Healthwatch Round Up - 27 November 2025
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up!
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'What to Know This Winter' Booklet Available
Have you downloaded or picked up your copy? The Healthwatch Stockport team have pulled together a super useful booklet sharing tips, tricks, advice and important information to help you and your loved ones through the Winter months and colder weather.
This handy booklet is available digitally to download and share, or in a printed version. Many hard copies are already been distributed to libraries, pharmacies, and local community venues and businesses across Stockport, with more to be delivered in various locations. So feel free to pick one up! To ask for a copy, contact the team:
info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Please share this with loved ones and your networks.
Healthwatch Research, Articles & Advice You May Have Missed
As a reminder, please see the latest reports, news, advice and support articles from us and Healthwatch England.
What are parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities telling us?
How can your pharmacy help you?
Did you know that pharmacies provide advice and information on minor illnesses and ailments? Find out how they can help you.
Living With or Affected by Prostate Cancer?
Details from Healthwatch in Greater Manchester
Healthwatch across Greater Manchester want to hear your experiences of prostate cancer services. Your feedback will help to raise awareness and shape better services.
This week we're shining a spotlight on Andy's Man Club.
ANDYSMANCLUB takes its name from Andrew Roberts, a man who sadly took his own life aged 23 in early 2016.
Andy’s family had no inkling that he was suffering or struggling to the extent that he would do this, and as a result looked deeper into male suicide and men’s mental health. They soon discovered that male suicide is the biggest killer of men under 54, with male mental health surrounded by well-ingrained cultural stigma in the UK.
Andy’s Mum and Brother-in-Law, came up with the idea for a group where men aged 18 and above can speak about their mental health in a judgment-free, non-clinical environment.
Groups now operate nationwide and are completely volunteer-led.
Andy's Man Club Finds New Home: Life Leisure’s Stockport Sports Village has become the proud home of Stockport’s only Andy’s Man Club. The launch comes during Men’s Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness around men’s physical and mental wellbeing.
The new group at Stockport Sports Village will meet every Monday at 7pm (excluding bank holidays). No booking or referral is needed, just rock up and take a seat.
Reminder Announcement: England's First Ever Men's Health Strategy
Details from Men's Health Forum & UK Government
After over a decade of campaigning, the Men's Health Forum welcomes the first ever Men's Health Strategy for England. The UK government is launching a ‘landmark strategy’ which ‘aims to tackle crisis in men’s mental health, improve physical health and reduce inequalities.’
Men can be less likely to seek help and more likely to suffer in silence. This, combined with a higher propensity to smoke, drink, gamble and use drugs, means men’s health is suffering, having a significant impact on families, workplaces and communities. This strategy will help give men and boys to get on and live longer, healthier lives.
- As part of the strategy, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will team up on the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative and smash the stigma around mental health
- Men with prostate cancer will also benefit from improved care through the strategy, alongside £3.6 million investment in suicide prevention projects targeting middle-aged men
- Suicide prevention, alcohol abuse and problem gambling will be the focus of a new government strategy for men's health.
Read the full announcement
Warm Spaces Are Opening Across Stockport
Details from Stockport Council
Stockport residents can find a warm welcome across the borough this Winter, with plenty of free, friendly places now open to provide comfort and support during the colder months.
You can enjoy a hot drink and free, friendly places including all libraries, where you can get online, get support and get stuck into activities. From board game get togethers to knit and natters, tea dances to coffee mornings, these warm spaces are a great way to connect.
Warm spaces at libraries: Library opening times are available on our libraries directory. If you're unable to make it in person, why not join the free Home Library Service?! The service is open to people of all ages as well as full-time carers.
Warm spaces at Stockroom: Every Monday, you can enjoy a free hot drink and biscuit at Stockroom’s Winter board games get together, from 10am to 12 noon. Visit the Stockroom website to find more free activities.
Warm spaces at community hubs: Life Leisure is offering free Brew and a Biscuit sessions across the borough, as well as community clubs at their Brinnington Park Hub.
Visit the events calendar to find these and more warm spaces. More Live Well Warm Spaces will be opening throughout winter. Details to follow.
Warm Spaces form part of Stockport Live Well, making Stockport a great place to live by building stronger communities, providing early help and support closer to home and helping people live happier, healthier lives.
The Vaccination Van is Touring Stockport
Details from Stockport Council
The NHS roving vaccination van is offering free COVID-19 vaccines to eligible residents. You don't need an appointment, just drop in between 9am and 3pm.
3 December - Merseyway Shopping Centre, Stockport, SK1 1PD
10 December - Moya Cole Hospice, St Ann’s Road North, Heald Green, SK8 3SZ
17 December - Merseyway Shopping Centre, Stockport, SK1 1PD
Visit the events calendar for more dates, times and locations: https://orlo.uk/OAfBy
You can get the COVID-19 vaccine if you:
- are 75 or over, or will be by 31 January 2026
- are aged between 6 months and 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
- live in a care home for older adults
The vaccine is our best defence against COVID-19, which can cause serious illness for some people. Getting vaccinated helps protect you and the people around you.
Questions about the vaccine? Find out more on the NHS website: https://orlo.uk/0243h
NHS GM’s Guide to Primary Care is Back!
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
Over 40,000 copies of NHS GM’s ‘Primary Care: Get To Know Where To Go’ publication have been delivered across Greater Manchester to locations including GP practices, pharmacies, libraries, family hubs, health centres, and hospitals.
The Get To Know Where To Go page on the NHS GM website has more information on local health services. All pages on our website can be translated into a range of languages using Recite Me – look out for this logo.
Greater Manchester Blood Donation
Details from NHS Greater Manchester
As hospitals across England work hard to reduce surgery waiting lists in the run-up to Christmas, they’re ordering almost 400 extra units of blood each week. But with Winter weather and seasonal illness causing more missed appointments, they’re relying on donors more than ever.
There are still 84,000 appointments available at our donor centres, and 52,000 at our community sessions over the coming weeks.
They especially need O negative, B negative, and Ro subtype donations to help meet demand. Just one hour of your time could save up to three lives.
Book an appointment today:
our website or GiveBlood app
0300 123 23 23.
Supporting Our Stockport Carers
Details from Stockport Council
On Carers Rights Day (20 November) Stockport Council launched brand-new webpages dedicated to supporting carers across Stockport.
Developed in partnership with Stockport Council, Signpost for Carers, and the Carers Partnership Board, this new digital space is packed with practical guidance, local service links, and real stories shaped by carers themselves.
Read more about these new pages, share them with your teams and networks Stockport marks Carers Rights Day - Stockport Council
Together, we’re making sure carers have the support and recognition they deserve every day.
Need Support With Infant Feeding?
Details from Stockport Council
Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or exploring mixed feeding, Stockport Council's infant feeding page has practical advice, tips, and links to local support services to make feeding your baby easier and less stressful.
Did you know families can also get help to buy food and milk through the NHS Healthy Start scheme? If you’re pregnant or have a child under 4 and receive certain benefits, you could get a prepaid card for healthy foods like milk, fruit, vegetables, and infant formula, plus free vitamins for mums and young children.
Family Hubs support families from pregnancy through to young people aged up to 19, or aged up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Learn more
Check out the Family Hubs App!
Details from One Stockport Family Hubs
Download the Family Hubs App which is free for all Stockport residents!
The App is available in 75 languages and contains a wealth of information and resources at your fingers tips, written by health professionals and psychologists. Learn more about many aspects of child development, behaviours and as well as other things you never knew you needed. Download the Essential Parent GM Family Hub app
Once downloaded, choose Stockport to get started.
Transport Staff to Receive Dementia Awareness Training
Details from Transport for Greater Manchester
Bus drivers and other Bee Network frontline staff are to receive dementia awareness training as part of plans to make public transport more accessible in Greater Manchester.
Already hundreds of employees have begun the training programme rolled out by the Alzheimer’s Society. This will be extended to around 540 staff by the end of 2025.
It forms part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM’s) plans to mark UK Disability History Month, and the transport authority is also working with Disability Design Reference Group and Breakthrough UK.
Present for a Pensioner This Christmas
Details from Care Your Way Stockport
Care Your Way Stockport are running their 'Present for a Pensioner' initiative to deliver Christmas hampers to pensioners who may otherwise spend the holidays alone.
They need your nominations: If you know a pensioner through hospital discharge, step-down services, community support, hospice care, or your day-to-day work — who may be:
- isolated or living alone
- struggling financially
- without family nearby
- in need of a little Christmas kindness
…Care Your Way Stockport would be honoured to deliver a hamper to them.
Closing date for nominations: Friday 12 December.
Nominate here
Donations welcome: Care Your Way would welcome donations to help them create each hamper. Even the smallest contribution can help:
Donate a tin of baked beans or soup, tea bags, snacks such as biscuits, a hot water bottle, throw, socks, gloves or some festive surprises and treats.
Drop off donations: CareYourWay Stockport, Office Suite 0, The Mailbox, 1 Exchange Street, SK3 0GA https://maps.app.goo.gl/QJ3VoBrRpFRAbC9r9 from Monday - Friday 9am – 5pm.
Sponsor a full hamper for £35 by completing the form: https://careyourway.co.uk/contact/
Join the 'Be A Santa' Campaign
Details from Home Instead
The festive season is approaching, and so is Home Instead's 'Be a Santa' campaign! This year, the team are partnering with The Christie to spread joy and warmth to patients spending Christmas in care — and we need your help.
How you can make a difference: They’re collecting gifts for patients. Ideas include:
- Selection boxes for festive treats
- Gifts for women (16–24 & 25+)
- Gifts for men (16–24 & 25+)
All gifts will be lovingly wrapped by Home Instead volunteers and delivered directly to The Christie in time for Christmas. Two easy ways to give:
- Drop off: Home Instead, Victoria House, 179 Hall Street, Stockport, SK1 4JG
- Send via Amazon: Scan the QR code on our attached poster to purchase gifts from our Amazon wishlist — delivered straight to us!
Your generosity can bring comfort, cheer, and a big festive smile to those who need it most.
Stockport Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar
Details from Stockport Foodbank
Sparc's 'Talking it Through Support Group
Have Your Say: Shape the Future of Continence Care
Details from Urology Trade Association
14 million people in the UK have some degree of urinary incontinence. The Urology Trade Association (UTA), The Urology Foundation (TUF) and the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) have launched a joint survey on patient dignity, experiences, and outcomes, aimed at improving continence care across the UK.
They'd like to understand people's experiences with urinary continence care, including how it affects your day-to-day life, dignity and how well the care and products work for you. The survey is aimed at adults who experience continence issues and/or their carer/family member.
The deadline has been extended to 30 November.
Have Your Say: Develop a Lung Cancer Screening campaign for LGBTQIA+ people
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Aged 50+
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From the LGBTQIA+ community
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Smokers or former smokers
Or email ezra@outpatients.org.uk for more information.
Preparing for Adulthood Strategy
Details from PACTs
We’re planning how to support young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as they move into adulthood (ages 14–25) and we want your views.
Changes to SEND School Transport Service
Stockport Council are consulting on changes to our travel policies for young people with SEND. Come along to a face to face or an online Q&A session to find out more about what’s proposed and how to give your feedback.
Have Your Say: The Future of Stockport
Details from Stockport Council
Residents, businesses and community groups will be invited to share their views on the borough’s draft Local Plan, a legal document that will guide how Stockport changes over the next 15 years once adopted.
They want to hear what works, what doesn’t, and where alternative options and changes could be made, especially from those who live, work, study or run businesses in Stockport.
The consultation runs until 21 December 2025.
Residents can speak to the planning team at Adlington Walk, outside Stockroom, on:
- 24 November between 10.30am and 2.30pm
- 10 December between 10.30am and 2.30pm (inside Stockroom)
The planning team will be hosting drop-in information sessions around the borough from the 17 November.
Have Your Say: Bereavement & Hierarchy
Details from Age UK Stockport
Dr Jennifer Dayes, from Manchester Met University is leading research around bereavement and ‘hierarchy’. It’s the idea that in bereavement situations, we prioritise the needs of one or a few people above others to avoid conflict and disagreement in families at a difficult time.
This project explores ‘hierarchy’ in bereavement and grief contexts. They’re interested in why people consider others to be more or less important after a person has died, and as a result, what needs or desires are prioritised.
Eligibility:
They’d like to talk to people who are 18+, have been bereaved in the UK in the last 10 years, and had at least one experience of ‘hierarchy’ in a bereavement and grief context. By ‘experiencing hierarchy’, we mean have seen people being ranked as ‘more’ or ‘less’ important in bereavement contexts.
They only require five people to get involved.
To get involved, email Jennie at j.dayes@mmu.ac.uk.
Mayor of Stockport’s Christmas Carol Service
To help bring in the festive season, the Mayor has announced plans for this year's Christmas Carol Service.
6.30pm on Wednesday 17 December.
Stockport Parish Church (St Mary’s) Marketplace, Churchgate, Stockport, SK1 1YG
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Information on local car parks can be found on the council’s website.
Beechwood's Christmas Afternoon Tea
Details from Beechwood Cancer Care
Who will you take to Beechwood's Christmas Afternoon Tea? The festive afternoon tea is the perfect excuse to catch up with friends, treat a loved one or plan a team outing with colleagues.
The afternoon includes a glass of fizz on arrival, a delicious festive afternoon tea, sing-along fun and games and a prize-packed Christmas raffle. £18 per person.
Book by emailing events@beechwoodcancercare.co.uk
Beechwood's Christmas Carol & Remembrance
Signpost For Carers' Festive Celebration
Activities at Heaton Norris Community Centre
Voicing Grief Workshop
Details from NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Greater Manchester Mature Minds Matter are running a grief workshop enabling people to explore grief and loss in a safe space, learn new skills and have meaningful conversations.
This workshop is for people aged 50+ and lunch will be provided. The purpose of the network is to ensure the voice of older people with lived experience of mental health are able to influence the transformation of mental health support across Greater Manchester.
1 December, 10am - 4:30pm
St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North, Manchester, M12 6FZ
Spaces are limited, sign up using the link provided or calling 0161 834 9823
Transport support is offered for attendees if required, email gmopn@macc.org.uk
Family Hubs Info & Advice Sessions
Santa Dash in Aid of Tameside, Oldham, Glossop & Stockport Mind
On 9am, Friday 5 December, members of the Tameside, Oldham, Glossop and Stockport Mind team will be donning their Santa suits and setting off on a Christmas run to raise awareness of mental health.
Starting the run at Stockport Interchange the team will be running to Ashton then Oldham to celebrate the merger of our organisations. The team will also be raising funds through JustGiving to in aid of Tameside, Oldham, Glossop & Stockport Mind's work to support mental health within our community.
To support the run, visit JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/page/santa-dash-togs-2025
Further Events & Community Activities across the Borough
Training: Think Carer – Carer Champion Workplace Programme
Details from Signpost for Carers
Signpost for Carers are excited to announce their new, Think Carer – Carer Champion Workplace Training Programme — a CPD-accredited course designed specifically to help Stockport businesses identify and support unpaid carers within their workforce.
Running from November 2025 to March 2026, this fully funded opportunity will allow up to 300 local employers to nominate a member of staff to become a Carer Champion. Champions will gain the knowledge, tools, and confidence to:
- Recognise and support colleagues with caring responsibilities
- Promote carer-friendly policies and culture within their workplace
- Improve staff wellbeing, retention, and inclusion
As part of Stockport’s Live Well initiative, this project supports local employers to reduce inequalities in access to work, strengthen inclusive recruitment, and build stronger connections with the voluntary and community sector. They’re urging businesses to get involved.
Places are fully funded but available only until March 2026, dates until January 2026 are available now to book.
Signpost for Carers have been awarded funding through the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Stockport VCFSE Work & Skills Fund 2025/26, a UK Government–funded initiative delivered in partnership with Sector 3, Stockport Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Careers: ELEVATE Supported Placements
Webinar: Is Your Child’s Sleep Disrupted?
Details from Stockport Council
Do you have a child aged 2 to 10 years of age and struggle with their disrupted sleep? Join Stockport Council's parenting team for a free online seminar:
4 December, 9.30am - 12pm online
In this session, they will cover sleep cycles, bedtime routines and supporting children’s sleep for ages two to 10. A parent at a previous session commented: “I was feeling overwhelmed and confused. The night terrors were daunting, but after the sleep session, I finally feel like I understand. Your support has truly made a difference.”
Training: British Sign Language (Level 2)
Training & Activities Courses Coming Up
There are a variety of training courses including those from from Skills For Life (SFL) and others. Please see the attachments below:
Age UK Stockport
Answer Cancer
Diabetes UK
For Men who Talk
Greater Manchester Aging Hub
Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue
Greater Manchester Moving
King's Trust
Upcoming courses from The King's Trust
Live Well Greater Manchester
Sector 3
Starting Point
Stockport Council
Information and Advice
For up to date health and social care information, signposting and guidance, call Healthwatch Stockport on
0161 974 0753 10am - 2pm
info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Visit our Information and Signposting directory
Do you have a health or social care experience you want to share – how did your last appointment with your GP or dentist go? Are you happy or frustrated with the service you received – let us know so we can work with local services to influence better commissioners and better outcomes for you and your family.
