Forever Manchester has teamed up with Salford Star to promote and support community activity for people in Salford. It's the only charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester, and believes that connected communities make stronger, happier communities, so love any activity that brings people together.
Over the last thirty years, Forever Manchester has delivered over £39million worth of community funding across Greater Manchester benefiting 1.1million people, and each year funds and supports over one thousand community projects.
In March, on the same day that the Prime Minster announced UK lockdown measures, Forever Manchester launched its Community Support Fund, which made funding up to £5,000 available for community groups and organisations that were providing a service in direct response to community need created by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, 496 community groups across Greater Manchester have now benefitted from £1,783,150 of support.*
Some of the Salford groups supported include St James Higher Broughton Food Pantry (see here), Broughton Boxing Academy (see here), Dancing With Dementia Swinton (see here), Polish Centre Wilno in Winton (see here) and Salford Heart Care (see here). In the near future, Forever Manchester will be also announcing details of further funding.**
As well as funding community activity, Forever Manchester has been pioneering an approach of working with local communities, known Asset Based Community Development, or ABCD, and it is delivered by members of the Forever Manchester team of Community Builders who usually work in an area for two to three years.
Between April 2017 and August 2019, Forever Manchester's Community Builders worked in and around Eccles, and during this time they met thousands of people to find out the things they like to do in their community, to help turn their ideas into reality. As a result, forty cash awards were made to support activities and help the development of new projects and ideas.
Over the years, Salford Star has featured lots of Forever Manchester activities, including the Community Support Fund to local community organisations that are responding to the impact of COVID-19 (see here and see here and see here and see here).
"We have been a long admirer of independent media at a local level, and the fact that Salford Star has been going for coming on 15 years tells you all you need to know about its appeal as well the dedication of its editor to keep the people of Salford informed" says Paul Haworth Director of Brand and Strategy at Forever Manchester.
"Community activities are the lifeblood of our neighbourhoods, run by people who give up their precious time to make our communities happier and safer places to be" he adds "So, it's vital that the people who run community groups in our local communities are made aware of community funding we have available and the support we can offer. It's equally important that people read about these inspiring community groups and projects; by working more closely with Salford Star we aim to share amazing stories of local people who care enough to act."
As an independent charity, Forever Manchester also needs to raise funds so the partnership will also see a Forever Manchester advert appearing on the Star's website promoting Captain Manchester's Magical Tombola Monthly Prize Draw.
Since its launch in February 2017, the Tombola has raised over £85,000 for Forever Manchester as well as putting smiles of the faces of 172 prize winners. Pre-Covid, the prizes on offer included four-night trips to European cities and the occasional bigger trip to places like New York. Manchester Arena also donated tickets to upcoming concerts, and local bars, restaurants and activity venues also provided prizes too. Since April due to the lockdown restrictions the Tombola has offered cash prizes of £500, £250 and £100.
"We are absolutely over the moon to be able to partner with Forever Manchester as we have documented some of the charity's brilliant work in Salford over the years – from its response to the Boxing Day Flood of 2015, to helping community groups through the coronavirus crisis this year" says Salford Star Editor, Stephen Kingston.
"What both our organisations have in common is a desire to see a better, more equitable world built from our own doorsteps" he adds "We are incredibly grateful to Forever Manchester for support which will help us to continue our work in the Salford community for as long as possible..."
* To see groups funded by Forever Manchester click here and click here to read their stories
** To sign up to Forever Manchester's mailing list – click here
For more information on Forever Manchester see the website www.forevermanchester.com
Or follow on social media...
Twitter: @4EVERManchester
Facebook: /forevermanchester
Main photo shows Lightoaks Park community which has been supported by Forever Manchester
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