Receptionist Job at Bridge 5 Mill November 9, 2009

We have a receptionist position available at Bridge 5 Mill working for MERCi.

Full Time- £13,382, (9.00 – 5.00 with 1/2hr lunch with TOIL and some overtime)
Three month contract December 2009- March 2010 (extension to March 2011 dependent on expected funding)

Job Description
We are looking for a well-organised, friendly and out-going Receptionist and Event worker. You will run the busy reception at Bridge 5 Mill (B5M) and be the first point of contact for all visitors and tenants. You will also provide the organisation and administration for events and conferences at B5M.

For more information and for the application forms please click here

SNAG Annual Survey October 1, 2009

This post will remain at the top of the page until 30th November 2009.  All current news posts are below.

Ok here it is – the first SNAG membership survey:

Click Here to take survey

It takes no more than 10 minutes max to complete so please do so.  you don’t have to be a member to take part, but by completing it you automatically become one which is good!

You views really do matter which is why I’m really trying to make you fill it out.  What SNAG does, you decide!

Best Wishes, Tim.

Generation Project – Take up Champion August 28, 2009

The Generation Project are running another programme providing information to anyone who lives or works in East Manchester, who wishes to help older people to improve their quality of life, by accessing benefits and services.
The programme takes place one day a week for 12 weeks. Each week someone from a different service or organisation comes and talks about the help they can offer to older people. The programme includes sessions on disability benefits, health services and carers support and includes trips out to centres. The training is FREE, lunch provided and fare money paid. The next programme begins on the 20th October 09 and will be on a Tuesday at the Openshaw Resource Centre.
For more information or to book a place contact Judith Baron at: The Generation Project, Phoenix Mill, Piercy Street, M4 7HY, on  0161 202 2522 or  by emailing jbaron@careandrepair-manchester.org.uk.

New Words for the your Dictionary June 19, 2009

Afternoon,

Have made submissions to Urban Dictionary in order that the words SNAG and Snaggers be known by their right definition:

SNAG
acronym for a sustainable neighbourhoods action group – “He joined his local snag because developers wished to build a massive supermarket in his town, which would but his local independent business out of business.”

Snagger
A word describing someone in a group (or group of people) who take(s) action to ensure the progression of sustainability issues in their neighbourhood(s) up the agenda of a local authority -
“Campaigners from a local snag were once again protesting outside City Hall today. The snaggers were demanding city leaders grant greater access to quality organic food growing land in their neighbourhoods.”

Site Under Construction March 27, 2009

Hello Everyone,

The Sustainable Neighbourhoods Action Group (SNAG) web-site is having a re-fit while still live.  I’m adding lots of useful information pages, (what we are, what we do and current projects/consultations etc) which can be found down the right-hand-side of the screen; if you can’t find what you’re looking for it’s because it hasn’t been uploaded yet.

If there is something you’d like to see on this site, please get in touch and I’ll look into it for you.

SNAG is the new name for Sustainable Neighbourhoods Pool which lets face it was a bit much to say and slightly ambiguous.

SNP Forum 26th February February 19, 2009

Hi All this quarter’s Forum is next week.  Apologies for tardy posting, but had to wait for confirmation from MCC on speakers and venue details.  Please see below:

Sustainable Neighbourhoods Partnership Forum,  26^th February 2009,  6-8 pm Committee Rooms 2 and 3, Manchester Town Hall

The February Forum will focus on two issues: Manchester’s Open Spaces, and  Manchester’s Climate Change Call to Action.

The Forum will consist of presentations on the issues outlined here, followed by facilitated workshops.

Open Spaces Study – presented by Caroline Wilkinson.

The study will provide an evidence base for the prioritisation of new open spaces and improvement of existing sites. The council will be using the information collected to develop a green space strategy, which will drive city wide improvements. The findings of the study will also be used within the new planning local development framework to help ensure that open spaces are provided of the right quality, quantity and in the right places across the city.
Carolyn represents PMP, who are the UK’s leading consultancy specialising in the strategy, finance and delivery of sport, leisure and culture. PMP have been working alongside Manchester City Council over the past two years to complete an assessment of open space, sport and recreation in the city.

Quality of life, social justice and low carbon environments: the win-win-win of sustainable neighbourhoods – presented by Jonathan Smales.

Beyond Green recently assisted Manchester City Council with its Climate Change Call to Action.

Jonathan Smales is one of the UK’s leading experts in sustainability. In the second half of the 1980s he was a Director of Greenpeace, contributing to the rapid rise in scope, scale and influence that this pioneering campaigning organisation achieved, bringing environmental issues to the attention of hundreds of millions of people and governments around the world.  Jonathan is now Executive Chairman of sustainability consultancy, Beyond Green.

Jonathan founded the Earth Centre Millennium project and charitable trust in 1990, was an adviser to the Mayor of Hanover on the 2000 World Expo, and was a member of Lord Rogers’ Advisory Board to Design for London. He is a regular contributor to conferences and is currently writing a book, provisionally entitled, “How Shall We Live?” as an up-beat manifesto for 21st century sustainable living, place and politics.

Beyond Green, which specialises in promoting greener and healthier lifestyles, low carbon cities and economies, sustainable places and communities, and communications, is strategic sustainability adviser to the Olympic Legacy (for which it also runs public consultation), and also researched and wrote the sustainable development strategies for the Homes and Communities Agency and the government’s Commission on Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

The workshops will focus on:

• How do we get all the different organisations engaged in the Climate Change Call to Action?
• What do you think are the barriers to engaging everyone?

You will be encouraged to contribute their constructive suggestions for priorities and action.

For Manchester Climate Change Call to Action please see Manchester Internet site links:

The full report is available via the Green City Team website page:
http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=500117&documentID=3833&pageNumber=3

You are advised to click on the blue banner at the bottom of the page

Executive summary is http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/ClimateChangeReport.pdf

If you have any difficulties with this or would like to request a hard copy, please email or ring Bryan Cosgrove at the Green CityTeam:
Phone: 0161 (800) 234 3218
Email: b.cosgrove@manchester.gov.uk
www.manchestergreencity.co.uk

If you would like to attend the Forum, please confirm to myself. If you would like to extend the invitation to others please let me know and I will arrange.

Tel: 0161 234 4125

Email: su.goldthorpe@manchester.gov.uk

Look forward to seeing you.

Kind Regards

Su

Su Goldthorpe
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Policy Officer
Economic and Urban Policy Unit
Room 307, Town Hall
Manchester M60 2LA

s.goldthorpe@manchester.gov.uk

Tel 0161-234-4125
Fax 0161-274 0035

Vacant Buildings Project January 8, 2009

One of the areas Manchester is struggling with with respect to the Local Area Agreement targets is bringing back into use vacant and derelict buildings.  Environment Network for Manchester EN4M (the Community Engagement Network I’m affiliated with) has received feedback from community and voluntary groups that they are finding it hard to find affordable accommodation and/or venues from which to operate their activities.  In some cases, groups have been evicted from property they and their volunteers have spent months renovating for use by the community.

This quarter Sustainable Neighbourhoods and EN4M wish to hold a series of meetings with key stakeholders across the city in order to put in place a mechanism or strategy whereby community groups can be matched to disused, vacant and blighted buildings.  The aim is to access these disused spaces at an affordable rent in return for refurbishment and general upkeep of the property and payment of utilities etc. This would be over an agreed time period to provide security to the community groups involved.
We hope to hold a big event in March to showcase the work, possibly in a disused building with food, drinks and art and Ultimately the skin and bones of a strategy for making this happen.
If you or your group would like to get involved, need space, or just wish to comment please get in touch.

Best Wishes, Tim.

Next Pool Meeting September 4, 2008

Dear Pool,

The next SNP Board meeting is on 6th October where the following items will be discussed:

Examination of performance against key indicators in the LAA; Housing Strategy and Action Plan (plus discussion on the Strategic Housing Review); Climate Change strategy and Action Plan.

If you would like to come and disuss the above topics, or wish to voice your own issues/concerns then please come along to the Pool meeting.

The meeting can be held between 22nd September and the 3rd October so please let me know which dates most suit you and I’ll arrange a meeting for the most popular date…

Let me know before the 17th September at the latest please so that I can book a room with relative ease…

See you there…

Best Wishes Tim

Sustainable Neighbourhoods Pool Meeting March 27, 2008

Sustainable Neighbourhoods Partnership Board Briefing.

The SNP Board is meeting on 8th April 2008 to discuss the performance of the Partnership. There will be a briefing meeting for Pool Members on Thursday 3rd April 2008 at Friends Meeting House, Mount Street (behind Central Library) Manchester. This is so we can discuss the Board Agenda and formulate a responce. Please see attached Board Agenda. For information on:

Last SNP Forum Meeting, Last SNP Review, SNP Work Programme doc, SNP Performance doc, NRF & ERDF spending doc, Working Neighbourhoods Fund Report doc, please contact Tim McMahon (sustainable@merci.org.uk) 0161 273 1736

agenda-8-april-2008.pdf

Project Officer Post: Environment Network for Manchester January 18, 2008

Initially for a two month consultancy with possible extension to one
year if additional funding is secured
February to March 2008. £10.38/hour, 37.5 hours/week (negotiable)

We are looking for a highly motivated and proactive individual for a two
month consultancy to deliver a project which aims to help community and
voluntary groups to influence decision-making on housing, environmental
and planning issues in Manchester. The ideal candidate will have
experience of working with community groups, promoting sustainable
development and delivering grant funded projects.

Please click here for more information, including the job description
and person specification.

Application deadline: 12 noon, Wednesday 23rd January