The inspirational charity funding vital LGBTQ+ causes across Greater Manchester

Manchester Pride, one of the UK’s most prominent LGBTQ+ charities, has announced a remarkable £120,000 in funding to support 86 organisations across Greater Manchester, including local pride events.

This funding, distributed through community grants, Superbia Queer Arts Grants, Impact Fund Grants, and Local Prides support, aims to empower a wide range of intersectional LGBTQ+ initiatives, ensuring these vital causes receive the necessary support to thrive.

From vibrant local pride events to crucial community support projects, this funding ensures diverse LGBTQ+ voices are heard and celebrated.

Manchester Pride funding 2024

The Manchester Pride Impact Fund is a key initiative launched by Manchester Pride in September 2023.

It aims to address critical issues identified within the LGBTQ+ community, as highlighted in the ‘Pride In Our Future’ report.

The fund focuses on important areas such as HIV stigma, LGBTQ+ sexual health, mental health, and overall well-being.

By providing financial support to various organisations and projects, the Impact Fund seeks to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ individuals, with a special emphasis on marginalised groups such as LGBTQ+ people with disabilities, and Queer, Trans, and/or Intersex Persons of Colour (QTIPoC).

The funding is primarily generated through community contributions, including a £2.50 fixed donation from each sale of the Gay Village Party tickets during the Manchester Pride Festival.

Ultimately, five organisations (African Rainbow Family, Black Gold Arts, George House Trust, Our Room Manchester, Proud 2 b Parents) were awarded nearly £45,000 in funding.

Pride In Our Future

The Impact Fund aligns with key issues raised by the LGBTQ+ community within the ‘Pride In Our Future’ report.

This focuses on key areas such as HIV stigma, LGBTQ+ sexual health, mental health, and overall well-being.

Additionally, Manchester Pride has placed special emphasis on uplifting LGBTQ+ disability, Queer, Trans and/or Intersex Person of Colour (QTIPoC), ensuring inclusivity and equality in funding distribution.

The George House Trust

The George House Trust has received funding to further support its great work providing services, empowerment, education and awareness for people living with HIV.

Operating for nearly 40 years The George House Trust continues to push for a world where HIV holds no one back.

Darren Knight, CEO of The George House Trust, expressed, “At George House Trust, our focus is for a world where HIV holds no one back.

“We know that we need to do more to ensure that trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people living with HIV have access to the support, advice, and information that will ensure that they can live well with HIV.

“We’re delighted to have been funded from the Manchester Pride Impact Fund, meaning we’re able to kickstart this important work, raising awareness and improving the support offered across Greater Manchester.”

How is the Impact Fund funded?

The Impact Fund has a track record of making a significant difference for LGBTQ+ centred causes, however, it is all reliant on community support primarily through the £2.50 fixed donation from each sale of the Gay Village Party tickets.

In 2022, Manchester Pride raised £120,000 through this initiative.

However, due to lower ticket sales of the Manchester Pride Festival in 2023, funding decreased by nearly £20,000, leaving £101,338 available for grants.

Despite this adjustment, Manchester Pride said they “remain steadfast” in their commitment to supporting local businesses and initiatives financially.

How to apply for Manchester Pride LGBTQ+ grants

The organisation continues to encourage LGBTQ+ community projects to apply for grants, ensuring that vital support reaches those in need.

Another beneficiary of this support is Black Gold Arts, a beacon of cultural empowerment, who has secured £9,721.50 to deliver workshops and events amplifying the voices of QTIPoC communities.

Through artistic expression and community engagement, they strive to address mental health disparities and foster a sense of belonging among queer people of colour.

“We are immensely grateful to be awarded the Impact Fund, which will significantly expand our capacity to engage with and support some of the most marginalised segments within the LGBTQIA+ communities through our diverse art activities,” commented Darren Pritchard, representing Black Gold Arts.

For further details on how to apply and eligibility criteria, please visit their website by clicking here

CEO of Manchester Pride, Mark Fletcher

CEO of Manchester Pride, Mark Fletcher commented, “The £120,000 Community Fund has been raised by the community for the community and reaffirms our dedication to supporting and representing local initiatives.

“With the donations coming from the sale of pledge bands at the 2022 Manchester Pride Festival plus additional onsite and corporate donations, attending the Gay Village Party remains the best way for people to show their support.

“And while we did see a £20,000 fall in donations at the 2023 Manchester Festival, we are incredibly excited for this year’s festival and hope our community can once again come together and support their queer siblings through pledge band donations.”

Manchester Pride have announced that applications for the 2024 community grants are now available for LGBTQ+ focused projects and initiatives across Greater Manchester.

Tickets for Manchester Pride 2024

You can get tickets to this year’s Manchester Pride by clicking here

See below the full list of the 86 successful projects that received a grant from the Manchester Pride Community Fund between March 2022 and December 2023:

Local Community Fund Grants

ALL WMN – £1,000, Being Proud – £1,000, Better Things Rainbow Lives – £600, Community sharing and members support – £1,000, Free Books for Schools – £990, FreshStart Smart Bee Proud Project – £1,000, Gaydio Academy – £1,000, Health Equity and Advocacy Training Programme – £1,000, Icebreakers – £650, Lazy Pins March for Trans Joy – £800, LGBTQ ESEA and their Allies Meet-Up – £1,000, LGBTQ Salsa – £1,000, Manchester Prairie Dogs Line Dancing Club – £1,000, Manchester Proud Chorus – £599.99, Mirage Queer Bar – £1,000, More Than Existing – Community Binder Project – £967, Multitude Zine Fest workshops – £976, MycoManchester CIC – £974, Nothing to Celebrate – £1,000, Out in the City – £1,000, The Men’s Room Trans Awareness and Flag Making – £883.35, Proud2bParents – £1,000, Queer Family Tea – £1,000, Queer Muslims of Manchester – £1,000, Queer Youth Art Collective – £1,000, Rain On Me FC – Winter Months – £1,000, Rainbow Noir’s 10th year Pride Parade – £955, Sanctuary for LGBTQ people of faith – £1,000, Stockport Active CIC t/a Life Leisure – £1,000, The LGBTQ+ Wellness Wellbeing Program – £1,000, The Untold Orchestra – Queer Audiences Steering Group + Choir – £1,000, TINY’s Barbershop – £400, Trans Creative – £1,000, Village Bakers Baking Masterclass – £700, Village Manchester Football Club – £1,000, We Are Explorers Bronze Art Award on HIV Stigma – £877

Local Pride grants

Didsbury Pride – £1,000, East Lancashire Rainbow Train – £1,000, Family and Youth Zone at the Sparkle Weekend 2023 – £1,000, Levy Rainbow Parade – £1,000, Prestwich Pride CIC – £700, Pride In Leigh – £998, Pride in Wythenshawe – £1,000, Pride On The Range – £875, Trans Pride Manchester 2023 – £1,000

Superbia Queer Arts Grant

Harry Stokes – The Man-Woman of Manchester – £600, Queerchester – £1,000, Arisha’s OK Cabaret Opera Extravaganza – £837, Aunty Gudi & The Indian DragQueen – £1,000, Bi-Topia – £1,000, Box of Tricks Theatre Company / Blood Beats – £500, Canal Street Kings – £1,000, Celebrate Chanukah with Queer Jewish Collective – £1,000, Celestial Bisexual – £1,000, Equal Writes – £1,000, Feel Good Club presents.. Feel Good Fest (2!) – £1,000, GLOSS. – £1,000, Homos and Houmous at Partisan – £1,000, Ladyfriends – £1,000, Loud and Proud – £1,000, Mehfil – £1,000, Orpheus and Eurydice R&D – £1,000, Out Proud Past – £896, Part Fish – £1,000, Peripeteia Theatre Company, My Gay Best Friend – £750, Portraits of Recovery – £1,000, Queens of the Desert – A Queer Cabaret – £742, SCOTOMA Part Two – £1,000, Small Hour Stories – A Trans New-writing Anthology – £1,000, Swagga Mcr Pride Closing Party – £1,000, The Fashion Issue – £1,000, The Remedy – £1,000, Tick Box – £950, To Whom it May Concern – £1,000, Toxic Community Outreach Programme – £1,000, Tranuary – £1,000, Tranuary 2024 – £1,000, Turn On Fest 2024 – £1,000, Vogueing and category workshops from the international ballroom community – £500, Wyn n Sin – £1,000, YDSA Events – £1,000

Impact Fund recipients

African Rainbow Family – £10,000, Black Gold Arts – £9,721.5, George House Trust – £9,894, Our Room Manchester – £9,940, Proud 2 b Parents – £5,000