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Don’t lose your vote
New rules mean you must renew your postal vote every three years.
Salford City Council is writing to everyone whose postal vote needs renewing before 31 January 2026.
The annual canvass to update the list of Salford residents who can vote in local and national elections has also started.
Whether you prefer to post your ballot paper or go to the polling station, don’t miss out on having your say.
Look out for a letter or email, or visit www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote to reapply for your postal vote online and www.salford.gov.uk/electoral-register-update for annual canvass information.
Cover image: An image from the opening of Salford Youth Zone.
LIFE is administered and designed by Salford City Council’s Communications Team. This edition will be distributed week commencing 26 August 2025. Printing: Swan Print Limited. Distributed to more than 130,000 households by Royal Mail and other agencies. Contact: Salford Civic Centre, Swinton, Salford, M27 5FJ. Any leaflets or flyers inserted in or distributed with this magazine do not appear with the partners (listed below) endorsement or agreement and we discourage our distributors from putting material inside your copy of LIFE IN Salford.
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A message from the City Mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett
Salford is now one of the fastest-growing places in the North of England, continuing its remarkable transformation. With more well-paid jobs, new affordable homes, thriving schools, award-winning green spaces, cleaner transport, and a vibrant cultural scene, the city has much to celebrate.
As a council, we are determined to build on these successes and ensure more people and communities can benefit from the growing opportunities in our city.
But like many places, Salford has faced significant challenges. Since austerity measures in 2010, the council's budget has been cut by central government, even as demand for vital services like adult’s and children’s social care and homelessness prevention continues to rise, and as the high cost of living has hit our residents hard.
In response, Salford City Council has committed to innovation, collaboration, and community-focused leadership. Through our four-year corporate plan, This is Our Salford, the council is working with partners across the NHS, voluntary sector, and local businesses to build a fairer, greener, healthier, and more inclusive city.
In this issue of Life in Salford, you can read our 2024–2025 Performance Report on pages six to nine, which provides an overview of council achievements in 20242025 and progress towards delivery of our priorities.
A perfect example of this vision in action is Salford Youth Zone (SYZ), the opening of which I was privileged to be a part of in July. The new Youth Zone is a state-ofthe-art facility designed to inspire the next generation. Developed by Empower Youth Zones with support from Salford City Council, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and private sector patrons, this vibrant space is more than a building - it’s a promise to young people in our city that they are seen, valued, and supported.
and trusted adults to talk to. Already, over 3,000 young people have signed up - proof of the demand and enthusiasm for this inclusive, welcoming space. Read more about SYZ on page five.
This initiative is also a key part of Salford’s ambition to become a Child Friendly City, a commitment outlined in our corporate plan. As a council, we’re embedding children and young people’s rights and voices into every aspect of governance and service delivery. Our Children’s Services are rated ‘Good’ by OFSTED, with some areas judged ‘Outstanding’. Family hubs have been launched citywide, and partnerships with the National Literacy Trust and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library are promoting early reading and learning.
We’re also investing millions of pounds to expand school capacity and specialist provision, which you can read more about on page five. A city-wide school attendance strategy is underway, alongside efforts to raise literacy levels and ensure every child has access to high-quality education and support. The council is training staff and councillors in their roles as corporate parents and working with partners to prevent youth offending and ensure every child feels safe and heard.
This holistic work to make Salford a Child Friendly City is a real statement of intent from the council and our partners to our young people. You are the future of our city and empowering you to dream big and succeed will be the foundations of a fairer, greener, healthier, and more inclusive Salford for generations to come.
SYZ offers a myriad of activities, and crucially is open seven days a week, for young people aged 8 to 19 (and up to 25 for those with additional needs). Facilities include a football pitch, climbing wall, gym, dance studio, music suite, training kitchen, and art workshop. Membership is free, with just a 50p entry fee, and includes access to free meals, employability workshops, City Mayor Paul Dennett
Additional school capacity approved
More children and young people will be supported in local schools across Salford from September 2025, with 230 additional places created for secondary schools and specialist provision for special educational needs and disabilities.
The additional places will be available at:
Ellesmere Park High School in Year 7, which will also expand from September 2026 increasing from a 750 to a 900 place high school.
Year 7 places at Irlam & Cadishead Academy High School, Salford City Academy High School and The Albion Academy High School.
Reception Year places at Primrose Hill Primary School.
Specialist provision places for children with complex needs across Fiddlers Lane Primary School, Peel Hall Primary School, Little Hulton Children’s Centre and Belvedere Nursery.
Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services, said: “A key council priority is working towards becoming a Child Friendly City to make Salford a great place for children and young people to have quality opportunities to learn.
“We want every family to have access to a good local school for their child. By creating more inclusive environments where children and young people can thrive regardless of ability, background, or where they live, is a positive step forward.”
We are open!
Salford Youth Zone (SYZ), the brand-new, state-of-the-art facility developed by charity Empower Youth Zones, has officially opened its doors!
In an exciting launch event last month, SYZ opened its doors to the community, bringing together more than 500 supporters, donors, partners, young people, volunteers, local leaders and families to celebrate this milestone moment. Key speakers, including SYZ’s own Young Person's Development Group who have helped shape this project from the beginning, discussed the transformative impact of the Youth
Zone and what it will offer young people across Salford.
Open seven days a week for those aged 8 to 19 and up to 25 with additional needs, SYZ provides young people with somewhere safe to go, something positive to do and someone trusted to talk to. Alongside incredible activity programmes, free hot meals and workshop opportunities, the Youth Zone serves as a space for young people to discover their passion and purpose, supported by their dedicated and skilled team of youth workers. With over 3,000 members already, SYZ is set to support and inspire thousands of young people to unlock their potential.
Progress on creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city
In 2024, Salford City Council launched its four-year corporate plan –‘This is our Salford’.
Our vision is for Salford to be a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive place for everyone who lives, works and visits in our great city. Our corporate plan focuses on the following seven priorities.
Good growth
Since launching last summer, we have been working hard to achieve our priorities with key highlights and projects outlined in this report. These range from helping Salford residents access over £11.8 million through our welfare rights and debt advice service to paying over £500,000 in winter support payments to over 2,500 pensioner households. From building over 2,500 new homes to establishing a new literacy hub and donating over 8,000 books to children and families with the greatest literacy need, our initiatives are already making a positive difference. Visit www.salford.gov.uk/performance to see progress highlights and www.salford.gov.uk/corporateplan to find out more about our ambitions.
We developed our Step into Salford programme for care leavers and those 16 to 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training. This includes a work readiness programme and 12 months paid work experience.
Salford was recognized as City of the Year by Estates Gazette, the property industry magazine, at their 2024 awards.
£60 million of public sector and £675 million of private sector investment in the city.
The council and our partners have helped ten companies and businesses to relocate to Salford or expand. This has created 1,941 new jobs and will contribute an additional £118 million to Salford’s economy.
The construction of Salford Rise began. This is part of our Crescent masterplan providing more than 3,000 homes, one million square feet of offices, retail and leisure, a transport hub and vast areas of green space.
We began work to demolish Eccles Shopping Centre, car park and market hall as part of our regeneration plans.
53% of the council’s spend with third party suppliers is spent with Salford suppliers, helping to boost our local economy by £24.8 million.
We won an Excellence in Planning award at the Social Value Awards in 2024. This was for our innovative approach in embedding social value into the development plan for the city, Salford’s Local Plan. We are the first council to have done this.
Creating places where people want to live
The restoration of Buile Hill Mansion is almost complete and once open, will be the home of Salford Register office, a wedding venue and will also have a café and a community room.
22 grassroots arts projects have been awarded grants through the Whose Art, Whose Culture project in partnership with Salford Community and Voluntary Services.
Some great events have taken place in Salford this year, including the festival We invented the Weekend at MediaCityUK, Swinton Ark – a free family nighttime event, and Sounds Round Town pop up festivals in Walkden, Irlam and Eccles.
We launched the Safe in Salford website which aims to provide all the support people experiencing domestic abuse need to stabilise their situation and break free from the abuse.
We completed the purchase of Salford Community Stadium and Salford was a host city of women’s Rugby World Cup matches in August 2025.
8%
Salford reported an 8% reduction in the level of all crime in the city compared to the 2023-2024 figure.
With the addition of Lightoaks park, Salford now has ten Green Flag Award winning parks and open spaces, as well as six designated Local Nature Reserves and an urban wetland space – Kersal wetlands.
We have established a Heritage Board and Commission to develop future plans for museums and galleries in the city.
Creative mixer events at venues including Islington Mill have connected communities and creatives across the city from Swinton to Irlam.
We held our fourth Spirit of Salford Community Awards attended by over 240 people. These awards celebrate the amazing work of people and community groups in our city who do so much to make Salford great. 8%
Responding to climate change
Last year we committed to planting 8,000 trees over the next four years. So far we’ve planted 1,718 trees, with 300 more as part of housing developments.
We have completed seven installations at council sites as part of our roof mounted solar power programme.
In 2024-2025 we have saved 1,443 tonnes of CO2 with our solar, fleet and decarbonisation projects.
We have extended our e-scooter trial to the end of May 2026 and extended the trial area to parts of Eccles and Pendleton
We were shortlisted for a Local Government Chronicle Award in the Net Zero category. This was for our work on sustainable projects like the Eden Building and Passivhaus standard homes.
Tackling poverty and inequality £
Following the launch of a new assisted enrolment initiative in July 2024 we have supported an additional 506 pupils to register for free school meals, who weren’t previously registered.
We increased the number of accredited real living wage employers in Salford to 119 this year, boosting the pay of local employees.
We made improvements across our Gateway centres to enhance accessibility for deaf customers, by improving displays, signs and hearing loops.
Our Salford Assist team who help people in crisis access emergency support, provided 620 people with essential furniture and white goods. They also helped 3,402 Salford residents to keep warm and healthy by providing them with food and fuel vouchers.
The council’s welfare rights and debt advice service helped Salford residents in lowincome households access over £11.8 million, a 30% increase on last year’s figure of £9.5 million.
We launched the Salford Winter Support Payment scheme. Qualifying residents received a one-off payment of £200. The council has paid out over £500,000 to more than 2,500 pensioner households on low incomes.
We served 41,342 meals as part of the Holiday Activities and Food programme and provided 1,615 take and make boxes for families to cook meals at home.
We have supported 28,920 customers to get online with digital skills and assistance. We launched our Big Device Giveaway which provided free devices to digitally excluded residents. In total, this year we have provided 1,221 devices, helping people to access education and job opportunities.
A good home for all
2,759 new homes were built in Salford including 507 affordable new homes delivered in 2024-2025.
We have increased the number of people we have supported in the prevention stage of homelessness to 903 households in the last year, compared to 463 in the previous year.
In March 2025 a new housing development opened in Walkden, designed specifically to meet the needs of adults with learning disabilities.
We approved plans to build 25 affordable homes to provide accommodation for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These homes will be owned by Dérive,the council’s own housing company.
We developed our new Good Homes in Good Places Strategy 2025 - 2030. This is our plan to maximise investment, improve housing in the city and increase the number of high quality, affordable and low carbon homes for local people.
A child friendly city
Salford is committed to becoming a Child Friendly City, listening to the voices, needs and rights of children and building a city where every child can thrive. ‘Child Friendly Salford’ means that children and young people have a voice, can share ideas, talk about what they want, and have opportunities to grow and develop in the city they live.
We are working with the National Literacy Trust and Dolly Parton Imagination Library to raise literacy levels.
Salford Youth Zone officially opened its doors in July 2025 and is a fantastic addition to the youth facilities and services in the city.
We launched our School Attendance Strategy and last academic year (2023-2024) children and young people attended an additional 90,000 days and so far this academic year children and young people have attended an extra 40,000 school days.
All Salford children’s homes have been rated Good by Ofsted.
We have established a new Salford Literacy Hub. 46 Literacy Champion volunteers have been recruited and trained to support activities across the city and just over 8,000 books have already been donated to children and families with the greatest literacy need across the city.
Salford’s GCSE attainment 8 outcomes (how well pupils do in key stage 4) are the most improved nationally with a 5.9% increase on 2019 outcomes.
Salford’s Children’s Services was named the most family-friendly in the North West and retained the prestigious gold standard UNICEF Baby Friendly Award, in recognition of the dedication and care that goes into supporting families in Salford.
Healthy lives and quality care for all
We have developed our new five-year plan for great health and wellbeing in Salford, called the Locality Plan. The plan aims to keep people in good health and improve life expectancy.
83% of Salford Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated providers were rated as good or outstanding by the CQC.
Along with our partners and communities, we recorded England’s highest uptake of NHS health checks overall, especially for people with a mental illness. The NHS target is 15% of the eligible population and our performance was 20% = 13,251 NHS health checks.
Work is underway to bring Aspire (the provider of support for people living with dementia and learning disabilities in Salford) back into the council’s control.
We are working towards transforming Salford into a Marmot City, which looks at other areas that can affect people’s health including housing, education and employment, to prevent people becoming ill.
Salford City Council was awarded the Best Place to Work in the Local Government Chronicle Awards.
Green light for more affordable homes
Affordable housing developments in Salford have received the green light, following a series of proposal approvals.
This milestone marks the next step toward welcoming residents into newly built homes on Longshaw Drive in Little Hulton and Tootal Grove in Weaste and Seedley.
And as part of Salford City Council’s Build Salford programme, a total of 15 young people were welcomed to the active construction site on Longshaw Drive to understand more about the industry.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “These 106 highquality homes in Little Hulton are of mixed sizes to meet local need and demand. Twenty are for shared ownership, 44 will be available at social rent through our own housing company, Dérive, and 42 at affordable rent.
“A further 30 homes within the development were sold, which facilitates us being able to offer the remaining homes at social and affordable rents.”
“At Tootal Grove, it is hugely positive to see eight purpose-built ‘move-on’ accommodation units prioritised for rough sleepers, which can be life changing for those who move into them. There are also 21 affordable homes that will be transferred to Dérive.”
Councillor Tracy Kelly, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty, added: “Last year we committed to building 600 homes over the next four years. Local people are desperate for affordable homes to move into, and it’s encouraging to see these new developments being delivered for our community.”
Salford named Government Vanguard Council for Housing
The Government has confirmed that Salford City Council has been selected as one of ten Government Vanguard Councils for Housing.
This designation grants Salford access to the Local Government Association’s (LGA) new support offerdesigned to boost the delivery of council homes and strengthen innovative housebuilding approaches. As one of just two local authorities chosen from the North West, Salford City Council will work closely with the LGA to explore key housing issues across the city, following recognition for its recent sector successes and bold development strategies.
Dérive has now achieved recognised provider status. This means it was formally approved and registered as a social landlord. In 2024/25, Dérive successfully delivered three housing schemes, creating 128 new affordable homes, which accounted for 25% of all homes built city-wide in that period. Notably:
60% of these homes were offered at social rent
118 met the Future Homes Plus / Passivhaus standards
The schemes included 8 wheelchair-accessible homes and 8 purpose-built ‘move-on’ homes for rough sleepers
Stay well this autumn and get ready for winter in Salford
As the colder months arrive, it’s good to look after your health, stay safe, and keep connected. Here are five simple ways to stay well this season -
with help from local services in Salford.
1. Get protected
Flu and COVID-19 can be more serious in older adults. If you’re aged 65 or over, you’re eligible for free NHS vaccinations.
Book at nhs.uk/wintervaccinations or call 119.
2. Keep warm and well
• Staying warm can help prevent colds, flu, and more serious health problems like heart attacks and strokes.
• Heat your home to at least 18°C (64°F) in rooms you use regularly.
• Keep bedroom windows closed at night to stay warm
• Wear several layers of clothing rather than one thick layer
Tip: Check if you’re eligible for help with heating costs or home insulation.
Visit gov.uk or call 0800 444 202 for advice
Greater Manchester residents get free or discounted upgrades and advice to make their homes warmer, healthier, and lower their energy bills. Check eligibility at gmca.retrofitportal.org.uk
Download this health and wellbeing guide for more useful tips www.salford.gov.uk/keepwarm
3. Stay active - even indoors
Staying active helps with balance, strength and mood- even if you’re indoors. Try:
• Gentle stretches or yoga
• Walking around the house during TV ad breaks
• Online seated exercise videos
• Light housework or dancing to music
• Join free local sessions like chairbased exercise or indoor curling through the Health Improvement Team, Salford Community or search for Move More Salford online.
4. Look after your mental health
Shorter days can affect your mood. Stay connected with friends, family, or local groups.
The Health Improvement Team offers social groups and emotional wellbeing support to help you feel your best.
5. Stay safe in winter weather
Slips and cold-related illnesses are more common in winter. Stay safe and help prevent falls by:
• Wearing sturdy shoes with good grip
• Keeping paths clear of ice or snow
• Stocking up on food and medicine
• Checking on neighbours who may need help
If you go out, take your time and plan your route. Keep emergency contacts handy.
Don’t miss your NHS Health Check
If you’re aged 40 to 74, you may be invited for a free NHS Health Check. It’s a great way to spot early signs of conditions like heart disease or diabetes. Contact your GP practice or use the NHS App to complete your NHS Health Check online.
Have you ever wondered what happens to the glass you put in your brown bin? Or your copy of Life in Salford after you put it in your blue bin? Where does this stuff go? Does it actually get recycled?
The answer is yes! All the items you put in your recycling bins are part of a big loop, and they can be recycled again and again. Recycling is a vital part of the circular economy which is about reducing waste by reusing, repairing, and recycling things for as long as possible. The best thing about the circular economy is that most people in Salford are already part of it. Just by recycling an aluminium can you’re helping to use 95% less energy than if they had to make one from scratch. The most amazing thing is aluminium can be recycled infinitely, so this process can happen over and over again saving tonnes of emissions and unnecessary waste.
Being in the loop isn’t just about recycling. In fact, it’s even better to reduce the amount of stuff you buy and reuse and repair things before you recycle them. If you donate things to charity, buy second hand or try to fix something before throwing it away, you’re already in the loop.
Next time you go to chuck something in the bin, think about the materials and effort that went into making it and getting it to you. Is there a better place for it than the bin? And is it going in the right bin?
Let’s work together to keep the items we use in the loop and part of the circular economy for as long as possible.
Want to learn more about why it’s so important to recycle right? Visit www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com
HEROES
Vote for your local HERO
Housing association Salix Homes has been awarding grants to inspiring groups and projects across Salford as part of its Springboard community funding programme.
Now, three fantastic projects have been selected as the Springboard Heroes finalists, and it’s over to the public to vote for your winner.
The winning project will receive a £1,000 cash boost, but all the nominees deserve recognition for the incredible difference they’re making in communities. From tackling isolation and promoting wellbeing, to building stronger communities, each finalist truly represents the spirit of Salford.
Now meet our nominees and vote for your favourite...
Alberts of Salford
This newly refurbished sports facility has been providing a much needed outlet for the people of Salford.
Salford City Radio
Flames
Founded in 1996, the Red Hot Flames cheerleading squad have been proudly representing Salford on the international stage.
Broadcasting since 2007, Salford City Radio is run by dedicated volunteers and for them, it’s not just a hobby, but a lifeline, providing them with a sense of purpose, community and support.
Voting closes 5pm on Tuesday, 23 September. The winner will be announced on Friday, 26 September on our social media pages and website.
To learn more about our nominees and to cast your VOTE now, visit: www.salixhomes.co.uk/springboard-heroes-2025 or scan the QR code with your phone:
Red Hot
Are you a carer?
Time out for carers is a friendly, caring support group for unpaid carers in Salford. We share our experience, struggles and successes along with group activities.
Join us at the drop in every Wednesday12.00-3.00pm
Spring Bank Community Centre, Brentwood Road, off Eccles Old Road, Salford M6 8RH
