Greater Manchester station reset includes new pop-up spa and community hub

An unused area on the first floor of the main station entrance building has been transformed by the train operator Northern and is now the new home of Flourish Together CIC. 

Flourish Together CIC is a social enterprise consultancy supporting people with great ideas to set up or scale up their own social ventures - creating the change they see needed in their communities. 

There will also be a programme of activities & events including a monthly pop-up spa offering beauty, wellbeing & holistic therapies at affordable prices. 

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern said: “At Northern, we want our stations are more than just places to travel to and from, we want to put our customers at the heart of everything we do.” 

“This scheme is the perfect example of this, and we’re excited to welcome Flourish Together into its new home.”  

Nickala Torkington, founder & director of Flourish Together, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to bring our knowledge, skills and networks to the area and regenerate this fabulous character building and offer much needed, affordable working spaces and a new small venue for community groups and events.”  

The scheme, called Action Stations, was set up by The Station Alliance, which includes representation from Northern, Network Rail, Transport for Greater Manchester, London Continental Railway and Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation. 

Michael Keating, station development Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester said:  “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Flourish , The Hub and also The Well Being Rooms to our GM Stations.  

“Transport for Greater Manchester is proud of the work that the Stations Alliance has achieved by ensuring that disused buildings at our rail stations can now be utilised to offer services for the local communities that they serve.”  

Alex Bowker, senior development manager at LCR, said: “Our work with Action Stations means we’re always thinking about how to bring the most value to the communities we operate in. We’re confident that the newly developed space in Heaton Chapel will see social enterprises in the area flourish and find a home for future-proofing their ideas.” 

Under the same project, two further Greater Manchester stations will see similar community hubs open this year. 

At Altrincham, an old storeroom, and the current customer information point on platform 4 will be transformed into ‘The Hub’, which will consist of two large rooms for community use.  

A brand-new waiting room will also be added to the same building.  

Northern staff will continue to provide assistance and information to customers on platform 4.  

At Trafford Park station, space has been found to create a room for use by local health practitioners. 

On Sunday 21 May, Northern’s new summer timetable comes into effect and all customers, especially those who have made regular journeys on the same train times, are advised to check before they travel. For more information, visit: www.northernrailway.co.uk/timetablechange 

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.