Businesses in Manchester’s Gay Village have handed over a ‘game-changing’ £60,000 to two charities focused on sexual health and HIV support.
Last year, Manchester Pride announced it was ‘no longer in a position’ to support the LGBT Foundation’s safer sex scheme which provides free condoms to people across Greater Manchester.
The charity organisation said the coronavirus pandemic had impacted Manchester Pride and that ending support for the scheme had been a ‘tough decision’ to make.
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Manchester Pride also said their 'current funding agreement' with HIV charity George House Trust had come to an end.
Following the announcement, the Village Licensed Business Association (VLBA), which is made up of bars, restaurants, clubs and shops in the Gay Village, set up a major community fundraiser to provide vital funding for both the LGBT Foundation and George House Trust.
Since August, the fundraising campaign has successfully raised over £60,000 out of a target of £100,000 thanks to donations from visitors to the Gay Village’s venues and from online contributions.
Phil Burke, Chair of the Village Licensed Business Association (VLBA), added: “We would like to thank everyone who has kindly donated towards this vital cause, without the businesses and community coming together this would have been impossible to achieve.
"It shows great community spirit helping charities that are so close to the heart of Manchester’s LGBT+ community.”
The current fundraising total was handed over to both charities - £30,000 going to each - earlier this week to ensure both charities can continue to fund crucial services.
The funding will allow LGBT Foundation to deliver its Condom & Lube Distribution Scheme, which distributes over 90,000 safer-sex packs across Greater Manchester to improve access to safer-sex.
Rob Cookson, Deputy Chief Executive at LGBT Foundation, said: “We would like to extend a huge thank you to the VLBA for organising this fundraiser and for all those who have generously contributed to the fantastic amount raised so far.
“It is amazing to see the total reach £60,000, and we are hopeful with the fantastic support of our community and allies we will reach the £100,000 target, which is urgently needed to allow us to carry out our life-changing work for the LGBTQ+ community.
“These donations will ensure our Safer-Sex programme can continue to be delivered and will allow us to continue our work, alongside our partners at George House Trust to support the LGBTQ+ communities and people living with HIV.”
George House Trust will use the money to secure the future of its Welfare Fund, which supports people living in the North West with HIV to purchase items that will improve their health and wellbeing.
Darren Knight, Chief Executive at George House Trust, said: “The commitment and solidarity from the venues across Manchester’s Gay Village and the people that visit them is going to make such a massive difference to the people that George House Trust supports.
“Last year marked 40 years of the HIV response and the whole Gay Village getting behind the life changing work of ourselves and LGBT Foundation recognises the genuine need that still exists and the Target £100k Fundraiser shows exactly what can be achieved by working together.”
A series of additional fundraising events are set to be scheduled throughout the year as the fundraiser nears its goal of £100,000.
