I'm Showing Symptoms

1. The symptoms are:

(a) A high temperature - in other words, if you feel hot to touch on your chest or back - you do not need to measure your temperature.

(b) You have a new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot during more than 1 hour of a day or three or more times when you are coughing lots over a 24 hour period. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual.

(c) A loss or change in your sense of smell or taste.

2. If you are suffering with any of these symptoms (you don't have to have all of them) please call 119 (free from landlines or mobiles) to book a test, self isolate and, please read on after..

3. OK, don't panic and don't be embarrassed. A lot of people will only experience mild flu-like symptoms but some will find it particularly nasty. If you have existing health conditions (those that cause breathing conditions, those that affect the immune system and we're sure there are others - use your common sense here), these are very likely to complicate the situation and you should call 119 (not 111) for advice unless it is urgent and then call 111 (or, if you cannot breathe call 999 and ask for the ambulance service). 4. If you are elderly and/or, if you are vulnerable due to existing health conditions, the situation is even more severe. We would advise you to call 111 and 119 for further advice without delay. All at CDIRF wish everybody affected a speedy recovery.

5. The only people who should be embarassed are those that do not follow this advice or at least competent advice from a different source (NHS Website for example or by telephoning NHS 119 (not 111).

6. Only call NHS 111 under certain circumstances as further detailed - you could otherwise delay a more urgent call. You do not need to let them know anymore that you are self-isolating - we're long past that stage as a nation now. You can still call them for serious issues (that are separate from the Corona Virus) or if you are unsure. They won't bite your head off.

First, some practical things:

7. Call your Employer or the Jobcentre (as soon as possible or they could still sanction you) and let them know, if you are in work, you are entitled to sick pay if you have the symptoms from day one due to a change in the law as a result of the Corona Virus. Most people are no longer furloughed and have been told that they need to go back to work. 8. People should self isolate generally for 14 days. Don't pass it off as a cold or "garden variety" flu, unless you have a test (which is hard to come by), it's impossible to tell the difference and that's a risk too far to take.

9. If you have issues with your Employer continuing to support you financially during being personally affected by the corona-virus and, therefore, self-isolating, you can apply for Universal Credit (this has to be done online) by clicking here (opens a new window). If you have an ongoing claim anyway, update your journal or call your usual telephone number. Any medical assessments are being re-arranged for people self-isolating but, of course, you need to let them know quickly or you will get sanctioned.

10. If you have any issues with the Jobcentre (you must notify them immediately of self-isolating), call us (or Email) and we will help you deal with them. They say that they have robust arrangements in place. You can click here to be taken to the DWP Corona Virus Information Section (opens in a new window).

11. If you are self-employed or run a business, this is more complicated, the Chamber of Commerce offer a free telephone line to provide business advice and they are following the Corona Virus crisis very closely. They have some great information on their website too. Click here to open a new window taking you there. They also have a telephone number - 0161 393 4321.

12. There is now, thankfully, support for self employed people. The country is waiting on that and their are increasing numbers of petitions and pressure on the government to introduce compensation to those who are self-employed. You can find out more about that here (opens new window).

13. If everything else fails and you are self-employed or you run a business and you are low on money, apply for Universal Credit - you might not necessarily get it as they will need to look at your income and circumstances. You can apply for Universal Credit (this has to be done online) by clicking here (opens a new window) and see how they might be able to help. If you have an ongoing claim anyway, update your journal or call your usual telephone number. Any medical assessments are being re-arranged for people self-isolating but, of course, you need to let them know quickly or you will get sanctioned.

14. Please ensure that you call Avro Hollows' TMO at the Estate Office on 0161 682 5454, Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete our Avro Hollows' reporting tool form and this will go straight to Linda (and not us). You will be treated with dignity, it is so that Contractors can be warned and safeguarded. Also let Switch 2 know yourself on the phone (or if you are communicating with them by Email, please let them know this in your communications) if you need an Engineer to visit you. They are still currently doing visits. We're all at risk of this, it's not just you so don't feel bad!

15. If you get bored or lonely, why not come on the chat forum and start a new topic, we have created Corona Virus topics areas but you might like to talk about something different. We need topic starters as many of our topics areas have never had anybody post in them - you win an award too for displaying on your profile! We don't just have the popular "The Vent" section you know! Also, parties are increasingly being hosted online, we are happy to try and help you for free, remotely, but data charges may apply for your internet usage. Check with your Internet Service Provider if you are unsure.

Now the really, really essential stuff:

16. Stay at home for 14 days. This means not having face-to-face or otherwise close physical contact with people when you self-isolate, regardless of whether you are elderly or not. Use the telephone, Email and Social media (Facebook/Twitter etc) to keep in touch with others please. If you are elderly or you have existing health conditions, call NHS 111 and NHS 119 for advice immediately.

17. Self-isolation means not leaving for any reason. If you need help, you can contact us, Manchester City Council's Corona Virus helpline (free phone) or Avro Hollows' TMO estate office

18. If you live with a partner, the advice is, we're sorry, to sleep in separate rooms and avoid coming into contact with each other. We feel your pain. Don't have any kids over (children are now evidenced to be able to contract the covid-19 (Corona) virus. 19. If you live with anybody else, they should stay at home for fourteen days from when you first have symptoms and in any event for fourteen days from when they first get it. If you or they continue to have symptoms after seven days, you and they should continue to self-isolate and contact NHS 111 immediately, regardless of age or vulnerability and, in health emergencies, don't be afraid to call 999 and ask for the ambulance service (regardless of whether you live with others or alone). 20. You can also text 999 but you have to text the word register to 999 first then, in an emergency, you can text 999 too (particularly useful if you can't speak due to severe symptoms or have disabilities). If you don't get a reply within 3 minutes, telephone 999. Don't wait for an emergency before registering for this and all of the emergency services are available this way too.

21. If you have pets, try to distance yourself from them as far as possible as it is unclear as to whether the corona-virus can be transmitted to animals (we feel your pain again). If you live with anybody that is 70 or over (without symptoms otherwise they should self isolate for fourteen days themselves) or if anybody has a long term condition, is pregnant or has a compromised immune system that lives with you, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for fourteen days. Manchester City Council Corona Virus helpline should give you the latest advice and assistance.

22. Do Not attend GP Surgeries, Pharmacies or Hospitals either. These are not an exception to self-isolating. Many services are moving online or are being offered over the telephone (including GP consultations) but routine surgeries are now slowly being rearranged and carried out. Check by calling or Emailing, using the contact details that you have received for specific arrangements.

23. The Corona Virus can not be treated with anti-biotics as it is a virus and not an infection. Standard over the counter flu and cold treatments (including paracetamol if you are not allergic can be used and it's the best that you can do. If you are allergic, you might consider Ibuprofen or you could telephone the chemist for other ideas. Don't go there yourself.

24. Also drink plenty of fluids and try and eat what you can to keep your strength up and fight the virus (check out our Emergency Community Shopping Scheme if you are stuck for food, heating and hot water - link in the menu above). Don't be afraid to sleep as much as you need as your body fights the virus - it's a pretty nasty virus for a fair few people. Some will be lucky and only face minor flu-like symptoms. The jury is out here.

25. If your symptoms "significantly reduce the ability to undertake every-day tasks, (more than the average Joe or Josephine with the flu) or you have any other health conditions that could make things worse, for example, asthma, breathing issues or anything else that you are concerned about making you worse than anyone with the flu, Do call NHS 111 immediately for further advice on what to do (calls to NHS 111 are free from all landlines and mobile phones). You should also call NHS 111 if you remain unwell after seven days and you should continue to self-isolate.

26. If you become so severely ill that you can't even wait on the telephone whilst attempting to reach NHS 111, call 999 and ask to be transferred to the ambulance service, you can also text 999 for help but you need to text the word register to 999 first - don't wait for an emergency in order to register. If you are able to text, please put your address, this will get you help more quickly. Be patient with them, they sometimes ask some odd questions but they generally get an ambulance on the way whilst they are talking to you further when calling or texting.

27. A repeat - If your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, you should call NHS 111 right away and continue to self-isolate altogether using doorstep deliveries for supplies. All the supermarkets, takeaway services, Royal Mail (and other delivery services) have arrangements for contact less delivery. We have started to hear stories of takeaways that are expecting you to come down to the ground floor. Please let us know about these and we will go ape sh*t at them for you.

28. We will have a boycotted companies list up pretty soon where we ask for you to act in solidarity. You should also hassle them (politely but repeatedly) day to day if they continue to do this - the aim is to be annoying whilst not breaking the law). This should sufficiently and justly annoy and scare them. We are not messing about and we will always be here for you.

Further Information..

The estate comprises of four tower blocks and two rows of houses split into two flats (there are no cows but most of these flats do smell of cheese due to the damp in them). Some of the flats across the estate contain 1 and, shockingly, 2 and 3 bedrooms.

Avro Hollows' Tenant Management Organisation purport to manage the estate on behalf of Manchester City Council, in association with Northwards housing (Northwards' Housing will, however, deny all knowledge of this). The estate is most definitely not run for the benefit of the local community with some residents describing the estate as an "open prison".

To find out more...please read our article "more about the estate" below.

Who We Are..

This website and its online community was set up by a resident on the Croydon Drive Estate who may or may not be closely related to C.G.B. Spender (the truth is not out there). It is entirely free to use and to become a member and it always will be. Personally identifiable information is not collected or stored protecting the anonymity of members. We only publish the tower block of the residents (so the person writing will be 1/72 or 71 people - dependent on the specific tower block).

It is not a breach of a resident's tenancy agreement to join Croydon Drive Independent Residents' Forum. The right to set up tenant groups is in fact specifically protected within resident's tenancy agreements.

The starting point for the forum was to create an online presence. The forum itself has the ability for members to send private messages (not read by the forum admin) and Members are encouraged to use their common sense in remaining anonymous and protecting themselves online. There is a reporting feature above all posts should anybody be concerned about the content - particularly where it is discriminatory or hateful - humour is of course allowed within reason.

Members are encouraged to have their say and provide feedback on the existing forum sections (including the popular "The Vent" and various general interests categories) and to request new ones. This also extends now to website content. We strongly urge residents to register using the unique registration code letters, most recently posted through doors in August 2019 by one of our kind elves.

The Croydon Drive Independent Residents' Forum is, unfortunately, not open to Contractors, Employees or Volunteers (including members) of Avro Hollows' Tenant Management Organisation, Northwards' Housing or Manchester City Council to protect the integrity of the forum and the anonymity of members and access is not permitted from locations run by them to protect the security of login details.

To ensure that our security policies are upheld vigorously for the benefit of members, we regularly lookup IP addresses that are logged when members log in. Our independence policy was ratified by members in 2018.

The Croydon Drive Independent Residents' Forum is set up by residents to further the interests of residents. It's that simple. A large part of that is to take the current Directorship (Avro Hollows' TMO) to task where they fail residents through causing as much embarrassment as possible.

If any residents struggle to register (you need to sign up using the register option), please do use the contact form link above (or the contact link on the forum itself).

If you are a resident who has not yet registered - what are you waiting for? A very warm welcome awaits!

About Our Estate..

The estate has security gates at every entrance where many tenants cannot get in and out of all of the gates without pressing the buzzer (although thieves can) and it has so many cameras that it puts Big Brother to shame. All tenants have their mugshots taken to aid with tracking them from the moment they leave their flat until they leave the estate (perhaps further?) and there is a 24 hour live feed available to lucky viewers on Channel Commsec.

Cameras are monitored by Commsec Security (when it suits them - incidents that tenants report are rarely ever captured) who, until at least very recently, controlled the access controls in Greater Manchester Police buildings - what do you know! Until recently, it was commonplace for gate intercom calls to go unanswered (including in 2020 to 7 fire engines attending a small kitchen fire in Lancaster Court), particularly in the winter, leaving tenants to get soaked. Commsec Security are, however, excellent at bellowing over the multiple speaker tannoy system from their offices about 1.5 miles away and regularly using foul language at the weekend when the Estate Manager isn't working..

There are entrance intercoms on each tower block. On two of them, tenants do not ever get to speak to their visitors as the dial pad has been removed and replaced with a camera, and, on the other two, Commsec Security like to randomly divert intercom calls to them when they get bored. On all four tower blocks, Commsec Security like to have a conversation with your guests instead, particularly when your food (and takeaway driver) is getting cold.

The MGMT..

We do have a highly motivated* Estate Manager (*highly motivated in going out of her way to cause trouble even though she has not been here very long) and, along with the Directors, the team ensure that the majority view of residents is never put forward and they won't think twice about harassing residents if they don't like you.

Employees are not disclosure and barring board checked and at least one has a serious criminal record, even though their employment at Avro Hollows' (which is paid for by Manchester City Council) could lead to them entering your home. "What happened to safeguarding" you might ask...

We take this moment to pay homage to the old Estate Manager who was a complete legend. More news on her leaving is due to hit you soon but it will make for very grim reading when we get her permission to publish it and we suspect the press will be very interested in Avro Hollows' TMO's behaviour too.

Our residents have had issue after issue with getting repairs carried out and with the way in which Manchester City Council and Northwards' Housing have managed new kitchen and bathroom provision on the estate. It is touch and go whether anybody answers the lift breakdown alarms and the quality of connection is so poor that they can't hear you when they do answer.

Contractors work without consulting residents and are as disruptive as possible. Complaints go nowhere when forwarded to Northwards' Housing. To this end, and more widely, Avro Hollows' TMO could not give a toss about what the resident majority want despite receiving around £250k a year of Manchester City Council funding. It's high time they went.

The Board..

The TMO board are extremely selective about who they invite to their meetings (you'd have more chance of being invited to bank with Coutts) and the majority of tenants do not get a look in or a say on anything at TMO board meetings where they are no longer announced for fear of tenants protesting.

Avro Hollows' TMO are certainly not there to make the experience of living on the Croydon Drive estate a "really happy one" unless you are one of a select few on the board with access to around £250k a year grant funding (from Manchester City Council).

Welcome to the Croydon Drive Independent Residents' Forum where we do things differently and respect each other.