|
|
Here at MCRactive we’re working hard to support all residents to broadcast the many ways you can feel healthy and well in your mind and body. With the UK continuing in lockdown, it has never been more important to provide trusted advice and guidance to support and encourage Mancunians to proactively manage their well-being and be active at home.
Welcome to our next edition. Which includes clarity on updated government guidelines and the further easing of restrictions from 1 June; where you can now go outside more than once a day for exercise in groups of up to six people, as long as people from different households observe social distancing. Done responsibly and safely, this is good news for grassroots sport and physical activity. We hope you find these updates informative and beneficial to support your current lifestyle, and help you and your loved ones move more each day.
|
|
 Across Manchester, we're promoting daily messages of support, inspiration, guidance and updates to the city across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – tagging #MCRactive.
Follow @MCRactive to stay connected with the latest updates on staying active and healthy and share details with your friends and family.
We'd also love to hear about the innovative ways Mancunians are being active to share with others. If you have inspiring content – a short video, image or message, you can send via: info@mcractive.com or share them through @MCRactive on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
|
|
 We’re emerging from lockdown, understanding better than ever before the benefits that sport and activity can bring to mental and physical wellbeing. Thanks to the government placing exercise at the heart of its priorities, national values are being reformed around activity and exercise has been redefined as a necessity. Following an easing of restrictions from 1 June, you can now go outside more than once a day for exercise in groups of up to six people, providing social distancing is adhered to. Done responsibly and safely, this is good news for grassroots sport and physical activity and an opportunity for all residents to be supported and involved across Manchester.
MCRactive will review information on an on-going basis with the aim to keep all updated as things change. Stay connected with @MCRactive to keep updated on all changes and recent updates to guidance around outdoor exercising alongside sport specific guidance from England Athletics, England Rugby, The LTA and The FA. For anyone looking for further information regarding the government guidance around sport activities visit here.
|
|
 Welcome to the Rest & Relaxation Centre
MCRactive are extremely proud to have worked in close partnership with MCC, MHCC, MCFC including their partners F3, Baxterstorey and OCS and GLL to mobilise the National Squash Centre based on the Etihad Campus into a Rest & Relaxation Centre as part of Manchester’s emergency response to COVID-19. Many of our staff have been very supportive in assisting the NHS and social care staff whilst they make their visits from 7:30am – 10pm every day of the week. Along with this service, MCFC has opened various facilities to staff including a training centre and a click & collect shopping service. To see all the great work and for more info, click here.
NHS Thank You Wall
Whilst all the NHS staff use the Rest & Relaxation Centre to exercise, grab lunch and relax, we want Manchester to show gratitude to their continuous hard work. As a way to demonstrate this, we're calling on all Mancunians to send an image or message of appreciation to our NHS staff which will feature on a ‘thank you wall’ hosted within the centre. The wall will include as many thank-you NHS photos, pictures, messages, poems etc. we can source, so please forward your kind messages to info@mcractive.com.
|
|
Maintaining healthy in old age is crucial, for both physical health and emotional wellbeing, and finding ways to keep your loved ones active is a positive step in caring for them. In sustained support of our older and vulnerable residents, MCRactive continue to broadcast useful resources tailored to their ability across our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram whilst staying at home. So far, we have shared workout videos such as a unique video for over 65’s in partnership with TRIBE.MCR, perfectly geared for over 65s and anyone less mobile to boost mobility, elevate heart rate and help them feel good. Another great video shared is tailored for over 50s and requires no equipment to get involved other than a chair! View the full video delivered by Daxa from Whalley Range.
|
|
 MCRactive Active Schools Program Lead, Nathan Kirwan shares visions of the wonderful work taking place through the Active Schools programme. The team are working with Rolls Crescent Primary School in Hulme to deliver the Community Box initiative, providing food for the pupils and their families that are in need of support during these difficult times.
Working in partnership with Rackets Cubed and FairShare, the first shipment of food was delivered on Wednesday 20 May by MCRactive volunteers (Simon and Obinna). Along with food, the Boxes contain various equipment to be used for learning or exercise such as pens, pencils, colouring books and mini table tennis equipment. The food was prepared and picked up from the school by families the school had previously identified through their inclusion team. In the first week, they provided enough food for between 40 and 50 families with the potential to increase this if needed, with aspirations to support c. 250 schools. Nathan stated, “if this model proves successful, we’ll look to work with FairShare, Rackets Cubed and other partners to roll out in other Manchester schools”.
|
|
|
Following new outdoor exercising government guidelines, restricted play returned to parks of Manchester on 21 May, and has clearly demonstrated the local appetite from Manchester to get back into sport and get active outdoors. Compared with May bank holiday 2019, this year’s bank holiday weekend our parks welcomed a significant increase in Mancunians playing tennis at each of the outdoor tennis locations, with an average 109% increase across all sites from previous year, and a more than impressive growth At Chorlton Park of 626% - demonstrating that the local community around the park are utilising the free online bookings system and we’re ready for a game of tennis and trip to the park! Plans are well underway to add an additional 10 park tennis locations to the 7 parks and 25 courts already available to book online across the city and feed this demand… watch this space!
To book a court and enjoy a game, visit here. Please ensure you adhere to the guidelines when using any of Manchester’s outdoor sports and play facilities. Stay safe and stay active.
|
|
 Manchester clubs and community organisations continue to receive financial support with on-going support and guidance from MCRactive. This week the grand total hit £275k+ from multiple funding streams. Manchester clubs and organisations have successfully received £164,099 from SE Emergency Fund - which is now paused, and SE will be reopening it at some point in the future. In addition over £105k has been received by clubs and organisations from the Rates grants and there are still quite a few clubs with applications pending. Massive well done to all those involved! For anyone looking for further support or advice on anything, please don't hesitate to share our details or get in touch via; info@mcractive.com.
|
|
 Local Manchester swimmers have recreated the Manchester Aquatics Centre (MAC) virtually in reaction to missing leisure life during the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic and resulting nationwide lockdowns, swimming clubs around the world are keeping their athletes engaged on a variety of levels. This includes physical training via remote tools, virtual goal-setting, daily missions and stimulating contests. Falling into the latter category was a fun competition held by the City of Manchester Swim Team in Manchester, which demonstrated some killer out-of-the-pool skills by some of its teen members. “The guys decided to use Minecraft and spent 40+ hours putting it together with incredible attention to detail. Every room has been allocated for and designed.” said Matt Turner, the club’s Lead Performance Coach. Creating the masterpiece simulation were Ryan Coulthard (video creator), Ben Haughton, Reuben Rowbotham-Keating and Bobby Hulme, all members of City of Manchester’s National Squad. Click the image see the full masterpiece!
|
|
 Winning Hearts and Mind has officially launched their Activity Pack pilot for the local community in North Manchester. The pilot will see 30 activity packs both randomly and strategically dropped off to those who at this time are socially isolated and may be looking for activities to do to keep their minds healthy. The activity packs are essentially a tool kit to help them achieve this goal – by keeping them physically and mentally active offline. There are three elements to the packs such as mental creative & physical stimulation in the form of puzzles, arts and crafts and exercise sheets. Alongside this, there’ll also be information on how people can access WHM befriending offer; a telephone service where members of the community who may be lonely or isolated can request a weekly call for a general chat or a text conversation if they’d prefer.
The initiative is currently in its trial period, but WHM has already received positive feedback from residents and have had several partners asking if they’re taking referrals. All being well, the next step is to look at how they can scale up this offer.
|
|
#AllSortsToDo AT HOME!
 We're all spending a lot more time at home at the moment which means we're having to come up with new ways to keep the kids entertained. To make it easier for you, Manchester City Council are continuing to share various activities that parents, children, young adults and families can take part in without even leaving the house. Get inspired by signing up to their weekly e-bulletin that'll deliver ideas straight to your inbox including fun resources from us!
There’s All Sorts To Do At Home! Click here to sign up.
|
|
|
|
|
