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Communities asked to pull together to help decorate Greater Manchester care homes this Christmas

Millennium Care Group is calling on the public to help brighten up spirits and "save Christmas".

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 23rd November 2020
Lavender Hills Care Home, Ramsbottom – Millennium Care Group

Communities in Greater Manchester are being asked to pull together to help make the festive season extra special for the region’s care home residents this year.

Millennium Care Group – which looks after seven care homes in Greater Manchester – is calling on the public to help brighten up the spirits and “save Christmas” for the residents, staff and families who have struggled throughout the year due to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.

The group raising funds to turn the outside of each care home into their own winter wonderland with Christmas trees, lights and decorations.

Millennium Care Group‘s seven care homes are located in Wigan, Bury, and Chorley.

The group was one of the first to install COVID-safe visitation lodges to keep residents connected with their families through the pandemic, however, plans to temporarily convert the pods into Christmas lodges were scrapped because of the infection control risk.

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A spokesperson said: “It has undoubtedly been a difficult year for everybody during the COVID pandemic, particularly for care homes,

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“As Christmas draws near, what would typically be an occasion full of celebrations and family gatherings, has been dimmed by lockdowns and safety concerns.”

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The homes plan to host special Christmas Light Switch On events.

These can can be celebrated by home residents and staff, shared live over social media for families to be involved, and also host special light drive throughs for the resident’s family members, but, as the group concedes, it “won’t be an easy feat”.

And this is why the homes are asking for support from their local communities to donate and help in any way possible, as “even a small gesture will go a long way to make a big impact”.

A target of £500 has been set and any donations can be made via the JustGiving page here.

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Festive Bakes return as Greggs unveils its Christmas menu for 2024

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Greggs has unveiled its Christmas menu for 2024, and that means the Festive Bake is back again in all its glory.

The UK’s most-popular high street bakery chain has officially revealed the first round of its festive food and drink offering for the 2024 season, and there’s a few brand-new goodies joining the lineup this year, along with the return of some undeniable fan-favourites.

And of course, nothing spells Christmas at Greggs quite like the Festive Bake, right?

The chain’s classic crumb-coated pastry filled with chicken, sage and onion stuffing, and sweetcure bacon in a creamy sage and cranberry sauce goes down an absolute treat each year, and is a serious fan-favourite, so it’s no surprise it’s made a comeback for 2024.

Thankfully for plant-based foodies, the Vegan Festive Bake has also made a comeback this year after being absent in 2023.

Another returning Greggs festive favourite this year is the Christmas Lunch Baguette, which is a freshly-baked baguette “jam-packed full of festive flavours”, alongside the brand-new Festive Flatbread with sage and onion-style chicken, sweetcure bacon, mayo and cranberry and red onion relish.

When it comes to sweet treats, the second round of the Greggs’ festive menu set to be released in late November is expected to feature lots more goodies, but for now, the yummy Toffee Fudge Muffin, and the indulgent Chocolate & Hazelnut Flavour Doughnut have both returned to satisfy your sugar cravings.

Greggs has unveiled its Christmas food and drink menu for 2024 / Credit: Greggs

The festive drinks lineup this year includes some sweet new additions, alongside the popular Mint and Orange mochas and hot chocolates, and the Salted Caramel Latte.

Gingerbread is the new flavour for 2024, and you can get Gingerbread Lattes both hot and iced, as well as a Gingerbread Flat White.

All drinks are topped with whipped cream, and come with a range of festive sauces and toppings.

Read more:

The 2024 Greggs Christmas menu is now available to tuck into across the UK from this Thursday (7 November).

Featured Image – Greggs

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How to look after your cats and dogs this Bonfire Night

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Tips for cats and dogs Bonfire Night 2024

Bonfire Night may be a blessing for some families who can take advantage of the beautifully lit sky and incredible views, but for those who own cats or dogs, this isn’t necessarily the case.

When it comes to your furry friends then simply turning to their owners is usually the best point of call, but sometimes it’s still good to have a quick refresher on how to spot when your pet is in distress.

Luxury clothing retailer, Joules, is one of those leading research this year as they provide a list of tips and tricks on how to notice a change in your dog’s behaviour, soothe your cat’s stress and just generally make things more manageable for your four-legged companions.

72% of cat and dog owners see a change in their pets’ behaviour over this season, with 68% saying that they are frightened by the loud noises. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips on how to take care of your cats and dogs this Bonfire Night.

How to create a safe space for pets on Bonfire Night

Cover your windows where possible

Closing the curtains is always a good start; although this may not reduce the noise fully, it will help to block out the flashes from those pesky fireworks and even dial those big bangs down slightly.

In order to combat sudden light changes, dog owners are advised to keep their lights on, this way the animals are used to this setting and there are no drastic differences.

Try to block out the noise with your own

Radio station Classic FM hosts their calming show on Bonfire Night every year and 2024 seems no different with Charlotte Hawkins and Dan Walker curating a pet-friendly playlist for all to enjoy.

I mean, come on, how lovely is this?

Keep them occupied

The simplest thing you can do is just make sure you’re there for your animals; much like us humans, they don’t like to deal with things on their own and sometimes it’s nice to have a helping hand by their side for reassurance – especially when that includes some always welcome petting.

It’s also good to keep their minds occupied by playing games and interactive activities with them to distract their cute little faces from all the madness outside.

Stay calm yourself

It might sound a little self-involved but it’s also important that alongside keeping your dogs and cats company and playing with them, make sure to keep calm yourself, much like your children and little ones you know, dogs are very reactive and can pick up on emotions easily.

As much as this information may be handy, you still know your pet best, so reacting to their behaviour and catering to their needs is definitely a must.

There are also some easy ways to spot something’s up…

how to look after cats fireworks
Joules worked with animal behaviourist Kimberly Grundy to help develop these helpful Bonfire Night tips cats and dogs.
how to keep dogs calm on guy fawkes night
They are one of many retailers that stock comforting cushions and blankets that are perfect for these occasions.

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Nine signs to be aware of:

The best way to spot any changes in your dog or cat’s behaviour is to look for these nine surefire signs – if you spot them, they’re most likely feeling unsettled by the celebrations.

  1. Whining or barking – this will include whimpering, crying, barking, and growling.
  2. Clinginess – i.e. more than normal.
  3. Excessive panting or drooling – can signal anxiety and distress instead of the usual excitement.
  4. Hiding or trying to find a safe space
  5. Trying to escape – make sure your doors and windows are locked and dog/cat flaps are covered.
  6. Trembling and shaking – soothing strokes can still work wonders.
  7. Pacing or restlessness – if you can get them to just sit with you that’s a step in the right direction.
  8. Loss of appetite – but don’t try and force them to eat though, the goal is to help them relax.
  9. Dilated pupils

Whether you’re cosying up to your cat or dog, or venturing out to a bonfire, make sure you stay safe this November and most importantly have fun!

You can find all the rest of the events happening for Guy Fawkes Night 2024 here:

The big Manchester guide to Bonfire Night – everything you need to know

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied/Sebastian Hietsch (via Pexels)/Jeremy Wheaton (via Flickr)/Raxpixel

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