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When Charity is Challenging – Play Golf!

When Charity is Challenging – Play Golf!

Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment and we can all do with a helping hand now and then which is why, when Chamber patron AstraZeneca chose the Silklife Foodbank as one of their nominated local charities for 2023/24 and then approached chamber member Marton Meadows Golf Course with the idea of a Golf Themed Fundraiser, the club jumped at the chance to lend their support.

Proprietor of Marton Meadows GC, Kelle Hares, already volunteers for the charity and so the club were delighted to not only agree to support the proposed event but also to host it.

This weekend will see the culmination of weeks of planning with AstraZeneca’s ‘Silklife Foodbank Charity Challenge’ taking place at Marton Meadows GC on Saturday 17 June 2023 from 1pm.

At the core of the event is a nine hole Texas Scramble Open Competition, with a live presentation for the winning team and the opportunity for one lucky team to walk away with tickets for this year’s 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July. There will be virtual golf experiences available in The Bunker, Marton Meadows’ state-of-the-art golf simulator studio, and chipping challenges in the outdoor practice area.

Golfers can also take advantage of club cleaning services on offer on the day with the Silklife Foodbank Roadshow, DJ, Raffle, BBQ and outside Bar all on hand to help things go with a swing!

All funds raised at the event will be matched by AstraZeneca and donated to the Silklife Foodbank.

The Silklife Foodbank, Macclesfield exists to provide emergency food parcels for people facing a hunger crisis situation in Macclesfield and Bollington. Referrals come via professionals in the public emergency services; health and social care division; housing support division; education sector and public advice lines such as Citizens Advice and Cheshire East Emergency Assist. The foodbank saw referrals more than double in the 2020/21 covid pandemic and this number has tripled since the Cost of Living Crisis (based on what was given out on a monthly average in 2019). Team Lead Co-ordinator of the 60 strong volunteer team, Dan Blackman, states “What concerns me most is that our service has seen the number of families reaching out for support increase by 30% in the last 12 months, this means that food poverty is now affecting children in our town more than ever before.”

Dan continues, “With food donations down due to food prices at the tills on the increase, we are now relying more and more upon fundraising to be able to continue this great service. If you are a golfer, please pick up the phone and call Marton Meadows today and book a team on the event to raise important funds for the foodbank. Thank you.”

Dan finishes by saying, ” I am so very proud of all those involved in making the Silklife Foodbank what it is. From those who organise food collections to those who donate through the various donation points; school and workplace collections and those who donate through justgiving; those who sort, date, stock and manage the food; to those who bag and deliver the food; those in admin; those who organise events; to those who will sit and talk with clients and to those services we signpost to. What a team we have”.

For more information on the wonderful work the Silklife Foodbank do in our local community or to discover ways to support them, go to their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=SILKLIFE%20FIOODBANK

To find out more about AstraZeneca’s Silklife Charity Challenge at Marton Meadows Golf Course this weekend, call: 01260 224008.

TrunkBBI Wins Competitive Pitch for Auto Trader

TrunkBBI Wins Competitive Pitch for Auto Trader

TrunkBBI is delighted to announce it has won a three-stage competitive pitch to deliver the next exciting chapter in Auto Trader’s B2B digital evolution of the automotive landscape.

The 75 strong Manchester headquartered agency will be working with Auto Trader to evolve its brand proposition ‘Together, We Do More’ across multiple creative channels. ‘Together, We Do More’ was introduced in 2022, and encompasses the cutting-edge data available to Auto Trader’s partners to compete more effectively in an ever-changing digital world.

TrunkBBI will be supporting Auto Trader to refine its go-to-market strategy prior to activating across multiple owned channels. The main aim will be to challenge Auto Trader’s core market, and by association the automotive industry, to think and act differently.

John Hogan, Senior Marketing Manager from Auto Trader says, “We are delighted to be working with TrunkBBI to evolve our ‘Together, We Do More’ proposition. Through our partnership with the GO! Network we were on the lookout for a strategic, creative agency that could help Auto Trader deliver on our company purpose to drive change in the automotive industry, working in partnership to support our retailers and other industry partners. TrunkBBI were an excellent fit, based right on our doorstep here in Manchester and we’re pleased to have them supporting our ambitious plans to enable a smarter automotive ecosystem.”

Jon Butler, CEO of TrunkBBI said, “We are so proud to be working with Auto Trader, one of the most well-known and recognised brands in the UK. With their head office just down the road from our headquarters in the centre of Manchester, we are also looking forward to regular face to face meetings with our award winning creative and strategic teams, who have extensive experience in delivering creative B2B campaigns.

“We are confident that we can deliver fantastic results for the UK’s largest digital automotive marketplace whilst fostering an excellent working relationship with Auto Trader. This recent win is a reflection of the team at TrunkBBI’s dedication to offering a world class innovative service to achieve success for our clients.”

The multi-stage, competitive pitch process was handled by the GO! Network, and Jon Butler said that “GO! were very supportive and organised throughout the process, communicating effectively in order to ensure the process ran smoothly at every stage.”

For more information about TrunkBBI, visit https://trunkbbi.com/

 

Manchester Airport podcast goes live!

Manchester Airport podcast goes live!

 

Manchester Airport’s Managing Director, Chris Woodroofe, says passengers will enjoy a “great experience” this summer and believes an exciting few years are ahead for the Northern gateway.

Speaking on the airport’s new podcast – launched this week – Chris reflected on his first full year in charge and pledged a series of key investments that will transform the passenger experience for a generation to come.

That includes the £440m next phase of Terminal 2’s transformation, due to be complete by 2025, and the introduction of new security scanners that mean passengers won’t need to remove liquids and gels from their hand luggage.

The first six episodes of the podcast, called Manchester: Your Airport, MAN, takes listeners behind the scenes at the airport and is a first-of-its-kind in the UK, and are available through Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts among other platforms.

Over the course of the six episodes, presenter Tom Fordyce – host of The Joe Marler Show and former panelist on That Peter Crouch Podcast – brings listeners a series of exclusive insights, including;

  • What happened when Jay-Z and Beyonce flew through Manchester Airport;
  • What “sells” Manchester when globetrotting airport bosses try to win new routes to far flung destinations;
  • Why Manchester is the best airport for plane spotting in the world;
  • How a living, breathing scarecrow works for the airport to prevent birds getting in the way of planes taking off and landing.

The podcast also tackles subjects like sustainability and what the airport does to inspire young people about a career in aviation.

Listeners also hear from travel expert Simon Calder, who shares his tips on bagging a bargain and having the smoothest possible airport experience.

In the first episode, Chris Woodroofe tells listeners how lucky he feels to be at the helm of what was his local airport growing up.

Looking forward to the peak summer season this year, he said: “We had probably one of the best Christmases we’ve ever had, and we really want Summer 2023 to be a great experience for our passengers. Airports have become much more of an experience, rather than just a service, and now compete with one another in that context.

The people in our catchment area, depending on where they’re flying, could be choosing other airports in this area. I want them to choose Manchester Airport and I want them to do that because they think they’re going to have a great experience.”

Reflecting on last summer, when the whole travel sector faced a challenging recovery, he added: “When I arrived [in June], heads were down a bit and job one was just to convince everyone that it was going to get better – and it absolutely did.”

He added: “What was clear right from the first day, when I went into the security areas, was that we have a group of people who really want Manchester Airport to be something they can be proud of.”

David Lewis College rated “Outstanding” for the third time

David Lewis College rated “Outstanding” for the third time

Following a recent Ofsted inspection, David Lewis College remains “Outstanding” for the third time.

The latest report will be published later this week – praising the staff’s expertise, enabling students to make a successful transition to adult life.

David Lewis College is for young people aged 19-25 with a wide range of complex needs, including moderate to profound learning disabilities, neurological conditions including epilepsy and autism and associated communication and sensory impairments, behavioural and health needs.

Quotes from the report stated “Learners feel it is a ‘dream come true’ to study at David Lewis College. They are happy and they think it is an amazing place to learn with lots of great facilities. Learners appreciate the supportive staff who help them to develop their confidence and independence.”

“The curriculum provides learners with opportunities to develop a range of skills for independence and communication through which they improve their confidence and self-esteem.”

John Heritage, Chief Executive of David Lewis said, “We are so proud of everyone at our College – our team and of course the fantastic learners, both of whom make the College the fantastic place it is to learn and grow in confidence and skills.  To be an Outstanding College for the third time really is a fantastic achievement.”

Angie Fisher, Director of Education for David Lewis commented, “This is an amazing achievement and the result of a real team effort by a truly committed and dedicated team of staff. We all share the same vision that all young people with learning difficulties or disabilities should have the opportunity to access an “Outstanding” quality of education which meets their individual needs, supports their aspirations and helps them develop their skills for life and work.”

Patron of David Lewis, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, GCVO stated, “As your Patron I am so proud of the progress you are continuing to make and I look forward to hearing about your continued progress over the coming months and years.”

David Lewis College “Life Skills” Programmes support the development of the individual skills our young people need to make the next step in their lives. Our Pre Entry, Entry Level and Level 1 courses are individualised to prepare learners for their future adult lives.

The College supports learners to engage in a range of learning opportunities that are relevant to them, detailed in their Education Health and Care Plans and during the assessment process. The college provides opportunities to develop a range of skills for independence and efficient and effective communication, improving confidence and self-esteem, which better prepares them for progression into adult life, living independently and opportunities for work.

If you wish to find out more about their services, click here or contact Sue Hunt Sue.Hunt@davidlewis.org.uk

David Lewis participates in the MOREwoods Initiative with The Woodland Trust

David Lewis participates in the MOREwoods Initiative with The Woodland Trust

Local charity David Lewis signed up to The Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme. They aim to develop an interactive and accessible forest area for the people they support, families and the community to enjoy on their site in Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

David Lewis is one of the largest charities in the heart of Cheshire offering education, residential, medical, and therapeutic support for people with learning disabilities, epilepsy, autism and other complex support needs.

Pipp Greensmith, Head of Partnerships from The Woodland Trust said, “Projects like this one with David Lewis are a great opportunity to deliver huge social and environmental impact as part of local nature networks

“We’re providing 6,300 trees and 2,400 hedgerows at David Lewis through our MOREwoods scheme which will provide multiple benefits to the people David Lewis support including, attracting wildlife, capturing carbon, and making better use of green spaces.”

The charity utilises its rural location to engage people in nature, farming, animals, conservation, horticulture, woodcraft and sensory experiences. Increasing independence for the people they support, and providing opportunities to be part of a team in a supportive environment. This new partnership benefits the local community and hundreds of families who use David Lewis specialist facilities.

John Heritage, Chief Executive of David Lewis commented, “First, I would like to give my thanks to the Woodland Trust for their generous support, and also Lloyds Bank for funding the MOREwoods scheme,  making all this possible.”

“Secondly, I would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers for their time and efforts planting these trees in our 23 acre woods over a one week period. This development will have long lasting benefits for the people we support and drive our sustainability strategy, reducing our co2 levels now and for future generations.   We are also seeking to include the trees we have planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy which will make a huge impact on the number of trees planted in our wonderful county of Cheshire’

Those who volunteered consisted of the people supported by David Lewis., families, businesses who support the charity, Trustees, and members of the local community.

Businesses that volunteered to plant trees during the week long planting period between 30th of March and the 5th of April;

The MOREwoods scheme aims to create habitats for wildlife and plant native trees to benefit nature, people and climate change. Anyone with land can apply for the scheme and can choose to create a shelterbelt, fill a field corner or even plant a small woodland.

Any businesses who are looking to fundraise or volunteer at David Lewis please email enquries@davidlewis.org.uk to find out how you can get involved in future projects.

Hundreds of thousands of passengers enjoy smooth Easter getaways from Manchester Airport

Hundreds of thousands of passengers enjoy smooth Easter getaways from Manchester Airport

Hundreds of thousands of passengers enjoy smooth Easter getaways from Manchester Airport

  • Over the easter weekend 99% of passengers got through security in 15 minutes or less
  • The airport served more than 305,000 passengers over the long weekend
  • During March Manchester Airport served almost 2m passengers – a 30% increase on March last year and more than 92% of pre-pandemic levels

Manchester Airport has started the holiday season strongly, with more than 300,000 passengers smoothly passing through the Northern gateway over the Easter weekend.

Over the course of the Easter weekend, 99.5% of passengers got through security in 15 minutes or less. Friday, 7 April, and Monday, 10 April, were the busiest days at the airport with almost 80,000 passengers flying in or out of the airport each day.

The Easter weekend comes shortly after the beginning of the airport’s summer season, when more flights to destinations all over the world start running. The most popular destinations with travellers over Easter were Dubai, Dublin, Alicante and Tenerife.

New data shows that 1.9million passengers flew from or to the airport in March – 30% higher than March last year and 92.5% of pre-pandemic levels.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:

“We want every passenger to have a great experience here at Manchester Airport and we are pleased to have delivered a really positive start to the summer season, including during the busy Easter weekend. We’ve put in a range of new measures this year to give people a great experience, from a state-of-the-art queue monitoring system to a new 100-person resilience team that can troubleshoot a range of issues across the airport as they crop up.

“We’ve seen 99% of Easter weekend passengers get through security in under 15 minutes, which means they can relax in our departure lounges and enjoy the fact that all our food, drink and shopping outlets are now fully open.

“Manchester Airport is the UK’s global gateway in the North and we’re ready to make sure that all our passengers, whether they’re travelling short haul or further afield, see the airport at its best and get a great start to their journeys.”

Manchester Airport has welcomed more than 2,000 new members of staff since last April. That includes our new resilience team, made up of more than 100 team members who are trained in a variety of roles across the airport so that they can be deployed to help wherever issues occur, including at check-in and with baggage handling.

Manchester Airport is part of Manchester Airport Group (MAG), which also runs East Midlands and London Stansted airports.

In the last 12 months 54m passengers have flown through MAG airports – 25m of them from Manchester.