Manchester Pride raises essential funds to help LGBTQ+ communities. Every penny donated to the Manchester Pride Community Fund goes directly to supporting LGBTQ+ causes and projects in Greater Manchester. This means none of the money you donate to the Manchester Pride Community Fund goes to the day-to-day operations of the Manchester Pride Charity.
The Superbia Queer Arts Fund and the Manchester Pride Community Fund are open year round to award grants to initiatives that benefit LGBTQ+ people in Manchester. There are four rounds of funding available that you can apply for. Applications are assessed by the Grants Panel on an ongoing basis so it’s a good idea to apply early.
Below is the list of 15 successful projects we funded between December 2022 and March 2023.
Grants from £250 - £1000 are available to support grassroots community groups and organisations. This fund is designed to support the activities of local community groups, voluntary groups and organisations that work towards improving the quality of life and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people. Applications should include activities that are designed to support and include at least one of the following communities: LGBTQ+ disabled people, QTIPOC, Trans people.
Trans Creative - £1000
Trans Creative was launched into the world in 2017, focusing on telling stories of Trans lives to cut through the negativity often seen in British media and online against Trans people.
Trans Creative have been awarded a grant to support their application to become a registered charity.
Proud2bParents - £1000
Proud 2 Parents is an inclusive organisation for all routes to parenthood.
A grant was awarded for the organisation to continue to support LGBTQ+ parents. The project will include the development of LGBTQ+ children's book bags that will include a LGBTQ+ children's book, and resources to make that book more engaging and come alive. These book bags will support early education, cultural awareness and bring acknowledgement of community needs.
Gaydio Academy - £1000
The Gaydio Academy is a not-for-profit LGBTQ+ organisation supporting people through educational, skills-based and confidence-building training and support.
They provide a platform of expression for people experiencing discrimination and social isolation, offering skills development, mentoring, peer support and the opportunity to find their voice through work experience and long-term volunteering.
Gaydio's research has revealed that their transgender, non-binary and gender diverse listeners from Manchester are continuing to suffer from the fallout of the COVID-19 lockdowns with loneliness, social isolation, poor mental health and general wellbeing.
Their project will help amplify the voice of the gender-diverse community in Manchester, raising awareness of trans issues and concerns, challenging discrimination, and encouraging community cohesion through a one-off radio forum, in which they invite 2-4 gender-diverse people to the Gaydio studios to discuss and explore trans issues and concerns.
Myco Manchester CIC - £974
Myco Manchester is a community mushroom farm and workers' co-op. They have been awarded funding to run workshops teaching attendees how to grow oyster mushrooms. Their cultivation workshops are noisy, social and fun spaces.
There will also be a practical taster day for any trans people interested in what running an urban farm actually entails. An online event will take place diving deep into a queer and trans analysis of mycology and ecology, with trans speakers providing insight on topics ranging from mycology to queer history.
Lastly, there will be a wild walk where Myco Manchester meet within a green space in Greater Manchester, and work together to identify any flora or fungi they come across, collectively sharing knowledge and boosting identification skills.
Manchester Proud Chorus - £599.99
The Manchester Proud Chorus (formerly Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus) is an inclusive community choir where all are welcome, whatever their sexual or gender identity, to sing with the North West’s Premier LGBTQI+ choir.
They were awarded a grant to buy a new piano for performances.
Bi-Topia - £1000
Bi-Topia is a cross-arts exploration of the links between mental health, identity and sexuality, with a view to raise awareness and normalise the conversations.
Bi-Topia applied for funding to work with both LGBTQ+ young people aged 18-25, LGBTQ+ veterans and a network of charitable organisations in the North West to facilitate creative workshops. The end result of the workshops will be a new play that explores links with LGBTQ+ communities, poor mental health and identity - connecting the artists lived experiences of therapy, masculinity and coming out, with the wider LGBTQ+ experience. This show will also explore the independent review currently taking place investigating the impact of the 1967-2000 ban on homosexual individuals serving in the military.
YDSA Events - £1000
Your Dad Sells Avon (YDSA) Events are a queer club night that exclusively hires QTIPoC, Trans and Non-Binary people, and both new and upcoming LGBTQ+ DJs.
Funds were awarded for their future events to ensure they can pay queer artists fairly and uplift marginalised creatives. £1 from each ticket sale also goes to a local queer charity - previously it has been George House Trust and their April event will raise funds for The LGBT Foundation.
Part Fish - £1000
Funds were awarded to produce the film Part Fish, which will explore the experiences of LGBTQ+ autistic people. The project aims to create more representation of autistic women in film, to open conversations around queer and autistic mental health, to explore how nature interacts with our nervous systems and to focus on the positive aspects of stimming.
Mehfil - £1000
Funds were awarded to produce Mehfil, a celebratory event curated by House of spice. This event will bring attention to the way racism can be challenged in the LGBTQ+ community, increase the representation of QTIPoC within the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate the cultures of the global majority, specifically the cultures of the people from the House of Spice.
Box of Tricks Theatre Company - £500
Leading an LGBTQ+ writing group, Bloodbeats alongside Box of Tricks will use the funds awarded to give LGBTQ+ writers a space to share ideas, write to prompts, get creative and constructive feedback and spare opportunities for their upcoming work. Attendees will also have access to Bloodbeats’ network of award-winning writers for skill development.
International Ballroom Community - £500
The Superbia grant will be used to grow the ballroom community in Greater Manchester. Well established PoC members of the ballroom scene will give workshops that will allow members of the Manchester queer community to build their skills and talent. The aim of these workshops is designed to help build a stronger QTIPoC community by connecting them to the larger international ballroom community.
Ladyfriends - £1000
‘Ladyfriends’ is a new stage show that explores what it means to identify with historical queer women, as queer women. The Superbia Grant will fund their ‘open rehearsal’ which will allow younger LGBTQ+ people looking for roles in the creative sector to develop their skills and talents within the industry.
To Whom it May Concern - £1000
To Whom It May Concern was a special World AIDS Day event in support of Manchester based charity George House Trust, curated by local Manchester HIV activist and artist, Jordan Roberts.
The event took place at Feel Good Club on Thursday 1st December 2022 and consisted of panel discussions, live music and poetry, all to raise awareness of HIV and push for an end to HIV stigma.
Manchester Pride’s Board of trustees and Community Grants Panel are proud to have awarded a Superbia Queer Arts Grant to Jordan Roberts to deliver To Whom It May Concern.
Tranuary - £1000
A new day to night festival led by Trans people for Trans people and hosted at SOUP, TRANUARY showcased the work of OVER 30 trans artists and activists!
TINY’s Barbershop - £400
TINY’s Barbershop will be offering half price haircuts to young trans and non-binary people, and people questioning their gender identity and presentation. Additionally, they will be giving out gift bags for parents that contain information about how to support a young trans/non-binary person, and where to find support if you are a trans or non-binary young person.
