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.

Salford Springboard Heroes 2025 finalists unveiled

The finalists for the annual Salix Homes Springboard Heroes Awards have been announced.

For the past year, Salford housing association Salix Homes has been awarding grants to groups and projects in Salford that are making a real difference in communities.

The landlord, which owns 8,000 homes across Salford, has donated more than £33,000 to dozens of local groups and initiatives as part of its Springboard community grant programme.

From dance troupes, sports clubs and gardening groups, Springboard provides much-needed cash injections to local projects that boost community spirit, promote health and wellbeing, improve the environment and help to reduce isolation.

Now, Salix Homes has picked three fantastic projects as the Springboard Heroes finalists, and it’s over to the public to vote for their favourite.

The winning project will receive an extra £1,000 cash boost, but all the nominees deserve recognition for the incredible difference they’re making in communities, and each finalist truly represents the spirit of Salford.

Liam Turner, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “Through our Springboard programme, we’re proud to support grassroots groups and projects that make a real difference across Salford, bringing people together, improving wellbeing and providing vital lifelines in our communities.

“The Springboard Heroes Awards are our way of shining a spotlight on and supporting some of these incredible projects. From inspiring young people and promoting healthier lifestyles, to giving local voices a platform and tackling loneliness, this year’s finalists are a fantastic showcase of community spirit in action, and we’d encourage everyone to get involved, cast their vote, and help crown our Springboard Heroes for 2025.”

The finalists for the Springboard Heroes Awards 2025 are:

Red Hot Flames
Founded in 1996, the Red Hot Flames cheerleading squad have been proudly representing Salford on the international stage.

Offering a wide range of cheer, dance and gymnastics classes, the group provides a positive and energetic environment for young people to stay active, build confidence and follow their passions.

More than just a sport, Red Hot Flames provides a supportive space that nurtures mental wellbeing and promotes teamwork and resilience.

Red Hot Flames received a much-needed boost of over £1,000 thanks to the Springboard Community Fund. The funding helped ensure 60 of the club’s athletes could step out in style with new training kits as they headed to an international competition in Orlando, Florida - a trip that marked a significant milestone for the club.

Shannen Hook, Head Coach at the Red Hot Flames, said: “With support from organisations like Salix Homes, the club can continue to foster a sense of teamwork and achievement, empowering young athletes to work together to achieve their dreams, both internationally and locally.

“All of our younger athletes have dreams to compete at competitions around the world, and this additional funding would allow us to make those dreams come true, so please vote for us.”

Alberts of Salford
The Alberts of Salford sporting facility is a safe and inclusive space for the community to exercise, meet with friends and build stronger connections.

Every week, more than 600 people from all walks of life use the site and it plays a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of the Salford community.

The sports facility, located in Albert Park, Lower Broughton, opened 20 years ago, but sadly found itself in need of renovation and was facing closure.

After securing a significant amount of funding from the Football Association (FA) and a £2,000 boost from Salix Homes’ Springboard grant programme, Albert’s of Salford have been able to fully refurbish their new 3G, shock pad installed pitch, as well as add new perimeter fencing, goal posts and lights.

Dave Morgan, Trustee and Treasurer of Albert’s of Salford, said: “It’s more than just a sports facility - it’s a haven where people from diverse backgrounds and of all ages come together to enjoy recreational activities and foster positive relationships.

“With the help of Salix Homes, we’ve been able to create a safe and inclusive space that is vital for the community in Salford. With further funding we would be able to continue to deliver a much-needed, community led space that allows our users to feel safe, motivated and included through sports.”

Salford City Radio
The future of this much-loved community radio station hangs in the balance, with urgent funding and support needed to keep it on air.

Broadcasting since 2007, the station is run by dedicated volunteers and for them, it’s not just a hobby, but a lifeline, providing them with a sense of purpose, community and support.

As a platform for local voices, the station plays a crucial role in promoting community engagement, with its diverse mix of programming reflecting the rich tapestry of life in Salford.

Salford City Radio was recently awarded £1,950 through Salix Homes’ Springboard Community Fund to contribute to the running costs of the station, and the additional funding if they win the Springboard Heroes Awards will go towards keeping the station open.

Jill Bowyer, Manager at Salford City Radio, said: “We’ve got volunteers from all walks of life, some are disabled, others are battling cancer, some are young people starting out in their careers, and we’re here to offer them a platform to develop their skills and connect with the community. Our station is an inclusive space where everyone can contribute and learn, making a real impact in Salford.

“For many, coming to the station is the reason they get out of bed in the morning. It gives them a sense of belonging and keeps them going through tough times. Our dedicated volunteers pour their time and passion into creating programmes that inform, entertain, and uplift our listeners. Losing this station would mean losing an invaluable resource that brings people together and provides crucial support during challenging times.

“The extra funding would be a huge help, and we’d urge people to vote for us. If the station had to close it would be a tremendous loss for our community, silencing important voices and dismantling a vital support network for so many.”

Visit the Salix Homes website to find out more about the finalists and cast your vote. Voting closes on Tuesday, September 23 and the winners will be announced soon after on Salix Homes Facebook page.

FINANCE COMMUNITY EXPERT: Claritas Wealth

Financial planning – a journey not a destination

by Tim Walsham, Claritas Wealth

I realise that’s all a bit ‘X Factor’. Everyone is on a journey these days!

In the case of financial planning though it really is a journey.

The idea that we’ll reach a stage of our lives when everything is all sorted is pretty fanciful. There’s a great book by Oliver Burkeman called ‘Meditations for Mortals’ where he quotes a popular American social commentator/philosopher, Sam Harris.

Harris said that he finally realised in his 40s that he had been waiting for and expecting a stage in his life when he’d figured everything out and all of the issues and problems in his life fell away because he’d worked through them all. It was freeing when he realised that every stage of life has it’s own challenges to be dealt with and that will never change.

As an example, we may think that we’ll stop worrying about our children when they grow up but that’s not the case. We just have different worries as we never stop being a parent.

So if we create a financial plan now where we work out what’s important to you and try and plan for it, the one thing we know is that the plan will be wrong. That’s not to say it’s a worthless exercise; we’re just having the best stab at it now as we can.

The next time we revisit the plan we’ll have another best effort and ‘course correct’ as required. Sometimes these will be minor adjustments and sometimes life throws a complete curve-ball and major revisions are required. That’s life.

All I’d say is that in the long run this approach to financial planning really works. I’ve been creating financial plans for my clients for over two decades and the regular ‘course correcting’ keeps us on the right path, even if there is no final destination!