On Episode 34 of our podcast, we welcome the amazing Elisha Emerson, who has set up an incredible wellness community for women in Manchester called Amore Wellness.

Amore Wellness is only 6 months old, but in that time, Elisha has created something truly unique and special for women of Manchester where they can go and improve both their physical and mental wellbeing in a safe, supportive, and encouraging space, surrounded by other women empowering each other to be the best version of themselves.

I really enjoyed this episode – Elisha’s passion for Amore Wellness and for improving opportunities for women to improve their wellbeing shines through. Her long term vision is incredible to behold. I am so glad we were able to give her this platform to showcase what she is doing.

If you’d like to keep up with the activities offered by Amore Wellness, be sure to follow them on Instagram and TikTok - @amorewellness_mcr.

Elisha has asked me to say that if any girl is nervous about attending, to simply message hervia the page and she will ensure you feel welcomed and settled when you come to any event.

If you want to be a participant on our podcast then let us know! Message us via our website -www.happysomedays.co.uk or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter/X. Just search for “Happy Somedays”

On Episode 33 of our podcast, it is a pleasure to welcomeRob Schofield.

Rob is a local Wythenshawe lad and personal trainer, withover 17 years experience of working with people in the community on a 1-2-1 or group basis to help them achieve their fitness and wellbeing goals. However, in2024, Rob took a step back and re-assessed his own goals, lifestyle and habits after realising he had fallen foul of not ‘practicing what he preaches’, and  decided to implement some changes which led him down a road he never thought he’d go down – Bodybuilding.

In less than a year, Rob got himself into competing shapeand entered a local bodybuilding contest where he was put up in two categories and won them both! This has led to the federation going on to select Rob for the European Championships in November 2025, taking place in Poland.

Rob highlights his journey to this point in this episode,describing what starting felt and looked like for him, how he had to re-assess and made difficult decisions, and also gives some realities of bodybuilding that people may not know. It’s a fascinating insight into an industry which is risingrapidly.
If you’d like to follow Rob and see how he gets on out in Poland, then give his Instagram account a follow @robertschofieldpt and if you want to see more of his personal training profile or even look to work with him yourself, you can follow @strongaf_pt
If you want to be a participant on our podcast then let us know! Message us via our website -www.happysomedays.co.uk or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter/X. Just search for “Happy Somedays”

Chapters:

00:00 – 01:32 – Episode Intro

01:32 – 06:00 – Welcome Rob and point of realisation

06:00 – 07:35 – Relationship with food and noticing changes

07:35 – 16:10 -  Education around fitness and nutrition

16:10 – 19:20 – Strong AF and the toll setting up a business can have on someone

19:20 – 24:45 – Navigating son’s autism diagnosis

24:45 – 30:20 – Prioritising own wellbeing ready for Poland

30:20 – 32:00 – “The Best Decision I Have Ever Made”

32:00 – 37:20 – Realities of bodybuilding

37:20 – 40:50 – Are you allowed cheat days when bodybuilding?

40:50 – 43:45 – Team GB

43:45 – 47:30 – More info on Rob and Strong AF Studio

47:30 – 47:58 – Thanks and End

Our podcast is back! And what an episode we have to bringyou with another participant story from someone else who has been involved since the very early days of Happy Somedays

Craig Rigby started coming to sessions when we were onlygetting 10-12 people at a time for the men’s football, way before the women’s sessions launched, before the fitness classes, badminton, walks and the social events, too. Here, he talks to us about the growth he has seen and how the people very much make Happy Somedays what it is and what epitomises the incentive.

Craig also touches on his love of Man City and how special it was to be sat on the Kippax during the Maine Road days and going on away days to some long-forgottenFootball League grounds. He also mentions disability awareness as his dad is a disabled supporter and is often left scratching his head at the lack of awareness and support – not just within football but in general. Craig alsohighlights his love for travel and discusses launching a YouTube channel of travel Vlogs alongside his wife Philippa. Be sure to check out The Rigby-Holmes Adventures Channel on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRigbyHolmesAdventuresand follow them on Instagram to see where they’re going next @Rigbyholmesadventures

If you want to be a participant on our podcast then let us know! Message us via our website - www.happysomedays.co.uk or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter/X. Just search for “Happy Somedays”

00:00 – 01:40 – Episode Intro

01:40 – 04:48 – Welcome Craig

04:48 – 08:53 - Familiar Surroundings and Faces

08:53 – 13:51 - Passion for Manchester City and MemorableMoments

13:51 – 19:47 - Accessibility and Attending Matches

19:47 – 22:30 - Growing Up with Disabled Parents

22:30 – 26:21 - Accessibility Challenges, Improvements HeWants To See and Travelling With A Disability

26:21 – 31:11 - Staying Active: Sports, Fitness and The Joyof Football and Community

31:11 – 35:14 - Finding a Supportive Environment and TheEnjoyment Of The Fitness Classes

35:14 – 40:10 - Adjusting to a New Community &Maintaining Connections

40:10 – 41:58 - Creating an Inclusive Space

41:58 – 49:21 Travel Adventures and YouTube Channel Vlogs

As part of our partnership with the Forum Library's Creative Space, this edition of the Podcast welcomes Stephen Evans from Block Cinema to chat about the project which aims to bring social cinema and a "proper movie atmosphere" to Wythenshawe.

Block have moved into the Creative Space late in 2024 after establishing in Northenden in 2019. They have gone from strength to strength, offering a variety of films across various genre's that are screened at a reasonable, fair and affordable price.

It has long been said that a cinema in the area is needed - Block are trying their hardest to do just that! Stephen chatted to me about the project, how films are chosen, his own passion for film and getting this project off the ground, and why he is a huge advocate for social cinema and creating a "togetherness" when watching movies on a big screen.

To view listings or suggest a film you'd like to see screen, as well as all upcoming showings, check out their website www.blockcinema.org. You can also find Block Cinema on Facebook (Search Block Cinema) Instagram - @cinematheblock or on Twitter/X @Blockcinema.

Across 5 years of Happy Somedays, we have welcomed so many wonderful participants to our sessions who make everything that we do so unique.

We have always said that everyone has a story to tell, and this year we have committed to having more people from within Happy Somedays tell their story on our Podcast, as part of our ‘Participant Stories’ series.

The second episode in this series – and our 30th overall - is with a participant from our wonderful ladies provision, Hayley Shing. Hayley is fairly new to Happy Somedays, having only joined in April 2024. Previous to being involved with ourselves, Hayley was part of Wythenshawe FC (Formerly Amateurs) Ladies, but an injury ended her involvement with them. After some time away from football, she got an itch to return but wanted to do so in a non-competitive, nonjudgemental environment and decided Happy Somedays was the one for her.

She has involved herself in every aspect since then, and has been rewarded by being recognised as “Participant of the Year” at our annual awards night in 2024.

Hayley is also involved with other volunteering aspects, including “Friends of Rose Vale Park” and as a leader for Heald Green Scouts, both of which she delves into further within her podcast. Hayley also details her Chinese heritage, as she is British born Chinese, and spent some of her youth living in Hong Kong where she picked up her love of football and sports in general. She also had a very unique way of learning Cantonese! Listen out for how she did that…

To find out more about Rose Vale Park and the projects Hayley is involved in, check out their Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RVPhealdgreen) and if you know any young people who may want to involve themselves with Scouts, check out Hayley’s group that meet in Heald Green. More information can be found at https://2ndhealdgreen.org.uk/

If you want to be a guest on our podcast, please do reach out! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X or email us [email protected]

Chapters:

00:00 – 01:15 – Intro

01:15 – 02:35 – Thanks for reaching out

02:35 – 03:35  - “I’malways busy!”

03:35 – 07:50 – Volunteering and Friends Of Rose Vale Park

07:50 – 09:45 – Landscape Architecture Background

09:45 – 18:10 – Involvement With Scouts

18:10 – 21:40 - Hayley’s Hong Kong Heritage

21:40 – 25:30 – “Girls Aren’t Supposed To Play Football…!”

25:30 – 28:55 – Joining Wythenshawe Ammies

28:55 – 33:30 – Leaving The Ammies, Finding Happy Somedays& Falling Back In Love With Football

33:30 – 37:40 – Final Thoughts, Thanks and End

Welcome to Episode 29 of The Happy Somedays Podcast

On 22nd March 2025, as part of our 5th birthday celebrations, members of Happy Somedays will be taking on a mammoth fundraising walk across Manchester taking in 5 football grounds along the way. Starting at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, we will pass Manchester United’s Old Trafford, Altrincham FC’s Moss Lane, Wythenshawe Town’s Ericstan Park and end at Wythenshawe FC’s Community Stadium at Hollyhedge Park. We are doing this to raise funds for new equipment and to keep sessions for all activities at a continually low cost with half of whatever we raise going towards this and the other half going to a nominated charity.
That nominated charity we have chose is Mero’s World Foundation

Mero’s World was set up by Kelly Brown in memory of her sonRhamero ‘Mero’ West, who was tragically killed as a result of a stab wound to the leg in 2021. Over the last 4 years, Kelly has turned her grief into action, campaigning across the community to raise awareness of knife crime. She has visited educational and correctional facilities such as schools, colleges and prisons to tell her story and help to prevent further knife crime from happening in the community. She has also overseen the installation of over 60 Bleed Boxes across Manchester installed in Mero’s memory, with some being used to help save lives as recently as December 2024. Kelly is doing incredible work and our aim is to raise enough money to buy another bleed box for Kelly to install, making them become even more accessible and work just like defibrillators in that anyone can use them should they need to.

Kelly’s story is inspiring, but the events leading to it isharrowing, and we obviously touch upon knife crime and death upon this episode. Listener discretion is advised.

To find out more about Mero’s World Foundation, visit theirwebsite at www.merosworld.org.uk

To donate to our fundraiser that is hoping to raise enough to buy a new BleedBox for Manchester, visit our Go Fund Me page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/happy-somedays-charity-walk

To sign up to our walk and be part of any of the legs (Youdon’t have to do it all if you don’t want to!) sign up via Pembee here: https://happysomedays.pembee.app/activity/677d47f88338291897d06ff8

It's hard to think of Wythenshawe, and NOT think of Jimmy Egan's Boxing Academy.

A proper institution of the Town, Jimmy Egan's has been transforming the lives of those who walk through their doors for 45 years in 2025. But their journey this far has not been easy.

13 different venues. Moving away from Wythenshawe and then back again, Facing bankruptcy... They've faced a lot to get to where they are now. Not to mention Jimmy Egan himself passing away aged only 68 in 2004 after a battle with cancer.

Jimmy's sons Shaun and Steve carried on their dad's mantle and legacy, meaning that the gym is still going strong now and celebrating 45 years this year! To tell me all about the journey here so far, Steve Egan came onto the Podcast to discuss the highs and lows; mention some of the boxers and coaches who have trained there over the years (Including one very obvious one!); highlight the 45th Anniversary show taking place at Wythenshawe Forum on 1st Feb 2025; and his hopes for the future of the gym.

Follow Steve Egan on Facebook for updates on the gym, as well as the Academy's page: Jimmy Egan's Boxing Academy. You can also find them on Instagram and YouTube! Tickets for the 45th Anniversary Showcase on Saturday 1st February are available from the gym on Royalthorn Road, or directly from Steve and Shaun. Just give the page a message to buy, Tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £10 for Under 16's, and there'll be 16 fights on the night from 7.30pm at Wythenshawe Forum Hall.

Thanks again to Steve for his time. This episode was once again recorded at Wythenshawe Forum Library's Creative Space.

Chapters:

00:00 - 01:40 - Intro to Episode

01:40 - 05:50 - Welcome and Congrats on 45 Years

05:50 - 09:45 - Early Days Of Jimmy Egan's

09:45 - 12:15 - Ensuring Everyone is Welcome

12:15 - 17:55 - Boxing As An Escape

17:55 - 21:40 - Thoughts on Tyson Fury's Retirement

21:40 - 23:35 - Spanning Generations & Coaches Shout Outs

23:35 - 25:45 - Memorable People & Moments

25:45 - 29:50 - Right Attitude & Overcoming Challenges

29:50 - 34:20 - What Makes Jimmy Egan's So Special?

34:20 - 36:35 - Steve's Advice For Beginners

36:35 - 42:15 - 45th Anniversary Showcase & Hopes For The Future of Jimmy Egan's

42:15 - 43:30 - End & Thanks To Steve

In this episode of The Happy Somedays Podcast, we team up with Music Evermore – a Community Interest Company that provides free and subsidised music workshops, classes, holiday clubs and 1-2-1 tuition to young people across the community. They operate and were founded right here in Wythenshawe by Chris Maddon, who joined us for a chat all about the project.

Chris shares his own journey with learning and working within music, and shares insights into what made him so passionate about wanting to give something back to his local community to find the next generation of musicians, artists, producers, podcasters, singers… you name it, Chris hopes Music Evermore will find it!

This episode was once again at Wythenshawe Forum library’s Creative Space, and Music Evermore are themselves based here, with after school classes taking place on various days throughout the week. Chris will go through what happens in a session or a 1-2-1 tuition lesson, as well as how someone can get their young person involved and the instruments and techniques that are up for being taught. Chris also features some of the fantastic ambassadors of the project, including previous podcast guest and Wythenshawe’s very own, Actor Andrew Ellis.

For more information on Music Evermore, please visit their website and social media pages which are:

www.musicevermore.com

Twitter/X - @Musicevermore

Instagram - @ Musicevermore

Facebook – Facebook.com/Musicevermore

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – 04:35 – Intro and using the Forum Creative Space

04:35 – 10:00 – What is Music Evermore?

10:00 – 13:00 – Using music as an escape

13:00 – 17:10 – What Instruments can people learn?

17:10 – 25:15 – Learning 1-2-1, as a group and finding funding

25:15 – 35:10 – Working classes in music

35:10 – 39:45 – Ambassadors

39:45 – 45:50 – Chris’s time working at Blueprint Studios

45:50- 49:50 – End, thanks to Chris and further information