Carers Online
Gaddum Centre Story
The Gaddum Centre is busy working with a web developer today, putting the finishing touches to its great new carers’ website. A network of 20 Manchester carer support organisations, with focus groups, has spent six months designing and developing the website. This has been achieved with invaluable involvement from carers looking at the design and how it will work to make sure that it meets the needs of carers across the city.
The site will go live within the next few weeks with a soft launch when carers will be able to use it and to give feedback. There will be a film with a series of short interviews with carers to help people quickly get an insight into the range of situations that face them in Manchester.
Increasing numbers of carers are going online and whilst there are good existing online resources, the network is reaching out to people who don’t necessarily recognise themselves yet as carers. The website will enable more people to find the support they need quickly and without the frustration of searching several places, saving them time and effort.
There will be news, event listings, details for support groups and carers’ training, and over time, interaction between carers can develop so that they can continue to shape the site and keep it useful. Resources will include topics such as financial challenges, balancing caring with employment, and wellbeing plus links to existing useful resources, like the Manchester City Council toolkit. Carers needing help with specific or multiple needs in caring will be able to find helpful sources of specialist support. 
A coach to Lytham
The Whitemoss Story
Today, the North City Nomads group took 240 elderly people in five coaches on a day out to Lytham St Annes. It was organised by 15 volunteers and everyone had the option of activities such as shopping and walking along the promenade. By giving the people of North Manchester the opportunity to go out and make new friends, it encourages the reduction of social isolation and encourages new and wider friendship groups.
A particular lady who is on this trip today lost her husband a year and a half ago. Days out like this help her grieving process by taking her mind off things, doing things she enjoys and making new friends.
Since the North City Nomads project began in 2015, volunteers have organised and delivered nine highly successful outings and have a further two trips planned for 2017. The project has been developed and supported by the Age Friendly Manchester team to provide days out for older people living in north Manchester. It has over 800 members and a team of 14 volunteers.
Members often report feeling better, happier, finding new friendships, and having something to look forward to since joining the group.
The project is based at Whitemoss Club for Young People in Blackley, which caters for children from 6 to 19 and also for senior citizens, aiming to bridge the gap between ages, with a regular luncheon club and a range of other activities.
It's all about letting the energy flow
Heaven on Earth The Space Story
Sharon Calvert has just finished delivering a Yoga for Mental Wellbeing session supporting people to put themselves into their own little bubble where they can address the daily stresses and strains of everyday life. Through yoga and other exercises, the session encourages participants to release tension and find balance.
The reason for this session is a very personal story for Sharon – having experienced a major injury and struggling with managing the pain resulting in highs and lows, Sharon took the decision to grab her future in her own hands and found the medium of yoga. By practicing yoga on a daily basis, Sharon found this to greatly assist with the pain she was experiencing. It is with this motivation that Sharon developed a six week yoga therapy course in January 2011 and has been successfully delivering this since.
Read more about Sharon’s story here with a film on her website
It is clear that yoga not only has mental health benefits but also physical and social benefits to those who attend. Yoga means union and this is so true from the sessions being held as it encourages all members of the local community to come along, network and support one another in being positive and finding this in any situation.
A participant in the session today said "Since I met Sharon my life really changed for the better. Doing yoga with Sharon is a very spiritual experience – not just exercise.
The Yoga for Mental Wellbeing class is a very relaxing session that teaches one how to overcome every day struggles with believing in positive thoughts, if we believe we can achieve. I feel relaxed, calm and peaceful. I am so happy to know Sharon and look forward to continuing my journey with her."
Sharon encourages anyone interested in finding out more to visit www.heavenonearth.space and come along to her next session.