Fantastic news as long-standing Greater Manchester institution Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club has officially been saved from closure.
It’s an early Christmas miracle.
Just a few days out from what would have been endgame for them, after being threatened with closure just over six weeks ago, Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club has officially hit its fundraising target and has been rescued from the brink.
Announcing the news on Thursday, 28 November, they confirmed that their doors will be staying open and their important community efforts aren’t going anywhere.
The iconic Manc venue has served as one of the most cultural sites in the entire region, helping lay the foundations for countless important figures in music, sport, art and more.
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It’s no exaggeration to say that its influences are quite literally woven into the fabric not only of Salford but Manchester and the 10 boroughs as a whole, having hosted names like John Cooper Clarke, nurturing future footballers such as ‘Busby Babe’ Eddie Colman, and perhaps most famously being the location for The Smiths‘ iconic Queen Is Dead photoshoot.
Their motto throughout the course of their full century and two decades worth of serving the local area has always been to ‘Brighten Young Lives and Make Good Citizens’, and so it shall remain.
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After being given notice amid rising costs, energy bills and a general lack of funding back in October, the community and recreation centre was given until the end of November to raise a whopping quarter of a million pounds and thanks to the incredible efforts from thousands of generous souls, they managed it.
With Northern bands like locals Rolla, The Courteeners, former Smiths frontman Morrissey, songwriting legend Graham Nash and many other artists helping raise funds through charity gigs and sizeable contributions, not to mention countless Salfordian volunteers taking time out of their everyday lives to get behind the crucial cause, Greater Manchester truly showed its best face.
So, while we’re riding the wave of celebratory joy we’d like to try and gain some more followers! Maybe you love Music, History, Architecture. But, if you Believe in Better Tomorrow for The Youth of Today then please give us a follow! Thanks 💚 pic.twitter.com/DVwpeBecQR
The club – which not only helps provide everything from vital sports provision for Greater Manchester clubs and safe after-school outlets to children, to practice spaces and away days which for those less fortunate might be their first-ever trip outside of their hometown – also released the short but moving fundraising film seen above, which certainly helped get extra eyes on the crucial community initiative.
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Although there were some big benefactors and local businesses that got behind the project, it was regular people like you who helped spread the word and all those who donated even just a few quid that sealed this victory.
Greater Manchester can hold its head very high and be more than proud of itself.
The fundraiser is now past its £250,000 target and is now sitting on more than £273k, but donations are still being welcomed to help keep the institution afloat if you’d like to donate HERE.
God knows how many lives they’ve saved over the years — long live Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club!
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
24-hour bus services are now running across all Greater Manchester boroughs
Emily Sergeant
24-hour bus services are now running across all boroughs in Greater Manchester.
You may remember that back in March, it was announced that every borough of Greater Manchester was set to get a night bus service in what is hoped to be a ‘boost’ to the night-time economy… and now it’s official, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched those 24-hour buses this month, along with a series of other measures.
Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford now join the rest of Greater Manchester in having 24-hour bus services, meaning every part of the region will have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.
It’s expected that these new services will help around 625,400 people working in the night-time economy across Greater Manchester, as well as those out enjoying the region’s nightlife, TfGM has said.
The routes which will run around the clock from Thursday until Sunday are:
50 (Salford – Manchester)
216 (Tameside – Manchester)
263 (Trafford – Manchester)
192 (Stockport – Manchester)
83 (Oldham – Manchester)
All Greater Manchester boroughs now have 24-hour bus services / Credit: TfGM
They launch alongside the most significant service changes to the Bee Network since the completion of bus franchising last year – including other new bus routes, and more frequent services across Greater Manchester.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy everything Greater Manchester offers, without the worry of how to get there and get home,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“By growing the Bee Network, we’re making it easier than ever for people to use the bus, day and night.
“Our night buses are already providing a lifeline to some of the hundreds of thousands of people who are growing our night-time economy and working in essential public services.”
“Whether people are heading home from a night at the theatre or starting the early shift at a hospital, they can now get on board the night bus as a safe and affordable way to travel.”
Further improvements will delivered from January 2027, and a full breakdown by borough can be found on the Bee Network website here.
Danny Jones -
28th November 2024 
