Forever Manchester is delighted to announce that it has supported 212 Christmas Get Togethers throughout this festive season.
Thanks to generous donations from local businesses and individuals – the charity has been able to provide £42,200 towards Christmas Get Togethers that are bringing together over 10,000 people in communities across Greater Manchester.
Forever Manchester believes that connected communities make stronger, happier communities so they wanted to support people who wish to celebrate where they live with a Christmas gathering.
In less than two weeks, Forever Manchester received 516 applications to host a Christmas gathering. A lucky dip draw was held and the successful applicants have been given funding of £200 to assist in the planning of their activities and events throughout December – and they are also receiving a little Christmas treat in the post too!
The feedback from the Christmas Get Togethers which have taken place so far, has been heartwarming. Many of the hosts have posted up photos of the party celebrations on social media with some great comments:
Better Things, who support people with learning disabilities, said this on Twitter: ‘Brilliant Christmas Party today. Thanks so much for the support (and balloons) #bringingpeopletogether’
Bury Football Club Trust tweeted: ‘It has been a fantastic afternoon @buryfcofficial for our over 65 Christmas Party at the social @eventsburyfc. Thank you to @4EVERManchester for their kind support in making this afternoon possible.’
Mahdlo Youth Zone said: ‘A huge thank you to @4EverManchester for supporting a Christmas Party for our young people in Hathershaw.’
The Mustard Tree, who support people in poverty & facing homelessness, said ‘Thank you to @4EverManchester for their £200 towards our Christmas Party…for those on our Freedom Project building futures away form homelessness and poverty for good. Helping to connect our people and communities and bring people together this season #gettogether.’
Social Lites WI tweeted: ‘Thanks for @4EverManchester for the kind donation for our Christmas Tea & Chat community event today. #StormDeirdre didn’t put the visitors off & 2 hours flew by with teas & coffees warming visitors up along with a mince pie & friendly chat. #ForXmasGetTogethers #community’
Tameside Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group posted on Facebook: ‘Thank you Forever Manchester for helping to fund the first Christmas get together of the Tameside Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group. We really appreciated it. We had a great time.’
Bolton Community Kitchens’ chairman, Gareth said, “Thank you so much for thinking of us, it will go along way to help us to help others thanks again for making a difference to people’s lives.”
This level of support has only been made possible thanks to generous donations and fundraising efforts of Forever Manchester supporters throughout the year, which it is hoped will continue in 2019.
