2025 – Another wonderful year for S4B
We’ve been looking back on the past twelve months and 2025 certainly didn’t disappoint. Once again, it’s been another fabulous year in Brunswick for S4B and our customers.
Here’s a little reminder of the events and activities that took place:
Last January we issued the 2025 calendar containing all of the winning entries from the customer photography competition, which was a huge hit and a wonderful keepsake.
February saw the Lunar new year celebrations, the LGBTQ+ awareness month and the annual Greater Manchester Hate Crime awareness week where we continue to be a hate crime reporting centre for the community and we also provided in-house training for colleagues.
Leading into March we supported the Ramadhan and Easter celebrations and International Women’s Day. Our all-new Give Respect, Get Respect campaign encouraging people to be kinder and more tolerant of each other, was introduced in April and the first of the Community fun days were hosted by Brunswick Tenants and Resident Association (BTARA) was held in Brunswick Village Community space. We also reintroduced the ever popular community fund initiative High-five offering groups and individuals in Brunswick the chance to apply for funding for an event or scheme of their choice.
In May we launched the Sunflower Growing Competition, and there was also the introduction of the new Housing Perks app helping our customers to save money on their day-to-day shopping.
In June we introduced the new-look online version of Neighbourhood News and refreshed the S4B website, updating the menu functions and adding in a new events calendar. We also opened up nominations for the Brunswick Who Inspires You campaign. Look out for the results coming soon!
July was the ever popular annual Fun in the Park event hosted by BTARA in Gartside Gardens and supported by S4B, MCC, and other agencies.
During August Mike from Manchester Young Community Champions (MYCC) hosted the summer sports fun for the young people of Brunswick. Once again, lots of sports activity and days out to keep everyone active and occupied during the school holidays.
In September Karl from Elegant Chainsaw Carvings started work on refurbishing the Bee in the park which he originally carved back in 2015. It remains to stand proudly in Gartside Gardens and will do for many more years to come.
In October the hugely successful Brunswick Bonanza made its annual return, working with lots of partners and agencies to bring raft of support and information all for the benefit of customers all under one roof. And once again we were honoured to have the local Wai Yin society perform a wonderful Tai Chi display. This was closely followed by the 2nd Brunswick’s Got Young Talent show and due to its success, we have decided to make into annual event. Look out for more details as we move through 2026. October was also Black History Month and Art Project unveiling event where we were proud to have our very own Chief Executive and S4B Board member, Bronwen Rapley, attend as key speaker, her last main event for S4B before her retirement, so we were thrilled she could make it.
November saw the Health event led by Carlos and the MCC health team. We also held the Big light switch on event in Gartside Gardens with very special guest Father Christmas and Medlock School choir singing a selection of Christmas songs.
December was month full of festive activity with the church pantomime, Community Christmas meal and carol service, leading right up to the Christmas holidays.
All this along with the usual quarterly newsletter and customer updates and recognising various religious festivals throughout the year, while continuing to provide day-to-day services such as housing support, money advice, planned works, compliance and other statutory requirements such as the annual Tenant Satisfaction Measures survey (TSM), fire safety requirements and the introduction of Awaabs Law in October.
Customers have always been at the heart of all we do but now the major development works are complete, we can dedicate even more time to the community and 2026 will be a year of celebrating our customers – we hope you will all get involved. In 2025 we increased the number of customer feedback groups and estate walkabouts to connect with more customers allowing you to have your say to improve and influence the services we provide. These groups are ongoing and you are welcome to join us at any time, just get in touch.
Coming up next this year… we kick-started the year with the launch of S4B TV, our all new channel on You Tube, where you can find our videos of all things Brunswick, old and new. There will also be the launch of the all-new Leasehold section of the website, and along with information of the ongoing refurbishment works programme.
Our next main community activity will be the Inspiring People of Brunswick Awards. Look out for details in the events section on the S4B website, plus updates via social media, quarterly newsletters, periodic email bulletins and text messages. A presentation event is being planned for some time in the spring. Details to follow.
If you have any questions or queries, or if you would like to come along to Brunswick to take the Heritage Tour, please get in touch. Send a WhatsApp message to 07418 367 396, email info@s4bmanchester.co.uk telephone 0300 555 0128 or call into the S4B housing office, 15 Brunswick Street, M13 9SU.
Visit the S4B website for more information and view more images in the galleries section.