News

Avanti West Coast Pride Train – with all LGBTQ+ staff – arrives at Manchester Piccadilly

Wrapped in the Pride flag, this Pendolino made history when it departed London Euston just after 9:25am - becoming the first Avanti train to sport the famous rainbow colours.

The Manc The Manc - 25th August 2020
Avanti West Coast

An incredible multicoloured train pulled into Manchester on Tuesday (25 August) – signalling the arrival of the first ever Pride Train staffed entirely by an LGBTQ+ crew. 

Public transport operator Avanti West Coast launched the service in a bid to support LGBTQ+ groups following the cancellation of many key events in the community – including Pride Festival in Manchester.

Wrapped in the multicoloured Pride flag, the train made history when it departed London Euston just after 9:25am – becoming the first Avanti Pendolino to sport the famous rainbow colours.

The 11-carriage, 265 metre-long train – which was designed to promote diversity and create a ‘Pride experience’ – completed its journey at Manchester Piccadilly just after 11am.

Avanti West Coast Executive Director of Commercial, Sarah Copley, said: “I’m delighted to be launching our new Avanti West Coast Pride Train which represents everyone in the LGBTQ+ community.

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“It is a symbol of our commitment to diversity and inclusion as it travels up and down the West Coast Main Line. We Live Proud 365 days a year, not just today.

“I am so proud to be a part of a business where our people represent the communities we serve. We are always listening to our people and customers to ensure our diversity and inclusion strategy is relevant.

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“Our new train livery is a powerful example of keeping the conversation going”.

Watch the full video of the Pride Train arriving at Piccadilly online.

News

Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.

Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.

A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.

Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.

It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.

Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.

As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.

Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.

The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.

Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.  

Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.

The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.

Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.

Read more:

“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.

You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.

Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)

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