Thursday, 28th August 11am
Voluntary groups, charities and community organisations all across Manchester are collaborating to showcase their work in a new Festival which runs from 19th to 28th September 2014.
There are over 3000 voluntary and community groups in Manchester, ranging from large charities to small informal groups. Many groups often put on events in order to raise their profile within the community: the Spirit of Manchester Festival is about groups all doing this together to create a buzz all around the city. There will be small events all across Manchester including music, arts, bike-riding, coffee mornings, food and gardening. The list of events is growing daily and already covers all the way from Charlestown to Wythenshawe.
This Festival is a first for Manchester and if successful could be repeated not only in Manchester but elsewhere in the country. The Festival is being co-ordinated by Macc, the charity which supports the 3000+ voluntary groups in the city.
Mike Wild, Chief Executive of Macc, said
“There are hundreds of voluntary and community groups in communities all across the city. And they do amazing things! We believe it’s important to celebrate and recognise these groups. Of course, we want to encourage more people to get involved in local groups but we also want simply to show people that there is a wealth of dedication and talent right on your doorstep. Manchester should be proud of its voluntary sector!
My hope is that in September we’ll have a programme full of all kinds of events from arts exhibitions to music and dancing. Like any fringe festival, part of the fun will be the sheer range of small events and the people you meet as you go along. This isn’t about putting on a polished stage production: it’s about all of us involved in voluntary and community groups across the city welcoming, entertaining and reaching out to the people of Manchester.”
Notes for Editors
1. Macc is a charity which provides support to Manchester’s voluntary and community sector. The organisation provides support to local groups in finding funds, setting up and developing, working in partnership, campaigning. Macc also runs the Manchester Voluntary Sector Assembly and Volunteer Centre Manchester.
2. Macc’s “State of the Sector” research published in 2013 revealed there are some 3093 voluntary and community sector organisations in the city of Manchester employing 12,400 staff alongside 94,300 volunteers. More info at http://www.manchestercommunitycentral.org/state-sector-2013
3. The centrepiece of the Festival is the Spirit of Manchester Awards celebrating the achievements of voluntary and community groups all across the city.
4. Further information Festival homepage: www.spiritofmanchesterfestival.uk
5. Twitter hashtag for the Festival is #SpiritofMcr14Fest
6. Spirit of Manchester Awards homepage: http://www.manchestercommunitycentral.org/spirit-manchester-awards
7. Videos of 2013 Awards winners http://mymanchester.net/featured/spirit-manchester-awards-winners
Contact
Mike Wild
Chief Executive, Macc
T: 0161 834 9823
E: [email protected]
Twitter: @MikeWildMacc
Miriam Belfield
Spirit of Manchester Awards and Festival Co-ordinator, Macc
T: 0161 834 9823
E: [email protected]
Twitter: @McrCommCentral
Macc, Swan Buildings, 20 Swan Street, Manchester M4 5JW
