As you may be aware, earlier this year the City Council launched a competitive tendering process for the contract to provide support to the city's voluntary and community sector for the next three years.
We are delighted to announce that Macc has been awarded this contract.
Are you lesbian, gay or bisexual? Do you use drugs and/or alcohol, or have you used them in the past? Have you ever accessed help, advice or support for your drug and/or alcohol use? This could include help, advice or support from a range of either formal or informal sources, such as from substance use services, as well as the internet, friends and family, your doctor, a telephone helpline, self-help books etc.
Come along to the offices of the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) to learn about the particular challenges faced by young LGBT people. Find out about the work the Albert Kennedy Trust is doing to support young LGBT people in crisis through their advice service, mentoring scheme, supported lodgings and safe house. Understand how your agency can make referrals to AKT.
The drop ins are free and will take place on:
Monday 7 October 2013, 2pm
Thursday 7 November 2013, 2.30pm
Friday 6 December 2013, 11.30am
During the recent bout of hot weather, I somehow managed to come down with a cold. I not only felt ill, I also felt ridiculous: I mean who gets a cold in the middle of a heatwave? As I write this, figures have just been released showing that the country’s economy is slowly starting to grow again after the recession. It’s a similar feeling: I’m being told it’s lovely out there but it feels dreadful. No matter what the economic analysis says, when I look around I see incomes reducing, prices rising, services closing and life generally becoming more difficult.
I've mentioned previously that there's a danger that this blog becomes a series of rants about things I'm angry about. Well not today, at least!
Our State of the Voluntary Sector report shows there are over 3000 voluntary and community groups in Manchester. I don't know them all but I do know a lot of them and one of the great pleasures of my job is that I get to see some of the amazing things happening in groups across Manchester and meet some fantastic people.
The closing date to be part of the preferred providers list for services to Troubled Families has been extended for 2 weeks to 5pm on Fri 2nd August. Applications can be made through The Chest and the name of the opportunity is "Framework Agreement for the Provision of Troubled Families Interventions". Read more here.
Manchester City Council (MCC) is very keen for organisations to apply for a new opportunity advertised on The Chest to be part of a preferred providers list for services for Troubled Families. The closing date is 19th July. They are hoping that a large number of organisations, small and large, offering a very wide range of services are successful in meeting the basic quality requirements.
1. In 2012/13 there were 3,093 community and voluntary organisations, co-operatives and social enterprises in Manchester
2. In 2012/13 the total income of the sector was £477 million
3. Medium and large organisations receive 95% of the total sector income
4. 1,987 organisations are micro (with an annual income under £10 thousand)
5. There are 94,300 volunteers in the sector
6. Volunteers give 370,000 hours each week
7. The contribution of volunteers in the sector is valued at £332 million each year
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) are pleased to announce a new group for bisexual and lesbian women who are older (50 plus). Being older can be an isolating experience, and LGF believe that there is little out there for older LB women to meet, chat, explore and create, this is why they are launching this new and exciting group.
The group will be a social support group, which means there will be discussions that are relevant to the group, as well as fun stuff such as games, quizzes, crafts and also workshops.
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) have a long standing group for older gay and bisexual men. It is a social support group, which means that there will be relevant discussions, and also games and quizzes. Past sessions have included; LGBT History Quiz, George House Trust speaker, discussions about first impressions, and even an Easter party.