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.
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) are delighted to let you know of the launch of Part of the Picture: findings from a 5 year study into lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s alcohol and drug use. A suite of reports presenting the study’s findings is available online here: www.lgf.org.uk/potp.
The Part of the Picture (POTP) research project is a five-year partnership between The LGF and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), funded by the Big Lottery Fund's research programme between 2009-2014.
Could Manchester be Europe’s answer to America’s hippest city - Portland, Oregon?
Manchester has enjoyed solid economic success, there is now an opportunity for a ‘new wave’ to Manchester’s future. A new report A Civil Economy for Manchester, prepared for Macc by the think-do tank the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) demonstrates how this new wave is about unleashing the power of citizens, social and voluntary group.
It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) are interested in what you get up to between the sheets - sharp intake of breath - or rather they’re exploring relationships and sexual practices between men to help them to provide better services to you - exhale. So if you are a gay or bisexual man living in Greater Manchester this is the survey for you.
You can complete the survey here: www.lgf.org.uk/sextalk
Have you got a manic life and struggling to fit health care in?
Prefer to take testing in an environment more suited to you?
Are you a gay or bisexual man aged 16 or over living in Greater Manchester?
Then the Dry Blood Spot HIV Home Testing Kit is perfect for you!
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) know that if you’re a busy guy trying to fit in everything that you have going on in your life; why should you compromise your sexual health?
Before Christmas, Mike Wild (Chief Executive of Macc) and Nigel Rose (Macc’s Strategic Lead on Commissioning) met with Geoff Little (Deputy Chief Executive of Manchester City Council) and Carol Culley (Assistant Chief Executive, Finance and Performance). We wanted to discuss the impact not just of the next wave of public sector cuts but the prolonged effects of recession. We also wanted to explore the Council’s views on how the voluntary and community sector can rise to meet the challenges faced by the communities in Manchester.
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) are looking to conduct interviews with LGB people who use or have used drugs and/or alcohol and have accessed help, advice or support for a substance use issue. This could include help, advice or support from substance use services, as well as the internet, friends and family, a GP, a telephone helpline, self-help books etc.
Manchester City Council have published their first Market Position Statement concerning Adult Social Care.
A new tender from Manchester City Council has been advertised on The Chest. The tender is for advice services and is in 3 parts. Part 1 is for City-Wide Advice Services. Part 2 is for Targeted Individual/Family Advice Services. Part 3 is for a Framework Agreement for the Provision of Innovative Advice Solutions. All the tenders are for 1 year with the possibility of an extension for another year.
At our Spirit of Manchester awards event last month one of the categories was for Most Successful Campaign. We wanted to acknowledge campaigning work because we’ve always believed that it’s the job of charities not just to meet needs but to drive change for the longer term. The history of social change in this country has been driven by the campaigning efforts of groups for centuries.