Step Forward Fund Launch at Hallé St. Peter's

November 2023


Showcasing Community Power Shifting!


On 20th December 2023, we teamed up with Halle St. Peter’s to hold a magical celebration of community power with the launch of our Step Forward Fund.


At Step Up MCR, we believe that communities should have a voice in local decision-making and leading activities in their neighbourhoods.


That is why we created The Step Forward Fund, giving neighbours a chance to Step Forward to pitch, Step Forward to vote, and Step Forward to take action in the community.


Take a look at our video and read on to find out more!


About the Step Forward Fund Event


In partnership with Manchester Local Care Organisation and MCRactive, we created a funding pot of £8,000 for community health and wellbeing projects in Ancoats & Beswick and Clayton & Openshaw.


Anyone with a good idea could apply for £2,000 towards their projects.  


We shortlisted eight community groups and shifted power to our local communities to decide on how funding would be spent.


The event took place just before Christmas at the Hallé St. Peter’s. We were beyond delighted to be joined by around 300 people in the main hall, with performances from the Halle’s Community Choir and Youth Choir, as well as from local British Sign Language duo, Ella & Keira. We were also joined by Santa Claus himself!


Our eight groups pitched for support for a huge range of exciting local activities, including a community mushrooming initiative, arts, yoga, boxing, football, men’s talking groups, and more!


After the community votes, the groups funded were:


  • Beswick Community Football Club
  • Ancoats Run Club
  • Directions for Men
  • The Yard Boxing & Fitness @ The Beacon Centre



We also saw pitches from four other brilliant groups:


  • Ancoats Visual Arts
  • Ceebee Gold Foundation
  • Chatty Craft
  • Beswick Urban Growers and FungALL CIC


We will continue to work with these groups to grow, linking them into funding, development support, connections and promotion.


We are also looking at new opportunities to shift power to local communities this year and beyond!



A Special Thanks

We'd like to extend our enormous gratitude to the Hallé, Manchester Local Care Organisation and MCR Active for their support with the fund, and the fantastic event.


A huge thank you also goes to the community projects, performers, and residents who turned up to make this a night to remember. Not forgetting our wonderful volunteers and Board members for helping out.


We'll be looking back very fondly at our first Step Forward Fund event. Stay tuned for more!

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