Cool Manchester

Jackie Crozier, who has led Manchester Pride for four years and been a part for the organisation for six, featured as a ‘new entry’ at #87 on this year’s Pink List in The Independent newspaper.

The nominations, made up of who readers would describe as “unsung heroes and heroines who make life as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person better” was looked over by a panel of expert judges and who then produced the one hundred strong list from over 1,500 nominations.

In response to making this year’s list, Jackie said: “I feel extremely proud to have been chosen as a part of this list, alongside entertainers, campaigners and artists who each contribute so much to the LGBT community in their own way, and continue to help us pursue equality. Congratulations to all those who made the list – it is a very deserving group of one hundred, and I hope we can all continue on to do our bit for our community.”

Also featuring in this year’s list are Manchester Pride patrons and friends, actress and singer Heather Peace and actor Antony Cotton, at numbers seven and ten respectively. Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson, Manchester Pride’s newest patron has also been named by the list as a ‘national treasure’.

Heather Peace said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of this year’s Pink List. I think it is important for LGBT people who are often in the media to be out and proud, and to encourage others to feel comfortable with who they are and strive to reach their full potential. It is a responsibility and I think this list is a great way of acknowledging the many men and women who do this!”

At the top of this year’s Pink List is Elly Barnes, a music teacher, trainer and diversity manager who has been praised for “eradicating homophobia in her school, and is now helping others do the same”. Others on the list include musicians Jessie J (#3) and Will Young (#16), stage and screen writer Jonathan Harvey (#48) and journalist Patrick Strudwick (#70).

Here are a few events in the next few weeks around the city in the build up to Christmas 2011:

Tatton Park Christmas Shopping Fair: 29 October 2011 - 30 October 2011

Heaton Park - family funfair 5.30-9pm, fireworks 7.30pm and bonfire 8pm : 5th November 2011

Platt Fields Park - family funfair 5.30-9pm, fireworks 7.30pm and bonfire 8pm: 5th November 2011

Wythenshawe Park - family funfair 4-9pm, fireworks 7.30pm and bonfire 8pm: 5th November 2011

Urmston Community Bonfire, Abbotsfield Park: 5th November 2011

Trafford Centre Christmas Light Switch On: 27th October 2011

Manchester City Centre Christmas lights switch on: 10th November 2011

Manchester Christmas Markets 2011: 17th November - 21st December 2011

Scrooge with Tommy Steele, The Lowry: 12 December 2011 - 07 January 2012

Do you have any events around the city of Manchester that you would like to promote? Get in touch and I will keep the list updated

One of Europe’s largest LGBT festivals has today launched a search for its new boss as part of an ambitious growth plan.

Hundreds of applications are expected for Manchester Pride’s newly created Chief Executive role as the charity sets its sights on creating a series of year round events to increase the annual donations it makes to local worthy causes.

With the August bank holiday Big Weekend festival-style spectacular well established as a firm favourite, Manchester Pride’s new Chief Executive will be tasked with expanding its to include a series of fundraising events throughout the year.

“The recent resignation of our Festival Director gave the Trustees an opportunity to review our aims and structure”, explained Manchester Pride’s Chair, Vicken Couligian. “The success of the Pride Fringe running up to the Big Weekend proves that we can do more to raise awareness of LGBT issues and increase the six figure donations that we already make to charities. We want to fully realise our potential and the appointment of a Chief Executive reflects this.

“Manchester Pride’s event management will also be brought in house with the creation of a new event manager role as part of the changes giving us the flexibility and focus needed to broaden our horizons.

“Crucially, these changes will reduce our staffing and event costs while allowing us to do more fundraising activities throughout the year.”

With the new team expected to be in place by early next year, Manchester Pride anticipates that new events and activities will take place during Spring and Summer 2012, all designed to increase the donations its makes to charities.

Jane Bailey worked as a Community Involvement Project Manager from Age UK, who received Manchester Pride funding for their Out In The City project. Jane said: ‘The donations that we’ve received from Manchester Pride are an important part of our work with the Out in the City project. The prospect of Manchester Pride’s expansion is exciting news because we, and lots of other projects in the North West, rely on its great funding efforts to support our work”.

Accountable to Manchester Pride’s Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive will be responsible for delivering its long-term vision, managing a team of three, liaising with the community and partners, and delivering a high profile and complex city-centre based event annually.

Steps have this week's number one album....

Words that I don't think anyone would have ever guessed at the start of 2011! But there they are at number one, its official.

Does this mean that cheesy pop could be making a comeback? I really hope so. There's nothing better than a bop around to a "Guilty Pleasure"

Here are ten excellent examples of songs that I know are cheesy, but I don't care.

I'm not even going to explain my choices, just enjoy them for what they are.... I will always love pop!

1. Vengaboys - Uncle John From Jamaica

2. Gina G - Ti Amo

3. Ant and Dec - When I Fall In Love

4. Scooch - For Sure

5. Whigfield - Think of You

6. Scatman John - Scatman

7. Boney M - Megamix

8. 2 Unlimited - Let The Beat Control Your Body

9. London Boys - Requiem

10. Modern Talking - You're My Heart, You're My Soul '98

Manchester Pride has announced this morning that it has raised a grand total of £105,000 this year. This figure means that, since 2003, the annual festival has raised over £1M distributed to LGBT organisations and HIV charities and organisations.

As the festival turned a youthful but developed 21 this year, the announcement of this figure and the £1M target could not have come with better timing.

Vicken Couligian, Chair of Manchester Pride, said: “We are over the moon here at Manchester Pride to have raised such a fantastic sum of money over this year’s festival – and what better birthday present could we have than meeting the £1M target. After a summer that has arguably had its low points – with the gay blood ban still in place and the recent Manchester riots – it is great to have something positive to shout about in Manchester and be proud of.

We work extremely hard all year round at Manchester Pride to put on a great event and fundraise for deserving causes, and we are very grateful to all of those who support us in doing so. Our patrons, staff, board of trustees, friends, volunteers, media partners and festival goers – thank you for helping us achieve this!”

Manchester Pride 2011’s ten day festival, which took place between August 19 and August 29 of this year, featured a week long Pride Fringe of art, sports, theatre, film and more, culminating in a four-night long ‘Big Weekend’. Headliners for this year’s Big Weekend included Alexandra Burke, The Sugababes, Pixie Lott, boy band Blue and the fabulous comedienne ‘Pam Ann’. In addition to this, the festival’s ‘Best of British’ themed parade saw thousands of supporters come together to watch community groups, organisations and individuals march throughout the city centre to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) culture and lifestyle.

The festival is the only one of its kind that continues to raise such large sums of money for charities and LGBT groups, and is renowned for having the biggest and best musical talent year on year, reflected in its five consecutive annual wins of the Pink Paper Awards’ ‘Best Pride’ prize.

Kieron Richardson, one of Manchester Pride’s patrons, said: "Manchester Pride is a fantastic event that brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate its LGBT community and raise much needed funding for some deserving causes. I am proud to be a patron and supporter of the organisation and had a brilliant time at the event this year!"

A total of £98,000 was raised during the ten day festival, with an additional £7,000 being raised at the first Manchester Pride Dinner in September 2010; this money has been distributed through the Pride Fringe Fund.

As in previous years, the Lesbian & Gay Foundation’s free condom and lube scheme and the George House Trust’s HIV Welfare fund will both receive £24,500, with the remaining money being distributed over the coming months to LGBT and HIV charities and organisations across Greater Manchester.

Manchester Pride 2012 is scheduled to take place from the 17 – 27 August of next year. For up to date information on this, and for upcoming images and video from this year’s event, please visit: www.manchesterpride.com

Alternatively, follow us on Twitter: @ManchesterPride