Funded cultural activity and actual cultural activity can be two di erent things … and therefore who is supporting the grassroots / volunteer led cultural sector?

Reflecting on the creation of the Salford Cultural Organisations Network in 2018

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1w3jVf7p4pdLfoTeHUwUA9bnULdk-JwKk

(which was kick started by Walk the Plank and ) this Live Well Make Art Microgrant wanted to explore whether there could be a similar network for grassroots, volunteer led groups in Salford.

Working with the Health Improvement Team and Salford CVS Walk the Plank held an initial meeting to see if there was any interest in the above idea and to begin creating a geographical map of activity in the City as well as a calendar. The groups that attended or expressing an interest in being involved are listed below. Two journalism students from the also picked up on the event but didn’t attend. 5 of the 8 districts of Salford expressed interest (no one came from Claremont & Weaste, Irlam & Cadishead and Worsley and Boothstown), and some groups work City Wide (including CVS and the Health Improvement Team who have o icers in each district).

FUNDED by a Live Well Make Art Micro Grant The Live Well Make Art Great Places programme is an informal network who want a healthier Greater , where all its people can share the benefits of engaging in and enjoying the arts and creative activities with each other https://livewellmakeart.wordpress.com. Below is a copy of the invite that was circulated prior to the session in February 2019, and a second meeting is planned for / took place in July: it’s fascinating this Are you involved in a grassroots volunteer led because things are art or culture community group in Salford? Would you or someone from your group be free to attend a meeting? now making sense (refreshments provided) which didn’t before At the meeting we will:

Meet other groups from Salford involved in similar work

Create a map and calendar of what is taking place in Salford

Consider how we might work together

Think about what, if any, health and well-being support is available / required for volunteer led culture groups

Discuss possible next steps

The meeting is for groups that deliver cultural or art activity / events in Salford: anything that brings people together to do an activity ... this could be craft, art, sewing, cooking, dancing, music, drama, painting etc. You may receive funding for this, and employ people to deliver things, but your group is led by volunteers. If you're a heritage or parks / green space group please come along. If you're a residents group, lobbying or sports group this meeting isn't really for you (unless you deliver arts activity) … and lots of groups do more than one thing so you might do art things as well as something else. You might do things every week, once a month or once a year.

This initial meeting is a starting point and we we’re not anticipating covering all the possible conversations and ideas in one session: the focus is on groups who might not be aware of the varied support networks available and this is something we’ll look at in the meeting geographical 3) eccles mapping Salford CVS volunteering development worker Eccles Eccles and district Historical Society

Eccles Community Art Gallery (4 Boothway, Eccles Shopping Centre) Thank you for arranging the meeting last Barton Theatre Company (meet at Eccles Congregational Church) week. It was really useful and I have already followed up some contacts. ECHO: a group of volunteers who look after the activities in the Old with theatre shows / music / comedy / community One thing I took away from the meeting 5 events etc. is that ... whatever our group we all face 7 similar challenges and it is good and FRECCLES: Friends on – a group of volunteers in Eccles who look after Eccles railway station, give rail info to the public and beneficial to share our experiences and campaign for better railways (gardening group) to hear what support is available. 2 8 1 4) irlam & cadishead 3 Salford CVS volunteering development worker, Irlam & Cadishead 6 Irlam and Cadishead Historical Society

5) little hulton & walkden Salford CVS volunteering development worker Little Huilton and Walkden

4 Spirit of Little Hulton Festival: Peel Park and Little Hulton Precinct Children’s Arts Club Little Hulton Library

Mustard Tree, Little Hulton: art class / job club / volunteering

1) claremont & weaste Eccles and district History Society Salford CVS volunteering development worker Claremont, Weaste, Ordsall and Langworthy 6) ordsall & langworthy Salford CVS volunteering development worker Claremont, Weaste, 2) east salford Ordsall and Langworthy Salford CVS volunteering development worker East Salford & Broughton Ordsall Trust Creatives Lower Morris Troupe city wide Salford Archaeology and History Society 7) swinton &pendlebury Friends of Salford Museum Salford Link Salford CVS volunteering development worker Swinton & Pendlebury Salford Local History Society Reclaim Swinton and Pendlebury History Society Dosti Friendship Group Remedi Community Pride CIC Walk the Plank, particularly the Fun Palace Salford CVS is the city-wide infrastructure organisation for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector; providing Energise Centre 8) worsley & boothstown specialist information, advice, development support and opportunities for influence, collaboration and volunteering across Salford Salford Now: University of Salford broadcast service Salford CVS volunteering development worker Worsley and Boothstown geographical mapping

organisation area activities

Community Pride CIC Swinton & Pendlebury / City Wide Salford Mad Pride is a community led event that aims to raise awareness of mental health issues, reduce the stigma around mental health and celebrate the creativetalents of those who live with mental health issues daily. The event has a focus on community and community arts for wellbeing. Theyhold the event annually in June at Victoria Park Swinton.

Barton Theatre Company Eccles Create amateur theatre in the community

Barton Theatre Company Eccles Create amateur theatre in the community

Eccles Community Art Gallery Eccles Provides a ordable hanging space for local artists / workshops - arts and crafts / co-operation with other community groups

Energise Centre East Salford Provides health and wellbeing activities / services and support for local people

Reclaim City Wide —

Eccles & District History Society Eccles / City Wide —

Salford Link City Wide Shares Salford's fantastic history in a magazine produced twice each year

Salford CVS Vol development worker Eccles / City Wide Support and represent the voluntary sector in Salford finding volunteering opportunities and finding volunteers across Salford

Mustard Tree Little Hulton & Walkden Combats and prevents homelessness and those at risk of homelessness

Remedi, a reparation City Wide Reparation supervision company. Young people on court orders with hours to complete through giving back to the community. supervision company Usually hour and a half sessions on Tuesday or Thursday mornings or afternoons. They cover the whole of Salford and are looking to do any kind of work that can be o ered, hopefully with an end goal so that they can see the work they have done

Little Hulton Big Local has £1 million to invest in its community but investment decisions need to be resident lead. Spirit of Little Hulton Little Hulton Big Local Little Hulton & Walkden delivers Festivals in the community

The group is doing English conversation, dance, photographic session, life in UK. Attending di erent events. Having cultural events … East Salford Dsoti Friendship Group because having friends prevents isolation and allows people to participate in new culture

Salford CVS is the city-wide infrastructure organisation for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector; providing specialist information, Salford CVS Eccles / City Wide advice, development support and opportunities for influence, collaboration and volunteering in Salford.

Health Improvement Team East Salford —

Walk the Plank East Salford —

Ordsall Trust Creatives meet on Wednesday mornings, 10 -12 in the Neighbourhood Centre on Robert Hall Street (Oldfield Road end). Ordsall Trust Creatives Ordsall & Langworthy All welcome. Creative Writing, self-publishing, song writing and film making.

Teaches girls how to dance. O ers them a postive time and way to learn new skills / Lower Kersal Morris Dancing Troupe East Salford teaches people from very young to older (mostly girls) how to morris dance group discussions

help support each other to be healthy as people and as a group?

Concentrate on what you like doing (passion) Share the load – not letting one / two people do everything: clear roles / skills Developing Friendships through common interests Good people skills / people management

how do we keep ourselves healthy?

Succession planning, turnover, new people & new opportunities Group training opportunities / broaden horizons Celebrate success / thank people Talking to other people Getting support / structure

what are we doing?

Volunteering Sharing time out (walking) Achieving things help support each other to be healthy as people and as a group?

Concentrate on what you like doing (passion) Share the load – not letting one / two people do everything: clear roles / skills Developing Friendships through common interests Good people skills / people management

how do we keep ourselves healthy?

Succession planning, turnover, new people & new opportunities Group training opportunities / broaden horizons Celebrate success / thank people Talking to other people Getting support / structure

what are we doing?

Volunteering Sharing time out (walking) Achieving things

group discussions

what are we not doing?

Funding (form fatigue) Staying in touch Planning ahead (balance), including everybody if they want to be involved Communicating decisions issues

Volunteering doesn’t have the same expectations regarding how we work i.e. what are the working hours etc. demonstrating success How do we say no – i.e. not cover everything for everyone

Communicating, fun / energy, stimulation, being part of something creative Sense of responsibility ‘to do’ is very high … if we don’t it can lead to anxiety and guilt Always rely on a core group of people Fear that if a person stops volunteering the group will stop How do we equip the volunteer leaders to lead and manage issues / people / emotions? Do we even try to do this? ‘Bake a Cake’ is the public perception of volunteering but in reality this can lead to burn out It can turn out passion (whatever that is) into a series of administrative tasks! Managing group members’ expectations and agendas can be exhausting

solutions

Take time to make connections – stay in touch with other volunteer organisations Take time to be involved with the activity – don’t just manage the group Talk to other volunteers – listen to their solutions or thoughts. Don’t always speak ... know when not to Discover and allow other group members to use their strengths to help run the group Remember the reason why the group meets, the anticipation of delivering the event Mistakes will happen: we’re human, admit it, learn from it and continue calendar january Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds mapping february Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds

march Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds

april Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds

may Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds Barton Theatre Company: a production of 1-3 May A Basinful of Briny

june Mad Pride

july Barton Theatre Company: variety show in July Barton Theatre Company: participating in Precarious Carnival on Bridgewater Canal in July

Spirit of Little Hulton Festival, Peel Park august Friday 30 August – Sunday 1 September: Eccles Festival 2019, in and around Eccles. Arts and Crafts market, community stalls, music entertainment, theatre etc. [still in planning]

september Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds Barton Theatre Company production of Here I Belong

Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds october First weekend in October Walk the Plank Fun Palace Halloween Event Peel Park Little Hulton

november Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds

december Eccles and District Historical Society 2nd Weds Winter Festival Little Hulton