Sir Robert Peel and the Bury Transport Museum

Sir Robert Peel, born in Bury in 1788, is one of the town’s most celebrated figures. Twice serving as Prime Minister and founding the British Conservative Party, Peel’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the history of Bury. The Peel Memorial, a prominent monument in the centre of the town, stands as a testament to his significant contributions.

Just a few minutes walk from the town centre is the Bury Transport Museum, housed in the historic Castlecroft Goods Warehouse. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the town’s rich transport heritage. The museum is part of the East Lancashire Railway experience, which runs from Bury to Heywood, Ramsbottom, and Rawtenstall. The museum features a collection of vintage vehicles, including buses, trams, and steam engines, with highlights such as the steam roller ‘Hilda’ and a World War I memorial to railway workers.

Visitors to the museum can explore interactive displays and exhibits that transport them back to the 20th century. The museum’s collection includes vintage signboards, luggage cabins, and trunks, all meticulously restored and maintained. The engaging displays make the museum a perfect outing, offering both educational and fun-filled experiences for visitors of all ages.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking for an enjoyable day out, the Bury Transport Museum and the legacy of Sir Robert Peel offer a unique and enriching experience.

More photos can be seen here.

Improving access to screening in Greater Manchester

The video was made in collaboration with NHS Health Innovation:

As part of the continued public and community engagement work that is being undertaken as part of the Health Innovation Accelerator programme, Health Innovation Manchester invited members of the LGBT Foundation Pride in Ageing programme to share their thoughts and experiences of engaging with the healthcare system.

These conversations focussed on potential ways to increase engagement within the LGBTQ+ community in terms of access to NHS screening, and in raising awareness of health risks associated with prevalent diseases across Greater Manchester.

Through conversation and active listening with members, Health Innovation Manchester was able to better understand lived experiences within the LGBTQ+ community, including needs, and perspectives on how the health and care system can better engage with its diverse communities across the city-region.

The Health Innovation Accelerator has been established to improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease across the 2.8m Greater Manchester population.

The Accelerator is addressing several diseases including liver, heart and lung disease, by using academic, clinical and industry excellence to better understand data, digital tools and innovative point of care testing to improve health outcomes for patients.

Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) is a key component of the Accelerator, with the overall aim of empowering the public to engage in focus group discussions, co-creation sessions, creative campaign design, peer led interviews and observing people in their own environment to understand their experiences, perspectives and everyday practices.

UK’s First Purpose Built Majority LGBTQ+ Housing Scheme

Work has finally got underway on the start of the UK’s first majority LGBTQ+ housing scheme here in Manchester.

The exciting new £37 million flagship development – which is being built on the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road, in the Whalley Range area of Manchester – will be comprised of 80 one and two-bedroom apartments for older people over the age of 55 for social rent, alongside an additional 40 affordable shared ownership apartments. 

Plans for the scheme have been co-produced in partnership with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and the LGBT Foundation.  

Delivered in partnership with contractors Rowlinson, and funded through Great Places, the Homes England Strategic Partnership, GMCA Brownfield Housing Fund, and Manchester City Council, the high-quality and sustainable building will offer a ‘safe and welcome feel’ with an ‘inviting presence’.

While the goal is to create an inclusive space, the scheme has also been designed to respect the surrounding conservation area. 

On top of this, the low carbon scheme will also feature shared communal facilities including lounges, treatment rooms, and landscaped gardens.

The Council says the new scheme is part of its ambitious target to deliver at least 36,000 new homes across the city region by 2032 – at least 10,000, of which, will be social rent, Council, or considered ‘genuinely affordable’ housing.

It comes after more than 800 ‘Extra Care’ homes have been built in Manchester in recent years, and are another 1,000 are in the pipeline – to meet the demand for older people in the city. 

“This is a real milestone moment for this development,” commented Cllr Gavin White, who is the Executive Member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council.

“The Council has believed in the positive impact an LGBTQ+ majority housing development could have for this community for many years, and to celebrate the social rent homes officially starting on site is a great moment for the city. 

Working with the LGBT Foundation, we know that older LGBTQ+ people worry about being able to access appropriate and inclusive housing later in life. Although we hope all older person’s accommodation is welcoming to everyone, this scheme will provide safe, secure and affordable housing for LGBTQ+ people to live with dignity.

We look forward to the completion of these homes that will complement and enhance this part of Whalley Range, and be an important part of this community.”

The project is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2027.

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