I have now been working in Hulme for almost nine and a half years.  As my contract expires in about six month’s time, I am working towards an exit strategy, allowing the individual pieces of work to continue after my job ends in Hulme.

 Below I have outlined the progress on the various projects I have been involved in.

 1. REDEVELOPMENT OF HULME UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

 The £47,000 upgrade of the Church building has been completed.  This has resulted in a building, which has more light that is natural and now looks much better.

 It was decided that the proposed Youth Centre on the first floor should not proceed.  There is a problem with many of the young people on the Tatton Street estate and their ‘control’ of their local environment.  This has resulted in huge problems with the Youth Club over many years and finally a decision to end our work with this particular group and concentrate with young people in other areas of St. George’s.

 The question to the future of the first floor use of Tatton Street still has not been resolved.  The church is suffering again from young people accessing the roof and the resulting damage.  There is a need to increase the security on the roof.  At present, the roof security only acts as assistance to helping the young people access to it.  Any business will not consider using the accommodation on the first floor until the security has been addressed.

 Many of the local builders are not interested to even consider giving the church a quote for the work, as it too small a job.  A very frustrating situation.

 2.  HULME CITY CHALLENGE

 Chevassut County Primary School is due for closure at the end of the academic year in July 1999.  During City Challenge, when large areas of Hulme were again demolished for new low rise housing, a promise was issued to the schools in Hulme that there would be no education cuts whilst the rebuilding programme in Hulme took place.

 Just over eighteen months after the end of City Challenge, Manchester Education Committee announced the closure of various schools in Manchester, including Chevassut, which will save the Committee over £1M.

 The Two County Primary schools in Hulme, Chevassut and Royce have between them about 130 spare places.  Chevassut is £70,000 in the red.  The population of Hulme will still increase dramatically as there are still vast areas of Hulme still to be built.  In effect, City Challenge has still not finished.

 Royce and Chevassut will be amalgamated on the Royce school site.  The likelihood is that the Chevassut site will be sold for development.  Being next to the Mancunian Way it is prime land.  When the population of Hulme reaches its optimum level, the one school site at Royce school on Royce crescent will not be able to cope with the numbers of children in Hulme wanting places.

 For many parents living in the St. George’s area of Hulme, the daily school run will mean a much longer walk and crossing four busy roads to get to the school.

 Chevassut has a lovely teaching atmosphere, with standards quite high for an inner city school.  The school plays an important role in the local community, providing its facilities for use outside school hours. 

 City Challenge has been a double-edged sword for Hulme.  It has brought much needed housing into an area of intense housing need, but has also brought anger from many of the ‘voiceless’ local people that their future is being steamrollered by politicians more concerned with finance than the impact their decisions will have with local people.

 Final decision for closure lies with the Secretary for State for Education, David Blunkett.  Many local people have written and are asking for as many letters from individuals as possible to be written to support the schools in Hulme and to prevent yet more of the heart of Hulme being ripped out.

 3. UNEMPLOYED GROUP

 Since the last report, this group has dwindled in numbers as more and more of the young people found employment.  In the last three months, the last two ‘die hard’ unemployed young people have found jobs in the service industry.  One at Manchester airport and one at the new Trafford Centre (the new massive out of town shopping complex).

 The link with the Aquarius young unemployed has been very spasmodic and has resulted in an occasional group.  I have now withdrawn from this as I work towards my exit strategy.

 4. YOUTH CLUB

 As has already been mentioned, the youth group on Tatton Street has been closed, and the work transferred to other areas of St. George’s.  Behaviour had been so poor over a long period of time that it was felt that there was no future for this group.  For all the other groups we work with, we have volunteers who are willing to work with us, but because of poor behaviour of the young people at Tatton Street the group has only had input from Pierre and I, two paid workers.  The reputation of this group has resulted in no volunteers for many years.  When I leave this group, it would have to close anyway. 

 The other groups in St. George’s we work with are going well.

 5. CREDIT UNION

 Last year saw a consolidation of the Credit Union.  Inputting on the computer was crisper, the bank reconciliation’s were easier and the general running of the Credit Union was smoother.  An increase in the dividend was also possible from 1.5% in 1996 to 4% in 1997. 

 This year has seen an explosion in the growth of the Credit Union with membership now standing at over 800, assets of £250,000 and loans given to members now standing at £240,000. 

 We have also had reasonable success with bad debts.  Those members who had defaulted and who were taken to court are now paying their dues.

 We are in the process of seeking funding to employ someone part-time and to train others to take over the Treasurer’s role when I leave next year.

 6. FINNISH DIACONAL PROGRAMME

 In January 1998, Malcolm, Doreen and I went to Finland to run the weeklong programme preparing the students for their placements in Manchester.  It was very different to meet the students in Finland before they arrived in Manchester. 

 Three weeks later the students arrived in Manchester.  The two students on placement in Hulme, Sari and Siirka certainly carried out their tasks but were not as outstanding as Heini was the previous year. 

 9.       SPORTS DROP IN (WITH H.A.R.P. AND HULME SPORTS PROGRAMME)

 This has now been running for about six years.  A couple of years ago the Y-Club reduced the numbers allowed to go to its health suite from 12 to 6, but increased the sessions from one to two.  This has resulted in turning many users away, which by the very nature of their state of health has meant an increased drop out rate. 

 A spin off of the Sports Drop - In has been the Monday Fun Days; a series of monthly outings for the same client group walking, rock climbing and other outings into the Peak District.  This has proved to be very popular and has resulted in the group conquering Sca Fell Pike, a coastal walk in Wales and a session at the climbing wall at Marple. 

10. IN CONCLUSION

 This will certainly be my last annual report.  My contract ends in 1999.  It has been a very enjoyable and rewarding 10 years of ministry.  It will be very difficult to move on.  However, it is now time to seek new challenges and to broaden my experience.

 I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have contributed to the life of this project.  To Pierre West a colleague from the Hulme Sports Programme.  Together we have been involved in many different initiatives and residentials.  To Alan Broome who lives in the Credit Union office and, has helped it be the success it now is.  To Brian Harris the minister, June Priestnall the Church Secretary, the elders, members and Stella Salmon as chair of the management committee, for their management, support, friendship and time they have put into this Church Related Community Work Project. 

 Simon Loveitt