As the news of the Ukraine conflict continues to rock the globe, Manchester street food venue GRUB has announced it will be hosting a fundraiser to raise money to help those affected.
In solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the venue will be teaming up with its street food partners and a host of local breweries to put on a charity event to raise money for the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
Breweries such as Squawk, Beatnikz, Left Handed Giant, Manchester Union Lager, Runaway, Neon Rapter, and Vocation Brewery have already pledged to donate kegs of beer and other prizes, and 100% of the turnover from sales will also be donated to the appeal.
There will also be donation buckets around the event for those who want to donate cash to the appeal.
Further prizes are still to be announced – with the venue now calling out for local DJs, solo artists, bands, traders, entertainers and volunteers to get involved.
The Red Cross has been working in Ukraine prior to the most recent conflict, but have stepped up their effort in the recent days and weeks as the situation has escalated.
To date, volunteers have distributed 30,000 food and hygiene parcels and provided first aid training to 1,000 people in various metro stations and bomb shelters.
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The teams are also supporting fire fighters, medical and civil protection units and working to help evacuate disabled Ukrainians who want to leave their home country.
Sharing the news of the fundraising appeal on its social media pages, GRUB wrote: “GRUB. In solidarity with Ukraine.
“On 9th March we will be hosting a fundraiser to raise money for @britishredcross. The conflict in Ukraine is invading and destroying the lives of innocent people, and this is one way we can help.
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“You can expect DJs, live music, food, drinks and more. A massive thanks to our incredible friends at squawkbrewingco, beatnikzrep, lefthandedgiantbrewing, @mcrunionlager, @runawaybrewery, @neonraptorbrew and @vocationbrewery who have already pledged to donate beer and prizes to the event.
“100% of the turnover from the sales of these beers will be donated. There will also be donation buckets so please bring cash if you can.
“Let’s raise our glass and come together in support of this important cause.
Six GMP officers dismissed following racial discrimination allegations
Emily Sergeant
A number of police officers have been dismissed following an internal investigation, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed.
Following the internal investigation into alleged racial discrimination against an officer on the Bury district – which was launched by GMP‘s Professional Standards Directorate in July 2024 – six officers and two former officers were found to have committed gross misconduct, and a ninth officer was found to have committed misconduct.
The investigation came after a report was made that an officer had been subjected to ‘racist behaviour’ by colleagues in December 2023.
The panel heard how PC Y – who has African heritage and has been granted anonymity – made a complaint after her accent was mimicked by a group of officers. She was also compared to a suspect with similar skin colour, and one of the dismissed PCs made a derogatory comment about her hair.
PC Y was supported and kept updated throughout the investigation, GMP assured, as well as providing evidence at the hearing.
The misconduct hearing lasted just over two weeks, with the panel concluding that the officers breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Equality and Diversity, Authority, Respect, and Courtesy.
The six officers who have been dismissed are PC Demi Green, PC Heena Rani, PC Lucy Granby, PC Matthew Barlow, PC Matthew Hill, and PC Mohammed Abid, while the former officers who were found to have committed gross misconduct are PC Jake Holt, and former Officer A – who has been granted anonymity.
The panel also found that Sergeant Adrian Bick’s actions amounted to misconduct, as there was no breach of the standard of equality and diversity.
As a result, the six serving officers have been sacked without notice, while the two former officers would have been dismissed had they not already left the force, and Sergeant Bick was issued a written warning.
“No officer or member of staff should have to come to work and experience discriminatory behaviour from the people they serve alongside,” declared Deputy Chief Constable, Terry Woods.
“Everyone has the right to feel respected, valued and part of the same team with a shared commitment to serving our communities and keeping people safe.”
‘There must be a way’ – Andy Burnham vows to save Jodrell Bank after funding cuts
Emily Sergeant
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to save the UK’s largest telescope at Jodrell Bank.
In case you hadn’t heard, back in July, theUK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced that the Jodrell Bank Observatory – which is home to the Lovell Telescope – will not be prioritised for further funding after its current agreement ends in March 2028, despite the telescope standing in its Cheshire home since 1957.
The UKRI said the decision not to continue funding priority was ‘the result of a comprehensive, evidence-based prioritisation process’.
Since the news broke, however, it has been a topic of national uproar and discussion as to how to ensure its legacy lives on.
A proud part of the University of Manchester (UoM), Jodrell Bank had a pioneering role in the development of radio astronomy, and has evidence from its emergence as a new science in the 1940s through to the present day, making it an outstanding part of scientific heritage.
The Prime Minister was pressed to address concerns surrounding the future of the site by Sarah Russell, Labour MP for Congleton, in the House of Commons yesterday (1 September 2026).
Mr Burnham replied: “Every one of my generation went on a school trip to Jodrell Bank, and there is no way that we can see its demise – it won’t happen under my Government.
“I know there’s changes that have been made in relation to research funding, but Jodrell Bank is a heritage asset for the country, as well as a research asset.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd March 2022 
