One of our member groups, Miles Platting Savers, held their Annual General Meeting during their weekly coffee morning at Parish Church of the Apostles last Friday.
The AGM celebrated a year of achievement and activity for group members, highlighted in their annual report.
The current committee presented their Annual Reports and Accounts and were congratulated on all their hard work throughout the year, before standing down for the election of a new committee. The newly elected positions are as follows:
Chair: Rev. Ellie Trimble
Treasurer: Sue Anya
Co-treasurer: Julie Skerritt
Events Organiser: Bridget Doherty
Learning Exchange Officer: Dot Lomax
The committee agreed that any secretarial responsibilities would be shared between committee members and supporting staff at Community Led Action and Savings Support.
The Miles Platting Savers’ Annual Report and Accounts highlighted some of the brilliant events the group participated in throughout 2023. Members benefitted from attending four mental health training sessions which focused on; understanding common mental health conditions; understanding neurodiversity in their community action work; supporting people, safeguarding, and suicide awareness.
“The training was really useful for identifying signs of neurodiversity in myself and the people around me, and better understanding the dynamics of the savings group. It helped me to think more about why people behave in certain ways, and value difference and inclusivity in community work.” MPS Member
In the summer, Miles Platting Savers joined other savings groups for the Community Savers/CLASS annual retreat which was hosted in sunny Llandundo last year. Members enjoy using this time to build relationships across the network, reflect on their community action work and rest in a countryside environment away from the business of the city.
“When one group have already been through something you can learn from them, and having regular get togethers is really important, like when we go on the retreat. We work hard but we also have leisure time together and get to know each other and become friends.”- MPS Member
Joining together with the Miles Platting community, savers members also participated in the Our Green and Pleasant Land pageant festival and MPCAN’s family funday, both events culminating in celebrations at St Cuthbert’s church.
Committee members Ellie and Dot, alongside MPCAN member Anne, spearheaded the march calling for more social homes to be built in Miles Platting, which you can read more about from a previous blog post here.
Miles Platting Savers ended the year with some well-deserved celebrations at the Community Savers strategy day and Christmas Party held at Brinnington Labour Club.
From findings that came out of the CLASS/Community Savers 2023 Impact Evaluation, some of the outcomes of being a member of the Miles Platting Savers included: increased social interaction, increased connectivity with other savings groups and an increased confidence and sense of self-worth. The Annual Report also highlighted how members often face challenges with having lots of other commitments which makes it difficult to participate in community activities, but savers are always there to look out for each other, and the friendly atmosphere at Friday Coffee Morning is a testimony to the support that group members are always willing to offer to one another 😊
By the end of 2023, Miles Platting Savers had collectively saved a total of £7055.85 from their weekly savings collections! The group is looking forward to continuing to meet, save, and grow their membership throughout 2025. The introduction of some new committee roles, following the AGM, aims for the committee to work together next year to organise some trips out and learning exchanges to other savings groups across Manchester- exciting plans to come!
If you are interested in becoming a member of Miles Platting Savers (you don’t have to save, you can just come along to chat and socialise with members of the community), please drop in to Parish Church of the Apostles, Ridgway St, M40 7FY on a Friday 10-11.30am and speak to Ellie to find out more…
