At Manchester Community Central, we host our annual ‘Spirit of Manchester’ Awards and Fund programme to help support and celebrate the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in the city of Manchester. We believe it’s important to recognise, support and encourage volunteers and local voluntary action, all of which makes a massive difference to our community. Our city would not be what it is without the selfless support of others who dedicate their time to making Manchester a better place to live.
As we head into our 14th year, we will be holding our Spirit of Manchester Awards at The Sheridan on the 1st October 2026, as well as livestreaming the ceremony for our online audience. We use this time to recognise examples of great community spirit and raise the profile of the sector amongst the general public, as well as encourage local giving and active citizenship. The Spirit of Manchester Awards mark the date to congratulate one another on what helps to make this city our home.
All money raised through donations and our on-the-night raffle, go straight into our pot of money for the Spirit of Manchester Fund. This fund goes back into the community as mini-grants for local organisations to support the running of events and activities. In previous years, we have held themed mini-grants for organisations in the city of Manchester to apply for.
This page directs you to find out more about how our awards work and run, who our judges are this year and how you can support us to keep this exciting event and fund running each year.
Take a look at our review of 2025's celebrations, including all our supporters and winners of the awards: Spirit of Manchester Awards 2025 Review