Cost of living support in Manchester this winter
No. 93 Wellbeing Centre is hosting a number of different community groups, free wellbeing-related sessions and services for Manchester residents to help with the cost of living this winter.
The Centre is a community hub at the heart of Harpurhey in Manchester.
Run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, the Centre offers a number of different groups, activities and events to support mental health and wellbeing.
This ranges from arts sessions to exercise classes, peer support groups, a music appreciation group and weekly pool tournaments.
The Centre is also offering a variety of support to help people with the cost of living. This includes:
- A café drop-in from Monday-Friday, 10am-3pm, offering subsidised, budget-friendly food.
- Weekly Digital Drop-in sessions run by North Manchester Community Partnership. These sessions help people to get online and complete online tasks such as benefit applications and job applications.
- A range of cost of living events attended by Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) and local authority organisations which provide advice & support on issues such as finances and benefits.
- Free lunch & taster sessions.
- An annual Big Coat Day offering free coats donated by FC United supporters.
- Free sanitary products in the ladies’ toilets.
One person said:
‘Thanks so much for your help. My friend is sorted now - after attending No. 93, GatewayM40 put her down for a voucher scheme and referred her to a food bank, to help take the edge off them over Christmas.’
Alice Munby, Community Development Manager at No. 93 Wellbeing Centre said:
“As Winter draws in, with temperatures dropping and Christmas approaching, the cost of living can get harder for lots of people.
“We provide a drop-in from Monday to Friday, 10am-3pm, in the café where people can stay as long as they like. Drinks are cheap and the food is budget-friendly. People can play a game of pool or a board game or just chat to someone. We signpost people to local charities such as GatewayM40 or North Manchester Community Partnership who can help with debt advice and benefit queries. We also have a weekly digital drop-in when people can use laptops and can get support getting online.
“There’s lots on offer, so if you’re struggling this Winter, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or come along to one of our sessions.”
John Curtin, Manager at North Manchester Community Partnership said:
“We began delivering digital classes to not only support people already using the services provided by No. 93, but to also engage with the wider community and connect with our local residents.
“Together we have identified residents at risk of being left behind digitally, which can go hand-in-hand with issues caused by the ongoing cost of living crisis.
“We work collaboratively to provide a range of digital classes in the relaxed atmosphere of a community venue, accompanied with the offer of something warm to eat and drink, and the opportunity for attendees to gain a free device on completion of a set number of sessions.
“The sessions have been a great success and have allowed us to collaborate with community services, engage with local people and improve digital literacy and resources, in one of our most diverse communities.”
For more information about the cost of living support available at No. 93 Wellbeing Centre, visit the No.93 web page or contact 0161 271 0908.
The ‘Crisis Café' at No 93. also offers an out of hours friendly and supportive community space for anyone who is feeling low, anxious, struggling with negative thoughts, or just wants to talk to someone. This support is offered Monday to Friday, 8pm to 1am, and Saturday and Sunday, 3pm to 1am. Please phone ahead of dropping in on 07778012838, 0161 271 0339, or email GMMHCrisisCafe@gmmh.nhs.uk.
For more information cost of living support available in Greater Manchester, visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/cost-of-living-support
For more information regarding food banks available in Greater Manchester, visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/food-banks/
Anyone living in Manchester can also ring Manchester City Council’s cost of living advice line for support. For more information, visit: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/coladvice
