FINANCE COMMUNITY EXPERT: Claritas Wealth

Budget 2025 – sitting tight was a good option

by Tim Walsham, Claritas Wealth

Before the Autumn 2025 Budget we understandably had many clients concerned that they should be taking action in order to pre-empt changes that may be made by the Chancellor.

Our general stance was that if you were going to do something anyway in the very near future (e.g. making a large gift or taking the lump sum from a pension for a specific purpose) then it maybe made sense to do this before the Budget.

Otherwise the stance was to sit tight and wait. If we acted on every rumour before every Budget then financial planning would be an unstructured, chaotic business.

Yet again this proved to be the right course of action.

There have been some changes but we can now consider them calmy and carefully and continue to construct sensible, robust financial plans.

If you’d like to discuss how you might be affected by the Budget changes, please do get in touch. No charge for a chat.

www.claritaswm.co.uk

Manchester Christmas Parade This Sunday 7 December - Everything You Need To Know!

The countdown is on to this year's iconic Manchester Christmas Parade - THE heartwarming event of the festive season for Mancunians and visitors alike, and taking place this weekend on Sunday 7 December.

Now in its fourth year, the annual parade - delivered this year in celebration with Quooker - has been a festive favourite since it was first held in December 2022 and three years on has become an unmissable highlight of the countdown to Christmas in the city.

With brand-new, never-before-seen content for this year and even more community groups taking part than ever, the free family-friendly parade promises smiles, laughter, and jingle bells all the way to help get Manchester in the Christmas spirit.

Led by the fabulous Reindeer Ensemble, the parade will burst into life with a Christmas cracker's worth of festive energy as the spectacular troupe of eight synchronised dancing reindeer with their polished moves and high-spirited performance style, engage the crowd and set the pace for a fun-filled parade through the city streets.

Also new for this year is the fantastic Festive Fantasy Candyland Castle - truly the stuff of fairytales and sugarplum dreams. Standing over four metres tall and surrounded by giant candy cane stilt walkers and dancers, the whimsical fairytale turreted castle slowly rotates as it glides along and is sure to have the youngsters in the crowd ooo-ing and ahh-ing and wide-eyed with wonder. 

Hot on the heels of the Candyland Castle (but thankfully not breathing fire!) will be a giant mythical dragon, swooping its way through the parade on the lookout for young princes and princesses to say hello to.

Look out also for a beautiful gigantic Polar Bear visiting Manchester for the first time, a stunning Arctic Fox, a pair of gentle giant-sized reindeer escorted by elves, and the biggest Christmas Tree Fairy you've ever seen who stands over four metres tall, as well as Jack Frost himself accompanied by a troupe of frosty dancers.  

Keep an eye out too for the sensational sparkling glitter belles, the biggest dancing sprouts you've ever seen, the naughtiest full-of-mischief roaming Christmas tree, and two grumpy Grandads on wheels who will be doing their best to spoil the Christmas fun.

And of course it wouldn't be the Manchester Christmas Parade without everyone's favourite, the enchanting Snow Queen, mesmerising all as she sits inside her giant snow globe, as it twists and turns its way through the streets.

Bringing up the rear of this year's magical parade will be Manchester's very own spectacular Elf Express, returning to the city once again complete with none other than VIP passenger Santa - hitching a ride to the North Pole, together with his trusty team of elves.

The parade also sees ten different community groups from across the city each playing their part in the parade as musicians, dancers, or performers, following a callout that went to community groups earlier in the year. 

Backed from start to finish with a seasonal soundtrack that is sure to have everyone dancing, the parade will feature live music from the likes of the Bloco Band blasting out the Christmas classics, the Fianna Phadraig Pipe Band playing tunes with a Christmassy twist, and Fat Cat Brass with their four horn players and two stilt-walking drummers - as well as the chance to sing along with Elton Wrong piano man as he rides along on his portable stadium stage whilst playing the piano and crooning his way through his top ten of pop hits and show tunes.

Watch out also on the day for plenty of pop-up festive fun around the city.

The city council is working with a range of partners including outdoor arts organisations Global Grooves, Walk the Plank, Handmade Parade, and Fools' Paradise to help make sure that this year's Manchester Christmas Parade is the best yet.

This year's parade will set off at 1 pm from Manchester Cathedral, following a circular route that ends back at the cathedral:

Manchester Cathedral - Victoria Street - Deansgate - John Dalton Street - Cross Street - Market Street - St Mary's Gate - Deansgate - Victoria Street - Manchester Cathedral

There will be two accessible viewing areas available on a first-come basis - one on Cross Street (outside Boots) and one on Deansgate (outside House of Fraser).

People coming into the city centre for the parade should note the busiest sections of the parade route are likely to be Cross Street and St Mary's Gate.

For more information about Christmas in Manchester visit: manchester.gov.uk/christmas

Carers in Manchester – know your rights, use your rights!

Did you know there are around 38,000 carers in Manchester? Carers are people who look after a relative, partner, or friend due to their physical or mental illness, disability, frailty, or addiction. Lots of people don’t realise they count as a carer; they just see themselves as someone’s partner, parent, son, daughter, or friend. You might be a carer yourself and not realise it!

Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but also tiring and financially draining. Many carers find their own physical and mental health suffers due to the stress of their caring responsibilities.

If you’re a carer, you’re entitled to certain support. In fact, you have a range of rights designed to protect you and the person you care for. Keen to learn more? Carers Rights Day is a national day that aims to help carers understand and use their rights. This year, Carers Rights Day falls on Thursday 20 November, but there are free events happening across Manchester for the whole week.


Four events: find one near you!

Carers Manchester is a group of organisations which work together to provide support and improve services for Manchester’s unpaid carers. For Carers Rights Day, the charity is hosting four events across the city. There’s no need to sign-up or register– simply attend on the day! Each event will include…

• Free refreshments

• A presentation and opportunity for 1-2-1 support from Carers Manchester Contact Point support workers

• A presentation and opportunity for 1-2-1 legal advice on carers issue from solicitor Shane Flannery

• 1-2-1 benefits advice from Carers Manchester Contact Point welfare and benefits advisors

• A presentation and opportunity for 1-2-1 advice on accessing Carers Assessments, from Manchester City Council’s Carers Assessment team

Wondering how welfare reforms will impact you? Need advice around Power of Attorney for your loved one? Not sure how to get a Carers Assessment? Don’t know if you count as a ‘carer’?  These events are for you!

South Manchester event

WHEN: Tuesday 18th November, 11am-1pm
WHERE: Benchill Community Centre, M22 8EJ
REQUEST MORE INFO: cmsouth@manchestercarersforum.org.uk or 07494097568

Central Manchester event

WHEN: Wednesday 19th November, 1.30pm-3.30pm
WHERE: Claremont Resource Centre, M15 5FS
REQUEST MORE INFO: cmc@accg.org.uk or 0161 226 6334

North Manchester event

WHEN: Thursday 20th November, 11am-1pm
WHERE: Guidance Hub, Cheetham Hill, M8 9AB
REQUEST MORE INFO: hannah@manchestercarersforum.org.uk or 07970174774

Online event

WHEN: Thursday 20th November, 6-7.30pm
WHERE: Online (a meeting link will be sent to you after registering)
REQUEST MORE INFO: info@carersmanchester.org.uk or 0161 834 6069 [ext. 1133] 

More events and support for carers

Can’t make it to a Carers Rights Day event? You can still access support via the Carers Manchester Contact Point.

·         Phone: 0161 543 8000 (Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm, except bank holidays)

·         Email: contactpoint@carersmanchester.org.uk

·         Website: www.carersmanchester.org.uk/contact

You can also check the Carers Manchester events calendar and subscribe to their newsletter for free events and activities year-round.

Heatons Christmas Windows

Vote for your favourite Heatons Christmas Window!

Local businesses are bringing Christmas to The Heatons with seasonal window displays and we want you to vote for your favourite.

All participating venues are listed below. Visit the venues over the weekend of 6 & 7 December and then simply email us with a photograph of the display to let us know your favourite: news@communitynewsgm.co.uk

A huge thank you to Claritas Wealth and Clifford Johnston & Co Solicitors for supporting this year’s Christmas Windows as sponsors.

Participating Venues: (additional venues being added up until 5 December)

• FEED - Heaton Chapel

• Cobane - Heaton Chapel

• Art Club - Shaw Road

• Walsh Solicitors - Shaw Road

• Blue Door Flowers - Heaton Moor

• Back’s Deli - Heaton Moor

• Ash - Heaton Moor

• Leoni’s Deli - Heaton Moor

• Cure Bistro - Heaton Moor

• The Savoy - Moor Top

• Nook - Moor Top

• Eyes on The Moor - Moor Top

• Julian Wadden - Moor Top

• Macari’s - Heaton Mersey

• Heaton Mersey Orthodontic Centre - Heaton Mersey

• The Heaton - Heaton Mersey

Clifford Johnston & Co Solicitors

107 Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor, SK4 4HY
0161 975 1900
www.cj-law.co.uk

Claritas Wealth

10 Moorside Road, Heaton Moor, SK4 4DT
0161 636 9200
www.claritaswm.co.uk

FINANCE COMMUNITY EXPERT: Claritas Wealth

Wall of Worry

by Tim Walsham, Claritas Wealth

A timeline of negative world events and their effects on the economy

It can feel that there’s a never ending stream of negative world events that dominate the news. I’m not looking to downplay the significance of any of these events but to highlight how resilient global stock markets are in spite of everything.

Yes, we experience temporary declines but the long term rise in markets is relentless. Each time a major negative event occurs, the press will write that ‘this time it’s different’ and that everyone should bail out of their investments. History being our guide, it will be a temporary decline and long term investors will be rewarded for patience and fortitude.

The chart relates to the global stock market and, in practice, many investors hold a portion of their portfolios in defensive assets to reduce the ups and downs to a level that they’re comfortable with. It’s important that any investor has a portfolio that they are able to stick with through thick and thin.

But the message is that, over timescales that are relevant to most investors, global stock markets are hugely resilient.

Not much more to say than that; I just thought that this is a really interesting chart!

Heatons & Reddish Halloween Trail 2025

This October Half-Term, families can enjoy the annual Halloween Trail around local shops across the Heatons and Reddish.

Find a copy of the trail sheet in the October issue of Stockport Post for you to cut out. Or you can download the Trail Sheet to print out below.

Visit all the venues on the Trail Sheet, enjoy the decorations and find the answers to the questions - don’t forget to keep an eye out for any venues giving out treats!

Our thanks to all the local businesses participating this year.

And a huge thank you to Clifford Johnston & Co Solicitors and Claritas Wealth for supporting this free community event as sponsors.

Clifford Johnston & Co

107 Heaton Moor Road
Stockport, Cheshire
SK4 4HY

 0161 975 1900

info@cj-law.co.uk

Claritas Wealth

10 Moorside Road,
Heaton Moor,
Stockport
SK4 4DT

0161 636 9200

hello@claritaswm.co.uk

FINANCE COMMUNITY EXPERT: Claritas Wealth

The change to pensions that the government would love to make

by Tim Walsham, Claritas Wealth

There are lots of rumours flying around in relation to changes that Rachel Reeves may make to the tax system to top up the country’s coffers.

There’s the potential further restriction of the maximum lump sum that can be taken out of pensions.

Lots of talk as well about further changes to inheritance tax, including the lengthening the amount of time that it takes for a gift to fall out of your estate from 7 years to 10 years or longer.

Also the perennial discussion about capital gains tax and the disparity between the rates of tax paid on income and gains. Will they dare equalise income tax and capital gains tax rates? It would be a bold move. Who knows?

The change that the past few governments have been itching to make though is to amend the income tax (and National Insurance) relief system for pension contributions.

Pensions tax relief cost the government circa £52 billion in 2023/24 and over 60% of this relief was used to reduce higher rate (40%) or additional rate (45%) income tax bills.

I’m not saying that the government are looking to scrap pension tax relief completely. It’s really important to provide encouragement and incentives to save for the future in order to reduce reliance on the State.

I’d say that what they would love to do (but are scared to do so) is get rid of higher and additional rate pension tax relief.

Watch this space.

We need your support for Salford Post!

Every community deserves to feel proud of where they live.

But too often, the positive stories of Eccles — the projects, the groups, the people — go unheard. And when voices aren’t heard, communities feel overlooked, disconnected, and forgotten.

That’s why Salford Post exists. We publish free, positive community news in print filled with positive stories from community groups and residents across Salford.

We highlight grassroots projects, support local groups, and bring residents together with stories of hope, pride, and resilience. For many older residents without internet access, our printed newspaper is the only way they connect with what’s happening in their own neighbourhood.

Now, we want to give Eccles its own moment in the spotlight.

We’re raising £1,000 to publish a special 4-page Eccles feature in our November issue, celebrating:

• Grassroots community organisations

• Support groups and wellbeing services

• Activities for families, children, and older people

• All the good that makes Eccles a place to belong

And we’ll make sure it reaches people by delivering 5,000 free copies to homes across Eccles.

Your donation does more than pay for print and delivery. It:

• Tackles loneliness by connecting isolated residents with local opportunities

• Strengthens community spirit by celebrating what’s good in Eccles

• Supports grassroots groups by boosting their reach and engagement

• Inspires pride and belonging across the whole neighbourhood

👉 Please donate today and help us shout about everything Eccles has to offer.

PLUS: Salford Council will match your donation £ for £!!

Here's the link to donate: