Manchester-based community interest company The Hope Revolution has launched a new initiative to deliver ‘Hope Boxes’ to some of the most vulnerable and homeless people in the region.
The ‘Manchester Hope Box Appeal’ aims to bring a shining light of hope this winter.
As the brainchild of The Hope Revolution – formed in 2019 to help the growing numbers of homeless and disadvantaged people living on the streets of Greater Manchester – the ‘Manchester Hope Box Appeal’ is a winter initiative designed to provide support by delivering boxes of new and essential items to those who need it most.
And in the year of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s a service more vital than ever before.
“Charity donations are at the heart of what we do,” explains John James, founder of The Hope Revolution, “Over the last 12 months, we have been working closely with many charities and organisations in Greater Manchester who do great work supporting vulnerable and homeless people.
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“We asked them what items they want to help and support the people in need this winter.”
Twelve Manchester charities are taking part in the appeal this year and have requested everything from pairs of socks, to lifesaving emergency survival bags.
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The charities set to be supported are – Audacious Foundation, Barnabus, Big Issue North, The Boaz Trust, Coffee4Craig, GTMHS, Lifeshare, Mustard Tree, Reach Out to the Community, Shelter, Supporting People in Need, and WHAG.
John continues: “The ‘Manchester Hope Box Appeal’ shop contains all the essential items that will make a difference [and] once purchased, the Hope Boxes are delivered straight to the charity for them to distribute directly to where the items are most needed.
“There’s no minimum number of items required to fill your Hope Box as every donation will make a real difference this winter.”
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And it couldn’t be easier to get involved either.
People wishing to lend a hand to the homeless and most vulnerable most across Greater Manchester this winter are asked to head on over to The Hope Revolution website shop, where boxes will be filled with items and then delivered straight to those in need.
100% of what someone pays for their Hope Box is spent on buying and delivering those exact items to the charities.
The Hope Revolution does not make any money from the sale of items.
The Hope Revolution prides itself on providing different ways of donating.
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Since launching just over a year ago, the charity is growing fast and now covers 11 cities to support over 50 charities across the UK in the following sectors:
Housing & Homelessness
Children & Family
Care & Aged
Animals
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Visit The Hope Revolution website here to get started on your ‘Hope Box’.
And make sure to follow the group on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up to date with all the hard work it’s carrying out to make it a Christmas to remember for so many.
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One million UK adults who have never smoked before are now vaping, new stats reveal
Emily Sergeant
More than a million UK adults who claim to have never smoked cigarettes are now vaping.
According to alarming new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), relating to people aged 16 and over, around 2.8 million men (11.3%) and 2.1 million women (8.2%) are thought to be smokers in the UK… but more than a million people, who have never smoked before, have now made the decision to start vaping instead.
People in the 25 to 34 age group were found to be the most likely to vape, according to the data, overtaking those aged 16 to 24, as it was the only age group to see a rise in e-cigarette usage.
Daily or occasional vaping is still higher than the proportion of people smoking cigarettes too, the ONS revealed, at 5.4 million, or 9.9%, versus 4.8 million (8.7%).
One million UK adults who have never smoked are now vaping / Credit: Lil Artsy (via Pexels) | Pxhere
“Fewer than one in 10 adults now smoke,” commented David Mais, from the ONS.
“This is the lowest proportion on record and continues the long-term decline in smoking. [But] at the same time, e-cigarette use remains more common than smoking and has followed an overall upward trend since 2020.
“E-cigarette users are also getting older, with those aged 25 to 34 now overtaking 16 to 24-year-olds as the age group most likely to use them.
“This may reflect existing users getting older, growing popularity among this age group, or a combination of both.”
Overall, the prevalence of smoking dropped in all four UK nations between 2024 and 2025.
Featured Image – Elsa Olofsson (via Unsplash)
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Three Manchester motorways named in UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’
Emily Sergeant
Three motorways in and around Manchester have been named the ‘most challenging’ in the UK.
As part of MoneySuperMarket’s new Great British Motorway Report, new research has found that one in three UK motorists find motorway driving ‘stressful’ – despite more than 70 billion miles being travelled on Britain’s motorways each year.
From delays and congestion to high traffic levels, there are a number of factors that can contribute to driver stress levels.
But are some motorways more challenging for drivers than others? According to the data, yes. And three of the top 10 worst motorways in the UK are in and around Greater Manchester.
To find out which are the most challenging, MoneySuperMarket analysed everything from collision rates and roadworks, to lane closures and driver feedback in order to reveal the top 10.
Manchester is home to three of the UK’s top 10 most challenging motorways – the M602, M62, and M60, the latter of which took the top spot on the list.
Three Manchester motorways have been named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’ / Credit: pxfuel
Encircling Greater Manchester and linking many of the region’s motorways, the M60 recorded the lowest overall score in the index.
Despite handling significant volumes of traffic, the M60 experienced some of the highest average delays, at 15.58 seconds per vehicle per mile, and alongside this, it saw 34 collisions in the past year alone. But despite these challenges, the M60 remains an essential route for regional connectivity, and often cannot be bypassed.
“If you’re feeling anxious, allow extra time for your journey so you don’t feel pressured to rush or make last-minute decisions,” commented Alicia Hempsted at MoneySuperMarket.
“Plan your route in advance, including where you’ll stop for breaks, as regular rest stops can help you stay alert and reduce stress on longer trips, and if you’re travelling alone, consider sharing your route with someone you trust if it helps you feel more comfortable.”
Emily Sergeant -
11th December 2020 
