Manchester-based food poverty relief charity Humans MCR is determined to not let “COVID cancel Christmas” with the launch of its 2020 Christmas Appeal.
Humans MCR – which is based on Crossley Street in Gorton – is a registered charity and foodbank that “envisions communities in which everyone has access to sufficient, nutritious food”.
With a mission to change lives in communities across Greater Manchester by providing access to food and education to build “a healthy, hunger-free future”, it analyses and responds to the root causes of food poverty, and works to give respect, health, dignity and hope to those who need it most through a suite of short and long-term solutions that tackle food insecurity faced by residents in our region.
Over the past year since the country was placed into lockdown amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Humans MCR has been focusing on altering and increasing its response through delivering free food parcels all around Greater Manchester to anyone who needs it.
Now, it’s once again turned the focus over to the festive season.
After a successful Christmas Appeal in 2019, the mission this year is to “raise funds to support families in Manchester” – a target of £6,000 – for the provision of festive food for Christmas dinner and a gift for everyone to enjoy after what has been a turbulent time.
But your help is needed to deliver this.
Needpix
Announcing the 2020 Christmas Appeal in a post across social media yesterday, Humans MCR said: “We are launching our appeal to raise funds to support families in Manchester with the provision of items for Christmas dinner and a small gift for everyone in the home.
“So many families and individuals in our city are experiencing severe hardship because of the crisis, but we won’t let COVID cancel Christmas
“It’s our biggest appeal to date and we are looking to raise £6,000.
“All donations we receive via our website until 17th December will go towards the appeal. We [also] welcome donations of wrapped or unwrapped gifts [and] they can be dropped off at our Gorton hub before 22nd December.
“Fresh vegetables can be donated on one day only – 22nd December (to retain freshness) – and can [also] be dropped off at our Gorton hub.
“Cash donations are always welcome via our website.
“We know this will make a huge difference to people in our communities and we will be working with our referral partners closer to the time to make sure we reach those who need it the most.”
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Are you able to lend a helping hand this Christmas?
You can find more information about the incredible work being carried out by Humans MCR, and make any donations / contributions that you wish to the 2020 appeal via its website here.
Nearly a quarter of Brits are making cups of tea ‘all wrong’, new survey reveals
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has found that a staggering 127 million cups of tea are drunk in Britain each year, but apparently, a quarter of us are making them ‘all wrong’.
Nothing is arguably more British than a brew, right?
Whether you take it builder’s, milky, with sugar or sweetener, decaf, green, or even herbal, popping the kettle on and making a brew can be a sacred daily ritual for us tea-loving Brits, with everyone having their own personal tastes and preferences on how to make it the perfect cup.
But what is the correct way to make a cup of tea? Now that’s up for debate, but after finding out that nearly three quarters (72%) of Brits drink an average of four cups a day, Aldi has commissioned some new research to try and get to the bottom of it once and for all, and has polled the nation to discover what really does make the perfect cuppa.
Apparently, 78% of the population is so passionate about a good brew that they have to give exact instructions to someone if they offer to make them a cup.
A new survey has revealed that nearly a quarter of Brits are making cups of tea ‘all wrong’ / Credit: PickPik
English Breakfast tea was found to be the go-to choice of tea, with 67% of survey respondents calling it their favourite, but there does appear to be a bit of discrepancy when it comes to how to make it though – as 78% say they like to add the water first before letting the bag stew for two minutes to achieve the ultimate ‘toffee brown’ shade.
Almost half (49%) agreed that a splash of semi-skimmed milk should then be added to help bring the temperature down, and two in five (38%) prefer no sugar in their liquid gold… but that’s where the similarities seem to end.
According to Aldi’s research, almost a quarter (22%) of people are making their tea ‘wrong’ by putting the milk in first.
“It’s clear that tea remains a very important part of our lives, with the average Brit consuming a staggering 1,460 cups a year,” commented etiquette consultant, Jo Bryant.
“I’m with the majority, as I love a cup of English Breakfast tea, freshly-brewed for around two minutes, with a moderate amount of milk, and it’s always tea first, milk last – it is good manners when making someone else a cup of tea to check how they like it.
“Most people simply ask about milk and sugar, but it is better tea-making etiquette to also enquire about strength and any other preferences.
“Try to take the time to make perfect brews for friends, colleagues and family, and make sure you remember just how they like it for next time.”
Featured Image – Flickr
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Levi’s are the latest fashion brand to launch an Oasis collection
Danny Jones
In case you missed it amid the tidal wave of merch currently flooding our feeds and shops everywhere, global fashion brand Levi’s has become the latest label to launch an Oasis collection.
With the Live ’25 world tour now officially underway, it feels like not only are Oasis back on top, but that there’s a large-scale Britpop revival happening here in the UK and overseas.
In terms of fashion, the 1990s and early 2000s style has been steadily making its way into contemporary culture once again in recent years, but with seemingly every big name trying to hop on the marketing machine that is the Oasis reunion bandwagon, you can’t move for crossover.
Be they official collaborations like the one with Manchester City, adidas Originals; American fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch bashing out merch, or a local t-shirt maker on Bury Market, that famous logo is absolutely everywhere – cue Levi’s latest launch:
Releasing just five or five main pieces (not including individual item variations), Levi’s Oasis gear has been kept pretty straightforward, simply relying on a less is more philosophy and the quality that the denim specialists are renowned for.
Nevertheless, there is an undeniably 90s feel to the approach.
As well as the standard Oasis band tee design, available in the brand’s main red, white and blue colour, as well as black, white and light blue – the Manchester City influences never stray too far, after all – there are a couple of other types of tee.
However, while we’re sure plenty of people might have a penchant for the parka, the undeniable star of the show for us is the Type II Trucker Jacket with the group’s name and ‘Live Forever’ stitched on the breast pocket.
Still, at £170, these sure-to-be collectors’ items don’t come cheap, and that’s not even the most expensive in the Levi’s x Oasis collection. Regardless, if you fancy treating yourself, you can find them here in Manchester and at the likes of The Trafford Centre.
Any of it pique your interest?
Don’t worry if not because, as mentioned, there is absolutely tonnes of Oasis clobber at various different price points all over the place at the minute.
Emily Sergeant -
28th October 2020 
