We are pleased to say that the St Thomas Centre in Ardwick will continue to serve as a vital hub for voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Greater Manchester. Following the closure of GMCVO, we can now announce that agreement has been reached for Macc to take over responsibility for the Centre, safeguarding this important resource for our sector.
The St Thomas Centre has long been a space for connection, collaboration and innovation. In taking on this role, Macc is committed to St Thomas Centre as a welcoming and accessible space, a base for the organisations that call it home and a resource for the wider community. This transition has been a complex process and is the result of extensive effort. We are grateful to all those who have worked toward this transition, particularly the support of Manchester City Council as the owners of the building.
We recognise that there has been a period of uncertainty where we have been unable to communicate about this. We are delighted to welcome members of GMCVO’s former team into Macc, preserving valuable expertise and securing some of the jobs which were at risk. Their knowledge will be invaluable in sustaining the Centre’s legacy and building a strong foundation for the future. Macc will be moving our office base into St Thomas Centre over the coming months.
We are developing plans to enhance the Centre’s sustainability, modernise systems to make bookings easier, and explore ways to make the space even more inclusive and a space which truly reflects the diverse communities of Greater Manchester. This an exciting opportunity and there is much more work ahead.
For the VCSE organisations based in the St Thomas Centre, we want to reaffirm our commitment to making the building work for you. For those who regularly use the Centre, we hope you will continue to see it as a useful space and we will be working with a wide range of colleagues, including our 10GM partners, to ensure the venue plays its best role as an asset for Greater Manchester’s VCSE sector. We look forward to working together.
For booking enquiries please email the team at [email protected] or call 0161 277 1010.