Timeline
2017
1950’s
The Jewish Blind Society, Manchester Branch, was formed following discussions between Louis M Glancy and the Honorary Officers of the London Jewish Blind Society. The inaugural meeting was held on 3rd July 1951.
Sept 1951
The first meeting for members of the society was held at Henriques House, Elisabeth Street. A Monday social club was formed.
1952
Louis Glancy House for the Blind based at 10 Bignor Street, Cheetham Hill opened on 14th June 1953. Open four days a week. Handicraft lessons were particularly popular.
1953
Demand for services of MJBS expanded greatly; new premises were acquired at 85 Middleton Road, Crumpsall.
1958
Meals on Wheels service introduced. All housebound blind people received a minimum of four meals per week, prepared at Louis Glancy House by the Ladies of the House Committee and Rota, delivered by volunteers. Holiday breaks were arranged for members at the Dolly Ross Holiday Home in Margate.
1960’s and 1970’s
17 July 1960 – Foundation stones for Residential and Holiday Home at Southport were laid. The Home opened in May 1962. By 1964 the Southport Home was fully occupied with a long waiting list. MJBS obtained support form Local Authorities within Greater Manchester, and from Jewish social, religious and educational organisations. Demand for the services of MJBS grew, 100 Meals on Wheels were cooked and delivered per week. The Welfare Officer made up to 20 visits per week; holidays for members and their carers were organised.
1980’s
In the early eighties the Society cared for over 160 visually impaired people. Manchester House in Southport housed 32 permanent residents. In addition, members from the North and some from the South of the country were able to spend 2 weeks at the seaside home. The Victorian Louis Glancy House in Middleton Road grew into a state of disrepair, and was demolished in 1985. A new purpose built facility was built on the grounds; during the building period the club was relocated to Levi House.
13th July 1987
The Nicky Alliance Day Centre opened. The official opening was on the 20th March 1988. Initially open for 2 days a week plus Sunday afternoons, within a short time, it was open four full days a week. Attendances averaged at fifty a day. The Day Centre could no longer accommodate the number of members attending as well as the range of activities on offer. An extension – The Ralph Stross Wing- was built to the Centre, completed at the end of 1990.
1991
The Jewish Blind Society merged with the Jewish Welfare Board to become Jewish Care. MJBS therefore became part of Jewish Care. Manchester House in Southport was sold to a private residential care provider. The organisation became autonomous in 1993. The Northern Jewish Talking Newspaper was established in partnership with the League of Jewish Women. The remit of the organisation changed. Due to advances in the treatment of visual impairment, there were less people suffering from this disability. The organisation focused on the needs of older and disabled people. The name of the organisation was changed to Manchester Jewish Community Care.
1999
Care provision at the Centre was increased to include a Bathing Room and a Multi-Sensory Room.
2000’s – Present
The Centre continued to expand the scale and scope of its provision of care to older and disabled people. A memorial garden was established at the rear of the Centre. An art exhibition celebrating members’ work was arranged; it has become an annual event. The service became more streamlined and professional, and evolved into the organisation as it is today. The activities on offer are diverse and designed to stimulate mind and body. A range of exercise classes- to appeal to differing tastes and abilities- is available three times/ week. Art classes are available daily, computer classes are run twice a week. There is live entertainment every day. Discussion and Reminiscence sessions are very popular. Meals on Wheels provide 150 meals per week to those unable to cater for themselves. The increase in the incidence of dementia is reflected in the membership; the organisation has responded to this by providing state of the art training to staff and carers of people suffering from dementia related illnesses.
2018
Bag Packers Raise over £770 at Morrisons.
A group of volunteer helpers have raised over £770 for the Nicky Alliance Centre by helping people with their bag packing at Morrisons supermarket in Whitefield. Shelley Blackston, fundraising executive at The Nicky, said: “The ladies who volunteered to help us worked relentlessly in shifts throughout the whole day to raise this significant amount of money for The Centre. We are grateful to them and to the management and staff at Morrisons for all their support. The money will go towards the running cost of The Nicky and help us to continue our work for the more senior members of our community.” Picture top left shows: L to R Benice Task, Arlene Valance, Janet Ludwig, Rochelle Stewart; Susan Chepner, Yvette Elton and Evelyn Yaffe. Middle, from L to R, Rochelle Gardner, community champion for Morrisons, Volunteers, Sue Caplan, Helena Rich, Joyce Levy, fundraiser Shelley Blackston Bottom left, Nita Beckman and her grandson.
Loose Women
2019
Support MJCC & The Nicky by shopping amazon.co.uk
Shop at Amazon and support The Nicky
MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT
We are delighted to offer our supporters a charity block booking to see Rags the musical on Thursday 14th March
The Nicky Loose Women
The Nicky Loose Women
2020
THE NICKY TO REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
THE NICKY TO REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Following ongoing advice from Public Health England, the local authority and its medical advisors, The Nicky Alliance Centre is to remain open during the current COVID-19 crisis until further notice. Chief Executive, Michelle Wiseman, said: “We are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis and will continue taking appropriate professional, medical and government advice. On Friday the UK’s Chief Medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty said he warned against prematurely cutting down social interactions for elderly or vulnerable people as it has big practical implications and may lead to loneliness and other issues which are clearly very undesirable for them.’ “We are being vigilant and taking all recommended precautionary measures. Contingency plans have been drawn up and are in place should the situation deteriorate and closure becomes necessary. Should this happen we will still provide support to our members where needed. We will continue with our Meals on Wheels service as well as basic grocery provisions, which we will extend to all our members. We also plan to have a Kosher le Pesach kitchen in which we will make Kosher for Pesach meals for our existing members and meals on wheels recipients together with those in the wider community. “We are not residential and for many of our members we are their link to the outside world and we play a major part in their social lives. Closure will be a last resort but if this step needs to be taken plans are being made to provide an essential shopping service for our less able members in addition to Meals on Wheels service. We continue to monitor the situation.” Ends
WE’RE SAVING THE NICKY
WE’RE SAVING THE NICKY
WE MET OUR TARGET TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF THE NICKY
A crowdfunding campaign which raised over £500,000 in just 36 hours has saved The Nicky from immediate closure The Nicky Alliance Centre, offering activities and support for the elderly, has been shut since March due to the pandemic. Following four years of operational losses, consideration was given to closing the Centre and selling the building. But the success of the fundraising drive has prompted a dramatic turnaround and the these plans have been dropped. MJCC chief executive Michelle Wiseman said the response from the community had been “unbelievable. I just didn’t realise how much support there is out there. “It’s highlighted how much of a need there is for the Nicky Alliance Centre.” The money raised would “keep us going for the foreseeable future”, helping to minimise the charity’s deficit. Throughout the pandemic The Nicky has continued to provide hot kosher meals through its Meals on Wheels initiative and contact has been maintained with all the members. The Nicky was delighted to have been able to help Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation over the High Holy Days with extra services being held at the Centre on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The building has also been refurbished and redecorated to make it COVID compliant and safe for the members to eventually return.
2021
THE NICKY INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE TOURNAMENT
2022
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/NickyAllianceTelethon2022
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/NickyAllianceTelethon2022