Spreading smiles and smiles of togetherness across the length and breadth of Greater Manchester with the 2017 Great Christmas Get Together.
Over 150 community groups across Greater Manchester will be hosting a ‘Great Christmas Get Together’ throughout December benefiting thousands of people… thanks to a little bit of help from Forever Manchester.
Events range from carol concerts and carers’ lunches to children’s parties and street events – there really is something for everyone.
Christmas is a time when too many people are isolated and alone, but it doesn’t have to be that way! During December, the Great Christmas Get Together aims to build closer communities by encouraging people to share a ‘mince pie moment’ with each other, and celebrate all that they have in common.
Nick Massey, CEO at Forever Manchester, said: “We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to be happy, and that connected communities make stronger, happier communities. We love any kind of activity that brings people together, so we’re delighted to offer our support to people who wish to celebrate where they live with others.”
Following on from the huge success of the Great Get Together in June this year, (when over 9 million people around the UK gathered together to show we have “more in common”), Forever Manchester has led the way by supporting 150 community organisations in Greater Manchester with a £200 award each to host a Great Christmas Get Together in their neighbourhood.
Listed below are just some of the events we’ve supported, why not pop along to one of them?
If you’re hosting or attending a Great Christmas Get Together please let us know how it goes by tweeting us at @4EVERManchester and use #MincePieMoments so we can share your stories with others, and help spread the festive cheer.
If you would like to make a donation to Forever Manchester so that we can continue to support community activity across Greater Manchester with initiatives just like this one, please visit our Donate page.
Forever Manchester… helping local people do extraordinary things together.
Great Christmas Get Togethers across Greater Manchester
The events listed below are open to anyone to attend.
Friday 8th December
Parent and Carer Christmas Lunch: 12pm
Manchester: 203 Ashley Lane, Moston, M9 4NQ
An opportunity for parents and carers of children with autism to meet others in the same situation and celebrate Christmas.
Carols on the Green: 6pm
Stockport: Outside the shops on Councillor Lane, Cheadle, Stockport
Carols, Christmas songs, mince pies and refreshments for a real Christmas feel!
Santa’s 1st Stop: 3-5pm
Manchester: Merseybank Avenue, Manchester, M21 7NT
The event will be held straight after school and will provide activities such as visiting Santa, snow play, tombola, raffle, craft activities, carol singing and refreshments.
Saturday 9th December
Christmas social event: 8-11pm
Bury: Ukraine Club, 14 Openshaw St, Bury
Hotpot supper for those with dementia and their carers.
Cake, Crafts and Carols: 12-3pm
Bolton: Sea Cadets T.S. Dido, 101 Castle Street, Bolton, BL2 1JP
A family-friendly event with hands-on craft activities, songs and samosas, mince pies and mehndi, face painting, soft toy tombola, raffle, and the chance to tell us, over a brew, what activities you would like to see happening in the Haulgh community.
Community Carol Praise: 4.30 pm
Rochdale: Morton street, Middleton, M24 6AN
Community gathering in the church grounds with a brass band and stalls offering pasties, mince pies and mulled wine, followed by carols. Open to all in the community.
Monday 11th December
The Party in the Excel Big Beast House: 6.30pm
Wigan: Compassion in Action, 58 Leigh Road, Leigh, WN7 1QY
A fun evening of entertainment with a panto-style show starring Disney characters.
Thursday 14th December
Aquarius over 50s Christmas bash: 6-10.30pm
Manchester: Studford Walk, Manchester, M15 6NN
A Christmas party with a hot buffet, DJ, entertainment, karaoke and raffles.
Friday 15th December
Holland Close Residents Association Christmas Party: 11am-2pm
Oldham: Gartside St, Delph, OL3 5DP
A Christmas party with a buffet, entertainment and traditional parlour games. There will be a spot of reminiscing to help those tenants who have dementia to join in with carols, a children’s nativity play and volunteers dressed up as Santa’s helpers to assist.
Saturday 16th December
Friends of Lightoaks Park Christmas Cracker: 1-4pm
Salford: Lightoaks Park, Claremont Road, Salford, M6 8NP
The Friends group are hosting a community event to bring people together and enhance community spirit. There will be a candlelit carol service, Santa’s grotto, mince pies and Christmas inflatables.
Seasonal Crafts Weekend: 10am-3pm
Bury: Nuttall Park Base, Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom
Nuttall Park Base will be open on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th December for a seasonal crafts weekend. There will be card making, children’s craft activities, willow weaving, etc., along with festive food and hot drinks.
Sunday 17th December
Christmas Spectacular: 6.30pm
Rochdale: Morton Street, Middleton, M24 6AN
A fun-packed evening with great local talent providing the entertainment, minced pies and mulled wine.
Affetside Carols around the Christmas Tree: 3.30pm
Bury: Affetside Millennium Green, Watling Street, Affetside, Bury, BL8 3QW
Carol singing accompanied by Tottington Public Brass Band, mulled wine and mince pies. A lovely event suitable for all ages. All welcome.
Monday 18th December
Christmas Community Lunch: 12.30pm
Wigan: Atherton Salvation Army, 6-8 George Street, Atherton, M46 0EL
A special Christmas community lunch to bring people together for a memorable meal.
The Eccles Special Needs Stay and Play Christmas Get Together: 5pm
Salford: Eccles Special Needs Stay and Play, The Castle Community Centre, Lewis Street, Eccles, M30 0PU
A Christmas party open to all children with special needs and disabilities in the local community, offering festive food and drinks and Father Christmas.
Wednesday 20th December
Meanwhile in Salford, The Woolpack Is Transforming: 4-8pm
Salford: The Woolpack, Belverdere Rd, M6 5HE
A ‘winter warmer’ get together to share food and ideas with local groups. There will be a short presentation on The Woolpack’s community project plans, ideas will be invited about how the site should be used. All from the local community are invited to take part so that the ownership of the project is shared across the local area.
Great Polish Christmas Get Together: 2-7pm
Manchester: 3rd Floor, Mauldeth House, Nell Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 7RL
A chance for people both old and young and from various different backgrounds to get together, have fun and chat in a happy, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Mince pies and refreshments provided.
Thursday 21st December
Catley Carols: 7.30pm
Rochdale: Rooley Moor Road, Catley Lane Head, Rochdale OL12 6BW
Carols around a Christmas tree with mince pies, tea and good company on the site of the Cotton Famine Road which commemorates the Rochdale mill workers who supported the struggle against slavery during the American Civil War, 1861-65.
Great Christmas Exhibition and Get Together: 11am-evening
Trafford: Open Studios Altrincham Studio 47-49 Stamford New Road, Altrincham WA14 1DS
A members’ exhibition open to the general public, welcoming all local residents to drop in throughout the day. Mince pies and other refreshments served.
Sunday 24th December
PRIDES Happy Songs Celebration: 5pm
Manchester: Jabez Hall, Slade Lane, Longsight, Manchester
Open to all the local community in Longsight, there will be a PA system with Asian Instrumental tracks, live musicians and members’ singalongs as well as dance performances and refreshments.
Monday 25th December
Bridging the Gap’s Christmas Lunch: 12-4pm
Manchester: St Marys C of E, Adscombe Rd, M16 7AQ
A Christmas day lunch for anyone who is alone on Christmas day or has little to celebrate, plus their carers. All are welcome and food, gifts and entertainment are all provided as well as transport where required.
Tuesday 26th December
Boxing Day Christmas Carols: 2-7pm
Wigan: Leigh Rugby Union and Bowling Club, Hand Lane, Leigh WN7 3NA
A Christmas carol brass band afternoon with mince pies, mulled wine and soft drinks free of charge.
International Gathers of Joy: 4pm
Manchester: 59 Old Lane, Manchester, M11 1DE
A gathering of communities with contributions such as food, drinks, music and party games to keep everybody entertained.
