Dance students keep in step
A DANCE school which was forced to close it’s doors because of the first nationwide lockdown, have found a way to keep their students dancing.
The Sophie Dee School of Dance was unsure of how the year would play out and what it could do for its pupils.
Beginning the Easter break early, the team put a timetable of lessons together and launched classes online.
The team was unsure how many pupils would attend the online lessons, however almost one year on, the team are putting on a full timetable of online lessons, with classes every weeknight and all day on a Saturday.
The team teach more than 150 classes, working hard to keep children motivated, active, focused and engaged with their friends and dance teachers.
In early February, the school, based in Cheadle supported Children’s Mental Health week and held a talk on having a positive mindset and wellbeing. Lots of families attended to talk and the school raised £90 for Young Minds.
Sophie Tighe, principal of the school, said: “We have been putting on free workshops each Sunday afternoon with West End industry professionals and various professional performers and high profile teachers, to offer the children the chance to make the most out of this situation.
“In normal times we wouldn’t be able to do workshops with these people due to distance, but being on zoom has enabled us to bring some fantastic opportunities and they don’t even need to leave their living rooms.”
ADIGITAL device library has helped more than 300 borough residents get online during the pandemic.
Run by the council the DigiKnow Device Library offers free to borrow devices and data and since its launch seven months ago it has loaned 307 devices and data packages to residents across Stockport.
Stockport council also ran a dedicated helpline providing remote support to people without internet access during the Covid pandemic, with 99% of recipients saying the support had a positive impact on their lives.
Almost half of the loans were for educational reasons, one in five were to help those accessing Universal Credit or applying for jobs, and the rest were to help overcome different types of social exclusion, including loneliness and mental health problems.
They were also used for more practical support such as ordering prescriptions and accessing health information.
Recipient Donna said: “I think this is a brilliant service for those that do not have computers. It has been a real life-saver in helping my daughter stay on track with her work.
“She wouldn’t have been able to keep up with her schoolwork if it wasn’t for the laptop, especially with the introduction of online classes.”
James, another user of the scheme, said the help he received allowed him to start his own business.
“Having a connection during lockdown has allowed me to start my own business. It has allowed me to keep everything going and store all my files in one place,” he said.
Councillor Kate Butler, cabinet member for citizen focus and engagement said: “The DigiKnow Device Library has already helped over 300 residents to do schoolwork, look for work and manage Universal Credit.
“It has also reached residents who were isolated from family and friends, combating loneliness and improving their mental health.
“Most people are doing more and more online during the COVID-19 pandemic and we believe it’s vitally important that everyone has both access to the internet and the skills to use it.”
Run the partnership with borough-based social enterprise Starting Point, demand for the devices was high.
Recycling charity Renewal North West, was brought onboard to ensure existing stock is maintained and in working order and open a supply of low-cost devices for residents to buy.
Nicola Wallace-Dean from Starting Point says: “Being online means more than having a device and the skills to use it; people also need data.
“Many people are unable to access cheap broadband deals and can only get online using free Wi-Fi.
“During lockdown, when most buildings offering free Wi-Fi are closed, they have been using expensive payas-you-go mobile broadband, often at the expense of other vital services including fuel and food.
“We believe the longterm solution is to develop ideas such as data pooling and sharing of data limits, which is why we are throwing all our support behind #OperationWiFi, and we would urge as many people as possible to do the same.” ●●IF you know someone who would like to get online but doesn’t know how to get started, call the DigiKnow Helpline to help them get under way on 07537 127 095.
PLANS for a new train station in Cheadle are steaming ahead after the area was awarded nearly £14m in the spring budget.
It is the largest of three schemes set to benefit from cash aimed at revitalising ‘left behind’ areas as part of the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
The £9m project would bring a train station back to Cheadle for the first time since the mid-1960s.
More detailed proposals must now be worked up before ministers will release the full £13.9m in funds.
If approved, the most likely location for the new station is next to the Alexandra Hospital – close to where the original Cheadle (later Cheadle North) station once stood.
The scheme is being drive by the Cheadle Town Board – a partnership of leaders from the public and private sector and local community. It is hoped trains could begin serving Cheadle within five years.
While the station is undoubtedly the priority the money – £13.9m in total – will also fund two other projects.
The first is a low-carbon eco-business park, described as ‘game changing’ and ‘state-of-the-art’ by town hall chiefs.
Earmarked for councilowned land at Bird Hall Lane it would create a ‘cluster’ of small and large companies and aims to ‘accelerate’ the green business sector.
And there are also a again number of walking and cycling schemes in line for a boost to create a ‘coherent network’ across Cheadle, which will encourage people to walk or cycle to the new station, rather than drive.
Councillor David Meller, cabinet member for economy and regeneration at Stockport council, has welcomed the news.
Coun Meller – also ward councillor for Cheadle Hulme North – said: “I am delighted we now have a chance to progress further with the case for a new railway station at Cheadle.
“This is something I’ve campaigned for quite some time and the potential benefit is huge for the whole borough.
“The Town Deal will allow us to start delivering a green recovery in Stockport with Cheadle at its heart.
“As well as the potential station, the proposed innovative eco-business park and significant investment in walking and cycling will help us build our future after Covid and support the council’s Climate Action Now work.
“This is a really exciting moment for Cheadle and the borough.”
Coun Meller says the logistics of delivering a new station are likely to prove more challenging than getting it built.
And he believes Cheadle MP Mary Robinson could play an instrumental role in bringing ‘everyone around the table,’ from Network Rail and the Department for Transport to The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government.
Mrs Robinson – who has represented Cheadle in parliament since 2015 – hailed the Towns Fund cash as ‘brilliant news’
She said: “This funding is all about recognising the vital role that the high street plays in our community and local economy.
“This boost, alongside a raft of other financial packages and measures, will ensure that Cheadle is able to bounce back as we begin lifting restrictions this year.
“This news is fantastic for our area, especially for local jobs and ensuring that we keep the green agenda at the heart of all that we do.”
Her comments were echoed by Marge Falconer, chair of the Cheadle Town Board. She said: “We are all delighted that Cheadle has been successful in securing up to £13.9m towards an exciting package of projects promoting connectivity, clean growth and economic recovery.”
Ms Falconer – also executive director at Alexander BMI Healthcare – added: “This funding will help Cheadle reach its potential as a key player in the region’s post-Covid recovery.”
There were some dissenting voices when plans for a new station emerged last year – with critics questioning whether another was needed given that trains stop at Cheadle Hulme, East Didsbury and Gatley.
But a survey carried out by Cheadle Village Partnership found 85pc of more than 1,200 respondents said the lack of rail connectivity and local congestion were their biggest concerns.
It is understood to be the biggest survey ever undertaken in Cheadle on a local issue.
Rev Dr Rob Munro, chair of Cheadle Village Partnership, said: “I am very excited that we now have an opportunity to start to address these issues.”
Cheadle was also awarded £0.5m last year for ‘shovel-ready’ projects last year, including a high street parklet and improvement to Diamond Jubilee Park and Abney Hall Park.
Spearheaded by the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government, The Towns Fund is a £3.4bn pot of cash set aside by government to help drive economic regeneration in selected areas.
One hundred different towns from across the UK were given the opportunity to bid for a share of the money.
Cheadle originally bid for the maximum £25m, but its proposals for a ‘High Street Innovation Zone’ were not supported – hence the lower award of £13.9m.
Only two other areas of Greater Manchester were included in the first £1bn tranche.
They were Bolton and Rochdale.