The RSPCA is looking for volunteers to lend a hand in looking after its cats, rabbits, and more across Greater Manchester.
If you’ve ever wished that cuddling and caring for animals could be a hobby for you, then that could actually be a reality in 2022, as now that a new year is here, a number of volunteer roles have become available at the Manchester and Salford branch of the RSPCA.
In 2021 alone, the team had 624 animals admitted into their care, and saw 503 animals rehomed – 259 cats, 117 rabbits, and 127 smalls.
And you could be a valuable part of that rehoming process this year.
While the Eccles Road-based centre – which opened its doors back in July 2019 – may be a local branch of the RSPCA, it is also a separately-registered charity too – which means that it is required to raise all of its own funds to operate, and also relies on the help of volunteers for things such as cleaning and spending some quality time with the rescued animals to socialise them, so that once they get adopted, they’ll be more familiar with human company.
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So, if you’ve got a bit of free time on your hands, and you’re looking to do a good deed, then these roles would be perfect for animal lovers.
No matter whether you’re looking to help out during the week or at weekends, or whether you’re flexible with your time and commitments, or you have a full time job, there’ll be an opportunity to suit you.
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Volunteers will undertake comprehensive training.
The RSPCA is looking for volunteers to lend a hand across Greater Manchester this year / Credit: RSPCA Manchester & Salford
An advertisement for the volunteer positions by RSPCA Manchester & Salford reads: “Join our wonderful team of volunteers at our small animal centre in Salford.
“We are looking for folks who can commit to a weekly slot (a couple of roles are available fortnightly) for at least the next three months, and this is because a lot of time is taken training volunteers and so temporary placements are not manageable for us.”
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For “insurance reasons”, RSPCA Manchester & Salford says it is looking for volunteers who are over 18 years of age, and and if you have any cats/dogs/rabbits or ferrets in your home, then they would need to be up to date with their vaccinations
This is said to be “for everyone’s safety”.
The roles on offer are:
Cattery Cleaning: 8:30am/9am start on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, either weekly or fortnightly.
Small Animal Room Cleaning: Start between 8:30am – 10am on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Cat Socialising: Anytime from 1pm until 4pm on Mondays – Fridays.
Rabbit Socialising: Anytime from 12:30pm until 4pm, seven days a week.
Volunteers will undertake comprehensive training for the variety of roles on offer / Credit: RSPCA Manchester & Salford
Fancy it then?
If you would like to join the volunteer team at RSPCA Manchester & Salford and help the animals, then you can email [email protected] for more information.
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Donations to RSPCA Manchester & Salford can be made here, and you can find more information about the centre here.
Featured Image – RSPCA
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Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ in stores for autistic and neurodiverse customers
Emily Sergeant
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ for autistic and neurodiverse customers shopping in its stores across the UK.
Supermarket shopping isn’t always the most pleasant or manageable of experiences for everyone, especially for those who are autistic or neurodivergent – with bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells, and crowds of people making it a rather overwhelming and overstimulating atmosphere.
This is why Morrisons has decided to collaborate with the National Autistic Society to introduce dedicated ‘Sensory Support Boxes’ at its stores nationwide, as a way to both mark World Autism Acceptance Month, and help autistic and neurodivergent customers have the positive shopping experience they deserve.
These boxes have been carefully-developed in consultation with the National Autistic Society to ensure they include the most helpful items.
A range of toys like fidget balls, spinners, and squish mats can all be found inside the boxes – which will be eventually be available in all 500 Morrisons supermarkets by May – to help encourage calmness and focus.
All that customers wishing to access the items need to do is simply speak to a colleague at the customer service kiosk of their local Morrisons store.
More than one in 100 people are autistic, and there are 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ in stores for autistic and neurodiverse customers / Credit: Morrisons
Speaking on the decision to introduce the Sensory Support Boxes into UK stores, Joseph Clark-Bland, who is the Community Manager at Morrisons, said: “It’s a priority for us to ensure all Morrisons customers feel welcomed and understood.
“We’re proud to be leading the way in creating a more inclusive shopping environment for autistic people, their families and all neurodivergent people across the UK.
“World Autism Acceptance Month has been a key moment for Morrisons for many years, and we look forward to supporting even more customers via our new Sensory Boxes.”
The introduction of the Sensory Support Boxes comes after Morrisons first trialled a ‘Quieter Hour’ in some of its stores back in 2018, before rolling it out nationwide in 2024 due to its success and positive feedback.
Featured Image – Morrisons
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Greater Manchester cinemas to screen family-favourite films for just £2.50 this spring
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester cinemas will be screening family-favourite films, and some new releases, all throughout this upcoming spring holidays.
The best bit? Prices start from a massively-affordable £2.50 a ticket.
With Easter right around the corner, and schools across Greater Manchester set to be on their spring holidays in a couple of weeks time, parents and carers will likely be looking for ways to keep the kids entertained while schools are out.
But now it’s time to take care of those film lovers… and also those keen to plan budget-friendly events that also take into account the classic Manchester April showers.
Cinema chain Vue has announced its lineup of family blockbusters showing at venues across Greater Manchester this spring – including Printworks, Lowry, Bolton, Altrincham, and Bury.
Arriving in time for the school holidays, A Minecraft Movie welcomes fans to their favourite cubic wonderland, while the whole family can instead transport themselves into Disney’s reimagining of the 1937 classic Snow White if they’d prefer.
Also returning to the big screen are childhood classics like Wallace & Gromit: Curse of The Were-Rabbit, 20 years after its original release, and the beloved Babe, to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary.
Greater Manchester cinemas will be screening family-favourite films for just £2.50 this spring / Credit: Disney | Aardman Animations
And as part of Vue’s ‘Mighty Mornings’ offering, film fans can enjoy pre-releases of family-friendly flicks like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Moana 2 every day throughout half term, all from just £2.49 per ticket when booked online.
“A trip to Vue this Easter break is the perfect opportunity for families to immerse themselves in the magic of their favourite big screen characters,” commented Rob Lea, who is the Head of Screen Content at Vue UK & Ireland.
Emily Sergeant -
17th January 2022 
