Last week, a handful of AO employees helped raise thousands of pounds for Kidney Research UK by embarking on a charity walk from the company’s main office in Bolton all the way to the AO Arena.
Setting out on the nearly 30-kilometre walk — 17.6 miles to be exact — nine AO staff members embarked on their journey from the online electrical suppliers’ headquarters over in Bolton to the city centre’s internationally renowned music, entertainment and sporting venue.
Taking them a total of five hours to complete the charity walk, including a short break to stop for ice cream in the hot weather (has to be done, doesn’t it?), they eventually reached their destination and smashed their initial fundraising target of £1,500 in the process.
All told the team of trekkers ended up raising more than £2,600 for Kidney Research, the UK’s leading kidney disease charity, and were treated to a congratulatory glass of champagne upon arriving at the AO Arena’s Electric Lounge. Well deserved.
One of those people is AO affiliate manager, Graham Murray, who spent a number of years on dialysis before his mother donated one of her kidneys to him two years ago and he thankfully underwent a successful transplant.
Having received plenty of support from the organisation in recent years, it was a no-brainer to choose them for the sponsored walk, and both he and his team were delighted to be able to give something back on one of their biannual ‘Make a Difference’ days, where they swap time at their desk for charity and/or community work
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Still relying on immunosuppression to keep his transplanted kidney healthy, Graham explained how “Kidney Research UK have been very involved in all of [his] treatments so being able to raise so much money for them made the walk more than worth it.”
A big congratulations to our acquisition team 👏
They walked from AO HQ in Bolton to the AO Arena in Manchester to raise money for Kidney Research UK 🥾🗺️
The walk was a mega 28 kilometres, and they celebrated with a glass of champagne at the AO Arena 🥂 pic.twitter.com/ySQYpEvuLb
As for the charity itself, community and events manager Ronan-Peate said: “It is always fantastic to see co-workers come together to take on a great challenge and raise money for charity particularly when it’s one that’s so close to their colleague’s heart.
“The AO employees have completed an amazing achievement and subsequently raised far more than their initial target and we are incredibly grateful for their determination and generosity.
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“The money that they have raised will go to supporting research to help more people like Graham by transforming treatments and helping us to one day live in a world without kidney disease.” Hear, hear.
It’s brilliant to see AO continuing its incredible charity work in and around Greater Manchester. The AO Smile Foundation is making a huge impact in the community and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
Police appeal after teenage girl reports being sexually assaulted in a Stretford park
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal for information has been issued after a teenage girl reported being sexually assaulted in a park in Stretford.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers attended Victoria Park, in the Stretford area, earlier this week on Tuesday night (21 July) following reports that a teenage girl had been sexually assaulted.
The incident is reported to have happened between 5:30pm and 5:44pm, and the offender is described to be an older white male of a large build who was wearing a black t-shirt.
No arrests have been made at this time, GMP confirmed, and enquiries are ongoing.
As police continue their investigation at pace, a public appeal for information has been issued in the hopes that someone can come forward and provide the details needed to track down the offender.
“Detectives are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry and the victim is being fully supported by specially trained officers,” explained Detective Superintendent Suzanne Keenaghan, from GMP’s Trafford district.
“There will be an increased police presence in and around Victoria Park while officers continue their investigation and provide reassurance to the local community.”
Police say they are ‘particularly keen’ to hear from anyone who was in the park at the time, or who may have CCTV, doorbell, mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area.
Anyone with information can speak to police officers at the scene, call 101, or contact GMP via LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3029 of 21/07/26.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues to be slashed by 20% next year
Emily Sergeant
Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England are set to be slashed by 20% next year.
Continuing on with his week of, seemingly, introducing a new measure a day amid the cost of living crisis, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has now announced that he has taken action to cut business rates for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues across England from April next year.
It’s expected that these new business rate cuts will benefit nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues, saving the typical pub an estimated £1,100 in the next financial year.
“For too long, the pubs, social clubs, and live music venues that form the backbone of local high streets have been replaced by boarded up windows and for sale signs,” the Government said in a statement as the cuts were announced today.
Andy Burnham is slashing business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues by 20% next year / Credit: John Arano (via Unsplash) | Wikimedia Commons
These changes are set to be fully funded by the Government – including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops for example.
The Government says it also plans to crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces but do not comply with their tax obligations, which therefore puts them at an unfair advantage over businesses that do play by the rules.
I’m giving thousands of pubs, clubs and music venues a 20% cut in business rates.
I won’t stand by while these cherished local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded-up windows and ‘For Sale’ signs.
They’re the heart of our communities and it’s time we backed them.
“Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK,” explained Chancellor John Healey. “They help make a place what we love. They bring people together, support local jobs and help keep high streets, and town centres busy, which is why we will back them all the way.
“We are determined to bring hope back, give businesses the support they need and generate growth in every postcode.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham added: “For too long, Governments have stood by while cherished venues have disappeared from our local high streets. So today I am changing that.
“This Government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities. I said I would protect pubs and local high streets, and that’s what we will do. What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.”
Danny Jones -
1st August 2023 
