Life in Salford issue 53

Celebrate Armed Forces Week in Salford

Join Salford in honouring our Armed Forces with a ag-raising ceremony at 10.30am on Monday 22 June outside Salford Civic Centre.

On Saturday 27 June, don’t miss the Armed Forces Day parade from Duke’s Drive, Monton to Winton Park starting at 10.30am followed by a family fun day in the park with exciting activities and entertainment for the whole family. Come and celebrate our Armed Forces community with us in our city’s centenary year! Details at www.salford.gov.uk/armedforcesday

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Cover image: An image of a group of people celebrating one of Walk the Planks 'Birthday City' moments for Salford's centenary celebrations. The image features people dressed up in colourful costumes, stood in front of a giant cake which has '100' written on and candles. Photo credit: Darren Robinson.

LIFE is administered and designed by Salford City Council’s Communications Team. This edition will be distributed week commencing Monday 15 June 2026. Printing: WeAreSeneca. 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.

Welcome to the latest issue of Life in Salford. As Salford’s centenary year marches on, the celebrations across the city have provided a powerful reminder that Salford’s story has always been shaped by its people. While 2026 marks 100 years since Salford officially became a city, recognised at the time as a powerhouse of British industry, this year has also become a chance to celebrate the creativity, solidarity and community spirit that continues to define Salford today.

On 21st April, the birthday celebrations reached people in wonderfully unexpected ways across every corner of the city. Passengers at Salford Central stopped their commute to watch impromptu performances from brass bands and Dhol players, while children at Chatsworth Futures and Riverview Primary were surprised by performances from the BBC Philharmonic and giant dancing birthday cakes.

Across Eccles, Ordsall, Irlam and Swinton, unsuspecting Salfordians who share Salford’s 100th birthday, nominated by friends and family as representing the best of Salford, were surprised by live performances from the Fat Cat Brass Band at their schools, workplaces and supermarkets. The city was indeed alive with the sound of Salford.

Across the Bee Network, commuters heard the unmistakable voice of John Cooper Clarke announcing tram stops for the day, while local businesses marked the occasion with special centenary releases. The celebrations were even recognised on Coronation Street, alongside a heartfelt birthday message from Salford’s own Christopher Eccleston, who rightly described Salfordians as “honest, hard-working, original and thinking of other people”.

While the birthday itself has now passed, the Salford 100 programme continues throughout the year with exhibitions, performances, storytelling projects and neighbourhood events taking place across all eight parts of the city. Through the Salford Centenary Fund, the council has committed £290,000 to support local community groups to shape their own projects and celebrations, ensuring this milestone year belongs to the people of Salford themselves.

What has been especially inspiring is the sheer imagination and proud Salford identity running throughout these projects. At Salford Museum & Art Gallery and Ordsall Hall, exhibitions are exploring the city’s rich history through photographs, objects and personal stories chosen by local residents. Salford Voices are travelling across neighbourhoods collecting messages for Salfordians living in

A message from the City Mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett

2126, while young people in Little Hulton are creating timetravelling performances exploring the city’s past, present and future.

Across the city, residents are preserving working-class folklore through storytelling, printmaking, weaving and projects inspired by Salford’s textile heritage and industrial backdrop. The Pride in Place Centenary Music Programme is bringing younger and older residents together through collaborative music and creativity, while disabled-led performances and workshops through the Uncurbed Collective are taking arts and culture directly into neighbourhood spaces.

Other projects celebrate the many different histories and communities that make up modern Salford. Salford in the Air will see breathtaking floating performances by Salford’s Hong Kong craftspeople, inspired by figures closely connected to Salford’s stories and values, including the likes of Emmeline Pankhurst, Nelson Mandela and Alan Turing, soaring above crowds in a spectacular celebration of equality, inclusion and identity. Meanwhile, the revival of the historic Valentine Cup will honour the rugby league heritage that remains woven into the fabric of Salford life.

Alongside the celebrations, the Centenary Fund has also supported projects reflecting on the struggles and solidarity that shaped the city. The Working Class Movement Library’s exhibition marking 100 years since the General Strike reminds us that Salford’s history has always been built by ordinary people standing together through difficult times and fighting for a better future.

What has made this centenary year feel so meaningful is the opportunity it has given us to show exactly who Salford is after 100 years: a city shaped by its people, its communities and the values that continue to bring us together. Whether through music, sport, creativity, activism or acts of kindness, this year has shown that Salford’s greatest strength remains the people who call this city home.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make our centenary year so special, and happy 100th birthday to our great city of Salford.

Recycling in Salford

Am I getting more bins?

No, you’re probably not getting more bins. Salford already has a four-bin collection:

A blue paper and card bin: For cardboard boxes, envelopes, newspapers.

A black with pink lid food and garden bin: For vegetable peelings, bones and shells, uneaten food, grass cuttings.

A brown mixed recycling bin: For plastic pots, tubs, trays and bottles; cans, tins, foil, aerosols, glass bottles and jars.

A black general waste (or rubbish bin): For non-recyclable stuff like nappies, tissues and pet waste.

If you have the four bins, you won’t receive any more.

If you live in a flat, you might not have a food waste collection yet. Speak to your building manager about their plans to get you set up.

For more information visit recycleforgreatermanchester.com or scan the QR code

R4GM is on a mission to inspire and encourage Salford residents to manage their waste responsibly, helping them see the value of waste and the benefits of reducing, recycling, and reusing.

Here the R4GM team answer some commonly asked questions...

Why do I keep hearing about recycling on the news?

Changes to national recycling rules mean some areas in England will be recycling some items for the first time. You might hear lots about new bins over the next few months as more councils across England introduce services for the first time. But rest assured, we’re ahead of the curve in Greater Manchester and most of us in Salford already have all the bins we need.

Does the stuff I put in my recycling bins actually get recycled?

Yes, it absolutely does. The cardboard, metals, glass and everything else you recycle at home gets recycled – most of it locally. Things like paper and card is recycled into new boxes in Trafford, and food waste is turned into compost in the North West. The only time things don’t get recycled is when they are contaminated, which means if you put the wrong stuff in the wrong bin, or if the recycling is really dirty with old food or other muck, it might not get recycled. That’s why it’s so important only to recycle things that are clean and empty.

I already recycle at homewhat else can I do?

There are some items that you shouldn’t bin at home. Batteries can be crushed during the recycling process and start fires. Luckily, there are loads of places you can take them, like supermarkets or your local tip.

There are 20 tips across Greater Manchester including Cobden Street, Lumns Lane and Boysnope Wharf recycling centres. You can recycle over 40 different items there like wood, tyres, televisions and fridges.

Is recycling worth it?

When you recycle, it means new items don’t need to be made from scratch, which is much better for the environment.

It might surprise you to learn that Greater Manchester has one of the highest recycling rates for an urban area in England. Salford’s recycling rate is 47.3%, slightly higher than the national average at 44%, but there’s still more we can do to improve this by reducing contamination and recycling everything we can.

To enquire about wedding ceremonies at Buile Hill Mansion, email marriages@salford.gov.uk

For wedding receptions, parties or event bookings in the function room, email venuesinsalford@ salford.gov.uk

Buile Hill Mansion begins a new chapter

Buile Hill Mansion has reopened its doors following a stunning transformation, bringing one of Salford’s most historic buildings back to life.

The much loved Grade II listed building, in the grounds of Buile Hill Park, was last used as a mining museum, and before that a Natural History Museum. It’s now a fully licensed wedding venue and the new home of Salford Register Office. It also has a café, open seven days a week, with indoor and outdoor seating areas. A community room for local groups to hire will be available soon.

As part of the transformation, original features, including the grand staircase, the ornate ceiling in the function room and floor tiles around the edges of the entrance area, were carefully restored, helping the mansion to retain the charm and splendour of years gone by. An enclosed internal staircase has been added to the building to provide a secondary fire escape exit to comply with building regulations and a new car park has been added to provide plenty of onsite parking.

The mansion officially reopened in March, with a special visit from Beatrice Potter (pictured above, left), the great-great granddaughter of Sir Thomas Potter, for whom the mansion was originally built between 1825 and 1827. Sir Thomas was a textile

merchant and the first Mayor of Manchester. The mansion stayed as a family home for the Potter family for many years, before being sold on to the Bennett family. It was bought by Salford Corporation in 1902.

Beatrice was absolutely delighted to see the care taken to restore the building and preserve its historic character for future generations. She said “Wandering around this building today has been an inspiration, it has been magical and it’s been very emotional. I have imagined my grandfather playing here, with his older brothers and sister. I’ve imagined my great grandfather coming back from work in Manchester in his horse drawn carriage.

“If Thomas was looking down on us, he would be delighted with what’s happened to this building. He would also be delighted to see what the future holds for this building for everyone in Salford.”

Beatrice has donated a portrait of Sir Thomas, which is now in place on the ground floor. She said, “Seeing him where he is now, it’s fitting that he should be here.”

RHS Garden Bridgewater extends free Tuesdays as it turns five

FREE * TUESDAYS *

RHS Garden Bridgewater marked its fifth birthday with good news for local people - its popular Salford Free Tuesdays scheme has been extended until Tuesday 18 May 2027. The initiative means Salford residents can continue to enjoy free entry to the garden every Tuesday for another year.

The garden celebrated its fifth birthday on Monday 18 May with a special day of offers and activities. Since opening in 2021, the 154 acre site has welcomed more than 86,000 free visits from Salford residents. Over the same period, hundreds of community and wellbeing groups have used the garden as a peaceful place to meet, relax and connect with nature.

A fifth birthday also comes ahead of an exciting new chapter for Bridgewater, including the opening of the Yangzhou Scholars’ Garden this September. With millions of visits, thousands of school

Housing Services inspection highlights progress and areas for improvement

Salford City Council has received its first consumer regulatory judgement following an inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing, which has resulted in an awarded C2 grade, the second-highest available. While this reflects strong performance in several areas, there are also areas of improvements required to fully meet all Consumer Standards.

The inspection recognised that the council continues to meet the Decent Homes Standard, with evidence showing properties remain safe, well maintained and supported by a timely repairs service. A proactive approach to tackling damp and mould was highlighted, with the majority of performance targets being met. Inspectors also highlighted robust tenancy management and regular tenant engagement.

sessions and strong volunteer support, RHS Garden Bridgewater continues to grow as a much-loved asset for Salford and the wider region.

Having gained the C2 grading, there are also some aspects of service delivery that require improvements to ensure the standards expected are being fully met. These include strengthening reporting channels, improving the consistency of scrutiny reviews and enhancing how tenant data is collected and used to monitor performance effectively.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett acknowledged the need for continued progress, emphasising that transparency, tenant engagement and safety reporting will be improved. Deputy City Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly reaffirmed that raising housing standards and delivering genuinely affordable homes remains a key priority for the city.

Salford

Youth Zone (SYZ) is marking its 1st birthday on Saturday 4th July!

Join us for a special community celebration as we come together to reflect on an incredible first year since opening, jam-packed with activities, live performances and fun for all the family.

As Salford celebrates its Centenary this year, we are proud to be part of the city’s story, honoring its remarkable history while investing in a brighter future for the next generation.

With more than 6,000 members, SYZ provides young people aged 8-19 (and up to 25 with additional needs) with somewhere safe to go, something positive to do and someone trusted to talk to.

Open 7 days a week, each session offers a vibrant programme of activities, free hot meals and access to opportunities that support young people to reach their full potential.

As we celebrate this milestone, we begin an exciting new chapter in our journey and can’t wait to share it with the communities that make it all possible.

Join us for a free community celebration on Saturday 4th July at Salford Youth Zone as we mark this special moment together! Find us at 51 Belvedere Rd, Salford M6 5EJ.

Find out more about the day by visiting our website at www.salfordyouthzone.org

Salford’s 100th birthday celebrations are in full swing – and there is so much still to come. With a packed calendar of events happening right across the city, now is the perfect time to get involved, try something new and celebrate everything that makes Salford such a special place to call home.

Celebrate Salford 100!

At the heart of the celebrations is a city-wide cultural programme created with local people in mind. From free community events to large-scale art and music projects, it brings together Salford’s past, present and future in a way that’s accessible, inclusive and rooted in neighbourhoods across the city.

For theatre-lovers don’t miss, Ordsall Hall: Outdoor Theatre 2026, running from Tuesday 21 July to Wednesday 26 August. Set in the stunning grounds of the historic manor house, this open-air theatre programme features much-loved productions including Macbeth and The Wind in the Willows. Pack a picnic, bring your family and enjoy a summer evening in a truly unique setting.

Don’t miss Salford’s Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June, join the community parade from Duke’s Drive in Monton, followed by a family fun day in Winton Park. Expect a feel-good atmosphere with entertainment, activities and fun for all the family. July is packed with opportunities to join the celebrations. On Saturday 4 July, Salford Youth Zone’s 1st Birthday promises a vibrant day of activity, bringing young people, families and the wider community together. The following weekend, on Saturday 11 July, the Summer Centenary Celebration takes over Lightoaks Park, with live music, art, street food and a licensed bar by Claremont Tap showcasing local breweries.

There are also plenty of exhibitions to explore. Your Salford 100, running until 2027 at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, brings together 100 objects chosen by local people to tell the story of the city. Meanwhile, Then & Now Salford: 1977–2026 at Height Library offers a fascinating look at how Salford has changed over time through photography, and A Great Betrayal? One Hundred Years On at the Working Class Movement Library explores the impact of the 1926 General Strike through powerful archive material and personal stories. Looking ahead to August, the Roe Green Cricket Club Festival on Saturday 22 August promises live music, entertainment, food and family fun - another great chance to celebrate with your community. For more information, visit the Salford 100 website and be part of the celebrations: www.salford100.org.uk

Alongside these events, exciting projects are unfolding across the city. Salford Everywhere will transform buildings into giant canvases, projecting powerful portraits of local people, while Songs of Salford is creating a brand-new anthem for the city, shaped by residents and musicians alike. You’ll also spot new murals popping up across neighbourhoods, adding colour and creativity to everyday spaces. Together, these events and projects tell a powerful story: this is a celebration created with Salford, for Salford.

New PlayZones in Salford

Residents across Salford can now benefit from free, newly refurbished facilities to get active as part of the Football Foundation PlayZones Programme. Three new multi-sport spaces have been upgraded at Ordsall Park, Patricroft Recreation Ground and St Simon Street, with free community sport and activity sessions coming soon.

The council and Salford Community Leisure have worked in partnership with the Football Foundation to develop the PlayZones, creating spaces that are safe, inclusive and accessible. While football is the primary focus, the facilities also accommodate a variety of other sports, including basketball, netball, rugby, hockey and walking football. The programme is part of a national initiative backed by the Premier League, The FA and Sport England, aiming to improve access to highquality sport facilities and reduce inequalities in participation.

The new facilities will support health, wellbeing and stronger communities, particularly by encouraging participation among women and girls, disabled people, ethnically diverse communities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Free for the public to use, the PlayZones offer a welcoming space where residents of all ages can enjoy sport, stay active and connect with their local community.

More details coming soon on Salford Community Leisure's website https://salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/ or scan QR code

Over 7,000 trees planted since 2024

In spring 2024, Salford City Council pledged to plant 8,000 trees across the city by 2028 – part of our wider commitment to tackling climate change and becoming carbon net zero by 2038.

If you have a suggestion for where trees could be planted over the next two years, let us know. The sites must be council owned land and grassed areas or have soft landscaping. Email rangers@salford.gov.uk and the team will look into all the ideas they receive.

We’re now at the halfway point and have already planted 7,052 trees, with two years left to go!

This success is largely due to our partnerships with the Greater Manchester Community Forest, City of Trees, the Environment Agency and community groups and organisations such as Friends of Parks groups, who have worked tirelessly to plant trees in parks, open spaces, woodlands, cemeteries, schools, by roadsides and as part of new developments.

Trees play a vital role in creating a healthier environment. They help to improve air quality by taking up pollutants and absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They also help to reduce flood risk by intercepting rainwater in their leaves and roots, and are an important home for wildlife and nature.

Introducing The Salix Way

Salford housing association Salix Homes has launched a new corporate plan - The Salix Way 2026-29 - setting out its ambitions to deliver safe, sustainable and high-quality homes and services that make a real difference to people’s lives.

The plan reflects the organisation’s culture and values, guided by its vision to provide more than good quality, affordable homes - it will support its customers and colleagues to achieve their potential, ensuring everything it does as an organisation will be for the benefit of its communities.

The new plan comes at a time when the housing sector and communities continue to face significant challenges, including the cost-of-living crisis, a shortage of affordable homes, evolving regulation and the ongoing impact of climate change.

Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,000 homes across Salford, remains committed to responding proactively to the challenges - modernising its operations, delivering greater value, and continuing to provide a housing service that Salford can be proud of.

The launch of The Salix Way coincides with Liam Turner’s first year anniversary as CEO. He said:

“The Salix Way is more than a plan - it captures the way we do things at Salix Homes. It’s built into how we work, how we make decisions, and how we deliver for our customers, colleagues and communities every day.

“As my first corporate plan as Chief Executive, it marks an important milestone for both myself, and for Salix Homes. It has been shaped collaboratively with our Board, our customers and colleagues to reflect a shared vision and deep commitment to the people and communities we serve.

“Our focus is clear - we want our customers to feel valued and supported, our homes to be safe and sustainable, our colleagues to be empowered and successful, and our neighbourhoods to be places where people feel connected and proud to live.”

Artist Fran O’Hara has brought The Salix Way corporate plan to life visually - capturing Salix Homes’ key ambitions and priorities in an illustration and providing a different way of seeing what The Salix Way means in practice.

The plan builds on more than a decade of progress since Salix Homes became a stand-alone housing association in 2015, following a stock transfer from Salford City Council.

Since then, the landlord has built 560 new homes and invested more than £235million building new homes and improving existing homes and communities. It was also one of the first housing associations in the country to achieve the highest C1 Consumer grading from the Regulator of Social Housing, in recognition of the highquality homes and services provided to customers.

Your family’s

Salford summer sorted

Your summer checklist

(Tick what you like. Skip what you don’t.)

Get outside

Walk somewhere green

Visit a local park

Find ideas: salford.gov.uk/ movemore or VisitSalford

Play and move

Small changes. Happy days. Healthier futures.

Summer is made for family life outdoors. Longer days. Lighter evenings. Fewer rules. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what fits, when it fits.

Move together

Join an activity club, or kick a ball or scoot

Visit a leisure centre or creative venue

Find places and spaces: Salford Community Leisure

Drink and refresh

Carry water

Aim for 6 to 8 cups a day

Get advice: salford.gov.uk/ healthy-ageing

Open health screening letters

Book health checks and jabs when invited

Trusted advice: nhs.uk

Walking is one of the easiest ways for families to move more. No equipment needed, no cost and no pressure. Try walking part of the school run. Visit a park after tea. Take the long way home. Salford’s parks and green spaces give space to stretch legs and slow busy minds. Ten minutes outside still counts.

Play counts too

Running, chasing, climbing, scooting - it all adds up. Outdoor play helps children grow strong and confident. It helps adults too. Fresh air supports everyone’s wellbeing. Blanket on the grass. Snacks nearby. That’s enough.

Look after little futures

Tear me out and keep me somewhere visible - your fridge door or noticeboard.

For more advice or information, call 0800 952 1000 (option 2) 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, or email: health.improvement@salford.gov.uk

Some of the most important things happen quietly. Immunisation reminders. Health invites. Open the letter. Looking early gives time, choice and peace of mind.

Caring for health doesn’t have to be loud.

Drink and refresh

Staying hydrated helps everyone feel better. Children, adults and older family members.

Aim for 6 to 8 cups or glasses across the day. A simple check: pee should be clear and pale yellow.

Water is a great choice. Lower fat milk counts. So do lower sugar or sugar free drinks, tea and coffee.

Fruit juice and smoothies count too, but keep these to one small glass (150ml) a day, as they contain sugars that can damage teeth.

Little sips often work best. Take water with you when you’re out and about.

Support is part of family life

If alcohol, drugs or gambling are causing stress at home, local help is available. Talking sooner can make things feel lighter. You don’t have to manage this alone.

Continued specialist support for adults in the city

Contracted services delivered by Aspire for Intelligent Care and Support returned to Salford City Council on 1 April 2026. Aspire services and employees have moved to our newly-created ‘Provider Services’ function in our Adult Social Care and Health Partnerships directorate and will continue to deliver specialist services and support for people living with learning disabilities, complex health needs, dementia, and older people in Salford. Our priority is to work with communities and partners so every person in the city can lead fulfilling, healthy, safe, and independent lives. This transfer is part of our wider transformation programme, which will see more adult social care services and employees brought into the Council later this year, and the creation of a new vision for delivering adult social care in Salford and enabling organisations and the teams within them to do what they do best. Our specialist day services support a diverse group of people living with learning disabilities, health needs, and autism. From learning new skills and building confidence to making new friends and playing an active role in the local community, we provide person centred support to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live their life, their way.

Waterside Specialist Support is our Autism-Accredited service based in Clifton, providing support through a range of activities, therapies, and expert care. It is also home to our state-of-the-art Multi-Sensory Room, featuring a wide range of accessible sensory technology, available to book for group or private sessions.

With 16 tenancies across the Salford area, our Supported Living tenancies enable people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and complex health needs to live independently, with as little or as much support as they need, in a safe, welcoming environment, as tenants in their own right.

Our dementia services offer bespoke

families and carers. We offer a range of services, including Poppy Dementia Day Support and the Humphrey Booth Resource Centre, which provides peer-to-peer carer support and regular social groups, and is also home to the ' Forget Me Not’ dementia-friendly café.

Granville, our purpose-built 14-bedroom home on Victoria Road in Eccles, offers high-quality short breaks and respite care for guests aged 14 and over with learning disabilities and complex health needs. Our highly skilled team brings together specialist expertise in complex needs, autistic spectrum conditions, behavioural support, and total communication techniques to ensure every guest feels safe, valued, and well cared for.

www.salford.gov.uk/adults to find out more about the services, support, and spaces available and make sure you follow along on socials www.facebook.com/SCCProviderServices and www.instagram.com/sccproviderservices

Paul Dennett, City Mayor