Community groups from across the borough have come together to share advice and support residents over concerns at an event in Radcliffe.
The event took place at Radcliffe Market yesterday, Thursday, and was organised by Radcliffe Growing Together in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police as part of the force's Operation Avro, a day-long crackdown on the borough.
The aim of the event was to share advice with residents looking for support with challenges including poor mental health, unsuitable or unstable housing, debt or food insecurity.
Stallholders from charities and organisations shared advice with residents and build networks between themselves with the aim of building a holistic approach to community support.
Groups included Bury Live Well, a council-run service which provides advice with making healthy and sustainable lifestyle choices organisation, Calico Gateway, which offers help for those experiencing homelessness or the threat of homelessness and Trinity Food Bank, which provides support with food insecurity.
Shelley Caulfield and Lucy Fitzsimons, who represent Bury Live Well, said social challenges such as isolation can affect not only mental but also physical health.
They provide advice to those wishing to make positive lifestyle changes.
Manager Shelley warns that “being sedentary is the new smoking".
“That massively affects people’s mental health,” added local pilot and sport development officer Lucy.
Shelley said: “You find now that people go to their GP for meds but the best thing could be to go out and meet people."
Calico Gateway is a free service which provides information and support for those aged 18 to 65 experiencing housing and tenancy issues.
Community engagement officers Jackie Dwyer Wilson and Gill Ross say that because people can experience a number of challenges in their lives, they are aiming to build networks to ensure people can be signposted to the right kind of help.
Gill said: "If someone is at risk of homelessness, that can affect their mental health.”
“We get a lot more families, when we used to get single people.”
Jackie said: “If someone is in arrears people don’t know where to turn, we can support with that and mediate with the landlord.
“The cost of living crisis has changed things we are seeing more elderly people and this is why we work with Age UK.”
Tina Harrison MBE, a community champion for the council and volunteer lead with Trinity Food Bank agreed, saying that the rise of living costs have affected both the type of person requiring her help, and the amount of donations she receives.
She said: “Our group is not just about doing community events, it's about building the community for what the community needs.
“We don’t just do just food, we also signpost, its about giving a wraparound service, it’s all tied together.”
Tenant engagement advisor with Bury social landlord Six Town Housing, Debbie Strawdring, attended the event along with tenancy support Advisors, Marie Daniels and Samantha Tindale.
They agreed that the biggest issue they encounter is affordability.
Their work includes helping to set up and secure funding for residents groups, and supporting people with mental health conditions and other support needs.
Helping people to find ways to increase their income by accessing benefits including pension credit is another concern.
They are also aiming to build contacts with other community-based organisations to ensure everyone can access the right advice.
“There is always somebody some where where you can help,” said Debbie,
“That’s the good thing about working in Radcliffe, it is a small community but it is massive.”
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