5.30pm Albert Square, Tuesday 3rd Feb
Tonight is the “manVcam” rally in on Albert Square in Manchester. Some local voluntary and community groups have been wondering about whether it’s appropriate to go along, so here's my take on it.
0333 321 3021
Tonight is the “manVcam” rally in on Albert Square in Manchester. Some local voluntary and community groups have been wondering about whether it’s appropriate to go along, so here's my take on it.
As I write this, the team are just about to head over to the Mechanics Institute for today's Emergency Voluntary Sector Assembly event to discuss the impact of Council budget proposals on the work of the voluntary and community groups in Manchester.
Faith Network 4 Manchester in partnership with Saheli and the Women's Solidarity Forum are hoping to build up a picture of needs of different communities in Manchester; views on the City's changing demographic make-up; an understanding of the issues that impact on different groups and why BME women do or do not access specialist services.
Anyone living, working or worshipping in Manchester is invited to complete the survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/improvingservices
Manchester City Council has launched the main consultation on its 2015-17 budget options, along with a number of individual consultations on specific elements.
Options for consultation were agreed by the council’s Executive on Wednesday 26 November.
They aim to address an estimated funding shortfall of £59m in 2015/16, potentially rising to £90 million in 2016/17.
A lot of people in the local voluntary sector are going to be very angry today. They’re going to feel threatened, undervalued, rejected and hopeless. The Council’s budget proposals will make horrible reading for many people who’ve been working very hard for a long time to make a difference in the city. For some groups this will mean cuts to services and activities. For many it will mean many job losses – the sector is an employer too, after all. For some this may be the last straw and we may see the end of a number of organisations that have made a great contribution to the city.
Four weeks to go and the Spirit of Manchester Festival is building up nicely.
One of the things I love most about working in the voluntary sector is that if you have a really good idea you can generally find a way to make it happen. It might take a while – things like our State of the Sector and Civil Economy work were on my wishlist for years before we were finally able to publish the finished work. But sometimes you can be taken by surprise at how fast you can go from the idea to it actually happening.
Inter Faith Youth Trust is offering grants of £200 - £500 for organisations running events or projects organised by and for young people focused around Inter Faith Week 16-22 November 2014.
Faith Network for Manchester (FN4M) is carrying out research this year about what concerns people have for their communities and the city. FN4M are interested in the concerns of everyone, but especially those in the faith communities.
Could you help in the first stage of this research by promoting or joining one of two initial discussion groups taking place on:
Thursday 12 June 2014, at 12pm to 1.30pm and 7pm to 8.30pm at the Manchester Multifaith Centre is at Ada House, 77 Thompson Street, M4 5FY.
This is a statement from the Greater Manchester Faith Community Leaders regarding the Local and European Parliamentary elections on Thursday 22 May 2014.
“We will vote on May 22nd. We urge all people in our communities to vote.
The elections – European and local – depend upon our involvement. Our communities' health depends upon every person within them expressing their view. If we abstain, can we complain? If we stay at home, we may be saying “Yes” to a political vision that will destroy our society.