Here is the finished Groves mural having an unofficial 'unveiling' by Amna And Abdi, two of our counsellors. Also in the picture is Richard the artist (in the middle) and Cem (second left) who helped organise the funding from 'Hello Student', plus three Groves residents. There has been loads of positive reactions to the mural from people passing by, including this comment from a community nurse who works locally: "This will put a big smile on my face every morning."

Look out for more work on the Groves, starting in 2025 with cleaning up and improving the area in front of the mural.

Big thanks for funding and support to Hello Student, Moss Care St Vincent Housing, Manchester City Council and to Brewers Decorators Centres for paint and Rosgal for equipment loan.

We have added a new page with links to reliable sources of advice and information so we can steer clear of the bogus stuff doing the rounds. Also links to useful online activities. More to be added as we come across it. See it here.

These are strange and worrying days as the Coronavirus/Covid-19 crisis unfolds. It is important that we each take the expert medical advice to keep safe so the spread of the virus is kept manageable:

• frequent hand-washing
• minimal social contact
• no unnecessary journeys
• Use reliable sources for news and updates. such as www.manchester.gov.uk.

Let us also be considerate and compassionate to one another, to “love our neighbour as ourselves” – particularly the older and more vulnerable amongst us. Use your phone, text, WhatsApp, call round (but don’t go in!) to check on your neighbours. If you have to ‘self-isolate’, let others know so they can help – e.g. get shopping for you. #viralkindness
As someone said: “Keep safe, friends. Let’s panic a bit less, (for those that do) pray a little more, and ensure the only thing we are spreading is kindness.”
We can get through this together.

We are taking part in the Great British Spring Clean again this year. Our Groves Clean-Up will be on Saturday on March 21. Come along anytime between 11am and 2pm. As before we are being supported by Manchester City Council, Moss Care St Vincent housing. local businesses such as MSA, and our Councillors will be calling in. Also this year we welcome Manchester Student Homes who will be encouraging our local students to come and join in. 

We will have prizes and goody-bags and we're asking everyone if they can to bring some cake or biscuits to share. Let's make it a fun community and family time together doing something positive.

Our clean-up is registered with Keep Britain Tidy and our number of volunteers and numbers of bags filled will be counted in the national statistics. More details soon.

Ever wonder just how our rubbish gets re-cycled? On February 28 there will be a special Groves trip to the Re-Cycling centre at Sharston. Suitable for all ages, it should be lot’s of fun. We will hire a minibus or coach so we can all travel together. There will be activities, refreshments and a tour, and altogether it will take 2 hours: plus 30 minutes each way for travel. Meet at 5:45pm by the MSA office. Back by 9pm. If you’d like to come, let us know by email or through the WhatsApp group, or just knock on. Please note, numbers are limited.

Here is the full-size photo of the group (or as many as could be there on the day) that was used for the Be Proud Awards programme.

Our group was nominated for the Manchester Be Proud Awards and we got to the final, where we were runners-up in the Clean Neighbourhood category. Pretty good progress in just a year! To see our page in the programme click here. Six of us were chosen by vote to go to represent the whole group, and we had a fun evening. Nice food, and lots of clapping the various awards. Here are some photos.

Groves Residents Group has been nominated for the Manchester Be Proud Awards – not only that, but we have made it to the final on November 16. It's nice to get recognition for the hard work that so many have been doing to clean up and improve our streets and alleys, and the Community Garden.

We have been asked for a group photo for the Awards Programme. This will be taken at our monthly clean-up on Saturday October 5, 2pm. Let's a get a good turn out and a lot of smiling faces!

We had an excellent residents' meeting with around 26 people present – including two of our Councillors, Mavis and Bernard. We discussed ideas for activities with Trae, our Community Artist, a suggestion to prevent speeding cars on the Groves, and a Council offer for lights and cameras for places where rubbish is still being dumped.

And... it was announced that our Residents' Group has been nominated for the Be Proud Awards and has made it to the final! We will be gathering as many as possible for a group photo at 2pm on October 6th.

​Notes from the meeting can be downloaded here.

Our Bring and Share Picnic took place on August 25 and was a lot of fun. There was lots of rain on the 24th and the 26th, but not on our gathering! Over 30 neighbours came in total and we enjoyed food and chat. It was good to welcome two of our councillors, Mavis and Bernard, and Katrina, our Ardwick Neighbourhood Officer. Some of us also decorated our bins with help from community artist Trae (if anyone else would like to do this let us know). Once again plums were picked and given out (jam has been seen already!) M13 Youth Project provided activities for the children.

Thanks to M13, Trae, everyone who came and brought something to share, and to those who helped set up and clear away.