Following the success of last year’s sessions at Buckthorn House, the Arrowfield & Hough End Community Action Group is pleased to announce another two fantastic cooking courses brought to you by Cracking Good Food in conjunction with Manchester City Council and Southway Housing.

Over each 5-session course, you’ll learn how to make fabulous food on a sensible budget, including pasta dishes, spicy Thai dishes, one-pot wonders, fishcakes, burgers potato wedges and much, much more and each course culminates in a celebration event* so you can bring along your family and friends and show them what you can do.

Even better than that, at each session there’ll be child care for the under 12s with a kids’ cinema club… and it’s all for FREE!

Each course runs for 5 weeks and takes place at Buckthorn House on Tuesday evenings between 6 and 8pm.

Course 1 dates : February 21st / 28th / March 13th / 20th / 27th*

Course 2 dates : April 17th / 24th / May 8th / 15th / 22nd*

Places are limited to 12 per course, and only those who have pre-booked will be able to take part. To book your place on course 1 or course 2 and to arrange childcare if necessary, or for more information, text Sarah on 07930 898935, email her at sarahsish@yahoo.co.uk or visit the Cracking Good Food website www.crackinggoodfood.org

Dawn would like to make contact with a cross-section of Chorlton residents, present, past and those looking to move into the area.

It only takes an hour of your time. Dawn interviews you in a very relaxed, conversational style to find out what your views are of the local area and records it for her study. No pressure. No right or wrong answers. Just your story, circumstances and opinions.

If you are interested in helping out, please contact Dawn at dawn.cole@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

The perpetrator has been caught and has pleaded guilty to the attack, so that’s a relief for our friend and the community in general.

At the weekend, members of the group went round to visit the victim and presented her with a bunch of flowers and the best wishes of the Group and the neighbourhood. We are pleased to report that, despite her ordeal and injuries, she is in fantastic spirits and is well on the road to recovery.

We wish her all the best for a full and speedy recovery, and hope to see her at one of our forthcoming events.

The Group brought another successful year to a close with its annual Christmas Coffee morning. Those who came were treated to free mince pies and refreshments and there was a fantastic raffle with prizes donated by a range of local Chorlton businesses including Unicorn Whole Foods, Barbakan Deli, Monkey Puzzle Toys, Siemens as well as contributions from Bramhalls, Waites and the Group itself.

Action for Sustainable Living was there promoting their Energy Champions scheme, and information about environmental improvements to the area was presented by Urban Vision.

Thanks to all those who came along, contributed and helped out.

If you want to get involved, come along to our committee meetings. The first one of 2012 is on Tuesday 10th January, 7.15pm at Buckthorn House.

All that remains for 2011 is for the Group to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and we hope to see you at our events in 2012.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

This year’s Christmas Coffee Morning is taking place on Saturday 10th December at Buckthorn House, between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm at Buckthorn House on Nell Lane.

Expect plenty of festive fun and fayre with free mince pies, Christmas goodies and drinks and a raffle which will help raise funds for the Groups forthcoming activities.

So come along and get involved. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

A resumé of the year’s activities was presented by Chairman Richard Miller and a financial statement was provided by Treasurer Amina Kasar. Presentations were given by Southway’s Steve Fanning about proposed environmental improvements and by Simon Robinson of Action for Sustainable Living about the Energy Academy initiative they are launching in the area.

Attendees were given the opportunity to discuss local issues to the agency representatives present resulting in debates about improving aspects of the local environment, crime and security, parking and rubbish collection.

As part of the  Group’s constitution and this being the AGM, a new committee was formed and new officers elected. Voted into the key roles were Bob Stacey, who is the new Chairman; Richard Miller (who has been Chairman for the past 20 months) – Secretary; and Amina Kasar who resumes her role as Treasurer for the second consecutive year. We also welcome Samantha Thompson onto the committee, and offer an ongoing invitation to all local residents who may wish to join the committee and get more closely involved in helping out with the Group and its activities.

Our next scheduled committee meeting is on Tuesday 29th November, between 7.15 and 8.15pm at Buckthorn House.

Thank you to all who attended the AGM and for your continued support of the Group.

Come along to the AGM and find out more about the Energy Academy and get involved. There’s a chance of winning some great prizes. To find out more, download the flyer here, text Hazel Graham on 07826 608 833 or email her on hazel.graham@afsl.org.uk.

This is taking place on Thursday 17th November at Buckthorn House on Nell Lane between 7.30 and 8.30pm.

Please come along and find out what the Group has been up to for the last 12 months, what it has planned for the next 12, and how you can get involved.

Representatives from Southway Housing, local Council, GM Police will be there. Come and fine out what environmental improvements are being made to the area, and how you can contribute to this.

Also at the meeting, Action for Sustainable Living will be launching their new initiative in the area. You can become a Tenant Energy Champion, discover how to live ‘greener’, save energy and save money! Find out more here.

We’ll be electing a new Committee, so if you want to get involved in activities to help improve your community and neighbourhood, this is the perfect opportunity!

We hope to see you there! 

This was kindly hosted by Chorlton High School at the Blue Box Theatre, with funding provided by Southway Housing. Around 20 cinema-goers enjoyed a special screening of the Bafta and Academy Award-winning “The King’s Speech” starring Colin Firth as King George VI and Geoffrey Rush as the therapist who helps him overcome his debilitating speech impediment.

The screening was preceded by a buffet meal of soup, sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee, all served up by Chorlton High School student Anna Markman.

We would hopefully like to make this a regular event, so if there’s film you’d like to see on the big screen, then get in touch with your suggestions.

The group would like to extend special thanks to the staff and students of Chorlton High School, especially Diane Clavin for helping make this event such a success.

The Arrowfield and Hough End Community Action Group is organising an afternoon of entertainment and food for the area’s older people.

We’re putting on a special screening of this year’s award-winning film ‘The King’s Speech’ and providing hot and cold refreshments. This all takes place at the Blue Box Theatre at Chorlton High School on Nell Lane on Thursday 3rd November.

It all starts at 4pm and should be through by around 6.30pm, and it’s all FREE!

So if you are over 60 or have a friend or relative, and resident in the Group’s catchment area, let us know and we’d love to see you there. Places are limited and are available on a first-come-first-served basis, so if you are interested, please let us know as soon as possible. If required, we are arranging transport to the event too.

To book a place or for more information, telephone Tina on 0161 448 4228 or email admin@arrowfieldhoughend.org.uk.