Winter Gorton and Levenshulme
Please note: This guide is from Winter 2022. New advice will be available shortly.
We know this Winter will be hard with the cost of living crisis, but there is lots of support out there locally if you do need it. To help local people, Manchester Local Care Organisation’s integrated neighbourhood teams across the city have worked with colleagues at Manchester City Council and the voluntary sector to produce a series of neighbourhood service guides .
The guides outline much of the local support that is available across each neighbourhood. These include food banks, warm hubs, befriending services and other local offers.
The booklets complement the citywide support available through Manchester City Council’s free cost of living advice line. This free telephone line offers support with benefits and help with your rent, advice about debt and paying bills , food support and help to get online (support to access the internet, laptops, phones and data). The advice line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm on 0800 023 2692. You can speak to someone about the support that is available. You can also text on 07860 022 876 or visit manchester.gov.uk/coladvice
You can view the information for Gorton and Levenshulme in the categories below or download a PDF version of the booklet here [PDF 3.5MB].
Gorton Community Grocer – Pay £3 for approximately £12 in value of food. Appointment is required. There is often a waiting list for this service so there maybe a wait until you can attend. Please contact us to find out more.
- Thursdays 2 to 6pm at Gorton Central, Gorton Community Centre, Highmead Street M18 8PE
- Contact info@hmhc.co.uk, call 0161 2223 633 or visit www.hmhc.co.uk to get in touch.
Gorton Food Hub – Gorton Food Hub is situated at Gorton Central community centre in Gorton and is a place to access low-cost food projects. Currently Mustafia Sharif Charity deliver a grocer service from the hub every Monday, excluding bank holidays, from 10:30am to 12:00pm.
- For more information about accessing or running a project at Gorton Food Hub please contact Zara Bullock at zara@hmhc.co.uk or 01612223633.
Meals for Kids – Kids eat free and adults at reduced cost at Levenshulme Inspire.
- Wednesday evenings 3 to 5pm
- Levenshulme Inspire, Stockport Road M19 3AR
The Bread and Butter Thing – The Bread and Butter Thing makes life more affordable for people on low incomes, builds stronger communities and reduces food waste. Pay £7.50 for £35 worth of shopping. Text 07860 063304 with your full name, postcode and the name of the HUB you’ll be collecting from (see website for HUB locations)
- www.breadandbutterthing.org
- Our local hub is at Levenshulme Inspire, Stockport Road M19 3AR.
The Gherkin, Levenshulme – Wheelchair-friendly bistro offering free/discounted food and other items.
- 312 Slade Lane Levenshulme, M19 2BY
- Call 0736 880 8870 for more information
- Pay what you feel meal – Monday, 3pm to 9pm
- Free food for refugees and asylum seekers – Monday, 3pm to 9pm
- Kindness Cabinet: offer of groceries, books and other items – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Food Cycle – Food Cycle provide free meals to anybody that wants, no sign up no eligibility needed. Always vegetarian.
- Thursdays between 7 and 8pm
- Levenshulme Inspire, Stockport Road M19 3AR
Help through Hardship – Free helpline providing income maximisation and benefits advice, signposting to other specialist advice such as debt and housing, and food bank referrals.
- 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
- Call 0808 2082 138.
Citizens Advice – Levenshulme Inspire host video meetings with Citizens Advice for general advice and support on a wide range of topics.
- Every Friday between 10am to 1pm
- Levenshulme Inspire, Stockport Road M19 3AR
Manchester Credit Union
A member owned financial co-operative, providing an easy way to save and affordable loans when you need them. Open to everyone who lives or works in Manchester. All services are available online at www.manchestercreditunion.co.uk or you can also visit MCUs branches:
- City centre branch at Queen’s Court, 24 Queen Street M2 5HX – open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
- Wythenshawe Civic Centre branch at Unit 10, Haletop, Wythenshawe Civic Centre M22 5RN – open Monday to Friday 9am to 3.30pm
HideOut Youth Zone – Manchester’s HideOut Youth Zone provides a safe, inspiring place for young people aged 8-19 (and up to 25 for those with additional needs) to spend their leisure time. It’s open 7 days a week, offering over 20 creative and sporting activities every night for just 50p per visit! Until the end of February Half term (2023) hot meals will also be free to all attending members.
- Hideout Youth Zone, 1, Queen’s Avenue, M12 5PX
- Available to members of Hideout Youth Zone (new members can join)
- Find out more about the different activities at www.hideoutyouthzone.org
Surestart – Sure Start Outreach can support families with children aged under 5 years with financial issues; debt; food poverty. Families must have a child under the age of 5.
- St. James Children’s Centre – 0161 745 7001
- Sacred Heart Children’s Centre – 0161 245 7180
- Levenshulme Children’s Centre – 0161 219 2958
Inspire Taskforce – Support and activities for older people in Levenshulme and Gorton.
- Mondays – Pub lunch at the Bluebell 12 noon to 1.30pm and Happy Mondays at Levenshulme Inspire, Stockport Road M19 3AR 2 to 3.30pm
- Tuesdays and Thursdays – Exercise and Eat 10am to 1.30pm at Levenshulme Inspire
- Call 0161 850 4044 for information.
Arcadia Leisure Centre – The Leisure Centre is providing a range of sessions to connect people to the local community.
- Mondays over 50’s brew and a chat 10 to 11am
- Tuesday to Thursday free tea and coffee from 10am to 12 noon
- Saturday and Sunday free wifi and a warm space between 9am and 5pm
- Located at Arcadia Leisure Centre, Yew Tree Ave, Levenshulme M19 3PH
St. Peter’s Church – Light lunch, various refreshments with different activities including craft, games and films.
- Tuesday afternoons from 12 noon to 3pm
- Located at St Peter’s Church, A6 Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 3BS (opposite Arcadia Leisure Centre).
ALL FM – ALL FM 96.9 is an award-winning community radio station based locally. They can offer free radio & podcast training to improve confidence, communication skills and provides a voice to many Manchester communities. It’s for anyone over the age of 18 plus some courses are designed specifically for children. Arrive knowing nothing about presenting and producing and finish the course by going live on the station.
- Based at Levenshulme Old Library, Cromwell Grove M13 3QE
- Call 0161 248 6888 or visit www.allfm.org
The Bread and Butter Thing – The Bread and Butter Thing makes life more affordable for people on low incomes, builds stronger communities and reduces food waste. The team are putting on a Warm Hub session immediately before distribution sessions.
- Warm Hub with free tea and coffee on Fridays 11.30am to 1.30pm at Inspire, Stockport Road M19 3AR
Gorton Library at Gorton Hub – Gorton Library’s brand new building at Gorton Hub offers a modern designed interior and a new space-themed children’s library. They are a warm space and offer a weekly coffee morning for everyone as well as free Internet and Wi-Fi, and an IT room for you to receive basic IT training.
- Monday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5pm
- Tuesday 1pm to 8pm
- Wednesday closed
- Thursday 10am-8pm
- Friday 10-1pm Self service / 1pm to 5pm
- Gorton Hub, 27 Garratt Way M18 8HE
Keep Warm Club at Levenshulme Old Library – Warm Hub with hot drinks and device charging. There’s no charge, no questions asked and everyone is welcome.
- Mondays 9.30am to 2.30pm
- Levenshulme Old Library, Cromwell Grove M13 3QE