just enough about it that meant it wasn’t a one-star, but ultimately you did not have that much fun at all. Think about tone of voice and be detailed and specific in both your disappointment and limited joy.

If you’d like to share your work, we’d love nothing more than to read it. Send your poems to: news@communitynewsgm.co.uk.

ACROSS

4 Fire-engine colour

8 What

Should you wish to submit a local photograph for our Photo of t he Month feature, please email: news@communitynewsgm.co.uk Instructions:

DOWN

1 Dave got sauna (anag.) Beneficial

2 Measurement of road distance

3 This newspaper (7,4)

4 Yo ho ho and a bottle of this

5 Dig in the past

6 Mel set tents (anag.) Communities

7 Engelbert’s surname

9 Symbol for silver

10 United Nations. One: French

15 Not a shower. Lie in it & sing?

(4,3)

16 First degree

19 Shops, cafes etc: Opt for Moor ?

21 European Community

24 Starboard, opposite. A red wine

26 Flying saucer? Unknown in the sky

Sudoku

31 When he thinks he’ll get there

Many thanks to The Puzzlemaster, our local puzzle creator, for this month’s crossword.

Please see next month’s Post for the answers.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

VALE TWINS ON FORM FOR CHESHIRE

by Geoff Garnett

Lymm Golf Club have hosted several county events this season and they again provided an excellent course and great support off the course as Cheshire Boys entertained Cumbria Boys in their latest Northern Counties League match.

Cheshire showed their intent in the morning foursomes as they took a commanding 4-1 lead into the afternoon singles.

Providing the points were Harry Kell (Sandiway) and Lucas Kuiper (Disley) 4/3, Laurent Beech (Eaton) and Nathan Hopley (Bramall Park) with a stunning 8/7, Oscar Craig (Sandiway) and Max Iveson (Malkins (Bank) 3/1 and Reddish Vale twins Luke and Cole Parkinson 4/3.

Cheshire maintained their momentum in an outstanding afternoon of singles enduring some heavy showers posting eight wins and a half to complete a commanding score of 12.5-2.5 to keep them in the title race as they look forward to their final league matches against Northumberland and Yorkshire.

Singles winners for Cheshire were Cole Self (Ringway) 2 up, Harry Kell 7/6, Oli Johnson (Delamere Forest) 3/2, Laurent Beech 2/1. Max Iveson one up, Nathan Hopley 3/2, Oscar Craig one up, Cole Parkinson 2/1 with Luke Parkinson halving his match.

ATHLETES SELECTED FOR THE ICO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Our Fight Squad recently attended the International Combat Organisation (ICO) British Open doing battle to qualify for a place at the ICO World Championships in October 2023. What a battle it was - each of our fighters gave 100% and brought home a number of qualifying places.

Following qualification, the team members attend ICO training days all around the country and in October, they will all do battle in a mix of divisions. The Team are members of Jason Barid’s Black Belt Academy (JBBBA) in Stockport and train five days a week. The Fight Squad team has been back competing for a little over a year and consists of approximately 30 members with ages ranging from age six up to adults.

Coach Jason Baird Says: “The progress made from our students after only competing for a little over 12 months is incredible, I have every confidence we will have a good number of World Champions again this year at the ICO World Championships. I am so incredibly proud of them all and honoured to be their coach”.

GOLF RESULTS

by Geoff Garnett

Heaton Moor Men

Eldridge/Ashworth

Round one: Marcus Quiligotti 69, Joseph Shaw 69, Michael HudsonDavies 69, Stanley Wilson 69.

Round two: John Howarth 69, Joseph Sahw 70, Neil Hodge, Matthew Hodgkinson, Michael Connor, all 71

Aggregate Joseph Shaw 139, Alexander Gada 143, Jack Adams 143

Heaton Moor Ladies

Centenary Salver final: Naheed Farooq 69, Emma Gilbert 72, Laura Roberts 72

Medal: Lyndsey Alexander 72, Gillian Stockton 73, Julie Stonehouse 75

Lady Captain’s final: Deborah Rathbone 69, Gillian Stockton 70, Claire Whitney , Naheed Farooq, both 72.

Houldsworth Ladies

Lady Captain’s Day: Louise Lanigan 32, Deborah Hewitt 30, Patricia Bennett 28

Singles Stableford: Deborah Hewitt 27, Louise Lanigan 25, Elaine Shaw19

Houldsworth Men

Centenary Trophy: Shawn Fitzgerald 67, Bobby Moore, Gary Lester, David Hallworth, Marshall Lally, Kenneth Miller all 68

Monthly medal: Steven Garner 66. Paul Martin 67 Joshua Clews 69

Strokeplay semi-final: David Walton, Shawn Fitzgerald, Dennis Hogg, all 67

Reddish Vale

Joey Jones Trophy round four: Jon Roper 36, Frank Weston 36, Neil Crewdson 35, Michael Kellaway 35

Wednesday medal Division one: Paul Sloane 64, Chris Sissling and Stehen Best both 67

Division two: Chris Marshall 68, Andrew Covell 68, David Flanagan and Stephen Burden both 70

Division three: Andrew Hinkins 64, Jake Holt 68, Chris Byrne and Gareth McIntyre, both 71

President’s Weekend: Steven Cole 41, Jacob Astley and Luke Parkinson, both 38

CLUB CENTENARY

by Heaton Moor Park Ladies Bowling Club

Some of this amazing team still requires support. For more information please find the QR code or see: https://bit.ly/3DZAlkE

Any donations are greatly appreciated and would enable this group of amazing youngsters the chance to follow their dreams doing the sport they love.

This year, Heaton Moor Park Ladies Bowling Club celebrates its centenary. The land for the park on Peel Moat Road was originally donated by Lord Egerton of Tatton and the park opened on 17 July 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The first bowling green was added just after the turn of the century and the ‘clover leaf green’ in 1911. The Ladies Bowling Club was founded in 1923 and used the ‘clover leaf green’ for over 80 years until it was discontinued as a bowling green. Ever since, the Ladies have shared the Mens bowling green.

The Bowling Club, including Ladies and Mens teams has always been a local community asset. The Club always welcomes non bowlers of any age to join. The Ladies also offer free bowling instruction to anyone interested in playing and joining the Club. Other Park users regularly sit and watch the bowling and the Club always offers anyone watching tea and biscuits. The Club provides an important social function for its members meeting weekly to practice as well as compete in tournaments with other local Stockport Bowling

teams. In addition, the Club organises social trips including going to the cinema and theatre, weekly card games, and monthly lunches during the winter season, and sometimes even holidays abroad together.

The centenary celebrations begin in August with the President’s Day Tournament and a buffet lunch for past and present members.

• Ladies President - Brenda Williams presents Winner Vera Leatherbarrow with the Presidents Cup