A new free app aimed at ensuring Manchester is a safe city for everyone is set to launch, and it’s being described as “game-changing”.
In what has been dubbed “another positive step” in the city’s ongoing journey to making sure everyone is welcome and feels safe, following the of publishing a 10-year plan to protect women in 2021, and the launch of the Women’s Night Time Safety Charter in 2022, Manchester City Council has announced that the brand-new WalkSafe app will go live next week, and it’s going to be free to download.
WalkSafe is an initiative aimed at helping people make safe journeys, no matter the time of day.
The app lets people pick known ‘safe routes’ through Manchester city centre, as well as allowing them to share their location with family or friends, and send an automatic alert out if a person fails to reach their intended destination.
A game-changing new app is launching to make sure Manchester is ‘a safe city for everyone’ / Credit: Manchester City Council | WalkSafe (via Facebook)
The Council says it’s “understandable” that in the years following the “tragic and avoidable” murders of both Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa, that a huge amount of focus has been placed on how cities can be made safe for people at night, and now, with the launching of WalkSafe, it’s hoped this will “help and empower” even more people to feel safe, no matter who they are or where they are going, day or night.
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The launch of the app – which is the brainchild of Emma Kay, the daughter of a Metropolitan Police officer – will also work to promote venues and businesses that are making womens’ safety a priority too.
Councillor Joanna Midgley, who is the Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said, the arrival of WalkSafe to Manchester is “a huge development” and one which she believes will “strengthen” the work the Council is doing around safety.
“In an ideal world, anyone should be able to go where they want, when they want,” Cllr Midgely commented, “but until then, it is important we put measures in place to protect and empower our residents.
“In the coming months, we will be working with partners across the city, as well as within our burgeoning nighttime and events sector, and our universities, to make sure that anyone has the tools to keep themselves safe.”
WalkSafe will launch in Manchester on Wednesday 4 September, and you can find out more here and download it on the App Store and Google Play.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
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All students in England to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE
Emily Sergeant
All students in England are soon to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE.
Said to be part of the UK’s ‘enduring support’ for the Ukrainian community and continued commitment to stand with Ukraine and its people, young people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to study for a new Ukrainian GCSE, the Government has announced.
While the qualification will be open to all students, it marks a ‘particularly significant’ milestone for Ukrainian children and young people living in the UK.
It’s hoped that the introduction of the new GCSE will help Ukrainians to preserve a vital connection to their language, culture, and identity.
It’s also hoped that it’ll open pathways to future education and employment for all pupils.
In line with the other modern foreign language GCSEs that are currently on offer, the qualification will assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, while also recognising the cultural and historical contexts that shape the Ukrainian language.
Examination board AQA will now begin the next phase of development, bringing together language and subject experts to design what will be a ‘high-quality’ qualification reflecting the richness of Ukrainian language and culture.
Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, commented: “As they build their lives here in the UK, it is right that Ukrainians and their children should have every opportunity to maintain that connection to their heritage and to be proud of who they are.
“This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine’s rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine.
“Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders.”
The Ukrainian GCSE is expected to be available for first teaching from September 2028 – with first assessments taking place in 2029.
Emily Sergeant -
27th August 2024 
