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 Thursday 9 April 2020
Dear Colleague,
Before we look ahead to the bank holiday weekend we want to take this opportunity to once again thank each and every one of you for all you are doing to help keep our services running.
Whether you are doing your job from home, out on the front line, or perhaps now doing something different to help keep our essential services operating, you are all making a difference.
As our friends, families and communities start to think about the bank holiday weekend, everyone must continue to adhere to the Government’s guidelines and stay at home. With so many things on offer virtually, from culture to leisure and activities to entertain children, we are all asked to demonstrate our commitment to help stop the spread of the virus.
Tonight we will one again join thousands of people around the country to clap and pay tribute to the NHS, carers and essential key workers who are working around the clock in difficult circumstances to support us. By staying at home we are helping them to do what needs to be done as safely and swiftly as possible. Join us at 8pm tonight as we say a universal thanks, especially to our colleagues and partners who will be delivering essential services across Manchester over the bank holiday weekend.
As we reach the end of another busy week, the third in the official lockdown, we’ve been continually inspired by the way Council staff and the people of Manchester have responded to this crisis.
We are facing some of our toughest challenges yet, and how we behave and act during these unprecedented times will form part of our legacy. We are proud that the city, its people and our fantastic staff have come together and once again demonstrated that true Manchester spirit to keep things moving.
Today we would like to share with you some staff stories that make us smile, give us hope and recognise that despite all that is happening there are some fantastic examples of staff doing what needs to be done in a safe and sometimes unusual way.
We also would like to mention our dear friend and colleague Councillor Sue Murphy, who sadly passed away on Tuesday 7 April. The online book of condolence is now open for all to pay their respects.
Have an enjoyable bank holiday weekend, stay safe, and thank you.
Sir Richard and Joanne
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Doing something different to help our communities
The Bread and Butter Thing is a Manchester-based charity that makes life more affordable for people on a low income. We have heard about the great work our staff are doing, including Javed Iqbal, a Business Support Officer in Housing, who is now doing something completely different to his day job:
 Similarly, John, a Highways operative from Rosgal – our Highways partner – is also working with The Bread And Butter Thing every day, and his team couldn’t be more proud:
 Food parcels are being stored at New Smithfields Market and it's fantastic to see staff from different services now working there to help distribute the goods to vulnerable residents across Manchester.
Dianne Sakalas and Deborah Fuller are two officers working on the new Manchester Community Response Hub helpline but their official job is working as neighbourhoods officers.
They put themselves forward to help people in our communities by operating the helpline. Dianne and Deborah have spoken of how incredible it felt to know they were lending a hand and helping those residents who were in the greatest need.
We want to say a huge thanks to everyone who is doing something different to help our communities. We want to share lots more of your stories to thank you for your hard work and commitment. Please share them with our internal communications team.
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Our communities need us – can you help?
If you are not already working for an essential service, you could make a difference by taking on a new role on a temporary basis to help colleagues and essential services in need.
Have a look at the different roles and activities that need filling, and register to do something different by completing our Google form.
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Libraries 3D printing Personal Protective Equipment
The Business and IP Centre in Central Library is helping the COVID-19 response by using their 3D printer to create parts for protective headgear for health and care workers.
The team has been working with a local engineer to produce much-needed face protection for GPs and health and social care workers, as part of the ShieldNHS initiative.
The simple design, which takes around 90 minutes to print, can be found online and is being widely used around the world. Once printed, the part is passed to the team in charge of co-ordinating the distribution of Manchester’s personal protection equipment.
Tiernan Newell, a member of the Libraries’ team, has temporarily set up the printer at his home and is working tirelessly to keep the process running – day and night. He’s also using his own self-built printer so we can double the output.
It’s early days and the process is yet to be perfected, but it is hoped that Manchester Libraries will soon be able to produce around twenty sets a day.
For more info contact Jonathan Ebbs (j.ebbs@manchester.gov.uk)
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A small act of kindness helps mum and daughter stay in touch
As many of us are trying new digital ways to keep in touch with our loved ones, there are many amusing stories of video calls and online conferencing not always going to plan.
Here’s a picture Debbie Thomas, Employee Operations Manager in Technical Pensions, shared with our internal communications team of her video call with her mum, Audrey.
One of the carers at Audrey's care home kindly lent her their personal mobile phone and set up a Facetime call to Debbie. As you can see, Audrey couldn’t quite get the hang of the screens, so Debbie had a 15-minute conversation with her mum’s hair!
However, thanks to the kindness of Debbie’s mum’s carer, Debbie got the chance to chat with her mum – virtually face to face – which meant a great deal to them both. Knowing that her mum was being taken care of allowed Debbie to stay positive and continue with her work.
Such small acts of thoughtful kindness, and the actions of many of our care home staff and carers, are helping families to stay connected and keep their spirits high.
We’re sure many of you have had moments like this with relatives or with colleagues, so let us know.
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Food for families and our most vulnerable
Inflight catering company Alpha LSG has donated nearly 25,000 plain meals that will make up part of the food-response provision for vulnerable residents who need this vital support. The meals will be collected and stored for free by Lineage Logistics ready for a Council team to distribute the food across the city, with the aid of partner agencies and volunteers.
These preprepared meals will boost the number of food packages being delivered to residents each day. It’s another fantastic example of partnership working and just one of the countless cases of generous spirit we’re seeing across the city.
Since the community food-response service has been operational, we have received requests to feed approximately 400 new people each day. However, it isn’t just food that is needed, with 75% of people requiring supplies such as nappies, baby formula milk, toilet rolls, incontinence pads, and washing powder.
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PPE Mutual Aid Hub
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve heard lots in the media about the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
It is essential that we distribute this to front-line workers as quickly as possible, and that is why the PPE Mutual Aid Hub – Manchester and Trafford – has been set up. This emergency response ensures that we get supplies to healthcare commissioners and providers if they are running out of equipment.
So far, 289 mutual-aid deliveries have been made; that’s an average daily issue of some 7,000 gloves, 5,000 fluid-repellent masks, and 6,000 aprons. Huge thanks and credit to all Council staff involved, including Warred Siddall, Tim Keeley, Gareth Nixon, Gary Campin, Philip Bradley, Dave Thorley, and Sophie Black, who between them are working in partnership with Health to support in project management, operations and logistics.
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Keeping our city moving
It is a challenging time for us all, not least for those services still working to keep our city moving. Juggling resources and adhering to Government guidelines can be difficult, but it is amazing to hear from colleagues in the Highways Maintenance Service who have pulled together and have even found themselves involved in helping deliver support for the new NHS Nightingale Hospital North West.
  Here is David Price and Robert Walker at the sign shop with one of the new Nightingale Hospital signs
With the support of Northern Marking, Highways colleagues completed this wonderful gesture at the new NHS Nightingale Hospital North West in honour of our NHS heroes.
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GP practices and pharmacies to stay open during the Easter Bank Holidays
GP practices are going to be open on Good Friday (10 April) and Easter Monday (13 April).
For your safety, all Manchester’s practices are initially speaking to their patients over the telephone or video, or by completing an online consultation form. Your GP will do all they can to help you in this way so you don’t need to leave your home. However, should they feel the need to see you face to face for an examination, you will be invited to the surgery for review. Do not go into your GP practice in person without prior agreement. Please use these services responsibly and appropriately to ensure people with the most need receive care during the pandemic. You can find out more at www.mhcc.nhs.uk/news/eastergps/
Pharmacies across the city will also be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday from 2–5pm, as will many Manchester pharmacies, which are open throughout the Easter weekend.
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Keeping active
Our physical health has a big impact on how we feel. We are living in unprecedented times, and it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour that end up making you feel worse.
If you are able to go outside, why not consider a walk or gardening (keeping the recommended 2 metres from others as outlined in the social distancing guidance). If you are staying at home, you can find free easy 10-minute workouts from Public Health England, or other exercise videos to try at home on the NHS Fitness Studio.
Dave Roscoe, Development and Special Project Manager in Planning Licensing and Building Control, has even filmed his own fitness video that you can all watch here. Move over Joe Wicks, there’s a new PE teacher in town!
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Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are seeking your help to drive home the #StayAtHomeGM message
While the majority of residents are adhering to the Government’s directive, a small minority are not.
GMP are asking for front-line workers in Greater Manchester to record a quick video for sharing on social media about the importance of staying at home, protecting the NHS, and saving lives.
Please send videos to Greater Manchester Police via WeTransfer to gtrmanchesterpolice@gmail.com or access via https://wetransfer.com
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Painting a picture of hope
Diana Mather, who works in the People, Policy, and Reform team, sent in this fantastic picture of a phoenix she drew – a phoenix rising from the ashes that she sees as a symbol of hope that we too will rise out of this challenging situation we currently find ourselves in.
Diana shared this with her team to help inspire hope, and wanted to share this with you too.
Thank you
Once again, we'd like to thank all our staff and partners for their tremendous help in supporting our efforts to fight coronavirus.
We will get through this – together.
Stay safe, and remember stay home to save lives this bank holiday weekend.
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