From Ancoats to Ardwick and from Whalley Range to Wythenshawe, community groups in Manchester have been providing essential support for people affected by Covid-19.

Through our Community Support Fund, Forever Manchester has helped many groups across Manchester who are supporting their local communities in lots of different ways.

Manchester’s Foodbanks responded to huge increases in demand on their services to help vulnerable residents impacted by isolation, homelessness, experiencing hardship and poverty.

Those providing foods and essentials included The Greengate Trust who maintained city centre support for homeless people and established ‘Feed Thy Neighbour’ to provide food for local families. Open Kitchen MCR (pictured above) provided foods for many food banks, homeless shelters and hostels by producing more than 11,000 meals a week.

The Paperweight Trust set up a Crisis helpline providing help and guidance on legal, financial and welfare issues for members of the Jewish community. In Longsight, Yaran North West supported members of the Iranian community by creating and posting leaflets, providing social media training, creating and distributing craft packs and providing online counselling, bi-lingual mental health sessions and telephone support.

Organisations providing advice, guidance and emotional support for those at risk of, or experiencing violence and sexual abuse included Angels of Hope in Gorton who provided basic essentials and partnered a local cafe to ensure fresh food and hot meals. In Wythenshawe the Olive Pathway provided remote help and culturally sensitive support for BAME women while Wythenshawe Safespots extended their telephone helpline hours to provide support for those most at risk.

African and Caribbean Mental Health Services moved their activities online and hosted regular meetings and wellbeing sessions to support those with mental health needs and Niamos in Hulme developed ‘Living Zoom’, an online community-based support service to assist those with mental health needs experiencing isolation.

Throughout Manchester, volunteers at locally established groups responded to ensure much needed help and positive support for others. Many turned their attention to helping local, low income households and families affected by the pandemic including: Abraham Moss Warriors, FC United of Manchester, Greengate Hollinwood Neighbourhood Watch, Miners Community Arts and Music Centre, Moss Side Fires Station Boxing Club, Rainbow Surprise and the United Estates of Wythenshawe.

These represent just a few of literally hundreds of groups across Greater Manchester who stepped up to the mark and took the opportunity to stay connected, to communicate regularly, to meet up online, to provide a friendly voice on the phone and to help out in providing vital sources of much needed help to support their respective communities.

During these uncertain times, the ability of local community groups and organisations to best help those most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic remains dependant on maintaining support for them.

Forever Manchester has delivered over £2.5 million in funding to support hundreds of community groups and organisations in Greater Manchester that have responded to the impact of Covid-19.

For more information about The Community Support Fund and how you can make a donation to help us continue to support community activity right across Greater Manchester, click the buttons below.

Make a donation Community Support Fund View the list of all groups funded to date

Date added: 23rd November 2020
Last updated: 5th December 2020