With Levenshulme Market about to start up again for 2014 here is a short film from Alex Hill to remind you what it’s all about.
View the film HERE
With Levenshulme Market about to start up again for 2014 here is a short film from Alex Hill to remind you what it’s all about.
View the film HERE
The deadline for the Better Together community funding is this Friday (21st March).
A shortlist will be agreed by a judging panel then there will be a public vote to allocate the funds. Nice to see direct involvement in decision making.
Manchester Evening News article HERE
Better Together website HERE
The Levenshulme Community Association now has a new constitution and completely new structure fit for our work and our community.
The LCA is now an organisation with groups as members and a clear focus for the future. I’m pleased Peter Naughton, Malcolm Cowen and myself managed to achieve this change with the support of the AGM on Saturday.
In the past year we have reached out with a new website and social media and radically reformed the Association.
The success of our plan to bring more people into being actively involved in the LCA and refocus the Association as a network to share ideas, experience and knowledge across all groups in Levenshulme as well as continuing to represent all Levenshulme residents is very pleasing.
This places the LCA in a much stronger, more outward looking and effective position than it has been in for many years.
I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Peter and Malcolm alongside Beth Marshall, Stuart Fear, Lawrence Hennigan and Aiden Lawler on the new Core Group (managing committee) this year.
The election results were as follows:
Core Group
Download the new LCA Constitution as a PDF document here: LCA constitution 2014
Jeremy Hoad
LCA Secretary 2013-14
Levenshulme resident and blogger Jules Morris praises Levenshulme for its burgeoning foodie scene and proliferation of supper clubs. You can read about her evening at Trove HERE.
Jules is one half of Bailey and Jules, a couple who live very happily in Manchester. Their blog says: “We love everything to do with food including eating, cooking, watching, discussing, reading, visiting… We decided to start this blog to help us remember all our eating adventures, but we’re delighted that you are reading it too!”
Check out their full blog and foodie adventures HERE.
What is this deal about?
Backed by all 10 Greater Manchester Councils, it’s about the people of Greater Manchester getting together as a large group to get a great cheap energy deal from the suppliers.
What happens?
1 It’s quick, simple and you won’t need a bill
2 We negotiate a great energy deal with the power of the group
3 From the 10th March we’ll notify you of how much you can save
4 If you choose to switch, we will organise everything for free
Register your interest online HERE.
Whalley Range High School for Girls has been recognised as one the the top 100 schools in the country for sustained improvements in exam results.
In September 2014 Whalley Range High School for Girls will enter into partnership with Levenshulme High School for Girls as a new Academy Trust.
Parrs Wood High School and Chorlton High School were similarly recognised for their achievements in improving the examination success of their pupils.
See the full report from Manchester City Council HERE.
A large site has been put up for sale around the Atlas Works near Elbow Street and Chapel Street in Levenshulme.
This site is part of the land that had previously been subject to a major redevelopment project and is being sold with planning permission. However, this site does not encompass all of the previous development site which may jeopardise the previous plans. The 1.8 acre site is being offered for sale at “around £750,000”.
The site advertisement is available HERE.
Police are appealing for information after a series of robberies in Levenshulme.
Since 10 January 2014 there have been several robberies where the offenders at first engage in casual conversation and ask for the time before stealing mobile phones.
In each incident the offenders are described as being of Eastern European appearance.
Detective Sergeant Scott Halsall from Didsbury Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “At this stage we are looking at the potential that a number of robberies are linked and have been carried out by the same group of men. We have extra patrols in the area but would ask the public to report anything suspicious to police.
“As the popularity of smart phones increase so too do the number of offences. We would urge the public to remain vigilant and keep mobile phones out of sight and don’t advertise them to would-be thieves.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 4423 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Police are also urging residents to make a note of their IMEI number which they will now need to report a phone as stolen. To find this out, key *#06# into the phone’s keypad.
Further information on the in indents can be found HERE
The South Levenshulme Post Office is being upgraded to the status of a main post office.
Sunil Chauhan, your local Postmaster, invites you to celebrate a new look for South Levenshulme Post Office at 14.00 on Friday 21st February. If you would like to contribute food or drinks for the party, please email <Sunica@yahoo.com>. The LCA is happy to support this expansion and improvement of services in Levenshulme. Together we can show a thriving neighbourhood, good shops and businesses! The new look post office will provide:
The new post office will open on Friday 21st February at 13.00 and will need to close from Thursday 6th February at 17.30 for refurbishment. In the meantime the North Levenshulme and Burnage Post Offices will remain open as usual.
The AGM of the LCA will be held on Saturday 8th March 2014 at 10.15 in Levenshulme Library.
Any items for the agenda should be submitted by Saturday 1st March. You can submit items using the form below to Jeremy Hoad, LCA Secretary.
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 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 neighbourhood has been allocated nearly £34k for distribution to local groups over 4 years. The local Panel has already been able to distribute c£14,000 to local groups and have a further £8,489 this year to give to projects and groups who want to make a difference in our community.
The Panel met on 13th January and confirmed that our Ward priorites are:
Bids which contribute to these priorities and which are distinctive and creative, will be considered by the Panel in early March. Application forms and national information can be found on the CDF website under Community First/Manchester/Levenshulme. Bids for between £250 and £1,000 have to be in by 28th Feb and can be sent direct to the Panel (email: info@levenshulmecommunityfirst.org.uk). All bids have to show that there is matched funding which can be in the form of volunteering hours, which the government says is worth £11.09 per hour
Groups funded last year:
It is National Hate Crime Awareness Week. If you have been affected by a hate crime you can get advice and support through events across Manchester this week. More information is available HERE.
A great website and resource – True Vision – is also available HERE. This site provides straightforward advice and support, explaining:
“Have you or someone you know been a victim of a hate crime or hate incident?
Hate crimes and incidents come in many different forms. It can be because of hatred on the grounds of your race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.
Hate crime in any form is wrong. That is why it is important that if hate crime happens to you or someone you know, that you report it.
True Vision is here to give you information about hate crime or incidents and how to report it.”
Stop hate crimes. Report hate crimes. Fight hatred and intolerance.
A partnership between Valuing Older People and Trinity House Community Resource Centre, the Age-friendly Small Grants fund provides small grants of up to £300 for projects that benefit older people living in the City of Manchester. Priority is given to grant applications looking to provide sustainable support to community groups and projects in Manchester, and in particular, projects tackling social isolation and loneliness. We accept applications from voluntary organisations, community groups and charities.
Two rounds of grants applications will be held in 2014, deadlines for applications being:
For more information, please download an application pack or contactRebecca Bromley, phone 0161 234 4049, emailr.bromley@manchester.gov.uk
Hard Rain Poetry – an evening of poems, stories and creative ideas
Monday January 27th 2014 at Isis Café, 910 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19
This is a FREE event supported by Isis cafe with everyone welcome, no writing experience necessary
Hard Rain Poetry is a voluntary community project which encourages local creative expression. Sessions run on the last Monday of every month (except December).
January 2014 event
6pm- 8pm poetry/ creative writing workshop
The workshop will be run by Adam Strickson our guest writer with support from Shamshad Khan. Poet and dramatist Adam Strickson will look at the work of American poet Tess Gallagher. Gallagher’s beautifully controlled open form allows us gently into the experience of deep encounters with people, while demonstrating intricacies of language and diction. We will use her poems to inspire us to write about people close to us or whom we admire, living or dead. The session is suitable for new writers as well as those who have been writing for ages. A friendly space to share poems, stories, ideas and creativity.
Open mic: This is an opportunity to share- bring your own poems or your favourite poems by Tess Gallagher. Musicians also very welcome to perform.
Were you feeling particularly relaxed on Friday evening? It might be because a suspected cannabis farm in a house on Grange Avenue went up in flames. Nobody was hurt but there seemed to be a distinct lack of crisps, chocolate and other snacks in the shops on Saturday.
Manchester Evening News article available HERE
Dear All,
We are wassailing the Levenshulme community fruit orchard again in 2014, and we are pleased to invite you and your partners, children and friends to attend.
The Wassail will be held from 4pm on Sunday 5th January. The event will involve, in no particular order (yet):
Small bonfire
Wassail song(s)
Poem by the Wassail Queen
Procession round the orchard to decorate the trees with ribbons and cider soaked toast, and drive away evil spirits with noise.
Consumption of mulled cider (adults) and apple juice (children) and food delicacies.
Fireworks (in lieu of the traditional shotgun!)
FotFL will provide mulled cider and apple juice, toast and ribbons for tree decoration (and possibly roasted chestnuts).
However, please feel free to bring your own drinks, and cakes etc for sharing. You are also welcome to bring something noisy – pans and spoons are traditional. Head or hand held torches are also recommended.
Regards,
Friends of the Fallowfield Loop
A positive story about immigration in Levenshulme. Levenshulme welcomes people from all over the world, recognises their achievements and celebrates the positive contribution to our community made by them.
BBC News item HERE
The next LCA meeting will take place as follows:
DATE:
Saturday 7th December
TIME:
10.00
VENUE:
Levenshulme Library
We hope people from as many groups as possible across Levenshulme will come along to raise and discuss any issues and share information.
If you have an item for the agenda please notify Jeremy Hoad, LCA Secretary (you can use the contact form on this site). Any agenda items must be received by 17.00 on Thursday 5th December.
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
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.
I have been asked by the police to let people know that there are a lot of burglaries taking place in the area at the moment.
Asian families in particular are being targeted for women’s jewellery with gangs of up to five men breaking down doors and ripping necklaces off. This is obviously very frightening and intimidating. It is not only Asian families that are suffering but that is a particular target at the moment.
(Jeremy Hoad, Levenshulme Community Association Secretary)
PLEASE:
* Keep your doors and windows locked even when you are at home.
* Use your alarm if you have one.
* Don’t leave valuables on show
* Make valuable items traceable and take photographs.
* Register property at www.immobilise.com for free.
* Dial 101 to report any suspicious activity to the police (non emergency).
* Dial 999 in an emergency or if you see or suspect a crime in progress.
More crime prevention advice is available at www.gmp.police.uk
There are too many fantastic events to list here so why not pop over to the Festival website or have a flick through the brochure online HERE.
You can also follow the festival via Twitter or on Facebook.
Thanks to everyone involved for keeping the festival alive and vibrant in these challenging times and in particular to Lawrence Hennigan (President of the Festival) for his continued leadership and inspiration.
Don’t lose your head – come along to the Levenshulme Hallowe’en Spooktacular on Thursday 31st October. Part of Levenshulme Festival 2013.
Sorry for the website being unavailable. We are back up and running now.
The new programme of support will be put in place after Arts Council England approved a joint bid by Greater Manchester’s ten authorities for £45,000 of funding.
Under the Start Up Engines project, which will be managed by Manchester City Council, enterprising residents will be able to access a wide range of information through a virtual ‘Flatpack’, which will offer all the help a prospective businessperson could need to turn their ideas into reality – including how-to guides, strategy ideas, free web tools and apps.
Residents will also be offered the chance to use their libraries to meet up and exchange ideas, either by using available meeting spaces or virtually, through the creation of online enterprise communities.
A programme of 50 events is planned, which will bring top business brains to Greater Manchester to act as role models for the next generation, as well as offering practical help on the nuts and bolts of getting your business off the ground.
Read the full announcement HERE
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.
Fancy joining us on a walk around Levy to seed bomb a few vacant patches of land? With a bit of luck they’ll be blooming with herbs and flowers next year. Guerilla gardening is all about turning unloved places into beautiful growing spaces, a perfect fit with our Incredible Edible aims! By growing flowers, particularly wildflowers, we’ll create much needed food for bees and do our bit to help stop the decline in bee populations.
Generously donated by Bud Garden Centre, we have Wild Thyme and Poppy kabloom seedboms to detonate and watch our targets bloom into bee friendly, flower-filled spaces.
We’d love as many people as possible to nominate an unloved patch of ground for a seed bomb. Please email (incredibleediblelevy@gmail.com) back a suggestion for a target or add your suggestion on the facebook page. We don’t need access to sites as seed bombs can be thrown over fences!
How did that happen?!
In March 2011 a small group of people met up to think about how we could add some green dimension to the rather drab high street and plant stuff so that we could brighten things up and show how important it is to have access to local food. Continue reading
Lara Moore and the lovelevy group have been successful their application to enter the MEN wish campaign for this year.
The competition allows the group to apply for a portion of £25,000 to help towards the funding of a woodland play area on the quadrants. The Quadrants is the new area around the entrance to the Fallowfield Loop by the old Levenshulme railway station where the community orchard is located.
The competition works by collecting tokens everyday in the MEN from Oct 2nd to November 30th. The more tokens collected, the more money the love levy project gets. There will be a collection box at the Inspire centre to drop off your tokens.
So get collecting. More tokens = more money for Levenshulme.
Do you know any inspiring individuals?
Manchester City Council’s Be Proud Awards are a great way to recognise anyone who has worked hard to change things in your area, helped improve the lives of others or shown outstanding spirit. If you know someone who goes the extra mile to make a difference, why not nominate them now?
Go to: www.manchester.gov.uk/beproud
(closing date for nominations is 30 September 2013)

Helen Power is interviewed about Levenshulme Market which has been going from strength to strength since being taken over by local Levy people from the council…
“The words ‘Levy Market’ have been floating around my peripheral social media vision for the past few months now. Good friends, those who I know to have particularly high standards where markets are involved (well-seasoned and with particularly good taste of course), have been reporting their Levy Market finds when they’ve visited. These range from vintage goodies to seriously good cake and are always accompanied with serious enthusiasm for the place. So with the next market happening this saturday I thought it was time to hooked up with one of Levy Market’s organisers Helen Power to find out more.”
Read the rest of the article HERE
Photo from Manchester’s Finest website (unattributed on website)
The Levenshulme reading/book group meets on the last Wednesday of every month at Levenshulme library.
Time: 18.15 to 19:45
It Is a social group where a book is chosen each month and then discussed the following month.
The next meeting is Wednesday 25th September and the book that will be discussed is ‘Hard Times’ by Charles Dickens.
Do come along for a cuppa and a chat about books.
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.
‘Why we are marching against the Tories’
A public meeting organised by the Love Levenshulme, Hate Cuts group. This meeting is linked to the march and rally planned for 29th September during the Conservative Party Conference.
Speakers:
Anti-Bedroom Tax Campaigner
NHS Nurse
Teacher
Fire Officer
There will be a meeting of the Levenshulme Community Association as follows:
DATE: Saturday 21st September 2013
TIME: 10.30-12.30
PLACE: Levenshulme Libary, Cromwell Grove, M19 3QE
NOTE: The meeting is earlier than usual because of the current opening hours of the library.
Newspaper reports today confirm the suspension of Amanda Thain (Head, Levenshulme High Schools for Girls) by the Governing Body of the school. This follows an Ofsted inspection earlier this year which resulted in the appointment of Patsy Kane (Head, Whalley Range High School) as Executive Head at the school.
There is concern at what impact this will have on plans for Levenshulme Library and LHS taking on the building, running the library and developing a school facility for pupils until the new library opens in 2015. To date no work has been undertaken regarding the conversion of the library for use by the school.
Assurances had been provided by Cllr Rosa Battle (Executive Member for Culture and Leisure) that the plans for Levenshulme Library were unaffected following the appointment of Patsy Kane as Executive Head at LHS after an Ofsted inspection and report in July.
Jeremy Hoad (Levenshulme Community Association Secretary and Chair of the Friends’ of Levenshulme Library) said: “It is not wise to jump to conclusions based on newspaper reports but it is wise to determine progress on the Library plans and ongoing commitment to these plans in light of the different circumstances at the school now. I am attempting to clarify the situation with Neil MacInness (Head of Libraries), Rosa Battle and Levenshulme and Gorton South Councillors.”
Further updates will be provided as the situation becomes clearer.
Read the Manchester Evening News article HERE
Read the Daily Mail article HERE
Manchester is a better place to live than London, Rome or New York, according to a new global survey. The city was hailed as having a ‘vibrant individual culture’ by the editor of the international league table.
We never had any doubts.
The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Manchester 42nd on its list of global cities.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure (and a Levenshulme resident), said: “This is superb news and it validates our deliberate focus to use culture and sport as a vehicle for economic and social renaissance. It spells out the facts that we’re a world-class city, up there with the best.”
Read the article HERE
We are delighted to see that Trove has been shortlisted in the Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2013 in the “Cheap Eats” category.
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards provide a benchmark for excellence in the hospitality industries throughout Greater Manchester. This year sees a bumper list of new dining stars, and exciting talent across the board, following a year of significant development for Manchester’s national foodie reputation.
Support Trove and vote now. Good luck to Marcus and Katy.
Vote HERE (Voting closes Monday 1st October at 12pm)
The awards are part of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival running from 26th September to 7th October 2013.
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)
A message from Incredible Edible Levenshulme
Our first planting event is on Sunday 29th September, starting at 11.30am outside Antiques Village on Stockport Road. Please invite everyone you know who might like to come along. We will be planting herbs supplied by Bud Garden Centre in the planters outside Antiques Village and Trove. These herbs will be available for everyone to harvest next year, our first step in creating free locally grown food for Levenshulme!
Afterwards there will be food available on the community plot at Tonbridge Road allotments from 12.30, including delicious vegetarian Arepas from Arepa!Arepa!Arepa!, veggie chilli made from allotment veg, and vegan cakes. All available for a small charge. There will also be the opportunity to buy your own peat-free herbs and various seeds from Bud to grow your own at home.
Everyone welcome!
Here are some of the local organisations, businesses and groups who’ve shown an interest and want to be involved in Incredible Edible Levenshulme: exciting ‘thymes’ ahead!
¡Arepaǃ¡Arepaǃ¡Arepaǃ
Bud Garden Centre
Carrill and Worsley Grove Residents Association
Delamere Neighbourhood Group
Dough Devils
Levenshulme Community Allotment Project
Levenshulme Community Association
Levenshulme Inspire
Manchester Environmental Education Network

The Council is introducing a 20 mph speed limit in more areas of the city including the Gorton South Ward which includes parts of Levenshulme. The intention is to reduce accidents and encourage more cycling and walking in residential areas and stop cars using our streets for short cuts.
Gorton South/Levenshulme has selected to pilot the scheme due to the high level of accidents recorded, high density and social deprivation. The areas are:
Further information can be found HERE
The Bankley Studios and Gallery are a wonderful asset to Levenshulme.
The Bankley Open Call 2013 is the first annual open exhibition inviting contemporary artists of any age or experience living within the UK, and working in any 2D media, video, or sculpture, to participate and be in with a chance of winning our first prize of £500 and a solo show at Bankley Gallery next year. Second prize is £200 vouchers to spend at Fred Aldous, Manchester.
Full details on the competition are available HERE
Submission deadline: 16th August 2013