Alt estate, Oldham — Women set aside chores and children for an hour of manicures, stories and laughter on Friday as First Choice Homes Oldham turned its Alt Community Centre into a pop-up salon ahead of International Women’s Day.

Beauty-therapy students from Oldham College filed in with nail varnishes and moisturizers, offering free treatments to any resident who wanted a seat at the kitchen-turned-treatment table.

Housing-association staff said the invitation gave the teenagers real-client practice while encouraging neighbours to think about their own well-being.

Between coats of polish, Stronger Communities manager Naomi Martin-Smith told the room how she balanced a career with raising five children.

“Some of the women here spend every spare minute on family,” she said. “If we share our journeys, we remind each other that looking after ourselves is allowed.”

Ellen Taylor, 36, parked her pushchair at the door for the first time. “I can’t remember the last hour I spent on just me,” she said while a student shaped her nails. “It feels strange, brilliant and necessary.”

Neighbourhood co-ordinator Kelsey Warwick hopes to repeat the session. “These women run food-share tables and school-gate networks,” she said. “One afternoon of colour and conversation is the least we can give back.”

International Women’s Day falls on Saturday; this year’s global theme is “Accelerate Action” for gender equality.

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