A small group of local residents are bringing a national “climate emergency briefing” to Didsbury for a public screening, hoping to spark conversation within their community around the impacts and dangers of the climate crisis.
Residents are invited to attend a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing, followed by a community discussion on what these changes mean locally. The screening, organised by a group of local residents and community members, including the local community group ‘People Place Planet’, will be held on Saturday, 16th May, from 2 to 4 pm at St Catherine’s Church (School Lane, Didsbury M20 6HS). There will also be a further 2 screenings in the Withington Constituency, one in Chorlton on 21st May and Withington 6th June. For information go to www.pppdidsbury.org/nebfilm.
The event follows the devastating New Year 2025 flooding that caused widespread disruption across Didsbury and neighbouring communities, after intense rainfall sent the River Mersey over its banks. Homes and businesses were inundated, roads became impassable, and transport links were severely disrupted, forcing some residents to evacuate.
Organisers say the screening will offer local people a chance to better understand the wider forces driving increasingly extreme weather, as Greater Manchester also faces growing concerns over heatwaves, drought and future flooding risks.
Didsbury resident Antonia, 64, a mental health worker from Didsbury, said:
“The New Year floods we saw in Didsbury were frightening for so many people and, for many of us, a real wake-up call. Seeing parts of Didsbury underwater during the floods was shocking, and events like this are becoming more common. We wanted to create a space where local people can come together, learn more about what’s happening, and have honest conversations about the kind of future we want for our area. People deserve clear information.”
The event is part of a nationwide programme that brings a major UK climate briefing to local communities, making essential information about the climate crisis accessible across the country. It aims to help residents understand what is driving extreme weather and what it could mean for their area in the years ahead.
The screening features the People’s Emergency Briefing, a new film adapted from a national event held at Westminster Central Hall in November 2025, where more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from across UK public life gathered to hear from leading experts on the climate crisis.
The film outlines the implications of climate and ecological breakdown for areas including food security, health, infrastructure, and the economy, and presents evidence that risks can still be reduced. The Didsbury screening will be followed by an open discussion, giving attendees the opportunity to reflect on the issues raised and to share local perspectives.
Broadcaster and environmental campaigner Chris Packham, who opened the initial national briefing, said:
“I’d encourage people everywhere to attend a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing. It creates exactly the kind of honest local conversation we now urgently need, both about what these changes mean where we live, and about what we can do together to address them.”
Local MP Jeff Smith, councillors John Leech, Richard Kilpatrick, Debbie Hilal, Leslie Bell, Linda Foley, Andrew Simcock, Ben Williams, and representatives of community organisations have been invited to attend to be informed about the official evidence and to discuss the experiences and concerns of local residents. A number of organisations in the Withington Constituency are supporting the event. This includes local businesses Volta, Steranko, Electriks and Unicorn Grocery as well as a number of community groups.
The programme nationally is supported by organisations across conservation, education and civil society, including WWF, the National Trust, CPRE and the Royal Meteorological Society.