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Month: November 2019

Photo: Manchester Animation Festival press

Preview: Manchester Animation Festival

Written by Josh Sandy on . Posted in Film.

The UK’s biggest animation festival, Manchester Animation Festival, is returning to the city for its fifth edition, with a brand-new 5-day format covering 10th – 14th November 2019.

Starting off with HOME’s Family Day on Sunday 10 November, and followed by the festival’s Educating Animators conference at Salford’s Media City on Monday the 11th November, the main animation festival runs at HOME cinema between Tuesday the 12th November and Thursday 14th November.

This year’s packed programme includes something for everyone, with a line-up featuring animated short competitions, feature films, retrospective screenings, workshops, networking events, panel discussions, masterclasses and screen-talks from industry professionals.

Over the course of the festival, 105 short films from 28 different countries will be screened alongside a host of exciting feature films — including previews of Annie Award-nominated Ruben Brandt, Collector and Annecy Award-winning Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles.

Other feature screenings include Aardman Animation’s A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Latvian environmentally-friendly adventure Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs and a unique opportunity to see Steven Universe: The Movie on the big screen.

Highlights of the festival’s masterclasses and panels feature a look behind the scenes of Netflix’s upcoming Christmas adventure Klaus, with the film’s animation supervisor Sergio Martins, and ‘Making it in Manchester’ —  an exploration into the what makes the city a key hub of the UK’s animation industry.

Outside of the festival’s screening and panel programming, Skwigly’s ever-popular quiz and the always lively MAFter Dark screening will be returning, alongside the MAF debut of comedy panel show Matt & Hal’s Gag Reels.

Festival Director Steve Henderson said “We’re delighted to be presenting another year of animated treats here in Manchester and welcoming audiences of all ages back to HOME. As the animation industry continues to grow we’re proud to be at the centre of it, showcasing the art and industry of this beloved medium.”

Tickets and passes are on sale now, for more details see their website.

 

Manchester hosts Make Yourself a Little Bit Famous launch

Written by Shaheena on . Posted in Books.

This week, Manchester hosted the launch of Penny Haslam’s new book, Make Yourself a Little Bit Famous.

Haslam is a recognisable face, having been a presenter for the BBC. She has now turned her efforts to promoting and aiding individuals in their visibility and confidence. In her new book, she recognises the difficulties of making space for your own voice in the world today. It can seem intimidating, and a little bit futile, to try and have a presence in our social media savvy world.

Haslam provides tips for self-presentation, accessing platforms such as broadcasting and generally boosting your visibility in the world. The idea of the book is: ‘get known for what you do’, whatever it is that you do. There are plenty of people in society, and probably people you yourself can think of or might know, who occupy the space of ‘being a little bit famous’.

It isn’t all that easy to keep up your own profile even once you’ve promoted it to a satisfying degree, which is why visibility is such a core part of being in the public eye.

As a student, you’ve probably had a situation that has required you to speak in front of a group, big or small, and you’ve maybe stumbled through it, or hit your stride. This might indicate whether you want to pursue a career partially in the public eye, but it might not. Whatever career you want to pursue, an element of public speaking is inevitable.

As a motivational speaker, Haslam provides plenty of tips in her new book on what to do in such a situation. You can never have enough tips when it comes to public speaking. If you think there are elements to your public profile you’d like to build on, Haslam’s book isn’t such a bad shout.

Further, proceeds made from the book will be donated to a local Mancunion charity, Coffee4Craig. This kind of cross-purpose collaboration is quintessential to our Manchester spirit. The CEOs Risha and Hendrix Lancaster joined Haslam at the book launch, joining a panel on which they spoke about being in the public eye. Media appearances are part and parcel of their role in charity work, for funding, raising awareness and getting the word out that their services are available for those who need them.

Penny Haslam’s Make Yourself a Little Bit Famous was published on November 5th and can be bought in-store and online. For further information on Haslam’s background you can check out her website.

Photo: Albert Herring @ Wikicommons

Manchester students urged to consider teaching careers

Written by Josh Sandiford on . Posted in News.

Manchester students are being encouraged to consider teaching careers, with a national recruitment campaign on its way to the city. 

Young people from across the region will attend the event in Manchester City Centre and are being urged to ‘tap into their talents’ and consider the profession. 

Experienced teacher training advisors and representatives from schools and universities will be present, offering insights into how to make a strong application. Information will also be available about the latest financial support students can receive to train. 

The latest recruitment drive is being supported by local teachers who will be on hand to share their experiences of the variety and fulfilment they get from working in modern schools today. 

Almost 9,000 people attended last year’s events, which are organised across different towns and cities by the national Get Into Teaching campaign from the Department for Education.

The programme aims to help graduates become teachers by providing guidance throughout the application process.

Trainee teachers can receive a £26,000 tax-free bursary to train. Newly-qualified teachers start on a minimum salary of £24,000, depending on the location.

Roger Pope, a spokesperson for the Get Into Teaching campaign and a National Leader of Education, said: “It’s a wonderful feeling knowing every lesson shapes a life. As well as the immense satisfaction of witnessing students learn and knowing you are influencing the next generation, teaching enables you to tap into your talents and passion for your subject.

“It also offers some very competitive financial rewards and long-term prospects. Anyone who feels they have the passion and potential to teach should come along to this event in Manchester.”

Applications for teacher training, starting in September 2020, are now open. 

The free ‘Train to Teach’ event is being held at the Renaissance Manchester City Centre Hotel, Blackfriars Street, Manchester, M3 2EQ on Saturday 16 November from 10 am to 2 pm. Visitors can turn up and register on the day.

UoM scientists lead the way towards revolutionising radiotherapy research

Written by Zahra Salimi on . Posted in Science & Tech.

Manchester scientists and clinicians have been rewarded a significantly large cash grant by Cancer Research UK to explore new radiotherapy techniques and technology with the aim of increasing the survival rate of cancer.

Cancer Research UK is investing a total of £56 million in Cancer Research UK RadNet making it the largest ever investment, contributed by the charity towards radiotherapy research.

From this total sum, an amount of £16.5 million is being awarded to the experts from the charity’s Manchester centre over the next five years, with the aim to develop new and innovating state of the art radiotherapy treatments, which will be accessed by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

The Manchester centre is an important infrastructure for radiotherapy research and technologies. In the past, it has been awarded a Radiation Research Unit status with funding for both research groups, and more importantly, it has been chosen as one of the seven centres of excellence in the UK that will accelerate advances in radiotherapy research.

This recent funding will support the researchers at the University of Manchester collaborating with The Christie to utilise high-tech radiotherapy treatments such as proton beam therapy or MR-Linac machines, a combination of an MRI scanner with radiotherapy machine that results in a more accurate treatment. It will also include FLASH radiotherapy which delivers ultrahigh radiation doses in fractions of a second.

The use of radiotherapy is widely popular these days. Annually, over 130,000 patients are treated with radiotherapy on the NHS. Among the major foundations supporting radiotherapy treatments and research in the UK are Cancer Research UK and The Christie. Collectively they have sponsored some of the earliest research into the treatment of cancer with radiation, as well as initialising the use of radiotherapy in the 1920s.
Simply, this treatment kills the cancerous cells by blasting them with x-ray radiation, which irreversibly mutates their DNA.

The lead researcher for the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre, Professor Rob Bristow, who alongside works as the director and Chief Academic Officer at The Christie, commented on this achievement: “We are very proud that Manchester has been awarded this grant to bring the next generation of radiotherapy treatments to patients sooner.

“The funding will support us to develop new radiotherapy technologies to help more people survive cancer, with fewer side effects and a better quality of life after treatment.

“Our work will look at how the latest technologies can work in tandem with other therapies, including immunotherapy. In addition, by identifying the biological indicators of cancer success or failure, we hope to increase personalised treatment to patients. In Manchester, many of our patients have pre-existing medical conditions and our unique program of research will help us to decide on the most suitable treatment for them.

“We will also be delving further into the underlying biology of the tumour to find ways of preventing tumours from spreading and how to reduce the side-effects of treatment. All of this is only possible with the infrastructure and expertise we have on hand here in Manchester.”

Highlighting the significance of the radiotherapy research, Michael and Ruth Brierley, from Blackpool, Lancashire had a story to tell.

In December 2017, the couple booked an appointment with a doctor after noticing their daughter’s left eye has turned completely inward. Just days later, at the age of four, their now six-year-old daughter, Skye, was diagnosed with an inoperable, fist-sized tumour behind her nose and eye.

The family spent nine weeks in the U.S. with Skye undertaking around 31 rounds of treatments using proton beam therapy. Now, after about two years, thanks to the treatment and the new care provided for by Manchester healthcare centres, Skye’s cancer is now stable. Although she has regular check-ups in Manchester for monitoring her health, she has returned to school and is enjoying life again.

Skye’s Dad, Micheal said:“Without the scientific research that developed proton beam therapy, things could have turned out very differently.”

Highlighting the significance of the new grant, Anna Taylor, Cancer Research UK media spokesperson, commented: “This award is fantastic recognition of the world-leading radiotherapy research taking place in the North West, which will help shape a better future for people with cancer through new technologies and treatments.

“People in the region have every right to feel proud of the ground-breaking research being carried out on their doorstep and of their fundraising efforts, which are helping to beat the disease.”

She continued: “Every hour, around five people are diagnosed with cancer in North West. That’s why we’re working every day to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. But we can’t do it alone.”

Review: Doctor Sleep

Written by carlfitzgerald on . Posted in Film.

I was somewhat tense about Doctor Sleep. In terms of the recent boom in Stephen King adaptations, the year has been a slow one. Pet Sematary was mediocre and IT: Chapter Two shot for epic, but landed on tedious.

So a two-and-a-half-hour long, thirty-year-late sequel to The Shining, based on a source material deliberately distanced from Stanley Kubrick’s film, seemed like it was set-up for disaster. There is a saving grace, however, in the form of the writer-director, Mike Flanagan, who manages to take the audience’s hand through this messy minefield and create a final product that is as good as it could’ve been.

The film follows Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) in the present day. First, in a bar, he is still haunted by his experience at the Overlook and at risk of falling into the same pit as his father. He begins to find ways to cope with his trauma; compartmentalising his experiences and finding an outlet for the shining as a hospice worker helping to ease the suffering of those dying.

However, he’s thrust into opening some closed wounds when Abra (Kyliegh Curran), a powerful shiner, is targeted by the True Knot, a psychic cult, led by Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), who painfully steal the life force from shiners.

Even at one-hundred and fifty minutes, that’s a lot to squeeze in. Despite this, Flanagan is, for the most part, up to the task. He works us through heavy story beats, like Danny’s relationship with the patients at the hospice and his psychic connection with Abra, in a way that is efficient whilst also allowing the emotions to be felt. This is helped mostly by the performances, with all the main actors, including recasts, doing a pretty good job.

Flanagan also manages to find a consistent tone between himself and Kubrick. Despite the odd reference, Flanagan makes most of the film his own while still keeping the slow-burn and atmosphere of the original film. There are one or two eye-roll worthy moments of unnecessary referencing, but, besides that, he does a good job.

Where Doctor Sleep loses points is in the villain department. The True Knot have, incredibly, little stage presence. The only impressionable members are Rose, one teenage runaway with a backstory that goes nowhere, and a guy whose only screen presence comes from being played by Carel Struycken.

The rest are just baddie fodder. While this isn’t too important, as the film is more about internal demons than external, we see this group perform some intense and evil acts and they deserve more of an atmosphere than this.

Doctor Sleep is one of those films that’s as good as it can be. It has an ace card in the form of Flanagan’s direction and solid lead performances helping to ease it steadily into place. It won’t be for everyone and it will certainly divide die-hard Kubrick fans. But for what I thought it would be, and what it is, I’m glad I saw it even if I wouldn’t watch it again.

3/5

Cause of rare genetic brain disease discovered by UoM

Written by Elizabeth Openshaw on . Posted in Science & Tech.

Researchers at the University of Manchester have helped identify the cause of a rare genetic brain disorder which can cause difficulty in walking, and epilepsy.

An international collaboration included researchers from the University of Manchester, the Manchester University Hospital Foundation Trust (MFT) and the University of Amsterdam. They worked together to identify a new cause of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias (HSP).

HSP is a group of rare inherited disorders that can cause weakness and stiffness in the leg muscles. Nerves in the spine, which normally control muscle tone and movement in the lower body, deteriorate over time. More complicated forms of the disease include symptoms such as paraplegia, epilepsy, hearing loss and dementia.

Using zebrafish models and cell samples from five patients with the disease, the researchers studied the effects of HSP and the underlying genetic cause of the condition.

Published in Brain, the researchers discovered that a gene called PCYT2 played an important role in HSP. PCYT2 encodes an enzyme, which creates a lipid, which is used to build cell membranes throughout the body, and is particularly abundant in the brain. Researchers also found that the lipid is important for the development and function of the brain.

They found that zebrafish who had no PCYT2 activity had significantly worse survival rates than zebrafish with normal or reduced PCYT2 activity. It was also discovered that HSP is caused by mutations in the PCYT2 gene, which results in reduced activity.

Researchers in Amsterdam also used the samples of the patients to identify abnormal biochemical signatures in their cells and blood. These signatures could potentially be used as markers to help diagnose patients with HSP.

Dr Banka, a researcher on the study who works at Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of MFT, said, “This link between academia and the NHS means we can translate research from the bench to the bedside, for the benefit of our patients. The identification of more patients in future will help in better understanding of the effects of HSP”.

There is no known cure for HSP, but the knowledge of this study, alongside further research into the PCYT2 gene, will help contribute towards the development of treatments for patients with HSP and other related conditions.

Photo: courtesy of Everyman Cinemas

Preview: Stealing Sheep ‘“Big Wows” Video Series Premiere at Everyman Cinema

Written by Tobias Soar on . Posted in Film, Arts, Music.

On Wednesday, 13 November, Manchester’s Everyman Cinema is joining forces with the biggest design festival in the North, Design Manchester, to host the Stealing Sheep “BIG WOWS” Video Series Premiere as part of the DM19 programme.

Liverpudlian electro-pop trio and 6 Music favourites, Stealing Sheep, have teamed up with pixel animator Emily Garner A.K.A Pastel Castle, to create a video series to accompany their latest album Big Wows, released by Heavenly Recordings, April 2019.

Pastel creates a video odyssey, that links the songs to retro games and arcades, in a glitchy pixel multiverse, featuring Stealing Sheep as various characters including tamagotchi pets, cyber fairies, superheroes, and Zelda inspired avatars.

Everyman creates innovative bespoke experiences in each of its 30 independent cinemas, including its annual Everyman Music Film Festival every spring, album launches, performances, live broadcast arts events and parties, which, combined with its focus on creative design, make it the perfect spot to premiere Stealing Sheep’s “BIG WOWS” video series.

This video series premieres at Everyman Cinema Manchester with live “sing-along” karaoke hosted by Stealing Sheep, a Q&A with the band and director, plus an afterparty DJ set with Stealing Sheep.

Bex M and Luci say: “We’ve been virtual friends with Pastel (Emily!) for a while and we always love what she’s posting online…we loved listening to her music, watching her animations and seeing her game designs. She did a cute video for a Liverpool punk band called ‘Eye saw and the Jinx’ which had some funny satire stuff going on, it felt very on point and witty!”

“She has a positive, glistening energy that really stands out and she has pink hair and loves “Adventure Time” so we knew we were made for each other!!! We were really excited that she said ‘yes’, she’s brought so much to the album, it’s like having a new band member! She’s our hero!”

Pastel says: “All of the videos have been built digitally frame-by-frame at my home animation studio in Leeds. I tend to consume a lot of sugar and chocolate while working, especially on long 10-18 hour animation shifts. I also tend to rinse full cartoon series from start to finish during animation work (recently including Neo Yokio, Adventure Time, Bravest Warriors, My Little Pony, Rilakkuma and Kaoru, Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul and Pokemon Indigo League).”

 

Want to score yourself a ticket? Check out the Everyman website.

Review: Non-Fiction

Written by Georgina Davidson on . Posted in Film.

Parisian comedies can, at times, be filled with particular tropes of French life; they have been described as very specific and at times overtly regional. However, Olivier Assayas’ Non-Fiction delves quite playfully into a warmly depicted Paris without straying too often into a lazily overrun soap opera style.

The key characteristic that keeps the film alive is its delivery of timely jokes about the destructive nature of technology whilst light-heartedly mocking the strange affairs (on and off paper) between the characters.

The characters have a youthful drive within them. They, at times, seem completely consumed by desire which, within seconds, is played off with light, sometimes on the nose, humour. This kept the film at a pace, but there was an overreliance on jokes, most of which were shown in the trailers.

For example, a reoccurring and obvious nod to Star Wars is made when discussing a very bizarre cinema tryst, thus cementing a foundation for the type of comedy to come.

The film does not go entirely without entering into soap opera territory though, which is as frustrating as its attempts to try and be funny. For a native English speaker, the jokes are not particularly hard to grasp but, nevertheless, there is a certain arrogance about the prose used to describe certain surroundings and behaviour. Therefore, this couldn’t ever be described as a worldwide cinematic masterpiece, but it is, mostly, an easy watch.

The language is detailed and earnest, but not verbose or too pretentious for an audience to grasp; there are plenty of visual cues and gesturing which tells a story of its own. Much of the film revolves around conversation and communication whether that is via phone or collectively amongst friends and fellow writers.

The various rooms of the apartments, cafes, and homes they move through are specifically decorated, but are frequently warmly lit, revealing a cluttered and ever so slightly cliqued world of the professional writers and actors that occupy it.

Selena (Juliette Benoiche) gives a stand-out performance. Benoiche has further cemented her ability to capture an audience with her witty and knowing portrayal that continues to build and develop. Despite her performance, it is eventually lost to Benoiche’s star quality at the end.

Of course, she is a huge French talent, but for a British audience, some of the jokes on her part may seem slightly over-indulgent and play specifically to her ego. Somehow, however, I found her interactions with Léonard (Vincent Macaigne) quite hilariously charming; they seem poorly suited and it is unclear if the affair really ever occurred.

Although enjoyable and light-heartedly amusing, Assayas’ film relies heavily on specific timing and allows for the affair of the characters to be without consequence. This, in itself, is quite a funny concept, but it is also kind of disturbing with the big reveal at the end of the film. Scenes that go nowhere also plague the early part of the film and it would be interesting to see some more character development, particularly across the female leads.

2/5.

Hockey Olympic qualifiers: a dramatic end to proceedings

Written by tomreynolds on . Posted in Sport.

British hockey fans can book their flights to Tokyo after Great Britain’s men’s and women’s teams secured their places in the 2020 Olympics last week.

The women beat Chile 2-1 (5-1 on aggregate) following early goals from Tess Howard and Laura Unsworth. The men went through with an emphatic 9-3 aggregate score against Malaysia after they won the second leg 5-2.

The women’s team will enter the Olympics with high expectations, following their Gold in Rio. Many of the stars from that tournament such as Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh have retired and goal-scoring legend Alex Danson has been battling a long term brain injury.

Despite these concerns, fans of Team GB can be excited by the call up of Wales captain and solid defender, Leah Wilkinson.

The men’s team will be hoping to improve on their 2016 Olympic performance after they crashed out at the group stage.

They will be relying on prolific goalscorer Alan Forsyth, whose hat trick helped in the thrashing of Malaysia, and experienced captain Adam Dixon to ensure a better performance this time around.

The Ireland men’s team will not feature in Tokyo after their match against Canada ended in an unsuccessful shootout for the greens. The loss was not without controversy. A dubious last-minute decision by the video umpire gave the Canadians a penalty stroke, with just one second left on the clock.

Scott Tupper’s finish meant Canada won the match 3-1 but the score was level at 6-6 on aggregate. It was an emotional fall at the final hurdle for Ireland.

Defender Jonothan Bell was distraught after the defeat, suggesting that the video umpire should “hang his head in shame” over the horrendous penalty call.

Ireland’s women’s team fared better in their shootout against Canada. As a result, they have qualified for the Olympics, so we can expect to see them in Tokyo next year.

They will go into the competition with confidence after they claimed their first World Cup medal in London last year. Their shock run to the final made them a favourite amongst neutrals and they hope to continue their giant-killings in Tokyo.

Captain Katie Mullan suggested that the Irish team will be looking to “ruffle a few feathers” in 2020, so they will definitely be a team to keep an eye on.

The Olympic competition will run from late July to early August and will take place on the two pitches of the Oi Hockey Stadium, which have capacities of 10,000 and 5,000 fans respectively, and a turf made of re-growable materials- the first of its kind.

Lewis Hamilton at silverstone

Hamilton wins historic sixth Formula 1 title

Written by Kate Jackson on . Posted in Sport.

Lewis Hamilton has won his sixth Formula 1 World Championship after finishing second in the US Grand Prix behind his Mercedes teammate, Valterri Bottas. 

Bottas had a slim chance of keeping his Championship hopes alive, but he needed to win the race and have his British teammate finish no higher than third. The Finn led from the start of the race and displayed some fantastic driving, but Hamilton did enough to claim second place and, with just one race in the season remaining, secure enough points to clinch the title.

The historic sixth title for Hamilton now puts him just one title behind the record holder, Michael Schumacher, and makes him only the second driver to reach six F1 titles. The dominance of Mercedes over the last few years means that this is his third title in a row and his fifth in the past six seasons. Hamilton won his first title with McClaren back in 2008, aged 23, and was the first black driver to win the Championship.

However, the race to claim his sixth title wasn’t easy for Hamilton.

After problems with his brake bias switch during qualifying, Hamilton started fifth on the grid. After pulling himself into second, the Brit opted to stop in the pits only once during the race, which meant his tyres were pushed to their limit towards the end of the race. 

Even though Hamilton had passed Red Bull’s driver Max Verstappen earlier in the race, the Dutch driver made it a nervy final few laps for Hamilton as he made a late charge towards the Mercedes driver. Despite Verstappen’s best efforts, however, Hamilton finished 0.845s ahead of the Dutchman, securing second place and his title. 

Hamilton was overwhelmed with his historic win, saying: “How am I supposed to feel? I remember watching this sport when I was younger. It’s odd to watch it and see someone in the TV set and now to be the person in the TV set and to be doing something like the great that I saw in Ayrton [Senna] and the great I saw in Michael.

“It’s beyond surreal that my life journey has brought me to this point in winning the sixth title.”

Hamilton’s teammate Bottas praised the Brit’s achievement but was disappointed with his own season: “Obviously big congrats to him. I personally failed with my target this year, but he deserved it this year. He had some season.”

Former rival, and four-time champion, Sebastian Vettel added: “Now is the time to write as many good things as you can. If someone wins the title six times, then he deserves all of it. That’s what I told him as well.

“I am happy for him. I am not happy we were not in contention, but you need to respect what he achieved in the last years and this year together with his team, how strong they’ve been.”

Debates around the greatest ever Formula 1 driver have included Hamilton’s name for years. It’s not hard to argue that he is one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history as, alongside his six titles, Hamilton holds the record for the number of points in the Driver’s Championship (3399) and a record number of pole-positions (87). 

Hamilton will only definitively hold the title of ‘the greatest ever’, however, if he is able to surpass Schumacher’s record. There is no doubt though that Lewis Hamilton is one of Britain’s greatest athletes and will undoubtedly be in contention, once again, for ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ when the award is announced in December by the BBC. 

Photo: IDuke @ Wikimedia Commons

Controversial proposal to build on Levenshulme Country Park approved

Written by jamesshepherd on . Posted in News.

Controversial plans to build 57 new houses on Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme have been approved.

While Manchester City Council’s committee voted that they were minded to refuse the plans earlier this year, the development has been approved on the condition that the developer, Towerhouse Systems, contribute £150,000  towards the funding for improvements for Highfield Country Park.

The now-approved plans propose the building of 57 three to four bedroom houses, 20% of which will be affordable, on 1.6 hectares of land adjacent to the park. 

The plan to build has been a subject of debate since May of this year as local campaigners, many of whom were schoolchildren, felt the proposals would entail the destruction of a well used public space if enacted.

Opponents in May’s town hall committee meeting expressed concern that the development would result in heavy traffic in the area and would also prove detrimental to the accessibility of the park as a community facility.

Despite the developers pledge to contribute £150,000 to the upgrading of the country park, many members of the local community remain critical of the plans and are disappointed by the decision to approve them, with one resident describing them as a “disgrace”.  

Local resident Rob Booth told the Manchester Evening News: “This and all prior proposals to build on the land have been strongly objected throughout the local community including by Councillors and MPs.

“While Towerhouse Systems have argued the proposed site for development is not used for recreational activity,” Booth claimed, “the removal of the area would be unduly harmful to the recreational, health and wellbeing needs of the local community.” 

Councillor for Levenshulme, Bernard Stone, added: “I would like to say that I am very disappointed with the decision. Local residents and councillors fought hard to oppose the development. We will now be ensuring that the money from the developers is used to enhance Highfield Country Park”.

Authorised Press Shot

EP Review: Feet of Clay by Earl Sweatshirt

Written by Alan Thomas on . Posted in Music.

On Vince Staples FM! last year, an interlude teased that, California rapper and Odd Future member, Earl Sweatshirt would be producing new music. He went on to put out his third studio album Some Rap Songs, an introspective, emotional project which has been compared to underground classic Madvillainy for its extraordinary lyricism and eccentric sample-based production. Less than a year later, after a quick Twitter announcement, Earl has released his second EP, Feet of Clay.

In a Pitchfork interview, Earl stated he was excited that Some Rap Songs was his last album with Columbia Records as he was “free to do riskier shit”. The production retains the same off-beat, hazy quality but, rather than a collage of layered samples, the instrumentals feel more minimalist and darker in tone, aided by the cover. In terms of subject matter, he continues to reflect on the past and his current mental state over 7 tracks stretching 15 minutes.

‘74’ opens the project with a lo-fi piano sample and Earl does what he does best, rapping an intricate verse with plenty of impressive wordplay and one-liners. ‘East’ has an interesting but extremely jarring Eastern accordion sample which, unfortunately, drowns out Earl’s hypnotic flow as he reflects over the loss of his loved ones and subsequent alcoholism.

‘Mtume’ continues on the same subject matter but does feel a little bit out of place on the EP due to the more traditional hip hop soul sample, courtesy of The Alchemist. ‘OD’ is back to samples of horns and vocals as Earl discusses his loneliness, displaying his storytelling ability. Fellow sLUms collaborator Mavi, who recently released his debut studio album Let the Sun Talk, provides potentially the best verse of the lot as he joins in on pondering over the past on ‘El Toro Combo Meal’.

Although the track ‘Tisk Tisk / Cookies’ is under 2 minutes, it is nevertheless divided into two halves. ‘Tisk Tisk’ finds Earl branding a former friend a snitch over a woozy beat, with samples from a relevant episode of The Boondocks, before ‘Cookies’ clears up the beat with jazzy loops for Earl to continue rapping about losing friendship. The closing track ‘4N’ is the longest track he has released in years at nearly 5 minutes and although featured artist Mach-Hommy’s intro runs a little too long, the rappers pen dark verses over a fuzzy, laid-back instrumental.

There isn’t a single point on the EP where it feels that Earl’s rapping dips below the incredibly high bar he has set for himself but, as a whole, the songs do not flow nearly as well as Some Rap Songs. It was an enjoyable surprise release just after Halloween and, although it may just feel like a collection of leftovers, any new Earl Sweatshirt is always welcome.

7/10

The Bauhaus in Britain: Beyond Bauhaus at the RIBA

Written by Lisa Habernik on . Posted in Arts.

This year marks 100 years since Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus school in Weimar, Germany. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in London are among many institutions around the world that are celebrating the centenary. The Bauhaus school consisting of Gropius and his colleagues such as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Oscar Schelmmer, introduced a new era of design and art that has shaped our modern world. “Form follows function”, the now-famous words of architect and “Father of modernism” Louis Suillvan, became a basis for the Bauhaus philosophy which put sleek design, functionality, and technology at the forefront of the aesthetic practices.

Photo credit: Lisa Habernik

Beyond Bauhaus is based across two floors in the RIBA building, focusing on the moment “Britain became modern”.  The relationship between the Bahaus started when Walter Gropius, László Moholy-Nagy, Marcel Breuer, and other fellows moved to London in 1933 to escape the politics of Weimar Germany, staying until 1937 whereupon they moved to America to pursue teaching and better opportunities.

 

Photo credit: Lisa Habernik

The exhibition is set in a dark room where columns in 3 different colours rise from the ground. These columns feature cut-outs in the characteristic Bauhaus shapes (Triangle, Square, Circle). They allow the viewer to look within the columns and view the components of the exhibition: original drawings, contemporary photographic works, and films. They highlight the influences of the three Bauhaus members on Britain’s modern architecture. Or, perhaps more accurately, the ones that could have been. The sketches demonstrate the unrealised designs that were rejected by Britain. Walter Gropius’s innovative housing complex Isokon 3 and Marcel Breuer’s model of a modernist urban environment Garden City of the Future demonstrate the potential the artists saw for Britain. It is ironic, then, that the first displayed item in the exhibition is the menu card for Marcel Breuer’s farewell dinner in 1937.

A further focus lies on the integration of Gropius and other Bauhaus figures into British society. It explores the building of their relationships with British architects, and the subsequent development of architecture once they had immigrated to the United States.

 

Photo credit: Lisa Habernik

Upstairs, a room is dedicated to László Moholy-Nagy’s work and the relationships made during his stay in Britain. This includes his graphic design work for the essay ‘Leisure at the Seaside’ commissioned by the Architectural Review.

Beyond Bauhaus ultimately dulls in comparison to other Bauhaus exhibitions.  This can probably be traced to the approach of the exhibition, as it demonstrates that, compared to other nations, Bauhaus ideas had little impact in Britain. It appears that the exhibition demonstrates some artistic license approach to modernism; the relationship between modernists and Britain is presented as slightly stronger than its reality. What the exhibition does highlight, however, is that while Britain may not have been ready for the radical ideas of the Bauhaus, the Bauhaus’ legacy was significant for the architects and modernists that followed after.

The exhibition continues at the RIBA until the 1st of February. Admission is free.

Review: ‘What’s in a Mind?’: A Night of Poetry Looking at Mental Health

Written by laurenpoole on . Posted in Arts.

Set in the cosy upstairs area of Fuel Cafe Bar in Withington, the ‘What’s in a Mind?’ spoken word night was by far one of the most supportive and welcoming poetry events I’ve ever attended. The event was held by Open Mind Manchester, a University society supporting students suffering from mental illness. The event’s host, Gus, described the event as “opening up the dialogue about mental health and providing a safe space for people going through similar issues.”

This was definitely achieved. Despite initially being intimidated by the large crowd and daunting stage, performing was not nearly as terrifying as I’d anticipated. In fact, the atmosphere was so encouraging that many people who hadn’t signed up even felt comfortable volunteering to perform last minute, once the second half had finished. 

What’s in a Mind? attracts a diverse mix of talented performers ranging in experience, style and subject matter. Themes included bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD, sexual assault and body dysmorphia. Delivery style also varied, from hard-hitting to comedic; particularly memorable examples of both were ‘The Worst Housemate Ever,’ a light-hearted third person commentary on living with yourself and your mental illness, and Manny Oladipo’s ‘Suspended’, an artfully rhymed and arresting piece about the effects of anxiety on the sufferer’s life.

Despite the heavy subject matter, the message I left with was one of hope. As one poet noted during her preamble, one of the most difficult things about mental illness is the feeling of ‘otherness’: feeling disconnected from people around you, and alone in your struggles. Bringing people together to openly share art they’ve created from their darkest moments creates a sense of solidarity that is unique to events such as this one. It reminds us that we are not alone in our experiences; there are always others going through similar things. 

One of the final poets of the night decided to read a piece at the last minute. He received a wonderfully encouraging round of applause after revealing to the audience that he had never performed before. The poet introduced his work by talking about how, despite having had difficulties finding treatment and therapy that worked, he is currently seeing a counsellor who has helped him make progress he never thought he’d make. He told the room, ‘If you’re looking for help and haven’t found anything that works yet, or haven’t found a therapist who works for you yet, keep looking, they’re out there,’ before joking that he should be a case study in a textbook to prove that the right treatment really does help. His inspiring preamble had a profound effect on the room; everyone was smiling, and it truly ended the night on a collective moment of joy and hope. 

Whether you want to perform, or just come to listen to others’ stories, What’s in a Mind? is a relaxed, enjoyable and thought-provoking night packed with talent, which provides an inclusive and welcoming safe space to talk openly about mental health. 

Students accepting unconditional offers 10% more likely to drop out

Written by Sanjana Meka on . Posted in News.

A recent report published by the Office for Students (OfS) found that the drop-out rate among students who entered university with unconditional offers was 10% higher than among those who had not. The study also showed that the number of unconditional offers received by students has increased, with almost one in three students having received at least one offer with an unconditional element. 

The ‘End of the Cycle’ report released by UCAS showed that Nottingham Trent University gave out 8,660 unconditional offers, making it the highest given by any provider. The University of Manchester does not currently have any unconditional offer initiatives, with almost all the offers it made being conditional. According to a study published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), UoM had 3.7% of UK domiciled full-time undergraduate students discontinuing their education in the 2016/17 academic year.

The OfS report showed that Russell Group universities such as the University of Birmingham also give out a large number of unconditional offers through their Unconditional Offer Scheme.

Such a scheme is also available at the Manchester Metropolitan University, which “aims to identify exceptional undergraduate applicants”. Through this, students can go on to apply for an Academic Achievement Bursary. According to the same HESA study, the University had 7.9% of UK domiciled full-time undergraduate students leave higher education in the 2016/17 academic year.

Earlier this year, ex-Education Secretary Damien Hinds described the use of conditional unconditional offers as “unethical” and a “pressure selling” tactic. Such type of offers usually requires the student to choose the university as their firm choice to make the offer unconditional, which means that the student has secured a place at the university irrespective of their grades.

The University and College Union’s general secretary, Jo Grady, called for an “urgent reform” of the admissions structure. Grady stated that universities sending out large numbers of unconditional offers are “often more focused on the bottom line than on student interests”.

Speaking to The Guardian, a spokesperson from the Department for Education said: “We [also] have particular concerns about the use of conditional unconditional offers, which can potentially pressure students into accepting a place which may not be the best option for them.”

Photo: Maria Rimmel @ Commons

Opinion: All of the hate Hobo Johnson receives is exactly why you should be listening to him

Written by Reece Ritchie on . Posted in Music.

“To Hobo Johnson, Earth’s imminent demise won’t be because of climate change or nuclear war. Instead, the apocalypse will arrive the next time a girl he likes doesn’t text him back”. This is how Pitchfork opened their recent album review of The Fall of Hobo Johnson, demonstrating just a fraction of the criticism that Frank Lopes Jr. receives from popular music publications.

Yet with such negative press, how did the Lovemakers frontman secure himself, all within a year, an American tour, European tour and a headline spot on the festival republic stage at Reading and Leeds festival earlier this summer?

From humble beginnings producing music out of his car while homeless, adopting the alias Hobo Johnson, Lopes’ musical career has come far more from DIY beginnings than the ‘bedroom beats’ creators such as Ratboy. This alternative start to music has become the recurring theme in all things Hobo Johnson, from his patterned shirts, to his open admittance of his core shaking fear of death and the unknown. The creator of the viral hit ‘Peach Scone’ is anything but your ordinary musician.

It is this alternative nature that earns him love and respect from fans and less prevalent media sources such as NPR, whose Bob Boilen’s Tiny Desk Concerts competition gave Hobo Johnson and the Lovemakers their big break as their entry ‘Peach Scone’ exploded to the current point of having over sixteen million views on YouTube. It is also a weird-ness that has resulted in him being an artist that many people love to hate, but that’s exactly why many love to love him too especially his latest record.

Frank Lopes Jr detailed his desire to “make sure that every song on his new album sounded different” to NME, before the release of The Fall of Hobo Johnson. This is certainly something Hobo Johnson delivers on, and delivers well. The record was released on Friday the 13th of September earlier this year, and delivers everything from heartfelt ballads such as ‘Mover Awayer’ to a live rendition of ‘February 15th’, an acoustic performance desperately exposing Frank’s loneliness. The album also includes political commentary flavoured with Hobo Johnson’s own personal brand of humour in ‘You & the cockroach’. It is not often that a musician releases an album so varied and unique, yet so coherent, with some of the more peculiar sounds included in ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Ode to Justin Bieber’ complimenting the almost punk opener ‘Typical Story’.

Each and every song produced by Hobo Johnson seems destined for the stage, with live performances being where Frank reaches his peak and delivers his greatest sounds, supplemented by his band the Lovemakers. In the modern age of music streaming an artist sounding their best live can be a detriment to both their careers and their fanbase, yet, this is something Lopes Jr almost embraces. Constantly on tour with the Lovemakers, the quality and captivity of Hobo Johnson’s live performances are something that earns him almost as many new fans at festivals as being featured on Spotify viral playlists and the billboards heat seeker chart.

This is all due to the real emotional connection that Frank Lopes Jr is able to convey; exposing his own vulnerability and difficulties in life shows a real dedication to his music. Even in 2019 it is not often that men are celebrated for their vulnerability. Talking openly about his hopes for life in ‘I want a dog’ has earnt Hobo Johnson more than enough critics.

Hobo Johnson represents a potential turning point in modern music where men can talk about their feelings; this alternative can really be individual without having to be the same as everyone else that’s alternative. Breaking the mould of what an artist should look like, sound like and write like is something many people simply aren’t ready for yet, but for those who are Hobo Johnson has it all.

Featured in Forbes, reviewed by NME, Pitchfork and The Needle Drop by Anthony Fantano, Hobo Johnson has come a long way from the back of his 94 Corolla. Although he may have his critics, there seems to be no stopping Frank Lopes Jr and his European Fall tour this year isn’t one to miss. For every reason that makes him an individual, critics find another reason to hate on Hobo Johnson. But for every reason thst Frank Lopez Jr is critiqued for, there’s another reason you may just love him for.

Manchester has always embraced the alternative; holding those who are different high, and celebrating what makes each of us individual. This is something I feel shows that this fine city should be at the forefront of giving artists like Hobo Johnson a chance – a chance that, once given, isn’t likely to be regretted.

Photo: @MaxPixel

Review: Sorry We Missed You

Written by Jade Yong on . Posted in Film.

Ken Loach returns just three years after his critically acclaimed I, Daniel Blake with another critique of working conditions in Britain. His socialist leanings are still apparent in his latest release, Sorry We Missed You, and the signature Loach established in the 60s remains relevant as ever with a general election in sight. 

Witty, dismal and infuriating, Sorry We Missed You shines its spotlight on the struggles of a working-class family in Newcastle, and how the demands of our merciless modern system can infiltrate into, and tarnish, personal relationships. 

Father and husband Ricky (Kris Hitchen) is promised entrepreneurial freedom at the franchise ‘Parcel Delivery, Fast’. But Ricky’s every action is monitored through a tracker-scanner by his boss, Maloney (Ross Brewster), who denies him a single day-off. The illusion of self-ownership quickly collapses. 

This device reminds us of how the digitisation of service work demands impossible standards from workers. The impact of this pressure is sinisterly and brilliantly portrayed as Ricky’s stress culminates in him hitting his teenage son, Seb (Rhys Stone). Seb’s rebelliousness captures the spirit of younger generations: increasingly disgruntled at the false promise of opportunity while our parents beg for our compliance to the entrapping path of school, university, a job. 

There is so much to admire about Abby (Debbie Honeywood), the exhausted mother and wife whose resilience as an ever-busy care-worker is overlooked by her family – an astute reflection by Loach on how the sacrifices begged of working mothers make their lives especially difficult.

The role of Liza-Jane (Katie Proctor), their eleven-year-old daughter and pacifier of family fights, movingly displays the trauma experienced by children in families made turbulent by financial insecurity. British capitalism affects the most vulnerable and protects those who can resist any humane regard for them, the film suggests. 

By the end, Ricky ends up in hospital after being severely beaten up and his tracker — worth a grand — is smashed, making him further indebted to the franchise. The screen blackens after a final image of him driving his van, bloody-faced; “I’ve got to go to work,” he insists, now almost slavishly. Loach ingeniously highlights the inherent paradox that lies in the idea of individual liberty under zero-hour schemes lauded by Tory governments, himself commenting in an interview for RTÉ: “Patrick’s forced to exploit himself. It’s a perfect system… for the employer.’”

The film admittedly follows a somewhat predictable storyline, but perhaps only because it lends itself to the social-realist genre. Personally, Loach’s traditional methods of storytelling make complex socio-economic issues necessarily digestible and relatable to the average viewer.

I think the comic interjections in this film, especially, distinguish it from I, Daniel Blake. The banter between characters highlighted their humility in a callous meritocracy; it humanises them and makes their struggle even more heartrending. Comparing this film with his last masterpiece, I think Loach deserves another two Palme d’Or awards for the flawless Sorry We Missed You. 

5/5.

Photo: Stuart Simpson

In Conversation with The Ninth Wave

Written by Jess Foster on . Posted in Music.

“We’re fed up of being known as a post-punk band. We can do more than that”, Millie Kidd of The Ninth Wave tells me.

It’s my lunch break, and I had the opportunity to catch up with half of the Glaswegian duo over the phone, as unfortunately Haydn Park-Patterson and his incredible mullet were stuck at work. The Ninth Wave have gone from strength to strength in 2019, from the release of the first half of their debut, to touring with the likes of Yonaka and The Blinders.

Their album Infancy Part 1 was released this April, and Millie is unable to describe the second half of their record in just three words. In the end she settles for “unexpected, but not out of place”. The first six tracks included the hauntingly beautiful ‘Used to Be Yours’ alongside the brilliant ‘This Broken Design’ and all its 80s New Wave influences. Talking about how the songs were separated between the two albums, Millie describes having to find a balance between the two. She adds that in the recording studio it seemed that some tracks just “belonged together”.

The conversation continues on the topic of Infancy Part 2, with ‘Flowers in The Woods’ being the track that she is most excited for everyone to hear. The Ninth Wave are known for the array of sounds and instruments projected in their music, from synth to “drumming outside”, which was apparently featured in the recording of ‘Flowers in The Woods’.

When asked about the meaning behind their latest single and music video, ‘Human Behaviour’, Millie explains that “it is like finding tranquillity in disappointment, finding strength in something that should break you down.” The stunningly gothic music video fits into the aesthetic of the band, and depicts the pair tied in ropes. “It is about literally breaking ties with another person,” she continues, but admits that they were sceptical about its reception. Being so dissimilar to its predecessor, ‘Imitation’, Millie is adamant that they wanted to push the boundaries and “do more”.

On and off stage, the deep friendship between Millie and Haydn is undeniable. Surprisingly, however, Millie “hadn’t seen him in eight years and didn’t know him” before The Ninth Wave. Now, she gushes about not being able to imagine life without him. She talks of how there are “no barriers” to their friendship and they are “together 24/7.” Admitting that she was unsure whether Haydn’s tendency to spit on her onstage was purposeful or not, she describes everything as a laugh when sharing the stage together.

I probed Millie about their best memories together, and she laughs, recalling a time when they were recognised in Texas. “There was an Americana band playing in this old bar, and we got onstage and asked to borrow their instruments, and then played ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ until we were told to leave” she tells me.

During the live performances of The Ninth Wave, they are known for getting up-close and personal with their audience, which Millie tends to do during ‘Used to Be Yours’. She thinks it is “funny to see how [the crowd] react” and that “it’s nice to get offstage”. Moving the conversation towards the visual aspects of their shows, in terms of their costume, Millie answers “one day you can be something, the next it can change.” It appears that it is heavily dependent on whatever they are inspired by.

Growing up in Scotland, many of their first performances originated in Glasgow. Talking of Scottish crowds, Millie describes there “being nothing like them.” She reflects on the tight-knit aspect of their community, suggesting that the “hype men” at their shows are usually their friends in the crowd. However, she mentions their support slot for the Brighton-based Yonaka at London’s Heaven in May of this year and how great that crowd was, being close to the “ridiculous” nature of their home crowds.

For the next coming year, Millie simply states that she is “most excited to write more and develop more as a band”. Be sure to listen to Infancy Part 2 when it drops on 15th November, and to grab a ticket to their date at the Soup Kitchen, here in Manchester the night before.

 

Photo: Paul.h @ Wikipedia

Review: The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Written by jamesmccafferty on . Posted in Film.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco arrives in cinemas following a successful Kickstarter campaign and with two acclaimed production companies behind it: Plan B and A24. The film is based partly on the life of Jimmie Fails, who wrote it alongside Rob Richert and, director and childhood friend, Joe Talbot. Playing a fictionalised version of himself, Jimmie attempts to reclaim the beautiful childhood home built by his grandfather in a San Francisco neighbourhood that has experienced rapid gentrification.

The heart of the film lies in the relationship between Jimmy and his best friend Mont Allen (Jonathan Majors). Living together with Mont’s Grandpa (Danny Glover), they enjoy a friendship that serves as the film’s comedic core but is at the same time beautiful to witness on screen. Both actors are fantastic but subtle, never resorting to dialogue when visual acting can serve the purpose more effectively, capturing a mutual support and love that is difficult to achieve.

An unexpected star of the film is San Francisco itself. As Jimmie attempts to navigate his conflicting feelings of identity and belonging, this struggle is reflected not only through the supporting cast of characters but through the city itself. A series of brilliant point-of-view shots highlight the contrast in the demographics of the city and how the two main characters are perceived in different parts of it. In addition to this, the dazzling cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra captures the essence of San Francisco’s urban landscape in a careful and deliberate manner.

 

 

Despite dealing with difficult and potentially controversial themes, The Last Black Man in San Francisco contemplates instead of preaching, and allows the viewer to reflect on the characters and events that it showcases. The complex nature of the characters, and how they find themselves torn between different versions of themselves, links back to the idea that our initial feelings aren’t always fair or accurate. Even the seemingly villainous group of young men who hang around on the street outside Jimmie and Mont’s house, often shouting abuse at the two friends, eventually show their nuances as the film progresses.

Underlying these themes and in a sense bringing them together is the way that Mont attempts to understand and explain his own feelings through art. All the way through the film he is shown with a pencil and notebook in hand, making sketches of the people he knows and endeavouring to write a play about them. Given that this film is rooted so clearly in Jimmie’s own life, this aspect of the film seems particularly important as Mont attempts to process his own experiences and relationships.

By combining intelligent direction and cinematography with stellar performances, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is able to let the audience enter the world of the characters on screen. In doing so it serves as a thoughtful exploration of ideas about belonging, expression, friendship, and identity.

4.5/5.

photo courtesy of Mark Hobbs at FareShare Greater Manchester

A morning with FareShare Greater Manchester: a food re-distribution charity

Written by beckymundill on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Each year the food industry wastes 270,000 tonnes of edible food and FareShare Greater Manchester plays a monumental role in combating this. Every day, come rain or shine, a flurry of vans emerge from a warehouse in the New Smithfield Market on their mission to provide meals for those in need, help combat poverty, and save the environment.

Along with 60 other volunteers, I spent a morning redistributing surplus food around Manchester and reaching out to food banks, primary school breakfast clubs, churches, and homeless shelters to provide food for those who need it the most.

FareShare is simple; it operates nationwide and takes surplus food from supermarkets and food companies and redistributes it. In Greater Manchester they feed over 26,000 people a week through its 200 charity partners. The EMERGE warehouse I went to in Manchester, although small, plays a vital part in this. Volunteers ‘pick’ and sort through the food that is donated, then load it into vans which are driven by a driver and an assistant to reach the chosen charities where the food is unpacked, prepared and given out.

During just one morning of working in the vans with Les, a retiree who for the past four years has been giving one day a week to volunteer, I helped to hand out 3.5 tonnes of surplus food which equates to 8,293 portions. We provided food for homeless shelters, helping to fight the ever-growing homeless crisis in Manchester, and at breakfast clubs in schools to ensure all children are given the opportunity to flourish in education. All this after only three and a half hours of work – imagine what could be achieved in just one day.

My morning of volunteering also helped to save 12.98 tonnes of CO2 emissions as the food that would have gone to landfill sites was instead eaten and enjoyed. In this way, FareShare fights pollution as well as combating hunger. So what’s stopping you from getting involved?

By 2022 FareShare hopes to provide 7 million meals a year and it needs as many volunteers as possible to achieve this. By volunteering at FareShare you can submerge yourself in the local community, get a better feel for Manchester whilst escaping the uni bubble and earn a sense of satisfaction and purpose. You will also have the opportunity to work in a friendly team who have just won The Spirit of Manchester 2019 Award in recognition of their hard work in giving back. 620,000 people in Greater Manchester live in poverty and together with FareShare you can help to provide the vital food these people need.

Getting involved with FareShare Greater Manchester is easy. Whether it’s volunteering in the warehouse or in the vans or if you’re looking for a different experience you could help in their offices, it’s really simple to make an impact. The warehouse is just a 50-minute bus ride from the Fallowfield Sainsbury’s, so put yourself out there, help those in need and change up your week a little.

To get involved head to their website.