The first two days after Welcome Week 2019 and for a second year in a row, Manchester Student Homes, in partnership with Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council, carried out a travelling tour of Fallowfield and Withington to hand out complimentary ice creams to students residents and long term residents.
The aim of the event was to engage with local residents to discuss key community issues including safety, noise and anti-social behaviour and waste and recycling. Austin’s Ices’ classic selection was refashioned for the occasion which saw your traditional ‘99’ transformed into a ‘999-er’ and ‘Mr Bubble’ became ‘PC Bubble’ for the day.
On the first day, the weather was on our side! It was the perfect day for an ice cream.
On the second day, poised ready with brollies at our first stop on Egerton Road, we were sure not to let Manchester rain prevail. There were some very confused faces as to why people were eating ice cream in the torrential rain, but when we informed that it was ‘free’ and ‘well, its Manchester’ the complexed expressions turned into smiles. We then ventured on to Fallowfield Brow, Granville Road, Derby Road and Ladybarn Lane.
This event was a fantastic opportunity to highlight that Fallowfield and Withington is a mixed and diverse community as student-residents and community members came together to talk about issues that affect our local area.
We spoke to over 300 students and long term residents who welcomed the partnership initiative to raise awareness of key local issues. Even school children were met with a wonderful surprise on their walk home on a rainy afternoon.
Poppy Humphrey, Off-Campus Student Affairs Officer, said ‘any opportunity to engage with students about life off campus is incredibly valuable. As well as this our partnership supported the campaign with a door knocking exercise to over 400 properties in areas of high student density, to welcome students to the area and discuss community responsibilities. This is a key aspect of our Halls2Home campaign.
Cooper Healey, Manchester Student Homes, said ‘safety is a major concern within the student community and for local residents, so hitting the streets with Greater Manchester Police helped to provide reassurance.’
Conversations were had with students about personal safety and home security by Greater Manchester Police and along with the ice creams we were handing out free personal alarms, window alarms and light timers! The partnership also promoted vital neighbourhood support services to students should they require assistance.
Community Safety Specialist, Adrian Hopkins, said ‘Today was a great opportunity to bring students and long residents together, have a chat and enjoy a treat. The day was a success due to the attitude, desire and enthusiasm shown by all!’
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