News, Politics

City Council unveils plans to support residents facing Covid 19 hardship

ollerheadManchester City Council has unveiled a £7.5 million plan to support people facing hardship because of the Covid 19 outbreak.

The measures are being funded through £7.46m allocated to Manchester City Council through the Government’s Covid-19 Hardship Fund.

More than 34,000 people who already receive Council Tax Support, reducing their annual bills by up to 82.5 per cent, will have a further £150 chopped off their bill for 2020/21. It means, for example, that someone living on their own in a Band A property and receiving full Council Tax Support would have nothing to pay this year.

It is anticipated that the £150 should be paid into the majority of these accounts in the next two weeks.

Some £5.63 million has been set aside for this element of support, including a contingency amount to cover potential new claimants as well as existing recipients of Council Tax Support.

In addition, the Council has allocated a further £1.8 million to boost the support available to the most in-need residents:

● £700,000 to help pay for lunchtime meals for school age children who already get free school meals, or whose families fall into hardship. For free school meals this applies until Monday 20 April when it is replaced by the national scheme. The Council scheme is bridging the gap, including over the Easter Holidays.

● £500,000 for emergency Council Tax Support for people facing hardship who may not be eligible for the existing scheme.

● £200,000 to support emergency food provision

● £200,000 to support carers

● £200,000 to enhance the Council’s existing Welfare Provision Scheme which provides emergency cash grants to households in urgent need.

Councillor Carl Ollerhead, Executive Member for Finance, said: “This is a tough period for a lot of people, especially those who were already struggling to make ends meet. We are determined to do all we can as a council to help people get through it.

“This almost £7.5m package of support measures, designed to be accessible quickly to those who need them, is a prime example of that commitment. It will benefit tens of thousands of Manchester’s most economically vulnerable people and make a real difference.”

To find out more about the different schemes and the support available visit:
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/coronavirus

Community News, Football, News, Politics

Wythenshawe Celtic FC thanks key workers as community spirit stays strong in the face of Covid 19
Wythenshawe Celtic
Pic: YouTube

The Wythenshawe community continues to be strong in the face of Covid 19. Here is some of the latest news and information and stuff that might make you smile.

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Community News, News

Council services during the Covid 19 crisis: green bin collections stop

Manchester City Council has pledged to keep residents informed of how the battle against Covid 19 will affect services

In their latest announcement there have said there will be no green bin collections until further notice.

Food food waste can be put in the grey bin which will be collected as normal.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Council staff are going above and beyond to ensure vital services for our residents can continue and we can support residents as we work together through this period.

“It’s vitally important that we all play our part and follow the advice from Public Health. Washing our hands regularly, distancing ourselves from others and supporting vulnerable people during this crisis will be essential in limiting the spread of the disease.

“It makes me proud that at times such as this Manchester people show their true mettle. Our city will be a different place for a little while, but we will carry on and we will get through this together.”

Find a set of FAQs here.

What Council services are affected?

The Customer Service Centre in the Town Hall Extension is now closed to walk-in visitors until further notice.

A list of email contacts for Council services can be found here. This includes contacts for support around benefits, Universal Credit, licensing, council tax and school admissions.  The call centre is currently experiencing unprecedented demand so email enquiries are being prioritised and the most urgent are being dealt with as quickly as possible. The public is asked to only phone the Council if absolutely necessary.

Support and advice for people at risk of homelessness is available here. If you or someone you know does not have somewhere to stay immediately, please call 0161 234 4692 or email hss@manchester.gov.uk

Business owners can find support advice here.

Leisure Centres and Events

All Council-run leisure centres closed Friday 20 March to limit the potential spread of the virus. The NHS has  information online, including free exercise tutorials that can be done at home, along with tips and advice about staying active. And follow @GmMoving on social media for more advice and inspiration.

 Libraries

The following libraries will remain open to the public, maintaining provision in the north, central and south areas of the city. They will close by 5pm each day.

– Higher Blackley (The Avenue)

– Newton Heath Library

– Gorton Library

– Longsight Library

– Central Library

– Chorlton Library

– Didsbury Library

– Withington Library

– Wythenshawe Forum

Closures are currently in place at the libraries listed below. The closed libraries are currently under review to consider how we can reopen them safely to increase library provision across the city as soon as possible for local residents.

– Barlow Moor Library

– Burnage library

– Miles Platting Community Library

– Moss Side Powerhouse Library

– Northenden Library

– New Moston Community Library

– North City Library

– Beswick Library

– Abraham Moss 5pm Friday 20 March

– Arcadia (Levenshulme) 10pm Friday 20 March

– Brooklands Library closed from 5pm Friday 20 March

– Fallowfield Library (AKA The Place on Platt Lane) will close on Saturday 21 March

Anyone who has an outstanding book return will not be fined and will have a three-month extension before the book will need to be returned.

Further information about the city’s libraries services will be updated here.

You can also access Manchester Library resources online, including e-books, audiobooks, online news resources, language courses and digital magazines.

www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries

Markets

Council-run retail markets in Gorton, Longsight and Wythenshawe will closed on Saturday 21 March. The Sunday Car Boot market will closed from Sunday 22 March.

Parks

Council-run parks will remain open to allow residents to get fresh air and remain active. Hand washing facilities will be available. People using parks are urged to heed public health advice and practice correct social distancing.

Information about social distancing can be found from Public Health England.

Registrars

The registrars will remain open but is offering a reduced service. Residents are asked not to attend the registrars unless absolutely necessary.  Find out more about the service

If you’re feeling anxious

It’s understandable that a lot of our residents will be feeling anxious at the moment. This is to be expected but it’s important to take note of advice and support each other during this time.

Find out more

Community News, News

Free parking for NHS workers in Wythenshawe town centre
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Pic: Mikey cc

Wythenshawe Town Centre is offering free parking to NHS workers until further notice as a small gesture of thanks during the Covid 19 crisis.

Wythenshawe Town Centre is at the heart of the local community and will be running a scheme to assist front line workers during the current COVID-19 crisis. There is currently free parking to all NHS staff in Asda’s multi-story car park. Health workers can park in the car park as normal, but must ensure they have their NHS ID ready to be presented if required. The Centre has also abolished the 3-hour maximum car park stay for the benefit of NHS frontline workers.

The car park can be accessed via the spiral entrance ramp leading from Rowlandsway. The free parking will not apply to our surface car parks where will be continuing to operate the two hour maximum stay restrictions.

In line with Government guidance on 23rd March 2020, Wythenshawe Town Centre is now closed for all retailers except those providing essential goods and services – food stores, grocers, pharmacies, banks and post offices.

The Centre is also running a campaign to encourage social distancing at the Centre in line with advice from Public Health England. Both online and onsite, the Centre is displaying material encouraging shoppers to respect Government advice to adhere to social distancing which is crucial to save lives and protect the NHS. Find more information on this here: https://bit.ly/2y6ghhF

Daniel Davis, Wythenshawe Town Centre’s Centre Manager commented: “We would like to thank our retailers and Centre teams who are all working extremely hard in very challenging and unprecedented circumstances to ensure visitors can access essential goods and services. Wythenshawe Town Centre is at the heart of our local community and as such we are fully committed to supporting local people during the current health crisis. We are thoroughly grateful for the hard work of our frontline workers at this crucial time, that’s why we are offering a free parking permit to NHS workers until further notice.”

For individual store opening times, please visit Wythenshawe Town Centre’s website, social media channels or call individual stores directly. Please note that opening hours are constantly evolving in line with Government advice.

Community News, News

COVID 19: Manchester Convention Centre to become 1,000 bed hospital
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Pic: John Duffy

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens’ announcement today of a new temporary hospital at Manchester Central Convention Centre, to help cope with the increase demands on the health service during the Covid 19 outbreak.

The temporary field hospital will be fitted with 1,000 beds  with the armed forces working with the NHS for its construction.

Sir Simon said:”These are extraordinary steps the NHS is taking, and clinicians, managers and military planners are working day and night to create, equip and staff these hospitals from scratch and prepare for the surge that is likely to be coming.

“While we continue to pull out all the stops, we do need the public to play their part. Every single person in this country can make a difference by following the medical advice to the letter – stay at home, wash your hands, which will help stop the virus letting rip and will therefore save lives.”

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “As the owners of Manchester Central Convention Complex, we have worked with the Ministry of Defence and health services to make the building urgently available for this vital use. The need to establish this new hospital underlines the serious nature of the Covid-19 pandemic we all face but also shows how seriously it is being responded to and I hope the public are reassured by the swiftness of this action.”