The Mancunian Way: 'Please give me a job'

Hello,

David Storer is desperate to find a job. A qualified industrial cleaner, the dad-of-one has also served in the British Army, fighting conflicts in Bosnia and Afghanistan.

But now he’s homeless and spends most days begging for cash and drinking super-strength lager outside a betting shop in Oldham town centre.

“It’s making me depressed,” the 42-year-old said. “I drink and I know I’m an alcoholic, but if I got given a job tomorrow, I’d quit. I would happily go through withdrawal symptoms to work - happily.”

David is among the many homeless people who struggle to find work because they have no permanent address, making it difficult for them to apply for a bank account, the electoral register, benefits or jobs. It's an impossible situation which has led to Citizens Advice dubbing the Catch-22 "the postal paradox".

David is not alone. According to new data, Oldham has one of the highest unemployment rates in the UK. A total of 6.6 per cent of those living in the town are currently claiming unemployment-related benefits.

Among them is Angela Davidson, who is unable to work due to a disability. The 42-year-old finds she has 'no money at all' at the end of each month - and believes more needs to be done to support those on disability benefits.

“I’m finding it very hard,” she said. “I have no money at all at the end of the month. I’ve treated myself to a new jumper today.

“It makes me feel upset. The Government should do more for us disabled people.”

A knife crime 'pandemic'

“How many lives are going to be lost before the youth of today understand the consequences of using and carrying a knife?”

Each week, it seems as though a different family ends up asking itself the same old question. This time it’s the devastated mother of Paul Marsh, a beloved dad brutally murdered by a knife-wielding teenager after a ‘minor disagreement’ at a flat in Atherton, near Wigan.

The killer, Jordan Rance, had delivered drugs to the flat owner before stabbing Mr Marsh in the shoulder when the pair became embroiled in a row. Now 17, Rance faces life behind bars after being convicted of murder.

In yet another stark reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime, court reporter Amy Walker tells the story of how a wannabe gangster, who entered the murky world of drug dealing because of his ‘addiction’ to making money, turned into a killer.

A-lister in town

We’ve been blessed with some beautiful weather these past few days. It’s a rare sight in Manchester but when the sun does come out, there can't be many things more enjoyable than spending an hour or two strolling around the city, watching it burst into life.

Even Hollywood A-listers have been taking in the joys of our sun-soaked city this week. Firefighter Calum Beckett was left shocked when he spotted movie star Jack Black walking past him in Gartside Street on Wednesday morning.

Black, who is part of rock duo Tenacious D, is in town for two highly anticipated performances at the AO Arena this week. Calum wasted no time in approaching the movie star, 54, and asking for a quick selfie with him to show his children.

“I looked at him and said 'Jack?' and he nodded his head and shook my hand,” Calum said. "He didn't say a word - he was cool as you like with his headphones on.” James Holt has the full story here.

Co-op Live latest

After weeks of delays and setbacks, gig-goers could be forgiven for taking anything Co-op Live says with a pinch of salt.

Three opening shows have already been cancelled amid a series of embarrassments for Manchester’s mammoth new arena. It was originally meant to open on April 23 with comedian Peter Kay taking to the stage, but the show has been moved repeatedly due to 'technical issues' and ongoing building work.

The Black Keys gig on April 27 was also postponed before its third scheduled opening event with American rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was pulled shortly before he was set to perform.

The latest act on the Co-op Live opening merry-go-round is Bury band Elbow, who are due to take to the stage on May 14. While fans are understandably anxious about whether that, and other future shows, will be rescheduled, relocated or cancelled, the venue insists next week’s gig will go ahead as planned. Read more here.

New future for historic pub

Tucked away on Back Piccadilly, Mother Mac’s has been part of the fabric of Manchester city centre since the 1870s.

The backstreet boozer, previously known as The Wellington, has a long connection to our city but was ‘left to rot’ after its closure in 2022. Now, its new owners have promised to transform the once-beloved pub into a thriving 'city centre boozer with an authentic Northern Quarter feel to it'.

The pub has been renamed The Rat & Pigeon by its new owners, the team behind the Crown & Kettle pub in Ancoats, and is preparing to open in the coming weeks. Adam Maidment has the story of the pub’s dark past - it was once the site of a horrific murder - and the plans to save it from ‘the sands of time’.

Weather etc

Friday: Cloudy. 23C.

Trains: Reduced service on Avanti West Coast between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly from today until Saturday due to industrial action.

Manchester headlines

• Terror arrests: Three men have been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. Four police warrants were carried outin the Bolton, Great Lever, Abram and Hindley areas of Greater Manchester yesterday. The men, aged 35, 36 and 51, were arrested at separate locations and taken into custody for questioning. Read more.

• Gun discovery: Two women were arrested after a handgun and ammunition were uncovered at a house in Moss Side. Police raided the home in Caythorpe Street on Tuesday. The suspects, aged 24 and 54, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. Read more.

• Care home closure: More than 70 elderly residents need to be relocated and care staff will lose their jobs after a care home announced it is shutting down. Acorn Lodge in Failsworth is due to close in July, leaving many families 'worried' about their vulnerable relatives. Oldham Property Investment, who run the home, said they would have to close due to 'increased financial challenges beyond our control'. Full story here.

Worth a read

Debbie Carr was just seconds from death when she was rescued from her burning bedroom. She was only two years old when a brave teenager plucked her from the flames that had engulfed her family’s home in Highbank Drive, East Didsbury.

Now aged 63, she is trying to find the hero whose actions saved her life on that unforgettable day back in 1963. "I would love him to feel that I've done something with my life and that I hadn't wasted the opportunity that he'd given me,” she told Lee Grimsditch.