What We Do

Managing a Community Centre

Northmoor Community Association runs and manages Northmoor Community Centre on Northmoor Road in Longsight. The Centre opened in January 2001and was developed in partnership with Manchester Methodist Housing Association and the City Council.

The Centre has two rooms on the ground floor that can be opened into one large space, an IT Suite in the basement with a separate classroom, a well equipped kitchen and is fully accessible with a lift to the basement and a loop induction system.

The Centre is used by a wide range of local groups and agencies to provide meeting space and activities.

Managing a Community Laundrette

Northmoor Laundrette was taken over by the Community Association in 2005 in order to ensure that a well used local amenity stayed in operation and also to provide long term sustainability for the Community Association.

The building was purchased by Manchester Methodist Housing Association with the long term aim that the Community Association purchase it. The Association purchased band new equipment for the laundrette and the interior is fitted to a high standard and staffed at all times.

We also decided that it would be a great idea to provide internet access for people using the laundrette. There are a few differences about the way we have set up our hardware and software for this Internet Cafe. Linux powers it and some old reused/ recycled computers. Linux is a free, open source alternative to Microsoft Windows. Linux Terminal Server Project allows you to connect lots of low-powered thin client terminals (old PCs with no hard drive) to a Linux server. This means old computers remain useful rather than going to the dump saving money and the world's resources. Northmoor Laundrette could not have afforded to set up this Internet Cafe if they had not used this innovative IT solution.

The Laundrette has been set up as an information point for local people which is staffed at all times and offers a variety of leaflets and information about services and activities. As the Community Centre Office is not always accessible, the idea was to have the Laundrette act as a first point of contact for people, we also realised that many people who we would never get in contact with at the Centre may well use the laundrette.

Running a Tool Hire

Northmoor Tool Hire operates from the Laundrette and is currently undergoing an administrative revamp. It offers useful tools and home decorating equipment to hire either individually or in packages. membership is cheap and the costs of rental and deposits are kept low to make it affordable for local people.

The idea came up as the area of Longsight we are based in is almost entirely made up of terraced housing, with no room for garden sheds and little storage space for a wide range of electrical tools. As part of the regeneration of the area we thought it was be a good idea to equip local people with the tools to carry out DIY and home decoration,.

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