Lucy Beetson

Mancunian Matters •

Spring Statement set to push people into poverty says leading disability charity - Mancunian Matters

Leading disability charity Scope believes Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement could have a ‘catastrophic’ impact on people living with disabilities.


Since the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s mini-budget on Wednesday many have raised major concerns over the announcement over the announcement in which she said public spending and investment would be the focus of this government.


But after the Department for Work and Pensions announcement that there will be welfare cuts and stricter restrictions on...
Mancunian Matters •

Manchester named best city for creative funding - Mancunian Matters

Manchester is the best-funded city for creatives in England according to a new survey.


Design studio Berlew’s Creative Funding Report, analysed investment and funding into the creative industry across the UK finding Manchester as the top recieving city outside of London.


After labours pledge to improve spend on the creative sector, Manchester has been funded £523,000 per 10,000 residents by the Arts Council on top of £40,000 spent by the council.


Berlew creative director Lewis Wilks sai...
Mancunian Matters •

New 'eye-catching' street art unveiled in Northern Quarter - Mancunian Matters

A brand new street art mural has been unvelied in the Northern Quarter of Manchester.


A portrait of an eye by artist ‘My Dog Sighs’ can be found at the intersection between Tib Street and Thomas Street.


The eye shows a reflection of the Manchester skyline along with a sketch of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis in its centre.


My Dog Sighs said: “I love working on the street.


“In Manchester we’ve been stopped so many times by so many people, and they’re all interested in what I’m doing and wh...
Mancunian Matters •

Stretching the limits: The rise of niche yoga in Manchester - Mancunian Matters

Yoga used to be all about the downward dog and focusing on your breathing. But that’s a thing of the past. From using real puppies to laughing your way through a workout, more and more people are finding unique ways to do yoga, as Lucy Beetson discovered…


Manchester has never been a city to shy away from reinvention, and its yoga scene is no exception. Beyond the traditional poses a wave of niche yoga practices is taking over studios across the city. From the belly-shaking joy of laughter yog...
Mancunian Matters •

Poor access to public transport is driving Bury residents away from the borough - Mancunian Matters

Bury has been ranked as the lowest Greater Manchester borough for its levels of access to public transport – and some residents have even left the area over the issue.


Transport for Greater Manchester released data last month ranking all of the Greater Manchester postcodes on their accessibility to public transport, from worst (a score of one) to best (eight).


Bury’s average was the lowest of all, while the boroughs of Salford and Manchester had an average rating more than a whole category...
Mancunian Matters •

The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke honoured in Manchester mural to support pancreatic cancer charity - Mancunian Matters

A new mural has been unveiled of The Smiths’ bassist Andy Rourke in the heart of Manchester.


The artwork – located on the side of the Wheatsheaf pub in the Northern Quarter – hopes to raise awareness of UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer, pancreatic cancer.


After months of fundraising the 30ft-20ft painting on Oak Street hopes to commemorate Rourke’s life and legacy after his death in May 2023.


The Smiths drummer and project pioneer Mike Joyce said a tremendous amount of work went into br...
Mancunian Matters •

Donald Trump elected as next president: UK politicians react - Mancunian Matters

UK politicians had mixed reaction to Donald Trump’s presidential election victory.


The Republican will return to the White House in January next year after beating Democrat candidate Kamala Harris.


UK politicians from all parties took to X to give their thoughts.


Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was looking forward to working with the 47th president in a signed post on X. 


He said: “As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of fre...
Mancunian Matters •

Andy Burnham accuses northern trains of 'ruining people's lives' as he demands urgent action - Mancunian Matters

Andy Burnham has accused northern train services of “ruining people’s lives” as he revealed plans to ask for government support.


The Greater Manchester mayor labelled rail services in the north west as “the worst in the country” on the same day as an emergency meeting with the operators.


Burnham said he will be making an appeal to the government later today for urgent action.


He told BBC Breakfast: “The train service here is ruining people’s lives and it’s damaging businesses.


“For a...
Mancunian Matters •

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy accused of taking money out of pensioners' hands in a heated interview with Martin Lewis - Mancunian Matters

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy refused to accept that thousands of pensioners will be worse off this year because of the scrapping of automatic winter fuel payments.


During a heated exchange on Good Morning Britain, Martin Lewis challenged Nandy on the decision to remove the £300 payments and said many of the poorest pensioners will not know they are eligible for pension credit.


Money Saving Expert Lewis said to the Wigan MP: “You are taking money out of their hands.


“You are willing to a...
Mancunian Matters •

Manchester council to launch UK's first pensioner hardship fund - Mancunian Matters

Manchester City Council will set up the UK’s first pensioner hardship fund designed to combat rising costs faced by Manchester’s pensioners, it was decided today.


However, the city’s Labour administration did not support opposition calls for the government to reverse its decision on winter fuel payments.


The motion on the hardship fund, which could offer support to thousands of Manchester’s pensioners, was proposed to full council by Labour councillors Joan Davies and Pat Karney.


Additi...
Mancunian Matters •

Council approves 99 flats in Northern Quarter despite parking and affordable housing concerns - Mancunian Matters

Plans to build 99 flats in the Northern Quarter have been approved by Manchester City Council despite concerns over a lack of affordable housing and the impact on parking in the area.


The proposal to build a nine-story block of flats in Cross Keys was approved unanimously by members of the council despite replacing a 39-space car park. 


Objectors to the apartment building said: “Car parking is incredibly difficult for residents and those working in the area due to the locality to the North...
Mancunian Matters •

Unique event hits Manchester involving fertility and fajitas - Mancunian Matters

A one-of-a-kind fertility event is coming to Manchester – and it involves fajitas.


UK fertilty and egg freezing hub, Amilis, is bringing its ‘Fertility and Fajitas’ night to Manchester on Thursday October 10 after its success in London.


Women attending the event – hosted at Randox Health in the Trafford Centre – will receive a blood test to check their fertility levels, as well as the opportunity to mingle and make friends over fajitas.


Organisers are hoping the social event will help e...
Mancunian Matters •

Interview: BGT finalist Ben Nickless on pantomime, princesses and pathos - Mancunian Matters

Britain’s Got Talent 2022 finalist Ben Nickless spoke to MM about his pantomime return as Buttons in Cinderella – this Christmas at the Manchester Opera House .


Nickless, 43, reprises Buttons for the second time, in a comedic spin on the classic fairytale.


The servant character is best known as Cinderella’s best friend and love interest.


The Lancastrian said he had no doubts Buttons was the best part for a comedian to play.


He said: ‘‘There’s a bit of pathos and heart in the story wh...
Mancunian Matters •

Cinderella Christmas panto: An interview with Myra Dubois - Mancunian Matters

Britain’s Got Talent star Myra Dubois reveals her glamorous, interactive take on the Wicked Stepmother as Cinderella returns to Manchester’s Opera House this Christmas.


The classic fairytale is set to return to Manchester as a pantomime production from December 14 to January 5.


Myra told MM: “I’m looking forward to coming back to Manchester and playing to those gorgeous Mancunian audiences.”


Myra is set to tackle the role of Cinderella’s wicked stepmother in this year’s pantomime.


De...
Mancunian Matters •

Fake goods worth £2million seized from Bolton shop - Mancunian Matters

Fake goods worth £2million have been seized from a shop in Bolton.


Police raided a premises in Farnworth and seized counterfeit goods including fake designer clothes, watches and trainers.


Perfumes, cigarettes, tobacco, and vapes were also confiscated in the joint operation by Bolton Council’s trading standards and Greater Manchester Police.


The raid came after tip offs from members of the public.


Details of the raid, which took place in August, were released today by Bolton Council....
Mancunian Matters •

Tickets for Blossoms' Manchester residency go on sale - Mancunian Matters

Blossoms fans have today started snatching up tickets for the band’s much anticipated Manchester residency this November.


Pre-sale tickets went on sale at 9:30am ahead of the general release on Friday.


The Stockport band announced earlier this week their five-night residency in Manchester as part of their upcoming tour.


They are covering five of the city’s most renowned venues – Manchester Academy, O2 Ritz, Albert Hall, Victoria Warehouse and O2 Apollo – over five nights during November...

New scheme to boost yellowhammer birds

A new yellowhammer conservation project is underway in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC) are working to increase the number of yellowhammer birds in the area.

The conservation project will initially focus on local farmland, with aspirations to extend to additional farms in the future.

INCC's chief executive, Rob Parry, explained the significance of the project, emphasising its role in supporting one of the rarest farmland birds in Wales.

“They, like l
Empoword Journalism •

Are UK Children Facing a Mental Health Crisis?

Content Warning: This article contains details of suicidal thoughts, depression, and eating disorders.

Statistics published during Children’s Mental Health Week revealed concerning trends that professionals have deemed to constitute a children’s mental health crisis.

Three reports released at the start of the month have highlighted the increased need for young people’s mental healthcare and support. The release of these statistics has seen calls for more mental health care funding in schools,
Empoword Journalism •

Empoword Explains: Nicola Sturgeon at the Covid Inquiry

Former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, became tearful as she told the UK Covid Inquiry there was a “large part” of her that wishes she had not been Scotland’s first minister during the pandemic.

The Inquiry saw Sturgeon face questioning from lead counsel, Jamie Dawson, over her decision-making during the pandemic.

Counsel began by questioning Sturgeon over her failure to provide WhatsApp messages sent and received during the pandemic.

Despite telling Channel 4 that she would prov