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VSNW is a membership organisation that connects to the region’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector through infrastructure organisations, equalities networks and large regional and national providers.

Through local infrastructure organisations and equalities networks they look to support grassroots community organisations that constitute the vast majority of the 30,000 plus groups working in the North West.

Core to their work is their partners and members. They have a membership of over 80 full members and 40 associates who support and engage with VSNW and their mission.

VSNW facilitate key partnerships working in the sub-regions wherever and whenever they can. This includes VS6 operating across Liverpool City Region, the emerging Cheshire and Merseyside VCFSE health and wellbeing Leadership group and the Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group.

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Barrington Green’s new poetry board

Kindly sponsored by Barrington Dental Care, Barrington Green’s new poetry board is up showing the sponsors logo and also displaying the ‘Dentists’ poem by Pam Bradshaw. Congratulations to everyone concerned.

INFORMATION FROM THE TBC COMMUNITIES OFFICER

TRAFFORD COVID VACCINATION HOTLINE

We appreciate that over the last couple of weeks, the amount of patients getting in touch with GP surgeries has risen substantially.
To support practices with the increase of calls and emails, a designated phone number and email address has been set up to direct some of the vaccination enquiries away from practices.
If the enquiry relates to the COVID vaccination, patients can now leave a message with the new
COVID Vaccinations Hotline (0161 912 1299).
The hotline will be monitored by NHS Trafford CCG colleagues who will aim to answer all enquiries within 24 hours.
An email inbox has also been set up so that patients can get in touch with their questions on the changes to the rescheduling of doses.
If you feel your practice would benefit from this service, please could we ask that you include the following message on your website or social media channels.
If your enquiry relates to the rescheduling of COVID vaccinations, you can now leave a message
with the new COVID Vaccinations Hotline (0161 912 1299).
The hotline will be monitored by NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group colleagues who will aim to answer all enquiries within 24 hours.
You can also email any questions related to the rescheduling of vaccinations to trccg.covidvacs@nhs.net
Before getting in touch please see if your question can be answered on our frequently asked questions page as this may resolve your issue much more quickly. Click on this link: frequently asked questions page

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Electric vehicle charging network Britain’s EV charging network is not keeping up with growth in the sales of electric vehicles.  Last year (2020) 108,205 EV were purchased, an increase of 186% on the year before.

By contrast, a total of 4,270 new public charging points were installed in the same 12 months, just a 26% increase.

Britain needs around 12,000 new public fast chargers per year to maintain current ratios to new vehicles. By 2050 an estimated 25 million charging points will be required.

Electric vehicles form a crucial part of the Government’s plan to wean the country off diesel and petrol vehicles.  The Government has committed £1.3bn to accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure, ensuring people across the country benefit from the electric car revolution but there is, as yet, no signs of where, when, and how that money will be spent.

The Government has just unveiled a new £50m scheme to increase the number of charge points in rural areas. Under the EV Homecharge Scheme, small businesses, landlords and leaseholders can get up to £350 in state funding to install a charge point.  Planning permission should not be required provided they are inside the property boundaries.  The Government has also pledged to simplify payments at the charge points and also force operators to provide a 24/7 helpline for drivers.

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The Society feels the shift to refurbishment rather than a brand new centre is really disappointing, though we understand the financial pressures TL is under. Obviously a lot will depend on what the refit plans look like. They need to be ambitious because the report sees this as the solution for the next 25 years! We’ll particularly want to know if the centre will be closed for the work, and if so for how long.

The report also deals with wider Trafford Leisure provision, so our Planning Lead Paulina will be raising again the lack of wheeled sport provision locally.

We believe Trafford have promised a review of the use of Altrincham Golf Course. Our feeling is that there is space there for improved outdoor leisure facilities alongside the golf, and that this could be a great location for Paulina’s suggested skate park. It is easily accessed by lots of local communities, but away from residential properties who might object.

A new younger audience needs new methods of communicating.

To add to the Society’s existing communications, we will soon be adding more social media.

We are pleased to welcome Jessica Underwood, a student of English and Film at Manchester Metropolitan University, who will be leading our communications makeover.

As part of her Internship with the Civic Society Jessica will create new routes to communicate with local youth using the array of social media.

She already has some exciting ideas how we should be inspiring the next generation to become involved in Civic Society to protect our heritage and evolve in these challenging times.  The Internship will form part of her degree studies.

We hope Jessica will enjoy her time with Society.

During their wait on platform 4 at Altrincham Interchange passengers will be able to brows a new poetry board.

Pam Bradshaw, who lives within 200 yards of the Interchange, has been busy composing new poetry for the board.

It will be an enjoyable way to fill the time await a train.

 The Friends of the Interchange will change the poetry on display at regular intervals.

It is planned to have the theme of the poetry match the seasons or seasonal events.

If there are any contributions of local composed poetry please contact :

Residents of New Street, Altrincham recently got together and jointly bought a very nice teak garden bench.  This has been secured with vast padlocks and steel cables to what we now term as New Street Green opposite 50 New Street. The excellent suggestion for this came originally from Judie Collins, Chair of Altrincham & Bowdon Civic Society.  The idea being if we ‘gardened’ this land and furnished it we might have some chance of retaining it for the future.
A table and chairs are to follow in Spring, so there’s now a little bit more green space for us all to share.