The Manc is thrilled to announce that we’re the official media partner of Manchester’s largest entertainment venue.
The arena recently rebranded to the AO Arena as part of a sponsorship deal with the Bolton-based online electricals retailer AO, marking a period of regeneration for the iconic venue – which last year celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Now, as well as the famous green smile, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive money can’t buy experiences as well as on the spot ‘surprise and delight’ activations on the concourse, courtesy of the retailer.
As the UK’s most engaged local digital publisher with a total audience of over 1.5 million across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok, our media partnership with the AO Arena is a great fit – especially as we’re the only Manchester publication with a devoted music platform, The Manc Audio.
In a fitting celebration of the fact that Manchester’s music and its venues are unrivalled, we will use our reach to showcase this to the rest of the city and way beyond.
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The partnership also highlights our commitment to supporting Manchester’s music scene on all levels.
The Manc is the new official media partner of the AO Arena / Credit: AO Arena | The Manc Group
Speaking on the partnership, Anna Gledson – Managing Director of The Manc Group – said: “We’re absolutely made up to be the official media partner for the AO Arena. The AO Arena is such a huge part of our city’s entertainment and leisure landscape and attracts over a million people through its doors every year thanks to its unrivalled calendar of shows.
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“To have the opportunity to collaborate and partner with the Arena is super exciting and we can’t wait to work with them to shine a very bright spotlight on the incredible music we have in Manchester.”
James Allen – General Manager of the AO Arena – added: “This is an exciting partnership [and] we look forward to working collaboratively with The Manc on a variety of projects that will help accelerate Manchester’s recovery process.
“We have a packed calendar of events, with some real show-stoppers to look forward to and a first class platform to promote them on.”
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Known as ‘the people’s voice of Greater Manchester’, The Manc publishes content seven days a week, online and across a number of social media platforms, and has become a widely-recognised brand across the city for its news coverage, viral content, its various social channels, and its support of local Manchester businesses.
The Arena has welcomed the best bands, singers, musicians, and DJs from across the globe / Credit: The Manc x AO Arena
The Manc team has extensive experience and expertise in news, social media, content creation and publishing – with founding members of the team working for some of the country’s biggest social publications.
This experience has enabled The Manc to work on a number of city-wide campaigns with some of the biggest names in the hospitality, business and entertainment sectors in and around Greater Manchester.
The Manc Audio was launched in the summer of 2020 as the dedicated music branch of The Manc family, with the goal is to shine a spotlight on Manchester’s vibrant, world-renowned music scene, and the established and emerging talent to come from it.
By covering a wide variety of music genres, events, club nights and venues, The Manc Audio celebrates Manchester’s rich music heritage, as well as representing the very best of the city’s music offerings past, present and future.
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As The Manc Audio has grown, it has also launched a live music series – Frequencies.
Since the pilot episode back in February 2021, the series has received thousands of views on IGTV, and in September 2021, a live version of the event was held in front of an audience for the first time to huge success.
The Manc has worked on a number of city-wide campaigns with some of the biggest names in the hospitality, business, and entertainment sectors / Credit: The Manc Group x AO Arena
The arena has become an integral part of Manchester’s music scene since first opening its doors in 1995, and in its 26 years of operation, the venue has welcomed the best bands, singers, musicians, and DJs from across the globe to the heart of the city.
With a capacity of 21,000, the AO Arena has the highest capacity of any indoor venue in the UK.
And with more than a million people visiting the arena every year, it has landed itself the title of the busiest arena in the world on numerous occasions.
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Find more information about what’s happening at the AO Arena in 2021 here.
A local baby bank is holding a vital fundraiser to stop it from closing for good
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester baby bank is holding a vital fundraiser in hopes of preventing it from closing for goodimminently.
For anyone unaware, baby banks are crucial organisations run largely by volunteers who help provide supplies to families in local communities, with more than 300 in use across the UK at present.
Through delivering much-needed aid such as clothing, prams, nappies and baby food, right through to direct financial support, they help keep parents and their children in good supply of essentials and much more – hugely important work at any rate, let alone during the winter and a cost of living crisis.
However, the Little Green Sock Project over in Trafford is at risk of permanent closure and was initially given until the new year to raise £200,000.
As seen in this moving video, the baby bank based over in Stretford Mall is in dire need of support and, crucially, the funds for a new premises.
They’ve been deeply moved by how Greater Manchester united in reaching into their pockets and sparing whatever they can to contribute to their fundraising target thus far – and they really are nearly at the finish line, which would mean safety for the genuinely life-saving service.
Fundamentally operated as a non-profit and volunteer-led charity, they naturally don’t have the means to just take over a new space on their own and with the current site set to be demolished very soon, a minimum of £200k is needed to find and fund a new location.
Having amassed over 90% of the amount needed, they’ve already bought themselves extra time, they just need one last push from us.
Urging people to donate what they can and share their fundraiser where possible, as well as welcoming corporate sponsorships should other local businesses wish to back them or get stuck through volunteering days, time is of the essence.
The Little Green Sock Project was only started back in 2022 and has already supported over 1,300 children, redistributing more than £240,000 worth of essential items like clothing, cots, prams, and stair gates to local families, as well as saving 20 tonnes of items from landfills.
It’s no exaggeration to say that they’ve changed and saved lives, both parents and children, and with the often difficult festive period approaching, their work is needed now more than ever.
There are just under a dozen baby banks in all of Greater Manchester, many of which are facing similar pressures. (Credit: Supplied)
Speaking on their efforts and the fundraiser, founder Catherine D’Albertanson said: “We believe that essentials needed for the health and wellbeing of children should not only be for those that can afford them. Our work ensures that no child in our community goes without essentials, but without new premises, we will have no choice but to close.”
Moreover, Little Green Sock Project is the only baby bank in the Trafford area and of the families it serves, 58% are single-parent households already struggling with the cost of raising children, while 29% are fleeing domestic abuse, often leaving their belongings behind to protect their family.
With their circular economy model, they also help reduce waste whilst providing “a trusted link between the families that have items to give, to those that need them the most”, with D’Albertanson adding, “If we lose this charity, we lose a vital safety net for many in our community.”
A service user commented: “It was a truly terrifying time when I was pregnant with my first child. I found myself completely alone, with a baby on the way, wondering how I could possibly provide for my son.
“Then I found Little Green Sock Project, and everything changed. Everything was carefully chosen, colour-coordinated, and presented in such a thoughtful way. It felt so special—like someone truly cared about me and my baby. That feeling is indescribable, especially for someone in my position.
“There are so many people like me with stories like this. It breaks my heart to think that the Little Green Sock Project might have to close its doors. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without your help, and I hope with all my heart that the community comes together to keep this lifeline alive.”
Manchester parents need this much-loved baby bank – let’s not let it fall away on our watch. (Credit: Andy Bate at Royal Foundation)
Every pound donated goes towards helping find the Little Green Sock Project a new home, but people can help contribute in other ways, once again, by spreading the word or getting their hands dirty in person.
Greater Manchester never fails to amaze when it rallies behind causes like this, and we’re sure you won’t let us down this time either. Let’s keep the lights on the lifelines for local families intact.
You can donate now, or to find out other ways to do your bit, click HERE.
Featured Images — Little Green Sock Project/Andy Bate – Royal Foundation (supplied)
News
Government to begin giving millions of UK workers ‘significant’ pay rises from this week
Emily Sergeant
The Government is to begin giving more than three million workers across the UK a ‘significant pay boost’ from this week.
Announced as part of last year’s Budget, and in a bid to ‘put thousands of pounds back in the pockets of working people every year’, the Government confirmed back at the beginning of February that a new National Living Wage of £12.21 per hour, and a new National Minimum Wage of £10 per hour would take effect from April onwards.
Ministers said the 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage – which is now worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker – is a ‘significant step’ towards delivering the manifesto commitment to deliver a ‘genuine’ living wage.
Today, millions of working people will get a pay rise as the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increase.
New rates:
🔹 from £11.44 to £12.21 if you’re 21 and over 🔹 from £8.60 to £10.00 if you’re 18-20 🔹 from £6.40 to £7.55 if you’re under 18 or an apprentice
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 1, 2025
On top of this, the National Minimum Wage for 18-20-year-olds is also set to go up by a record increase of £1.40 an hour, which means full-time younger workers eligible for the rate will see their pay boosted by £2,500 a year.
The minimum wage pay boot has also been called the first step towards removing the ‘unfair’ age-bands that see a 21-year-old getting paid more than a 20-year-old for doing the same job.
According to the Government, this is also the first time the National Living Wage has taken into account the cost of living and inflation.
Three million UK workers will be getting a ‘significant’ pay rise from this week / Credit: Pexels
“In the last Parliament, living standards were the worst on record and sky-high inflation was crushing working people’s finances,” commented Chancellor Rachel Reeves, explaining why the pay boosts are being introduced.
“Making work pay is good for workers, will strengthen businesses’ workforces, and will grow our economy for years to come.
“It’s a key milestone on my number one mission to get more money in people’s pockets as we deliver our Plan for Change.”
Not only that, but the minimum hourly wage for an apprentice is also set to be boosted later this year too, with an 18-year-old apprentice seeing their minimum hourly pay increase by 18% to £7.55 an hour.
As a result of these particular changes, a further four million workers also could benefit from the positive spill-over impacts of the rate increases.
The Manc -
2nd November 2021 
