Manchester’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) charity, and organiser of The Manchester Pride Festival, reveals first projects to receive grants from its community fund in 2017.
Every year grants from the Manchester Pride Community Fund, which is made up of money raised throughout the year by the charity, are issued to help different groups and organisations that support LGBT+ people.
Grants awarded in January will go to three city centre based groups; Let’s Do Lunch, Mancunian Way and Gay Gordons.
Let’s Do Lunch is an organisation which provides a safe environment for lesbians to meet in Manchester’s gay village, regardless of race, faith, employment status, age or any disabilities. The grant will be used for basic stationery and essential admin costs to enable the group to meet.
Mancunian Way, is a specialist in street engagement and education of young people on personal safety and choice. They work on the streets at the times of greatest need, ensuring young people have access to the help and guidance they need to improve their own life outcomes. Mancunian Way links up with many support partners and statutory agencies to ensure their aims are fulfilled.
The Gay Gordons is a group of Scottish country dance enthusiasts who felt that the gay community in Greater Manchester could benefit from something new and different. The group is open to everyone within the LGBT+ Community and their friends. It holds weekly dances to promote fitness and wellbeing as well as demonstrations during the summer.
The Manchester Pride Community Fund currently stands at £174k after another record year of fundraising in 2016.
The organisation, which fundraises via events and other initiatives including The Manchester Pride Festival, raised £149k last year plus it is putting £25k of unclaimed grants from 2015 back into the pot.
Every year Manchester pride donates 25% of the Manchester Pride Fund to support the LGBT+ Foundation’s Safer Sex Pack and 25% to the George House Trust Welfare Fund.
Grants will also be available throughout the year with awards being made every quarter.
Groups wishing to apply for the grants, click here:
Mark Fletcher, Chief Executive of Manchester Pride, said: “With a massive £174k in the Manchester Pride Fund this year we have a huge responsibility to distribute it to as many causes as possible. We have made a great start with Let’s Do Lunch, Mancunian Way and the Gay Gordons but we want to hear from as many groups as possible throughout the year to ensure that we are able to support a diverse selection of people.”
Manchester Pride fundraising events include The Manchester Pride Spring Benefit which is held annually in May, Dress Down Day in August and The Manchester Pride Festival which consists of The Manchester Pride Parade, The Big Weekend and The Candlelit Vigil, which takes place over August Bank Holiday.
The Manchester Pride Festival is an award-winning four-day event celebrating LGBT+ life. The event takes place in August, with The Big Weekend running from Friday August 25 to Monday August 28 and the Parade on Saturday, August 26.
Tickets for The Big Weekend are on sale now.
