Welcome to Salford Now’s live blog!
Oscar Butler is curating our live blog and will be updating you throughout the day on news around the city like the new Christmas markets returning to Islington Mill, masks returning as compulsory on public transport and more.
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17:10
Salford online safety on Computer Security Day
The boss of a Salford cyber security initiative has warned Salfordians of the dangers of online scams on Computer Security Day.
David Taylor, boss of HOST (Home of Skills and Technology) Salford, highlighted the increase in cyber threats throughout the pandemic.
“As with anything, the criminals will jump on anything to make them extra money.
“With the pandemic, it’s exactly the same”, Taylor said.
HOST Salford, along with Salford City Council, launched ‘Cyber Salford’ in early November and provides cyber security advice to the people of Salford.
The scheme, which is running until March 2022, is helping schoolchildren and parents to be safer online.
Read more here.
17:05
“He’s the most cheesy person we know” – ‘cheesy evening’ at Monton restaurant
Wandering Palate are hosting a night of cheese, beer and wine with The Crafty Cheese Man this Thursday.
Wandering Palate in Monton opened earlier this year, offering a range of the owners’ favourite products from around the country and the wider world.
The shop specialises in particular in cheese, wine, and craft beer, which will be showcased on the night, as well as charcuterie and soft drinks. They also offer a monthly subscription to their wine club.
The event will take place this Thursday, 2nd December from 6:30pm to 8:30pm for £25 per ticket, which will cover your food and drinks for the night. Tickets can be purchased here.
Read more here.
17:00
Incredible Edible hits crowd funder goal of £10,000 to improve park in Salford
In October of 2021, Incredible Edible set the goal of £10,000 to boost a community project at Buile Hill Park. To improve the facilities and promote planting healthy foods and positive mental health for the community of the Salford Park.
Mike Scantlebury is the secretary of Incredible Edible, which looks to promote saving green spaces by planting foods in disused planters and land.
When Mr. Scantlebury was asked what Incredible Edible did, he replied:
“Incredible Edible has been going for a while and from the very beginning it was all about the environment, the food we ate. It was a bit revolutionary at the time because it was asking you to think about what we’re eating and if possible, grow as much as you can.”
The crowd funder was set up with the goal of £10,000 and through friends, family and sponsors they reached the 25% goal, which meant that they were able to apply for the Major’s fund. This meant that whatever Incredible Edible were able to raise the Major’s fund would match it.
Read more here.
16:43
“We’ve worked for the homeless every year so why change it now”- Salford gym to host 24-hour cross fit fundraiser event
A Salford gym owner has organised a 24-hour cross fit event to help raise money towards homelessness.
Paul O’Dee, owner of Gorilla Warfare, in Walkden, has entered a 24-hour cross fit competition in aid of homelessness in and around Greater Manchester.
The event will be running from 12 noon on the 11th December and ending at 12 noon the following day.
After hosting annual charity events over the past 10 years, Paul decided to enter his gym in the worldwide CrossFit competition.
To follow their progress you can find Paul and the team on their Facebook page, or to donate to the fund you can use their GoFundMe page.
Read more here.
16:40
Salfordians react to council receiving funding to support children’s meals during the holidays
Salford City Council is inviting parents and carers of children who are eligible for free school meals to apply over the Christmas period.
Vouchers worth £45 will be posted directly to the families of children to cover Christmas and February half-term holidays.
Salfordians have welcomed the news, with some offering personal stories on the subject.
One Facebook user said: “It’s the children that suffer, not the parents. Also the cost of living is simply not keeping up with the benefit system. Rent, energy bills and food costs are rising sharply whilst shareholders and landlords make tidy profits.”
See more of the reaction here.
16:30
“Our main goal is to look after students”: University’s Islamic Society Criticise Cult Practicing on Campus
An officer at a religious society at Salford University has spoken of their concern over allegations of members of a South Korean cult operating on campus.
The statement comes after the BBC reported that a 20-year-old student had been targeted by the Shincheonji Church of Jesus organisation in 2019.
Zayd Abid-Waheed, Treasurer and Ex-Officer of the University’s Islamic Society said: “It’s shocking that they’ve been able to ingrain themselves into the University, at that level.
“This seems to be a case of people who aren’t affiliated with the University taking advantage of open buildings at the university and vulnerable people.”
The group was believed to have booked out publicly accessible rooms at the University for ‘one-to-one’ bible study sessions.
Read more here.
15:50
Multi-award winning ‘Girl From The North Country’ coming to The Lowry in 2022
Multi-award winning West End and Broadway smash-hit ‘Girl From The North Country’ is coming to The Lowry next year.
Double Olivier award-winning Girl From The North Country is an uplifting and universal story about family and love which reimagines the songs of Bob Dylan.
The production will embark on its first UK Tour following an opening 5-week season at the 3Olympia Theatre Dublin from 25 June 2022. It will tour to The Lowry from Monday 19 September to Saturday 24 September 2022.
The play’s acclaimed writer and director, Conor McPherson, said: “Collaborating with Bob Dylan has been a unique privilege for me. We have had an amazing journey opening on Broadway and in the West End but I feel particularly excited and moved to finally bring this work to my home town of Dublin and on tour around the UK.”
Read more here.
15:45
Possible disruption to Salford Care Organisation’s switchboard tonight
Salford Care Organisation have warned that callers may experience some disruption when calling their main switchboard, tonight at 10pm.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/115089924@N02/51510940611/
This will be due to ‘essential maintenance work’ that will be taking place.
The number to this switchboard is 0161 789 7373, however, anyone who is having trouble contacting them tonight, can also use Twitter or visit them at the Mayo Building at Salford Royal.
They apologise for any inconvenience this brief disruption may cause.
Article link here.
15:20
Healthwatch Salford to host their ‘Equality’ themed open forum
Healthwatch Salford are encouraging the community to get involved in improving health and social care across the city through their bi-monthly online forum events.
The forum is a space for Salford residents to talk openly about their experiences of health and social care provisions in the city, and the impact that being involved in the various aspects of the care system has on their daily lives.
Alex Leach, Chief Officer for Healthwatch Salford, said: “As an independent charity, Healthwatch Salford is keen to continue to learn of what is working well and what Salford people feel needs to be improved in terms of our health and care services.”
“Our forums are free to attend and open to anyone living or working within Salford. They are conducted in a friendly manner with no pressure put upon anyone to make a contribution – you can just listen to what is being said.”
The forum will take place this Thursday between 10am and 12:30pm. If you would like to get involved in the forum, you can book your place online on Healthwatch Salford’s website.
Read more here.
14:50
“I was awake the whole time” – Man receives the first ever awake keyhole surgery at Salford Royal
In late October, Oliver Moody, 26, from Leeds, was the first patient in the country to receive awake key-hole surgery at Salford Royal Hospital.
As a child, Oliver was diagnosed with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). Over the years, Oliver had several different operations to help him with all the problems created by his condition, including cervical spine decompression and surgery on his eyes, limbs, and hips.
The surgery to fix Oliver’s spine was performed using a local anaesthetic, meaning he was numbed at the site of his operation and was awake during the surgery.
Oliver expressed the importance of why he needed to do the surgery. “I was nervous, but this was more about what the operation meant to me, rather than the operation itself. It was ‘make or break’ for me because I knew I couldn’t go on with the way things were.”
Read More here.
14:30
Salford’s reaction to the return of masks in shops and on public transport
Following the emergence of the new Covid variant, Omicorn B, the government have announced that mask wearing is compulsory again in shops, public transport and schools.
One who agreed with the move, said: “I think wearing masks on the tram and in shops is a good idea, the pandemic has not gone, it would allow us to be on the safe side. It is not 100% helpful, but it is better than nothing”.
Another said: “I believe it is a good idea, it is good to be careful especially with this new variant going around.”
Not everyone agreed with the sentiment however, one person told: “I don’t agree with it whatsoever, there is scientific proof that masks do not work.
“This social distancing does not work. I think we should just let people get out, get on with life.”
Read more here.
14:00
How Covid prompted Eccles’ Kyle Wells to release his first memoir detailing encounters with stars such as Ronaldo and Beckham
Kyle Wells is embarking on a personal project, to inspire others to fulfill their lifelong dreams.
The Eccles man, who has suffered from a rare form of muscular dystrophy since birth, has just published his debut book, ‘Friend to the Stars’, which recounts his encounters with numerous celebrities over the years.
Kyle said: “I decided to do it when I had Covid because I obviously didn’t think I was going to survive.”
Kyle has had encounters with football stars David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, Coronation Street’s Jimmi Harkishin and even WWE star Hulk Hogan.
Read more here.
13:40
Salford starts singing! – The Diocese of Salford has won a successful bid to join the National School’s Singing Programme
The Diocese of Salford has recently won a successful bid that will allow it to join the National Schools Singing Programme.
With the backing of £75,000 to fund a new choral director, they will join the programme, founded in January of this year, as a means of providing high quality teaching on singing and music education to schools up and down the country.
Alex Patterson, the current director of music at Salford Cathedral, said: “It involves music staff from the Cathedral going out into schools in the diocese and completing around 30 hours of teaching per year which is around ten sessions per term doing high quality singing education.”
Read more here.
13:30
“I hope they bring you plenty of laughs and some warm sparks of recognition” – A major new theatre production is coming to the Lowry
A stage adaption of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will grace the Lowry stage between Tuesday the 8th November and Saturday 22nd November 2022.
It is adapted from Deborah Moggach’s best-selling novel, which inspired the BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated film.
The film performed as one of the highest-grossing films of 2012 in Australia and New Zealand as well as the United Kingdom.
Moggach said: “I’m so thrilled that my characters are stepping into a new life on the stage.”
Read more here.
13:10
“We were honoured to be able to present a posthumous award to Aya’s family at today’s ceremony”- Parents of murdered Salford graduate collect certificate on her behalf
The Parents of a Salford graduate, who died in a gang related incident, have collected their daughters certificate on her behalf.
Photo credit: Nick Harrison
Aya Hachem, 19-years-old, studied Law at the University of Salford before she was murdered in Blackburn in May 2020.
Aya was caught in the crossfire of two rival gangs and was hit in the left shoulder by a stray bullet that was fired, and later died in hospital.
All members involved in the shooting are now serving life sentences after being found guilty in the summer of this year.
Read more here.
12:50
“You are helping to support artists and makers in your local area” – Christmas Markets return to Islington Mill
Islington Mill are once again opening their doors for their annual Christmas market event – Christmas at the Mill.
Founded in 2000, the market will feature over 140 artists, designers and makers.
It is from the 3rd to the 4th of December and, as well as the stalls, features entertainment, Christmas themed food and mulled wine.
Find out more here.
12:40
“Children love it” – The new business helping educate and entertain kids of Salford
Edu-crate is a new enterprise that aims to provide fun and educational activities for children at a cheap price.
Edu-crate offers activities and information leaflets for parents to buy for their children in a tight and compact box that offers both fun and education.
One of the founders, Judith Robertson, spoke to Salford Now about the business, what it is and their plans for the future.
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