Local food banks, warm hubs and other support available near you.

Winter services guide - Higher Blackley, Harpurhey and Charlestown

Image of the cover of the booklet for the neighbourhood. The cover is orange with white writing.

Winter Higher Blackley, Harpurhey and Charlestown

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

View the information in the categories below or you can download the PDF booklet for Higher Blackley, Harpurhey and Charlestown here [PDF approx 3.5MB].

Food banks and essentials

The Church of the Apostles social supermarket – Membership provides access to low cost food, household goods, gifts and toys when available. Supports people who are within a 15 minute walk

  • Tuesday 12noon to 4pm, Wednesday 12noon to 7pm, Friday 12noon to 4pm and Saturday 12noon to 2pm
  • Located at Church of the Apostles, Ridgway Street, Miles Platting M40 7FY.

Humans MCR community grocers – Provides access to groceries for a small weekly charge which is much lower than normal prices. Delivery based service and delivery day is dependent on location. There is a yearly membership fee of £5 and a small fee for the weekly shop ranging from £6.75 for a single adult through to £20.75 for a family of eight.

  • Visit www.humansmcr.org/grocers/ to register or call 0161 243 0171
  • Delivering Monday to Friday each week excluding public holidays.

The Bread and Butter Thing – The Bread-and-Butter Thing is a charity that offers affordable, healthy food. 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. Local hubs are:

  • Blackley Community Hub – collections on Thursday 10:30pm until 1pm.
  • Lily Lane Primary School – collections on Tuesday 1.30pm until 2pm
  • Manchester Communications Academy – Tuesday 3.30pm until 4pm
  • Gateway – Church of the Saviour – collections on Monday 1:30pm until 2pm.

Humans MCR emergency food parcels – Provides emergency food parcels to households. Delivery based service. Referral required from a health professional, school or support service.

  • Referral partners should email info@humansmcr.org to receive the online referral form.
  • Delivering Monday-Friday each week excluding public holidays.

ReflecTeen – Provides food parcels to families and also provide support for youth development and family wellbeing. Booking is essential, children must be under 16 and commit to attend a skills programme.

  • Call 0161 900 8083 or email admin@reflecteen.org.uk
  • Located at 310 Broadhurst Community Centre. Lightbowne Road. M40 0FJ

Miles Platting Community Grocer – Provides access to groceries for a small weekly charge which is much lower than normal prices.

  • Queensbury Court, Wardle Street, M40 7DD
  • Open to people living within 15 minutes’ walk.
  • Membership £2.50 for a shop
  • Thursdays 12.30pm to 2.45pm
  • Contact for an appointment. Call 07793186763 or email gemma.bennett@jigsawhomes.org.uk

Financial advice and other support

Blackley Community Hub – Various support on offer which changes on a weekly basis. The Blackley Community Hub is a place where any member of the community can gain advice and support around a wide range of topics. They work with a number of organisations and agencies to deliver much needed support that research has shown hasn’t been accessible to the Blackley community.

  • Based at St Paul C of E Church on Victoria Avenue M9 6RA
  • Visit their facebook page, call 0161 740 5231 or email hbccmanc@outlook.com for information on what’s on.

The Chatterbox Project – Community centre and gardens, offering support and activities for all ages.

  • Chatterbox, 70 Booth Hall Road, M9 7BL
  • Call 0161 795 6162 or email info@chatterboxproject.com for more information
  • Winter Warm Wednesdays, 9.15am to 2pm -refreshments, support and signposting to services
  • Food Pantry – Mondays, 1.30pm – 2.30pm.

No. 93 Wellbeing Centre – Community hub, including gardening, relaxation, exercise and mental health support sessions.

  • Informal drop-in 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.
  • No. 93, 93 Church Lane, Harpurhey, M9 5BG
  • Call 0161 271 0908.

NEPHRA Good Neighbours, Moston – Various support on offer which changes on a weekly basis. Open to all, offering advice and support around a wide range of topics. Community allotment space, classes, events, meals on wheels service, befriending scheme and lunch club.

Across Ummah – Across Ummah CIC is an organisation that works to reduce crisis in family, health and mental wellbeing.

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 city centre branch:

  • City centre branch at Queen’s Court, 24 Queen Street M2 5HX – open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm

Digital support

North Manchester Community Partnership – Providing digital support with any online forms including Universal Credit or any other online benefit application, Council tax, school applications or viewing your rent account. Can also help with online basics such as email, uploading documents, data advice and device support. Everyone welcome. Call 0161 792 9760 or email hello@nmcp.org.uk for more information. Local sessions take place at:

  • Harpurhey Sure Start, Upper Conran St M9 4DA -alternate Thursdays 12noon to 4pm
  • Simpson Memorial Hall, 361 Moston Lane, Moston M40 9NB – Monday and Wednesday 9am to 3pm
  • No 93 Harpurhey, 93 Church Lane M9 5BG – Tuesday 10am to 2pm and Thursday 10am to 12.30pm
  • Caritas Collyhurst, Nobby Stiles Drive M4 4FA – Wednesday 12noon to 2pm
  • Lalley Centre, Eggington Street, M40 7RG – Wednesday 10 am to 2pm
  • Northwards Housing, White Moss Rd, Blackley M9 6NZ – Monday 9am to 1pm
  • Newton Heath Library, 2 Old Church St M40 2JF – Monday 1.30 to 4pm

Family support and activities

ReflecTeen Afterschool Club (Moston) – For young people aged 6 to 16 years of age on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4pm to 6pm

Soundpaths – Take a walk with an accompanied bespoke soundtrack of sounds, spoken word and music compiled by a composer. One walk route is in Moston and the other is Boggart Hole Clough.

Befriending services

Manchester Cares one-to-one friendship programme – Tackling loneliness and isolation by bringing older and younger neighbours together. The friendship programme Love Your Neighbour provides people with someone to chat to on the phone or in person once a week for company and conversation. They also provide social clubs and outreach work.

Caritas North Manchester –  Caritas Connecting Older People provide various activities and social events to reduce social isolation and loneliness amongst people over 50 in North Manchester. Based in Collyhurst. Help varies from a friendly ‘chat and check’ to escorting people on their weekly shop and other regular activities. That can include supporting discussions with the housing, benefits, health services and contact with GPs/Consultants and lifts to a range of appointments.