Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and now more than ever must we look after and provide support to those whose mental health deems them most vulnerable.
There’s plenty of support and initiatives out there doing their best to provide help to those very people – and Foundation 92 is one of them here in Greater Manchester.
Foundation 92, the charitable foundation created by Greater Manchester’s ‘Class of 92’, has teamed up with Redstone Accountancy to launch a brand new football-focused fundraising initiative for the city.
A corporate football tournament in August will culminate in a gala prize-giving and fundraising event at Hotel Football on September 10, with proceeds used to fund up to 3000 hours of free mental health counselling to Greater Manchester’s most vulnerable young people.
Manchester United Class of ’92 host kickabout for young school children // Manchester United
This month, ‘Our Goal’ will see eight Greater Manchester businesses compete in a friendly five-a-side tournament on the Heaven pitch at Hotel Football, overlooking Old Trafford. The winners will secure local bragging rights and a trophy presented by a Class of 92 representative at the gala dinner.
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Only three tables remain unfilled for the September’s fundraising event, which will be attended by the Class of 92 and compered by Old Trafford’s celebrated stadium announcer, Alan Keegan. Irish band ‘Blessed’ will also travel from Ireland to entertain the audience.
Foundation 92 is the official charitable partner of Salford City FC, owned and founded by the celebrated Class of 92. The foundation works with communities across Greater Manchester to promote sports & physical activity; health & wellbeing; education & employability and inclusion.
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Tom Hutton, Head of Foundation 92 said: “Sport, and football in particular, has a unique ability to bring people together and achieve amazing things. We’re so grateful to all the businesses who are taking part in Our Goal – helping us fund and deliver support to the city’s most vulnerable people.
Salford City Foundation 92 launched by the Class of 92 // Salford City Football Club
“We are particularly looking forward to September’s fundraising event with the Class of 92, some fantastic entertainment and great prizes on offer. There’s still time for the Greater Manchester business community to join us on the night and make a real difference to local people’s lives.”
The first annual Our Goal tournament will see co-founders Redstone Accountancy face off against a diverse range of Salford and Manchester businesses, including: Roland Dransfield, OBI, Kuits, RoyleMac10, Hybrid, HSPG and a team from the tournament’s hosts – Hotel Football.
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Redstone Accountancy offers an array of individual & corporate accounting services, as well as providing business and tax advice to clients of all sizes.
Craig Watts, Managing Director of Redstone Accountancy said: “‘Our Goal’ is an annual event that brings together local Manchester-based businesses to raise funds for amazing causes.
“Our Goal’ this year, is to raise funds to help Foundation 92 provide 3000 hours of qualified counselling to Manchester’s most vulnerable individuals who are suffering with their mental health”
Local businesses wanting to support the fundraising event on September 10, by attending, sponsoring or donating prizes, should visit www.foundation92.co.uk/page/fundraising and register interest today.
Manchester
Liam Gallagher says he’s ‘ready’ to make a surprise appearance at the World Cup final
Danny Jones
Liam Gallagher has said that he is “ready” to play at the World Cup final should England make it all the way to the last two later this month.
He may have just been having some fun on social media as usual, but you never know – after all, we never actually thought we’d see him and his brother reconcile, but look how that turned out…
In his words, he may have “Irish blood”, but the Manchester-born Britpop and rock icon has an English heart, and after one person online said it’d only be right for him to fly out for the conclusive fixture if Thomas Tuchel’s side make it all the way, he gave a typically off-the-cuff response:
You could argue there’s not much in this besides an impromptu comment from a famously keyboard-happy lead singer, but stranger things have happened.
For instance, it may have come after a gradually increasing barrage of old tweets, pestering and a bit of positive peer pressure in full view of the public eye, but we did at long last get to witness an Oasis reunion with the ‘Live ’25’ world tour; however surreal it felt, it’s soon set to be relived in a documentary.
This reply comes as a response to LG’s initial post on X, in which he wrote: “It’s hard work that singing Harry Kane cmon ENGLAND cmon WONDERWALL.”
It also isn’t the only time he stoked the fire of this still only pie-in-the-sky idea, either, as after another user similarly asked if he’d fly out and sing it at the final, he simply responded, “Oh I’ll show Harry how it’s done.”
He’s not the only one to have made a rather big public proclamation this tournament, either.
The England and Man United legend set himself up for a fall.
As for the 53-year-old musician, he also jokingly quipped at the expense of those less keen on the idea with just as straightforward a clap-back: “Stop crying your heart out.”
Now, obviously, we’re taking this one with a big pinch of salt (enough to season ‘some lasagneee’, you could say), but who knows? There’s been plenty of big and strange showbiz stuff happening at this year’s competition in North America.
Maybe we all need to just keep tagging the Burnage boys, FIFA, England and the official World Cup page as much and hope for at least some kind of Oasis-centric surprise.
Come on, just imagine how much this would go OFF if even one of the Gallagher brothers was in the crowd, let alone this unthinkable hypothetical…
You can now get a pre-holiday carvery at Manchester Airport as new lounge opens
Daisy Jackson
Forget a pre-flight pint or a meal deal – passengers travelling through Manchester Airport can now fill up on a carvery before they go on holiday.
It’s believed to be the UK’s first-ever airport lounge carvery, and has opened as part of the new lounge at Terminal 2.
As well as the carvery, passengers will find live cooking, premium drinks, made-to-order dishes, and barista coffee.
AND before you head to your gate, you can visit the bespoke “One Last Treat” gumball machine, where tokens reveal locally inspired sweets, surprise rewards and complimentary future experiences.
For The Executive by Escape Lounges premium lounge, Manchester Airport has pulled together an impressive roster of local suppliers and makers.
You’ll find everything from Chorlton Cheesemongers cheese to Martins Bakery baked goods, plus Grandpa Greene’s ice cream, Manchester Gin, JW Lees beers, and Ground Effect coffee.
And of course, the decor features a few bee-inspired details and textile references, as well as artwork installations and carefully selected local stories.
Passengers can visit the carvery at the new loungeThere’s also a bespoke gumball machineThe Executive by Escape Lounges lounge at Manchester Airport
There are five distinct areas to explore at The Executive, with fresh pastries at Leaf & Loaf, deli-style options at The Humm, and hot dishes and live cooking at The Loom.
The Loom is also where you’ll find that new carvery experience, so you can load up on roast meat and Yorkshire puddings before your flight.
Sarah Marshall, General Manager at The Executive by Escape Lounges, said: “We wanted to create something genuinely different. The Executive has been designed to feel special from the moment guests arrive, with hospitality, food and thoughtful details at the centre of the experience.
“Dining plays a huge role in how people connect, celebrate and relax before they travel, so we wanted to create a lounge where food and drink are a defining part of the experience rather than simply something that’s available.
“From live cooking and chef-led dishes to local suppliers and seated dining, every element has been carefully considered to create a memorable start to the journey.”
Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world. Our £1.5bn investment in Terminal 2 has transformed the experience for millions of passengers and The Executive is another exciting addition to that offer.
“Passengers increasingly want choice when they travel, and this new lounge provides something genuinely different. It combines premium hospitality with a distinctive food and drink experience, giving passengers another great way to start their journey.”
The Executive by Escape Lounges is now open in Manchester Airport Terminal 2 and can be booked online HERE.
Prices start from £57.99 per person for the Buffet experience. Seated Dining is priced from £82.99 per person and will open for booking later this year, initially available exclusively to eligible airline guests.