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.
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Physical Disability
The Hashtag is #McrFundingCuts
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.
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Manchester City Council consultation launched on 2015-17 budget options – deadline 18 Feb 2014
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.
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UK Disability History Month: 22 November to 22 December 2014
The theme this year is War and Impairment: The Social Consequences of Disablement, focusing on World War I. Find out more about the impact of the First World War on the two million men disabled in combat and what happened on their return.
For the first time Manchester City Council have organised a series of events for UK Disability History Month.
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Today We Are Angry, Tomorrow We Must Talk
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.
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National Independent Living Awards 2014
The Breakthrough UK National Independent Living Awards celebrate the organisations or individuals that show commitment to - and innovation in - the independence of disabled people.
Independent living means having the same choice and control in our day-to-day lives as non-disabled people.
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Help Manchester City Council develop their new all-age disability strategy
Manchester City Council is developing a new all-age disability strategy to enhance life opportunities for disabled people living and working in Manchester.
To find out more and share your views, you can go along to one of their events or there will be other chances to share your views later on.
Sessions are taking place on:
11 September 2014, 1pm to 3pm at Windrush Millenium Centre,70 Alexandra Road, Moss Side, M16 7WD
11 September 2014, 6pm to 8pm at Wythenshawe Forum, Meeting Rooms 1 and 2,Forum Centre, Forum Square, Wythenshawe, M22 5RX
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Spirit of Manchester Festival: Let's Fill the Map!
Four weeks to go and the Spirit of Manchester Festival is building up nicely.
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Consultation on Advocacy Services in Manchester
Manchester City Council is holding meetings on Tuesday 2 September 2014 and Friday 26 September 2014 to consult on proposals for a new Advocacy Hub.
The Care Act 2014 requires the City Council to provide independent advocacy for those who may have difficulty understanding and participating in the assessment process. An advocate provides support to an individual to help them express their needs and wishes, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain the care and support they need
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Introducing the Spirit of Manchester Festival
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.
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