Category Archives: facilities

Levenshulme Market Fund 2015 Results

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In a packed meeting at the Klondyke this evening voting took place for the Levenshulme Market Fund 2015. The following bids were funded to the amount shown. This means that everyone who bid for funding received funding as the LCDC bid was withdrawn. £15,000 was available for distribution.

Congratulations to all the successful bids and everyone who put in so much hard work for them. And well done to Levenshulme Market for their first fund reinvesting in Levenshulme.

Levenshulme Market is registered as a Community Interest Company. This is the first distribution of operating profits to community projects that are focussed on enabling local people to start up on the market or to existing local businesses to develop and revitalise Levenshulme High Street and its retail and business offer.

Levenshulme Market itself has gone from strength to strength over the past couple of years and went weekly from March to December last year. In 2015 Levenshulme Market Company will also start running markets at Manchester University and in the Northern Quarter.

Find out more about Levenshulme Market HERE

Winning proposals and amounts

Byrne the Cake Brewery – £610.56

David Foulger is a Levenshulme resident who has been perfecting his brewing in his home environment for six months and is now approaching the stage where he is ready to start trading on the market, thus launching Levenshulme’s own artisan brewery and helping gain more attention for Levenshulme’s independent traders and producers. David will use the money, if awarded, to buy equipment that will allow him to brew on a larger scale with a shorter time scale and less chance of spoilage.




Decourcey Designs – £760.00

Sharlene Decourcey is fourth generation Levenshulme and started her business trading in the Antiques Village a year ago. She would like to develop her skills, expand into market trading and build her business by undertaking further  training in upholstery, buying tools for her work and producing branded clothes, banners and business cards.



Indulge Dessert Café Expansion – £1400.00

Indulge is the only dessert cafe within the Levenshulme stretch of Stockport Road and they are keen to build their business by expanding their product range (to include pancakes, frozen yoghurt, slushies and professional coffees), increase their profile and visibility and make physical improvements to the shop. The funds they are applying for would be used to repaint the shop shutters and improve the signage, change the layout to improve service and maximise customer seating during busy periods, add customer toilet facilities, deliver a leaflet campaign in the area and purchase machines for making coffee, pancakes and frozen yoghurt.



Levenshulme Contemporary Art Centre – £2210.00

The LCAC Shop will be a temporary, non-profit making hub of radical thinking for the Levenshulme community. It will open for two weeks during the Manchester International Festival (2nd-19th July 2015), with the aim of helping to seed the development of a future independent fringe festival. The Shop will function as an open social space, the aim of which is to create the possibility of imagining a new locality. It will serve coffee, sell radical texts and work/prints by local artists, and host free public talks, including connecting participants with other radically-minded individuals across the world via video-conferencing. It will be open to the public at varied times, including late nights for post-work discussions. The group are bidding for funds to run the shop, including rental and fittings, marketing and promotion of the space and paying/reimbursing visiting speakers and artists.



Lily and Daisy Flower Company – £890.00

The Lily and Daisy Flower Company will be based in Levenshulme as a market stall and local delivery service, operating by bike and selling only flowers sourced locally in season and from indoor growing operations in England and the Netherlands at other times, with the aim of being carbon neutral within two years of starting business. Melvyn Newton, who runs the Lily and Daisy Flower Company is bidding for funds for a bike trailer, a street trading licence, insurance and branding.



Love Levenshulme www.lovelevenshulme.org – £5000.00

Love Levenshulme is a digital and high street community asset. It was first created as an online map in 2014 and resident Pauline Johnson is seeking funds to develop it as a resource that will support local businesses, improve our trading environment, expand as a “live learning facility” and promote Levenshulme as a visitor destination. It’s a consumer facing, trader focused online resource and high street brand. The funds, if allocated, will be used to develop the site itself, to support engagement activity with traders and to launch a pop-up high street “hub” for the site, allowing business owners, residents and visitors to make their own contribution to its workings.



Samosa Shack – £1000.00

Samosa Shack is the brain child of Levenshulme resident Kamini Patel, who would like to develop an artisan food stall where he can sell Gujarati cuisine – particularly samosas, which will be made to order while customers wait.  He has applied for the fund to cover the costs of buying the equipment associated with setting up an outdoor hot food business as well as branding and design work to make his stall attractive to customers.



Thairish Café – Facelift – £2370.00

Levenshulme institution Thairish Café (previously Isis) are applying for funds to make their business an even more desirable destination on the high street and the interior will be a more welcoming and cleaner environment for customers. They would use the money, if awarded, to update the front of the cafe by cleaning and painting the outside area – meaning they will be more attractive to customers, particularly those coming to and from the market. They would also like to refurbish their customer toilet, making it a safer and cleaner environment, and to resurface the floor of the café.


Woolly Mammoth – £750.00

Woolly Mammoth is brings together locally sourced UK wool and vegetarian food with a focus on promoting positive mental health and well being.  The social enterprise, run by Levenshulme resident Charlotte Dillon and business partner Rachel Hall, will launch with a series of pop-up events at Levenshulme Market, with a view to eventually move to a shop space in Levenshulme. They will use the funds, if awarded, to cover the costs of buying equipment to cook their food, starter stock and branding.



All photographs courtesy of Jeremy Hoad.

£22m Boost For Cycling In Manchester

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Manchester is one of eight cities to benefit from investment in cycling infrastructure from the government. The Department for a transport has confirmed Manchester has been awarded £22m from the total funding of £115m. This follows an investment of £20m in 2013.

Further details are available from Transport for Greater Manchester HERE

An article from the Manchester Evening News is available HERE

Information on the Greater Manchester Cycling Strategy is available HERE

Cooking Project for Young People in Levenshulme and Gorton

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A new cooking project has started at Levenshulme Inspire. Cook Off! is open to young people between the ages of 12-17 in Levenshulme and Gorton.

Sessions run every Tuesday from 18.00-20.00 at Levenshulme Inspire. Free entry and free food!

Levenshulme Market Fund 2015 – Shortlist Announced

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A message from Helen Power about the 2015 Levenshulme Market Fund:

Applications to the fund for 2015 have now closed. We have been inundated with excellent applications and, because we got roughly twice as many as we were expecting we have had to short list the candidates.

Thankfully, we have a trusty group of independent assessors who had agreed to act as supervisors for the applications and the voting and they have very kindly worked together to produce a short list from the applicants received. The short listed applicants/projects are as follows:

  1. Byrne the Cake Brewery
  2. Decourcey Designs
  3. Indulge Dessert Café – Expansion
  4. LCDC – Craft in the Community
  5. Levenshulme Contemporary Art Centre – LCAC Shop
  6. Lily and Daisy Flower Company
  7. Love Levenshulme
  8. Samosa Shack
  9. Thairish Café – Facelift
  10. Woolly Mammoth

Further information about the voting event and the voting process are on our website HERE

What’s Going On Around The Station And Market?

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If you wondered what was happening around the station and the market it is a clean up funded by the council’s Clean City fund.

This project is being led by Incredible Edible Levenshulme with Levenshulme Market Community Interest Company and other groups such as Levenshulme Youth Project. It is an interesting collaboration of groups and people across Levenshulme to improve our environment.

All sorts of things are part of the project from the mural on the container in the car park to tidying up trees and vegetation around the site, installing new planters on the A6, planting and improving the Village Green and installing trendy bike racks that double up as planters. This promises to make a big difference to the area and everyone is welcome to get involved.

A summary of the project is available on the council website HERE and a schedule of planned work has just been released (see below). A more detailed description of the project is available HERE one the Levenshulme Market website.

Bike racks to be installed on the station car park and planted with blueberry bushes.

New Community Funding From Laing O’Rourke

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A message from Laing O’Rourke

We’re delighted to invite you the launch of the Laing O’Rourke Cash4Graft funding programme which is to take place from 18.00-20.00 on Tuesday 24th February 2015 at Laing O’Rourke offices at:
3 Archway, Birley Fields, Manchester, M15 5QJ

This exciting new fund focuses on supporting residents in the south Manchester area to come together to identify projects that will benefit their community and get together to deliver those projects. The programme will support grassroots community projects in and around the Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre development scheduled to be opened next year for sums from £50 to £250 which can kickstart great initiatives that make our neighbourhoods happier, healthier and safer places to live.

Laing commitment to engaging with local communities where it delivers projects is essential to their ethos and their corporate social responsibility strategy and the launch of this programme means that they can deliver real impact at a local level. – making a difference where you live!

This strength-based approach looks at what’s strong and not what’s wrong in communities – residents coming together to develop great ideas – and support existing groups that already deliver real impact in south Manchester neighbourhoods.

Please feel free to invite fellow community groups to what promises to be
an informal event where we can talk to you about the programme, how
you can get involved and how you can apply for funding from the programme. Forever Manchester is working in partnership with Laing O’Rourke to deliver this programme.

We’d be delighted to see you there and it would be great if you could e-mail me back to let me know that you can make it.

We look forward to meeting you.

Jean Mills
Head of Business Development

Email: jean@forevermanchester.com
Web: forevermanchester.com
Twitter: @JeanieFM

——–
(Google Maps link HERE)

Levenshulme Inspire Community Directors Wanted

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WANTED: New Community Directors

Levenshulme Inspire is currently looking for three new community representatives to sit on its Board as Company Directors and Charity Trustees.

We are looking for people who:

* Visit Inspire on a regular basis as activity organisers or participants;

* Are passionate about our local area and have ideas about how Inspire can make it better;

* Are prepared to support Inspire’s vision and values and commit to the formal responsibilities of being a company director and charity trustee (information about these things is available on request).

If you would like to be considered then please complete this form (Downloadable Word Document) and submit it at Inspire by Friday 20th February 2015 or e-mail it to ed.cox@lev-inspire.org.uk.

View information on the Inspire website HERE

LCA Community Forum – Tuesday 17/2 @ the Klondyke

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The next LCA Community Forum will be held at the Klondyke next Tuesday 17th February. Doors open at 7:15. Meeting starts at 7:30.

We expect to be joined by Gary Bridges who is the Site Manager for Laing O’Rourke at the new baths and library site on Stockport Road. He will be ready to answer everybody’s questions – so please come prepared.

There will also be time for people to raise concerns of their own about things in Levenshulme.

The LCA Community Forum is a new initiative introduced by the LCA last year. These are open public meetings for everyone in Levenshulme – residents, businesses, landlords, community groups or anyone else – to find out what is going on and raise questions about our area.

Levenshulme Market Fund 2015

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Levenshulme Market is awarding £15,000 worth of grants to people who want to make a difference to Levenshulme high street or to start or develop their own retail businesses.

As a social enterprise, the team behind Levenshulme Market have always been loud proponents of the idea that bad high streets don’t happen to economically healthy retail environments and that putting a market into a high street with multiple problems is not going to solve those problems overnight.

That is why, for their first ever Market Fund, they will be awarding £15,000-worth of grants to people who want to make a difference to Levenshulme high street and residents who want to start or develop their own retail businesses. Not only that, but they are asking the community to choose what they should fund.

The team are now taking applications for their “high street innovation fund” which will take applications for grants up to £5000 and are open to anyone who has a retail or high street improvement project they would like to deliver in Levenshulme and for their “market innovation fund” which is designed for Levenshulme residents who want to start or improve their own business on the market and is taking applications up to £1000.

The Market is on hiatus through the winter months but will restart on Saturday 7th March 2015 and will operate every Saturday this year until December.

The the final decisions on who will be funded by the scheme will be made by Levenshulme residents at an event being held on Sunday 8th March 2015, 5.00pm – 9.00pm, at The Klondyke Club, Burnage Range, Levenshulme, M19 2HQ.

Further information about the awards, how to enter and how to attend the voting event is available HERE

For more information please contact Helen Power, Director, Levenshulme Market CIC:
T: 07853 266 598
E: info@levymarket.co.uk
W: www.levymarket.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/levymarket
Twitter: @levymarket

Incredible Edible Levenshulme Tidy Up & Litter Pick

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Please join us on Sunday (15th Feb) to continue our work preparing the woodland area at Levenshulme Market. We’ll also be doing a litter pick.

Meet 10am on Sunday at the container in the train station car park. Please wear wellies and bring gardening tools.

Hope to see you there.

Incredible Edible Levenshulme
Growing a greener, cleaner, healthier Levenshulme!

Fun Day at Levenshulme Inspire

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The Spirit of Manchester Community Fun Day will take place this Saturday at Levenshulme Inspire from 11.00-15.00.

Feel the Spirit of Manchester at Levenshulme Market

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Levenshulme Market is collaborating with The Spirit of Manchester Festival in the last two weeks of September to host some very special Spirit of Manchester Markets.

The markets will take place on Saturday 20th and Saturday 27th September and we have arranged to have a number of FREE stalls at each market available for community groups, organisations working in the community and charities. The stalls will allow them to showcase their work in the community to new audiences in whatever way they choose – from handing out flyers on their work and ways to get involved to demonstrations of the skills they are building amongst their users.

We are now looking for community groups to join us in celebrating what they do and raising awareness for any support they may need. If you are a group working in Manchester, or you know of a group or organisation you think should be represented please get in touch with us by emailing info@levymarket.com. Full support will be given in helping to develop your ideas and making sure that you get the word out about the work you are doing.

This is in addition to the single free stall that Levenshulme Market offers every week to community groups working in Levenshulme – so if you’re working in the area but aren’t able to make the dates above please do still get in touch with us to find out how you can promote your work to our shoppers.

The Spirit of Manchester Festival is taking place from the 19th-28th September and is being co-ordinated by Manchester Community Central (MACC) as a celebration of the fantastic on-going work of the volunteer and community sector across the city.

If you have any queries regarding the festival then please visit their website HERE.

A New name for a New centre in Levenshulme

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At the first Levenshulme Community Forum meeting organised by the LCA recently it was agreed that it would be a good idea to have a community consultation about a possible new name for the new Arcadia facilities. It was also agreed that the “Arcadia” name should be retained by the skating groups that have moved to Ardwick Sports Hall. After discussion and an offer by Lydia Meryll of the Levenshulme Youth Forum it was decided that that group would contact councillors to propose and organise this (the consultation isn’t being organised or managed by the LCA itself).

For information please find below a message posted by Beth Marshall to the Levy Massive Facebook group:

A New name for a New centre in Levenshulme

Cllr Rosa Battle has asked for suggestions for the name for the new Centre. Arcadia roller Hockey group has asked to retain that name as they are known internationally by that title and want to take it with them

Here are three proposals so far:
The Three-in-One Centre – from Levy Youth Project Forum
The Jeremiah O’Brien Centre – from Hard Rain Poets
The Sonny…… centre – as she was our woman who was first to swim the Channel

Dies anyone know how to make a doodle poll? If so, please can all proposals go to you?!

If not, Lydia is happy to receive proposals for names and to send them all out again for a “Vote” by the end of the week. – end of Friday 29th Aug

We have til 1st Serpt to come up with a short list.

Please send ideas to Lydia-Meryll@outlook.com

Win for Levenshulme in Towns Alive Awards

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Towns Alive Awards 2014 West Zone Enterprise Category Winner: Levenshulme Market

A community-run street market has doubled its expectations for stallholder numbers, becoming “one of the most enjoyable and profitable markets to trade at in the North West” – and winning the West Zone Enterprise Category in the Towns Alive Awards.

Levenshulme Market – a community interest company which began trading in March 2013 after the failure of a short-lived predecessor – has developed from a monthly to a weekly market, and will distribute around £15,000 in Awards for residents to start market businesses and for market traders to grow their businesses into viable enterprises to operate on Levenshulme high street.

The market was established specifically to help regenerate the local high street retail environment – building skills, creating jobs and regenerating the economy. The business model is unique, say organisers: “we have a specific remit to empower the community to take ownership of their retail environment and build the skills, confidence and capacity of local people to create earning potential and increase the range of choice and opportunity.”

Judges’ comments:

“The disparity between a dying high street and an appetite for alternative shopping destinations is endemic in the UK. Levenshulme Market shows that there is a natural, profitable, community-led solution.”

See the Towns Alive website HERE

 

Levenshulme Market Community Stall – free publicity for your group

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Did you know that Levenshulme Market has a free stall available every week for community groups?

Every week there is a space available at the popular Levenshulme Market for community groups to promote what they are doing in the area. You could use the space for anything – from a demonstration of the ball room dancing your group has been learning to handing out leaflets on your volunteering opportunities or ways that people can seek your support – the only thing that the stall can’t be used for is selling.

Stalls can be booked in advance by emailing the Market with your preferred dates and what you will be doing to and the organisers will come back to you to confirm all the details.

Email: info@levymarket.com

Levenshulme Community Forum Public Meeting

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The Levenshulme Community Forum public meeting will take place on Friday 25th July, 19.00 at the Klondyke Club (1 Burnage Range, Levenshulme).

The meeting is about the future of our current library after the library moves to the new Arcadia building in 2015.

Other issues can be raised as well. The focus is on ideas for the library as a community facility but this is an open public meeting for all residents of Levenshulme so bring your ideas and issues along.

Levenshulme Market container mural

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The shipping container provide by the council for Levenshulme Market to store equipment has now been painted with a mural.

This is part of ongoing investment to tidy up the main Levenshulme car park, around the railway station and part of the A6 funded by a £25,000 Clean and Green award to Incredible Edible Levenshulme.

It is great to see investment by Manchester City Council in Levenshulme supporting local groups with businesses such as Levenshulme Market and community groups working together to improve Levenshulme.

A lot more work is planned including a green roof on the container, new planters, bike racks and landscaping around the car park. Further information is available HERE

(Thanks to Jamie Whittaker for the photo)

market container mural

New Library and Baths Exhibition

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The new Levenshulme Library and Baths development on Stockport Road is now ready for public exhibition.

Plans for the proposed centre design will be on display in the cafe at Levenshulme Inspire from Saturday 14th June to Thursday 26th June, where there will be a chance for you to comment on the proposals.  Members of the project team will also be there for you to discuss the plans, on:

  • Tuesday 17 June, 16.00-20.00
  • Friday 20 June, 13.00-16.00
  • Monday 23 June, 09.00-13.00

There is a dedicated page on Manchester City Council’s website HERE.

Plans for the new development will be available HERE from 14th June.

This is an exciting stage in the development and close attention has been paid to ensuring that the new facilities meet all of the requirements and specifications worked out through lengthy and detailed consultation with Levenshulme residents over the past year or more. The new facilities will include:

  • two pools (one that can be accessed and used in private)
  • a 60 station gym
  • a multipurpose fitness / community room
  • 12 person sauna
  • 12 person steam room
  • a staffed library
  • reception area with seating, pool viewing, public computers and wifi

Manchester City Council will be investing over £8,000,000 in these new facilities that will dramatically improve services in Levenshulme and serve a wide area of south Manchester.

Relocation of users of the Arcadia roller skate rink will happen in tandem with development of the new facilities. A £250,000 investment is being made separately by the Council to enhance, extend and improve facilities for Arcadia users at Ardwick.

This commitment to public services in Levenshulme by Manchester City Council at a time of austerity and struggle for many people is hugely welcome. This is also a result of the massive local campaign to save Levenshulme’s existing Baths and Library from closure which was a huge success for the people of Levenshulme. The creativity, dynamism, imagination, persistence and dedication of Levenshulme residents and careful collaboration with local councillors and the council is really showing dividends now.

Levenshulme Community Association will continue to consult with residents and work with the council to ensure the best possible outcome for the people of Levenshulme.

A press release from Manchester City Council is expected tomorrow (Friday 7th June 2014) and will be added here when available.

LCDC workshop facilities now available

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LCDC (Levenshulme Craft and Design Collective) workshop facilities are now available on Albert Road. Details in the attached flyer.

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How to make evaluation work for you training workshop

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How to make evaluation work for you
Tuesday 27th May 2014
13.00-16.30
The Inspire Centre, 747 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3AR
(Free for not for profit organisations)

For social enterprises thinking of doing evaluation, and all ‘not for profits’ that want to know how to go about evaluating their work.

Covering techniques used by successful social enterprises in an understandable and relevant way. Practical and high quality training, to help understand the culture and practice of programme evaluation.

This half day introduction to the topic will help you to:
• Assess the impact of your work
• Develop new projects
• Prepare applications for funding, tenders or commissioning.

As money gets tighter the limits of what is accepted as ‘evaluation’ also becomes tighter. In some cases it’s become so restricted it’s easy to miss the point of the exercise! The session will cover ‘what is evaluation’, ‘how it can be done’ and ‘why it’s important to plan evaluation into the delivery of a project.’

Delivered by Dr. Cheryl Simmill-Binning of ASSURE, and Jez Hall of Shared Future CIC. Cheryl brings her experience of assessing projects for government programmes and the voluntary sector, and Jez has supported social enterprises and not for profits for over 10 years.

Due to funding we are able to deliver this course at no cost.
A £25 non-attendance fee will be charged in the event of a booking being missed.

For bookings and more information contact
Email: jez.hall@sharedfuturecic.org.uk
Tel: 07963 706106.
Website: www.sharedfuturecic.org.uk

For information about the venue contact Inspire on 0161 850 5717 or the Inspire website HERE

We would like to thank FASS at Lancaster University and the ASSURE programme for making this session possible.

 

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Murder Mystery at Inspire 10 May 2014

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It’s 1962 and it’s a lovely wedding of the famous writer and his bride. Pity about the dead body on the floor.

Levenshulme Players and Inspire present Writer’s Block, a Murder Mystery evening. Enjoy a three course meal while you help solve the murder. Question the suspects and be ready for shocking revelations as you decide who is guilty.

And there are prizes for the best answers, giving name, motivation and method for the crime. If you can come dressed in 60s gear then there’s a prize for the best costume as well.

The ticket price includes the 3 course meal. £20 for those in work and £15 for unwaged and pensioners. Please contact Beryl on 225 4674 for tickets or go to Inspire cafe.

Please note, for the catering, Inspire need final numbers and money by May 5th.

Manchester Community Spirit AGM 2014

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You are cordially invited to come and celebrate with us at our 1st annual general meeting, held at Levenshulme Inspire, there will be live performances from young people, an opportunity for networking, refreshments available and lots of fun. Please RSVP in order for us to confirm numbers.
Nicola Witter
Director, Manchester Community Spirit
View the MCS website HERE
Tel: 0161-850-3111
 
Office address
Manchester Community Spirit
The Inspire Centre 
747 Stockport Road
Manchester
M19 3AR 
Registered charity : 1149938
Registered Company : 08126414
MCS AGM 2014

Craft Fair at Inspire

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The first of Inspire’s Craft Fairs of 2014 is on Saturday 22nd February, 11.00-15.30. Come along and find some local Levy loveliness.

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Levenshulme Litter Action

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Following a vibrant discussion online about the level of litter in Levenshulme a meeting has been arranged to discuss how people can work together to try and improve our environment and make Levenshulme look more lovely.

The meeting will be held at Inspire at 19.00 on Friday 31st January 2014.

Everyone is welcome.

You can report litter, dog fouling and graffiti to the council HERE

Levenshulme Market – public forum on changes

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Levenshulme Market is changing!

Residents of Levenshulme will know that in 2014 there will be some big changes at the market, but do you know why?

We want local people to help us shape the impact we have on our high street and this Saturday we are holding a forum for you to find out more, share your ideas and ask those burning questions.

Saturday 25th January, 6pm-8pm at the Klondyke (1 Burnage Range, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 2HQ).

More information on Levenshulme Market is available on the completely redesigned website HERE.

Levenshulme Inspire Awards Night 2013

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Celebrate Levenshulme 2013 at the
Inspire Centre,
747 Stockport Rd, M19 3AR on Saturday 7th December when the Inspire Awards 2013 will be presented.

7-9pm Awards and Food
9-11:30pm Dance and Bar

£2 on the door, includes free drink
£3 meat / veggie chilli

For more information click HERE or phone 0161 850 5717

Inspire Levenshulme Events

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Whats on at Inspire…

Inspire Awards

Awards evening on Saturday 7th December. Call 0161 850 5717 for more info.

Inspire Christmas Craft Fair

Looking to shop for some fantastic home-craft presents this year? Inspire craft fair with a Christmas theme on Saturday 14th December from 11am – 3pm! 

Learning & Employability

Inspire Work & CV Club – Every Monday 10am – 12noon. Here to help Inspire you back into work! As well as the normal help with C.V’s, interview skills and online applications, we offer 1-2-1 support and really listen to your hopes and make the most of your skills.

Sewing classes

Every Tuesday 6.30pm – 8.30pm Corinne will be at Inspire with her Sewing classes starting from September 10th, classes are £10 per session

Baby Massage

Every Friday 1.00pm – 2pm Learn how to relax with your baby with this fantastic course in massage. Contact 0161 850 5717 for more info

Thai Boxing Class

Every Tuesday 7.15pm – 8.30pm No experience necessary. £4 per person.

Zumba with Mel

Every Thursdays 7.30 – 8 .30pm All welcome – £3.50 Per person. For more contact Mel atmelanie.aspinall@hotmail.co.uk

Prayer in the Park

Saturday 30th November from 6pm Till Late. Andy and the gang host an evening of Music, fun and Laughter! Café will be open to serve drinks and more. Meet local people with the same vision to join together and make a difference by encouraging one voice.

Inspire Awards 2013

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The Inspire Awards are back!

Nominations are open until Monday 11th November before a judging panel will meet to decide this year’s winners.

Anybody can nominate a person of any age or background, who lives or works within the ward boundaries of Levenshulme or South Gorton, in one of the following categories:

Volunteering – a person who has made a special contribution to the community on a voluntary basis over a significant period of time or at some personal cost.

Achiever – a person who has done something remarkable, not necessarily the biggest or the best, but something that many people would have doubted could be possible.

Courage – a person who has shown particular courage in the face of danger or adversity.

Inspiration – a person who has turned their life around or undergone some kind of transformation that will encourage others that they too can make a significant change.

Carer – a person who has gone the extra mile to care for another person and done so with love, humility and respect.

Enterprise – a person who has taken a risk or embarked on a new venture that has led to wider social or economic benefits in the community.

All nominations must be received by 6pm on Monday 11th November 2013

Tickets for the main event are available from the Inspire Box office on 0161 850 5717.

For more information or to fill out a nominations form click HERE or drop by Inspire on Stockport Road in Levenshulme.

inspire awards 2013

Inspire Business Centre Open Day

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Are you tired of working in a cramped office? Looking to expand your business but unsure about costs? Maybe you just want a place where you can work in peace?

The Inspire Business Center is having an open day between 12.30pm and 6pm on Tuesday the 24th of September.

Lunch will be provided from 12.30pm-1.30pm with free trial usage of the center for the remainder of the day.

If you have any queries, please contact Beth on 0161 8505717.

sandwiches

Send us your news!

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Do you have news about something going on in Levenshulme?

Are you organising an event?

Do you run or support a community organisation?

Please send us your news, information, event or details of your organisation and we’d love to add you to the Levenshulme Community Association website or publicise what you are doing.

Get in touch and share what you know about Levenshulme!

Contact the LCA HERE

Thanks.

Jeremy Hoad (LCA Secretary)

Development Proposal Threatens £6.5m Levenshulme Facilities

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You may wish to consider commenting on or objecting to this application as it could compromise the presence, impact, accessibility and wider benefits to Levenshulme of the new £6.5m pools, gym, library and community facilities that will be built on the area immediately behind this site.

We need to maximise the benefits and presence of our marvellous new facilities for the benefit of all Levenshulme residents and visitors.

The applicants who submitted the previous application for a supermarket on the site of the Church Inn (874 Stockport Road) which was not approved, have now submitted a new application which will be considered by Manchester Council’s Planning Committee this Thursday 15 August 2013.

The meeting will be held in Manchester Town Hall starting at 14.00.

The new application is for the construction of 4 shops units with storage space on the 1st floor.

The Planning Department considers that this application meets the Council’s planning requirements and are recommending that the application be approved. The meeting is open to members of the public to attend and it is usual for the Chair to call someone to speak for and against each application.

Full details of the application can be found at the Council’s website through the Public Access Planning System. Enter the reference number in the search box to access the application. The application reference number is:

102683/FO/2013/N2

If you register with the Planning System you can leave a comment on the application.

 

Levenshulme Gym gets a marvellous makeover

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Levenshulme Gym has been given a marvellous makeover. Freshly painted with new flooring our spacious gym looks fab and provides a bright new place for you to get fit.

Memberships at Levenshulme Baths/Gym cost only £18.00 per month including unlimited gym, swimming and workout classes. No contract. No monthly Direct Debit. Simply pay at the centre each month. How easy is that?

Find out what’s on and what it costs HERE

new levy gym 1new levy gym 2new levy gym 3

Football coaching at Arcadia

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Aim2Train are running football coaching for children aged 5 years to 16 years at Arcadia, 12.00-14.00 at the moment (and then weekly after the summer holidays).

They provide qualified coaching sessions and as well as giving young people the opportunity to gain their coaching qualifications.

Sessions are only £3. Just turn up kitted up and pay on the day. You can also register with them online.

Check out their website and like them on facebook if you support what they are trying to achieve.

FREE Swimming at Levenshulme Baths

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Are you under 17 or over 60 years old? Then you can register for FREE swimming!

Download a form from the internet HERE
(both forms for 60+ or under 17 are available under the green ‘downloads’ link)

Or pick up a form at Levenshulme Baths.

(under-17 free swimming only applies during the school holidays, over-60 free swimming is available all year round)

Baths, Library and Arcadia redevelopment community meeting

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The next community meeting to discuss the multi-million pound redevelopment of facilities in Levenshulme will take place on Friday 26th July at 19.00 in Inspire on Stockport Road.

This meeting will be preceded by a ‘planning challenge’ meeting (15.00-17.00 at Inspire) where users of the Arcadia Sports Hall will present their plans on how all facilities can be fitted onto the Stockport Road site.

The council’s proposal is to build a new combined facility containing two swimming pools, a gym, a multipurpose fitness and community room and a full library on the Stockport Road site. The council maintains that it is not possible to retain the old Arcadia building and fit the new facilities on the same site and has proposed that users of the Arcadia are relocated to the Mount Road Sports Hall currently used by the Gorton Boxing Club and the Grange School. The boxing club would be relocated to the new Belle Vue development and the building would be adapted based on the needs of existing Arcadia users using funding from the £6.5m allocated to the new Levenshulme facilities.

The meeting on the 26th July is an opportunity for Arcadia users to challenge the council’s proposals and present plans / proposals that they have developed.

 

Swimming the Channel Levenshulme style

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Lucy Lloyd-Roach who teaches swimming at Levenshulme Baths has just swum the channel to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Congratulations, Lucy!

You can still make a donation on Lucy’s Just Giving page HERE

 

Levenshulme Facilities

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Facilities lists related to the major redevelopment of sports, leisure and library provision that will take place in Levenshulme over the next two years are provided here. There are three documents, all provided as Microsoft Word document downloads:

  1. Levenshulme Facilities CURRENT v01
  2. Levenshulme Facilities PROPOSED v01
  3. Levenshulme Facilities COMBINED v01

Continue reading →

Community Meeting 28.06.13

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Back to our usual meetings:
Friday 28th June, 19.00 @ Levenshulme Inspire

Come along and discuss the Baths, Library, development of the new facilities and Arcadia. And raise anything else you want to about what’s happening in Levenshulme.

A week off from campaigning

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The next campaign meeting about the Baths, Library, Arcadia etc. will happen on Friday 28th June, 19.00 at Inspire on Stockport Road

We’re taking a week off to have some well deserved fun at the launch of the Levenshulme Food and Drink Festival on Friday 21st.

Levenshulme Players Murder Mystery

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Levenshulme Players are putting on  a murder evening at Inspire on Saturday 3rd August at 19.00. Come in 1950s costume if you like as there will be prizes for the best dressed as well as for the best solvers of the crime.

£20 a ticket including a three course meal. Tickets are available from Inspire or by calling Beryl Cowen on 0161 225 4674 (from July 9th).

‘Save our swimming baths’ campaign shows power of community action

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Jeremy Hoad and Councillor Julie Reid comment on our success in saving our Baths.

John McDougall, Mancunian Matters, 4th April 2013

Read the full article HERE

Jeremy Hoad, Levenshulme Community Association Secretary and Save Levenshulme Baths and Library group member, feels the immense achievement should act as inspiration to others.

“It’s a fantastic achievement to be able to do this in times of local government being savaged more they have ever been with funding,” he told MM. “If this can be highlighted, it gives inspiration and hope to other people across the country that campaigns can work and we can actually protect our services. What has been so fantastic is the imagination, creativity and dedication of all sorts of people throughout Levenshulme and Gorton. It’s still sinking in. It’s one of those things you can’t quite believe you’ve actually won.”

Julie Reid, a Labour member for Gorton South, was actively involved in the campaign to keep the facilities in Levenshulme open.

“It took a long time and it’s been very difficult. If it wasn’t for the Tory-Lib Dem cuts we wouldn’t have even been in this position at all,” she told MM. It’s just been amazing. The Levenhulme community are awesome. I just can’t explain how wonderful they are. They’ve sustained the work all the way through for no money or anything. They’ve got loads of energy and kept it going.”

 

Revealed, site where town hall will splash out on new leisure centre in Levenshulme

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Town hall bosses have revealed their preferred location for the new Levenshulme leisure centre. The facility – set to replace the existing baths and library in 2015 – is planned for the current Arcadia sports centre site off Stockport Road. A report to be considered next month shows it would include a ground floor pool with a gym upstairs, as well as the new library.

(Manchester Evening News, 31st March 2013)

Read the full article HERE

Levenshulme Baths are saved!

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Councillor Julie Reid (Gorton South) has just confirmed that it was announced at a Labour Group meeting tonight that Levenshulme Baths have been saved.

We came together as a community and we won!

This follows immense community effort – marching, dancing, demonstrating, fundraising, lying in the street, campaigning, putting posters up, writing letters and emails, making banners, lobbying, filling in petitions, consulting and developing proposals to show how the Baths could be saved.

We showed how it could be done and the Council just couldn’t say no.

We have more work to do over the next two years and we still need to save Levenshulme Library but now is the time to celebrate our victory in keeping Levenshulme Baths open for everyone to enjoy.

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Public Meeting with Jim Battle, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council

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There will be a public meeting on Monday 18th March 2013 @ 19.00 at Inspire with Councillor Jim Battle (Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council) to discuss the future of Levenshulme Baths & Leisure Centre.

Following on from the Protest events

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Monday 11 February – 7:00 pm  –  Campaign Planning Meeting at Inspire

Tuesday 12 February – 5:00 pm onwards  –  Crowcroft Park Primary School
– Consultation drop-in session organised by the Council with Councillors
and senior officers to hear residents’ opinions and explain the
proposals in detail –

Wednesday 13 February – 10:00  –  Manchester City Council Executive
meeting at the Town Hall.  This meeting is open to members of the
public as observers.  By applying in advance and getting agreement,
members of the public may be invited to speak to specific items on the
Agenda.  Two members of the Levenshulme campaign have submitted a
request and it is expected that they will be called to speak at the
appropriate time.

Deputy Council Leader Jim Battle meets with Levenshulme campaigners

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LCA facilitated a public meeting with Cllr Jim Battle who said he was impressed by the energetic actions of the campaign group who have been protesting about the proposed closures of both the Baths and the Library.

Councillor Battle confirmed that £6.5 million has been set aside from capital receipts of the Council for a new-build Joint Service centre which is due to be built by 2015 at a location somewhere in Levenshulme. He could not confirm where this is to be as the land was still under negotiation. He was asked to shepherd the negotiations for keeping open our vital and only public buildings until the new facilities are ready to use.

Two teams of campaigners have made recommendations about possible sources of funding which COULD be used to keep them open, but the use of Public Health money for the Baths and wider considerations about the whole city’s Libraries will be discussed in a series of Council meetings leading up to an Executive Committee meeting on 13th April, where final decisions about how to deal with the latest round of cuts will be made.

The Campaign group raised the serious impact on the area if either or both these public facilities are closed before the new one is opened.

We committed to keep up creative efforts to convince the Council to respect these needs of Levenshulme people.

LCA challenges proposal to close Levenshulme Library and Baths

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LCA is working with a large group of campaigners and groups, like the Over 50s Swimming Club and Asian Ladies Swimming Group, who want to make sure the Council keeps the baths open and that they understand the need for privacy, which is the joy of having two pools at levy baths.

Library users are being asked to write letters as well as complete the Consultation forms to show what the Library means to each of us – not just a source of book borrowing, but a place to meet, a heart of our community.

Decisions will be taken in mid-April about keeping our Carnegie Library open until a new Library is established for Levenshulme. Please write to Cllr Richard Leese with your views. Copies can also come in to the LCA. Please sign the Petition available in POD and the Inspire Centre.