As Greater Manchester’s Community Foundation, Forever Manchester is the only charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester. Benoit Properties started working with Forever Manchester in October 2021 as we wanted to fund projects closer to home, reinvest in the local Manchester community, and help those less fortunate.
Funding and supporting more than 1,000 community projects every year through grants and awards, Forever Manchester has poured over £57 million into local communities. It has been supporting community activity since 1989 and benefitted an estimable 1.2 million people who care enough to act.
Matt Lavin, Director, said:
“It’s great to see the real-world impact some of these charities have on the local community and how they enrich lives. As a charity worker myself who benefitted from local funding during my youth, I know how much of a positive impact it can have.”
Here are some of the projects we have helped fund in hand with Forever Manchester this January, which focus on supporting those who may be suffering as a result of the current economic climate.
Work for Smile Foundation
Work for Smile Foundation delivers a “Food Distribution Project” focusing on supporting local individuals and families in Levenshulme, Rusholme, Ardwick and Longsight. The group offers food delivery and food parcel/meal provision to those in need and struggling for this basic necessity. They deliver sessions with local residents, working to reduce long-term dependency on food banks through advice and referrals to relevant agencies.
Khush Amdid
This is a user-led women’s group in Tameside, established to help improve the quality of life for women, predominantly of Pakistani background. Their activities include a weekly luncheon club, preparing food packages for the homeless, arts crafts and hobby workshops, health and wellbeing classes, day trips, and celebration events. The group applied for funding to help extend their food provision service to meet demand.
Platt Bridge Community Centre, Wigan
Platt Bridge Community Centre applied for funding for a new project—”Warm and Welcoming”—which provides a space every Friday morning in the Community Centre to help people suffering from isolation and the cold. They will be providing refreshments and social activities free of charge. This enables people who are suffering from social isolation and coldness, and worrying about heating and food, to get out of their homes, meet people and relieve some of the daily pressures.
St. Mary’s Church and Community Food Bank
This group provides emergency food support to the Tameside community. They have been operating since 2011 and have provided thousands of food parcels to struggling families. Since the COVID pandemic, and now the cost of living crisis, their service is being used like never before. They provide 40-50 parcels per week on average, feeding around 150 people. They work with multiple agencies throughout the area and support families in the community at that first point of call, before signposting clients to further assistance if needed.
Whether you’re a company or an individual, you can support local people to do extraordinary things by joining the Forever Manchester movement. Find out more and get involved.
