The Manchester Pride Charity has announced that the annual Manchester Pride Festival has raised an amazing £120,062.38 for the Manchester Pride Community Fund this summer, which will go to support hundreds of LGBTQ+ people in the city region.  

The money was raised through the fixed donation on every ticket, direct donations, bucket collections over the weekend and fundraising from individuals and organisations. Every penny of the fund goes to supporting LGBTQ+ causes and projects in Greater Manchester, with the money being distributed by grants. 

The Manchester Pride Charity is now inviting applications from charities, grassroots organisations and LGBTQ+ good causes for a Manchester Pride Community grant. 

The new grants application process has been co-designed in consultation with LGBTQ+ community groups based in Manchester to ensure the process is fair and easy and serves communities’ needs. 

Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride explained how happy he and the team are at Pride: 

“We know how important it is for those buying tickets for the Gay Village Party to know that money is going directly to the causes and charities in Manchester that mean the most to our communities. So we are excited to share the incredible fundraising total we achieved this year. 

“The £120,000 raised so far really highlights the kindness shown by Greater Manchester’s LGBTQ+ communities and allies. The team and I want to say a big thank you to everyone who purchased a tickets, donated or fundraised this year.”

For every ticket bought, £2.50 was donated towards the Manchester Pride Community Fund. The money will go towards many different causes such as, HIV stigma, LGBTQ+ events, mental health, sexual wellbeing, hate crime and more.

“We have raised over £1.5M since 2003 for LGBTQ+ causes, and Manchester has played a huge part in LGBTQ+ liberation in this country. We’re already so excited for next year’s festival and what’s to come next.” Mark added. 

Manchester Pride has created a policy which provides a clear outline of the principles, criteria and processes that inform the approach that they take towards distributing grants to the LGBTQ+ communities of Greater Manchester. 

Grant applications will be reviewed by Trustees and the Manchester Pride Community Grant Panel, which was established as a direct outcome of the charity’s “Pride In Our Future” consultation. 

Organisations who would like to apply for a grant can go to: manchesterpride.com/grants 

ENDS

For more information contact: pride@tigerbond.com    

Notes to Editors: 

Manchester Pride is one of the UK's leading LGBTQ+ charities. Its vision is a world where LGBTQ+ people are free to live and love without prejudice. It is committed to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester and beyond.  

Manchester Pride is part of a global Pride movement that celebrates advancements in equality and challenges discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people.  Every penny that the charity raises is ploughed back into the community in dedication of its goals. These are to celebrate LGBTQ+ life in Greater Manchester, campaign for the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality at home and abroad, raise awareness and support for LGBTQ+ mental health and support grassroots projects and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester.

Manchester Pride Festival, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic, is its annual flagship event that takes over the city every year across the August bank holiday weekend in celebration of LGBTQ+ life. 

Pride In Our Future was the charity’s largest ever community consultation which allowed Manchester Pride to co-design the future of its grant making policy and the format of the Manchester Pride Festival with the region's LGBTQ+ communities.