As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder many of us are in need of a Winter Warmer.
We've pulled together some ways to feel good and do good in Salford this festive season.
Open our virtual advent calendar - each day you can uncover a feel-good highlight including Christmas appeals, gifts that give back, festive volunteer opportunities and good news stories from our sector.
View calendar here!
Salford Winter Warmers
In the meantime, there are many ways you can support local good causes. November is a busy month for our sector with Giving Tuesday taking place at the end of the month and preparations for Charity Week well underway - take part and show your support for your chosen charities!
Other opportunities to do good and feel good include:
Virtual Winter Market
The Salford Seasonal Market is a showcase of local and socially conscious independent businesses, suppliers, and VCSE groups across Salford and Greater Manchester.
If you would like to be added to the market please get in touch with jessica.clark@salfordcvs.co.uk
We are not affiliated with any of the businesses or organisations listed.
Wishing Tree
This year, CommUNITY Little Hulton are asking that instead of donating presents that you pick a person from their wishing tree.
- Come into the hub and take a tag from the wishing tree - the tag will have the name of a person to buy a gift for
- Buy a present for your chosen person
- Wrap and return the present with their name tag to the hub (you can add your name if you wish)
- Let CommUNITY Little Hulton work their magic and get your present to where it belongs
If you would prefer to donate something to the hub or if you know of anybody who may like to be featured on the tree, please message or call 0161 790 7072.
The Hub is located at Little Hulton Big Local, Little Hulton District Centre, Little Hulton, Manchester M28 0AU - drop off by Monday 15 December.
Irlam Community Christmas Markets
Sunday 12 December
Princes Park Garden Centre, Liverpool Rd, Irlam, Manchester M44 6BR
Visit a Christmas Market for stalls from local businesses, Christmas Trees and grab a hot drink at Roosters Coffee Cabin.
Visit their Facebook page for details.
Christmas Fair and AGM
Saturday 11 December, 12pm – 4pm
Peel Park, The Pavillion, Little Hulton, M38 0BT
Join CommUNITY Little Hulton, for a Christmas Fair with Christmas stalls, fairground rides, Santa's Grotto, refreshments, face painting, kiddies crafts, tombolas.
For more information contact Alison 0161 790 7072
Christmas Arts and Crafts
Saturday 11 December, 1pm – 3.30pm
Swinton Shopping Centre, Chorley Road, M27 4BH (meeting outside Costa)
Join Avison Young and Groundwork GM for a day of Christmas activities:
- Wreath making
- Card making
- Tree decorations...and many more!
Learn more about what they are doing to green Swinton Square.
Y Carols, Comedy and Beer
Tuesday 14 December, 6.30pm
The Castlefield Hotel, Liverpool Road, Manchester M3 4JR
Join the Y Club community for a Christmas celebration of carols, beer and mulled wine with Tony Vino.
Stand up comedy, spoken word, poetry and the chance to sing favourite carols while enjoying your favourite tipple.
Free entry
Christmas Oxfam Shop Assistant
Christmas is a very busy time for Oxfam's shops with just a short window of opportunity to capitalise on people searching for perfect sustainable presents! The money raised funds Oxfam’s emergency and development work all over the world, for example providing clean water and sanitation to camps for displaced people. They are particularly looking for volunteers to work on the shop floor but a willingness to adapt to the needs of the business is beneficial.
Find out more and express interest.
Christmas Volunteers - Stork Support
Visit from the Stork would love to have some more help over the Christmas period (November- January) and they need volunteers for our Stork Support project. If you’re in Manchester (particularly North and East Manchester) or Salford (all areas including Irlam), have a car or bike and can spare a few hours a week to deliver essential items, they would love to have you!
The Stork Support project delivers essential items such as nappies, toiletries and milk (plus toys, food and clothes) to families who are in vulnerable situations such as fleeing domestic violence, living in emergency accommodation, in debt or having no recourse to public funds due to their immigration status. Volunteers can choose when they are available and decide if they can help deliver when we send the list of referrals out to the team. All out of pocket expenses will be paid.
Getting help
We are compiling an online directory with details of local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector services operating over the holidays, as well as details of Salford City Council services and local NHS services.
Visit the directory.
Salford CVS
The Salford CVS office will close at 4.30pm on Thursday 23rd December 2021.
We will resume our regular office hours (9am - 4.30pm) from Tuesday 4 January 2022.
You can contact us on 0161 787 7795 during office hours or you can email office@salfordcvs.co.uk.