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Old Trafford is opening up its doors to those who really need it this December.
Danny Jones -2nd December 2022
Manchester United are opening up the doors of their Red Cafe to the local community for December, providing “warm spaces” to those set to struggle over the coming months.
As part of the club’s winter campaign, United by Your Side, the Red Cafe will provide a safe space for people to stay warm, eat, drink and chat.
The area will be available to absolutely everyone and completely free of charge every Monday and Wednesday for the next three weeks, starting on 6 December from 5:00-8:00pm.
People can arrive and register via the North Stand reception (Sir Alex Ferguson Stand), before being guided to the Red Cafe and left to get warm, enjoy hot beverages and plenty of snacks, as well as socialise.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 1, 2022Our house. Your home.
United By Your Side ♥#MUFC
Crucially, another objective of the Red Cafe’s United by Your Side scheme is helping combat loneliness, as a big part of the warm spaces are the ‘talking benches’ located on the forecourt at Old Trafford.
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Signposted as a welcoming place for people who feel alone or are simply worried, shy or anxious to sit and talk to others, this area is designed for people to look after one another and reach out during a period when we’re all encouraged to be more giving.
As United’s COO Collette Roche detailed in an official statement: “Whether Christmas is part of people’s life or not, the festive period can be a difficult time for many. It’s a time of year that puts extra pressure on people and can affect mental health and wellbeing in lots of different ways.
“Through our United by Your Side campaign, we want people who are struggling to know that they are not alone, particularly in our local community. We want to make Old Trafford a second home by providing winter accessories, company, warmth and food for those who need it.”
In addition, today (Friday 2 December), fans are drumming up extra support for the United Foundation and homeless charity Centrepoint by staging a fundraising sleepout in the Munich Tunnel.
— Manchester United Foundation (@MU_Foundation) December 2, 2022Today is 𝙩𝙝𝙚 day 🏟️
Supporters are bedding down inside #OldTrafford's Munich Tunnel tonight for our first ever sleepout ❤️
The fundraiser is in aid of the Foundation and @centrepointuk's work with vulnerable young people 🤝
📲 Donate: https://t.co/fuPpmwNfcJ pic.twitter.com/rR5GYFKyB6
The club is working with the council and several local and national charities like Centrepoint to deliver the initiatives and communicate them to people who need it most.
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Eleanor Roaf, Director of Public Health at Trafford Council, said: “This year with the increase in the cost of heating and food, many people are likely to find winter and the festive period challenging.
“I’m delighted that Manchester United are opening their Red Cafe and providing this space with hot snacks and drinks. This helps to how football is at the heart of our borough.”
Manchester Mind are also playing a key role in the campaign. The CEO of the mental health charity’s Mancunian arm, Elizabeth Simpson, said: “We know that many people are struggling at the moment due to the cost of living crisis and that this is impacting their mental health.”
— Manchester Mind #NeverMoreNeeded (@ManchesterMind) December 2, 2022We are continuing our work with @ManUtd
Elizabeth Simpson, our CEO said “During these challenging times we… know that our local organisations play a key role in supporting the most vulnerable in our community, and we are proud to be a part of United by Your Side this winter.” https://t.co/ermWj4V02p
She went on to note these added pressures on top of an already busy and often stressful time of year “can feel overwhelming and isolating”, which is why initiatives like United By Your Side are so important.
The sleepout alone has already raised nearly £15,000 at the time of writing and the lifeline the warm spaces set up in Old Trafford will provide cannot be overstated.
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Moreover, while it fills our hearts to hear of local institutions like this doing their bit to help people in the community, it’s heartbreaking to know that warm banks are even required. Sadly, United are by no means the only organisation that felt it was necessary to offer up this kind of support.
‘Warm Banks’ set up in Greater Manchester to help people who ‘cannot afford to put the heating on’
Read more:
- Army ‘on standby’ as UK prepares for more postal, rail, lecturer and nurses strikes in December
- Rob Burrow MBE to read CBeebies Bedtime Story for International Day of Disabled Persons
- Alzheimer’s drug hailed as ‘major step forward’ as trials suggest it can slow memory loss
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, loneliness, rising costs or simply not knowing where to go for help, please send them to Manchester Mind’s cost of living information, their wellbeing hub and be sure to make them aware of warm spaces like those at Red Cafe if they need it.
Well done to the club and the associated charities for setting up such vital resources and a safe haven this December. United by name, united by nature.
*Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 16 and due to United’s EFL Cup fixture against Burnley on Wednesday 21 December, the Red Cafe will open on Thursday 22 December instead.
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Featured Image — Manchester United/Dayne Topkin (via Unsplash)
News
Nitrous oxide haul seized and man arrested on Parklife festival siteDaisy Jackson
Before the gates to Parklife had even opened, a man had been arrested for carrying ‘significant quantities’ of drugs.
The man was found within the event site on Friday 7 June – a day before the festival actually started – with Nitrous Oxide.
The substance is now classified as a Class C drug.
Greater Manchester Police and Parklife security detained the ‘suspicious male’ shortly after 3pm yesterday.
The 34-year-old was arrested by police on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, and remains in custody while the investigation continues.
A photograph of the items seized by police shows a large number of canisters and a bag of balloons.
Parklife is working closely with GMP to tackle anti-social behaviour, crime and drug dealing in all its forms to ensure those attending the event are safe, and minimise disruption to local communities.
Superintendent Andy Sidebotham, who leads the Parklife policing operation this year, said: “We will work tirelessly this weekend – alongside event security and our partners – to prevent and tackle any criminality brought by a small number of people who attend the event or the local area.
“This is to help ensure that the majority of genuine festival-goers and residents have a safer and more enjoyable weekend.”
Parklife also put out a statement about Nitrous Oxide, writing: “Nitrous Oxide is now a Class C drug, making possession and use a criminal offence.
“For the sake of a few balloons, why risk not getting into Parklife?
“If you get a police record for drugs it could impact on your future employment, education and travel plans.”
Read more
- Drink prices at Parklife 2024, including beer, cider, wine and spirits
- A massive Batman experience, featuring original props, costumes and vehicles, is coming to Manchester
- Parklife 2024 stage times for Saturday with Disclosure, Becky Hill and Peggy Gou to perform
Featured image: GMP
News
Manchester named one of the UK’s ‘most desired’ places to liveEmily Sergeant
Manchester has been named one of the ‘most desired’ places to live in the UK for 2024, according to a new study.
At this point, there’s really no denying Greater Manchester is mint and people want to live here.
Not long after two of the region’s towns have been highlighted as places first time buyers should considerlooking at to get themselves onto thepropertyladder, and another of our local neighbourhoods has been named one of the best in the UK to raise a family, we’ve now got another title to talk about with pride.
That’s because Manchester has just been ranked one of the ‘most desired’ places to live in the UK in 2024 – especially when it comes to relocation.
Whether you’ve landed a new job, you’re craving better weather, or you’re just looking for a change of pace, we all know there’s loads of reasons to relocate to a different city – but which locations are the most desirable of them all?In a bid to figure this out, the home insurance team over at Compare the Market decided to do a bit of research and devise a list.
To do this, they looked at the average monthly Google search volumes for terms relating to living and moving to different locations.
And Manchester’s made it into the top 10.
UK’s top 10 most desired places to live in 2024
- London
- Derby
- Stoke on Trent
- Birmingham
- Liverpool
- Wolverhampton
- Bradford
- Manchester
- Newport
- Sunderland
London ranks as the number one most desired city to live in the UK, and is followed closely byDerby,Stoke-on-Trent, and Birmingham, with our fellow North West neighbours Liverpool rounding out the top five.
Bradford and Sunderland are some of the other Northern cities featuring in the top 10.
“Relocation is an exciting adventure, but careful planning is key,” explained Anna McEntee, from thehome insuranceteam at Compare the Market, as the top 10 list was revealed this week.
Sharing tips for anyone looking to relocate in the future, Anna continued: “Make sure to thoroughly research the area you’re interested in, and consider factors like commute times and proximity to schools and amenities. You should also set a realistic budget thatincludes hidden costs like moving fees, potential repairs, and home insurance.
Read more:
- Manchester has been named one of the best cities in the WORLD to visit in 2024
- This Greater Manchester area has just been named one of the best in the UK to raise a family
- ‘Hidden gem’ village in Wigan named one of the poshest in Britain
“Additionally, you may want to consider extending your home insurance coverage withaccidental damage insurance orapartment insurance to make sure your property and belongings are protected from any unforeseen events.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
