The Community and Family Department at Manchester Settlement love to engage with people of all ages who live within our wider community. Listening to and working alongside these people, we plan and deliver activities that will enhance the wellbeing of those who live in our proximity. We aim to give the warmest of welcomes to our food pantry, stay and play and wellbeing drop in members, giving all the opportunity to find friends and a place to belong. We hugely value our local volunteers and appreciate how they extend the reach and the energy of our activities. We enjoy working with partner organisations to bring greater opportunities to adults and families in the area. ‘Since retiring, I like the routine of getting out on the Wednesday and having a plan for the day. And since losing my husband, coming here has been brilliant for my mental health. I was looking forward to doing things with my husband so coming here helps me to keep positive and focused. It keeps me talking. It’s special that we can learn from each other, from each other’s different experiences and cultures. This community really does need this. Manchester Settlement is a very vital part of the community. Long may it last.’ GEORGE SAYS... ‘There are so many activities here from cooking to art. We have had guest speakers, medics and people from the council. I have learnt about what I am entitled to. The list of opportunities you get from coming here is endless. ‘You don’t see any discrimination; the staff treat us equally. I really appreciate that about this place.’ TONY SAYS... ‘If you’re going through something, while you’re here you forget about it.’ DOM SAYS... ‘If you don’t come for the week, you miss being here.’ DOT ON WELLBEING WEDNESDAY ON WELLBEING WEDNESDAY MANCHESTER SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY 1 1 ON CONVERSATION CLUB ON WELLBEING WEDNESDAY ZILAY AND HAFSA SAID... ‘We can meet different people. It helps us to improve our communication and English. It helps us to find a job. Last time they helped me make my CV.’ ‘This group improves our confidence and our communication. It is like a family. If you ask anything they are ready to help.’ KATERINA SAYS... ‘I come for my children who speak English, I want to be able to communicate with them and to help them.’ AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE SAID... ‘I like meeting people here. All the people come from different countries, we are all friends.’ DAVID SAYS... ‘I feel safe with my autism here. At other places I don’t feel safe. The staff here know about autism and know what to do if I take a funny turn. The group is somewhere to relax with friendly people.’ CONNIE SAYS... ‘Lianne and Nic supported me with mum. I felt somebody cared. You’re thrown in at the deep end in your own life and sometimes you just want somebody there to say, “if you need to talk, we’re here.” They do that here. ‘Coming here benefits the more social side of my life. I was involved in a lot of things before my mum got ill but I became more isolated when I was caring for my mum. Because I could bring my mum and my brother, it allowed us to interact with people and make friends which we continue to maintain outside of here. Up until my mum died, she was coming here; my mum was treated like a queen. You’re made to feel welcome as a family as well as an individual.’ PAULINE SAYS... ‘The atmosphere, the inclusion and the friends that I’ve made keeps me coming back. It’s peer support and I now feel less isolated.’ ‘I enjoy the company; I’ve got people I can talk to here. I don’t have that at home. It’s the friendliest place I’ve ever been.’ HAMID SAYS... ‘Before I came to the UK (one year and three months ago), I couldn’t speak English or do the alphabet. Now I can speak with English people, I can go shopping and I can speak with my doctor.’ YVETTE ON WELLBEING WEDNESDAYS ON ESOL MICHELLE I wouldn’t change coming here. It’s one of the best things I’ve done. We are... 2
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