The Spirit of Manchester Awards is a series of awards celebrating and highlighting all the excellent work being carried out in Manchester’s voluntary and community sector. As well as providing recognition to the sector in these hard times, we want to raise the profile of the sector amongst the general public and encourage local giving and active citizenship.
Manchester City Council have published their Market Position Statement for Care and Support 2015/16 and anyone with an interest in the future of care and support in Manchester should read it. Manchester's aim is "to forge a new relationship with its partners to benefit all who need care". The Market Position Statement describes the commissioning approach, the context for commissioning and some of the key issues that Manchester needs to address.
Lifeshare was established in Manchester in 1985, and was originally set up to meet the needs of Manchester’s homeless. Lifeshare pioneered schemes for resettlement and rent guarantee to ensure stable accommodation for those in need, and initiated the sale of ‘The Big Issue’ in Manchester with a local supplement (now ‘The Big Issue in the North’).
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.
StreetSmart supports a wide range of homeless organisations, every penny raised in each city is spent only in that city.
The organisations funded by StreetSmart must work progressively with their client group. Successful applications receive support for projects aimed at helping the homeless to make a better life for themselves, focussing on mental and physical health, employability and sustainable independent living.
Grants are given to those who support people through the crucial stages in their progress from vagrant to valued community member.
Grants from Help the Homeless are available to small and medium-sized charitable organisations. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for the capital costs of projects.
All applications must relate to projects that assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offer shelter or other forms of sustenance.
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.
For one night only The Booth Centre are sleeping out to highlight some of the hardships that homeless people have to face every single night. You are invited to join the Booth Centre to raise vital funds for the Booth Centre, a charity that provides activities, advice and support to homeless people in Manchester. 