A new pop-up shop that “promotes positivity” has arrived a Cheshire Oaks as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Mental Health Awareness Week – which is this year being marked from Monday 9 – Sunday 15 May – was started by the Mental Health Foundation 21 years ago now, and it has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally, with the charity continuing to set the theme, organise, and host the week each year.
This year, the chosen theme is loneliness.
The Mental Health Foundation says that one in four adults feel lonely some or all of the time, which is why it’s looking to raise awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental health, and look at the practical steps we can take to address it.
To help shine a worthy light on Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 and to mark its importance, visitors to Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet this week will be able to spot the return of local business pop-up, Be+Positive (BEPO), at the centre for a limited time only.
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It’s the second time Cheshire Oaks has invited BEPO to trade within the centre, and following the success of last year’s pop-up, the designer outlet says it is “thrilled” to lend platform to the growing local business once again and offer visitors the opportunity to shop sustainable and low carbon footprint clothing, as well as find out more about the mental health awareness mission behind the brand.
If you’re unfamiliar with BEPO, it was launched by a collective of artists across the North West region and strives to publicly fight the stigma surrounding mental health.
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It does this all while promoting a positive attitude to those interacting with its creations.
The BEPO pop-up shop has opened at Cheshire Oaks for Mental Health Awareness Week / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
BEPO will be open to visitors at Cheshire Oaks on Monday 9 – Friday 13 May from 9am-8pm, Saturday 14 May from 9am-9pm, and Sunday 15 May from 10am-6pm.
“Last year’s pop-up was an incredible opportunity for us to meet guests to the centre face to face and show them what our brand is all about,” explained Ben Taylor, an NHS Maintenance Support worker who founded BEPO.
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“It’s given us the opportunity to grow our business, and we are so happy to be able to come to the centre once again and welcome guests into our new pop-up location.”
BEPO strives to publicly fight the stigma surrounding mental health / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
BEPO is not the only partnership Cheshire Oaks will be working with to mark Mental Health Awareness Week this year either, as Flynn’s Port in the Storm – the designer outlet’s resident charity partner for 2022 – will also be present at the pop-up store until Tuesday 10 May to meet the public and raise awareness about its mental health support services, specifically highlighting its specialised referral and counselling sessions and working alongside BEPO to help combat negative attitudes towards asking for help when it comes to your mental and emotional wellbeing.
The BEPO pop-up shop is also working together other efforts made by Cheshire Oaks to promote good mental health, including the newly-installed ‘friendship bench’, which the centre hopes will offer those needing someone to talk to the opportunity to connect with others in their community, and also a number of ‘positivity posters’ across the leisure village.
These posters feature some inspiring and empowering quotes, which Cheshire Oaks says encourages people to adopt “a more optimistic mindset” while walking around the centre.
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The newly-installed ‘friendship bench’ hopes to offer those needing someone to talk to the opportunity to connect / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
Speaking on the centre’s efforts to mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2022, Kenny Murray – General Manager at Cheshire Oaks – said: “Making sure our centre is a safe space that encourages our guests to look after their mental wellbeing is a top priority for us, which is why we felt compelled to partner with BEPO and our 2022 charity partners, Flynn’s Port in the Storm, to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week.
“By hosting this pop-up store in our centre, we are hoping more guests are going to feel empowered to open up about their wellbeing, and seek those resources that could help with their situation.”
You can find out more about the BEPO pop-up and Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 on the Cheshire Oaks website here.
Featured Image – Cheshire Oaks
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Manchester’s The Grosvenor pub set to host huge England fan zone with Fireball for 2026 World Cup
Danny Jones
With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, there’ll obviously be tonnes of places showing the game, but there’s only one place that’s promising big screens, ball pits, pool tables, ping pong, a ‘peep show’ and plenty more right from the off: The Grosvenor.
It doesn’t hurt that they’re teaming up with beloved booze brand Fireball to spice things up.
We hope the goals come easily for England this tournament, but we can assure the drinks will be free-flowing regardless, over at The Grosvenor on Oxford Road Corridor here in Manchester city centre.
Located just on the corner of (you guessed it) Grosvenor St and the busy Oxford Rd stretch, they’re already getting geared up for tournament time…
Teaming up with the famous cinnamon whisky liqueur, the popular student and matchday spot is set to be busier than ever for this year’s World Cup.
As for what they have in store for the North American edition of FIFA’s biggest competition and the ultimate celebration of the beautiful game, besides numerous England flags hanging from the walls and that beautiful ceiling, there’ll be plenty of music, England anthems, giveaways and top-tier atmosphere.
In addition to lots of chanting from yourselves, no doubt, there’ll be DJ sets and merch up for grabs, as well as lots of big wigs, St George’s glasses and foam hands floating around the room.
Credit: The Grosvenor (supplied)
Of course, there will also be wall-to-wall coverage of the games across their many screens around the venue, not least of all the big box sitting pride of place above the bar itself.
With two large floors and more intimate seating options upstairs, there are plenty of ways to watch Thomas Tuchel’s team fly the flag.
Kicking off with the Three Lions’ opening clash against Croatia on Wednesday, 17 June, the venue will be transformed into a sea of red and white, and guests will also be treated to a completely FREE shot of Fireball every single time England score.
Don’t mind if we do.
Naturally, with stuff like this on offer, fans are encouraged to grab their tickets for the fixtures as early as possible so as not to miss out.
In their words AND ours, “From the first whistle to the final anthem, The Grosvenor is set to become one of Manchester’s home ends for the World Cup.”
You can reserve your tickets from just £3 for The Grosvenor Fireball Fanzone – along with plenty of cheap pints and affordable food and drink packages – right HERE.
(Don’t say, don’t say it, don’t say it) It’s coming home…
Featured Images — The Grosvenor (supplied)/The Manc Group
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Sustainable clothing brand Lucy & Yak to host first-ever PreLoved Weekender in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Popular sustainable brand Lucy & Yak is set to host its first ever pre-loved clothing event this bank holiday weekend.
Lucy & Yak is turning its stores into dedicated PreLoved hubs for an entire weekend – celebrating second-hand shopping with communities across the UK.
Since 2023, Lucy & Yak – which is an independent, people-focused brand with all items made using organic, natural, recycled, or deadstock fabrics – has kept more than 42,000 items, also known affectionately as ‘Yaks’, in circulation through its PreLoved scheme, where customers bring in and return their old pieces, and once processed, will then receive a money-off voucher to put towards their next purchase.
Damaged pieces are repaired or upcycled by the Re:Yak Studio team in Yorkshire, before being sold on in-store to find their new homes.
While Lucy & Yak stores carry a dedicated PreLoved rail year-round, this late May bank holiday weekend from Saturday 23 – Monday 25 May, the whole Manchester store experience will be transformed – with a much larger, expanded PreLoved section.
There’ll be everything from old gems to one-off pieces available to get your hands on – all still wearable, all still loveable.
As well as here in Manchester city centre, the PreLoved Weekender will also be taking place at Lucy & Yak stores in Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Chester, Edinburgh, Exeter, London, Norwich, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Portsmouth, so no matter where you are in the country this bank holiday, you don’t have to miss out.
What’s more is that fashion lovers in Manchester will also get to take part in a series of upcycling workshops in store on Bank Holiday Monday, with more events planned in the coming weeks.
The brand says its stores are ‘more than just shops’ – they’re spaces for the community to connect, and where Lucy & Yak’s values come to life in person.
Lucy & Yak’s first-ever PreLoved Weekender is coming to Manchester this bank holiday / Credit: Supplied
“We’re so excited to bring the PreLoved Weekender to our stores this May,” commented Lydia Coley, who is the Managing Director at Lucy & Yak.
“Lucy & Yak has always been built around community, creativity, and doing things a little differently, and PreLoved brings all of that together. We’re incredibly proud of keeping over 42,000 Yaks in circulation. Every second-hand Yak has a story, and this weekend is about helping those pieces find their next home in a fun way.”
The PreLoved Weekender will be taking place at Lucy & Yak’s Manchester store in the Northern Quarter this Saturday 23 – Monday 25 May, and you can find out more here.
Emily Sergeant -
9th May 2022 
