A special charity fund that has been set up to help Ukrainian refugees arriving in Manchester has awarded its first grant.
Set up by Manchester City Council in partnership with one of the city’s most iconic organisations, We Love MCR Charity (WLMC), all with the aim of supporting individuals and families fleeing the devastating conflict and arriving here in Manchester, the new MCR Ukraine Welcome Fund funds charities and voluntary sector groups who are providing assistance – such as essential items, advice, and more.
The charity fund was officially set up back in March, and every penny raised and donated by it will go towards supporting Ukrainian evacuees in the city.
The Council kicked-off the fund, with a donation of £50,000.
And now, less than two months after it was launched, it has been confirmed that Ardwick-based charity Europia has been awarded £30,000 from the fund – with £25,000 going towards dedicated support workers who will help co-ordinate and provide advice and support around immigration, work, and welfare issues, and translations.
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The remaining £5,000 will be used as part of a new hardship fund for Ukrainians arriving in Manchester, which the support worker will help to administer.
Our MCR Ukraine Welcome Fund, administered in partnership with @ManCityCouncil, has released its first grant:
🌍 £30,000 released to Ardwick charity @EuropiaMcr ❤️ will create a dedicated support worker role + hardship fund 🤝 donations still neededhttps://t.co/wXUUqazWRt
Speaking on the awarding of the first grant, Bev Craig – Leader of Manchester City Council – commented: “Manchester is a welcoming city and we recognise that we need to do all we can to support Ukrainians relocating here in the most traumatic of circumstances.
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“The MCR Ukraine Welcome Fund is part of that collective effort [and] I’m glad that the generosity of Mancunians, including an initial donation from the Council, is translating so quickly into practical help.”
“The fund has raised over £60,000 so far,” Joanne Roney OBE – Chief Executive at Manchester City Council added.
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“We’d like to thank everyone who has donated, but people are arriving with next to nothing and we would welcome further donations from anyone who wants to show our Ukrainian guests a warm Mancunian welcome.”
Thanks to your generosity, a charity fund set up to help Ukrainians arriving in Manchester to escape the war in their homeland has made its first grants.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) May 26, 2022
Thanking the Council and WLMC for the grant from the fund, Kush Chottera – Chief Executive at Europia – added: “We’re delighted this money will be used to employ an experienced worker to give practical support to help Manchester’s Ukrainian arrivals settle in safely.
“Thank you Mancunians for your donations.”
You can donate to the MCR Ukraine Welcome Fund here, or by texting WELCOME 10 to 70490 to give £10, with texts costing the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
Make sure you keep an eye on We Love MCR Charity’s website and Twitter for updates too.
Featured Image – WLMC
News
Peter Kay announces four intimate charity shows in Greater Manchester – but only for these postcodes
Emily Sergeant
Peter Kay has just announced four intimate shows to raise money for a very worthy cause… but you can only get tickets if you live in these particular postcodes.
Comedy legend Peter Kay is set to return home to the Bolton Albert Halls for four very special hometown shows in this summer, marking his first performances at the venue more than two decades.
Taking to the very stage where he recorded the UK’s biggest-selling stand-up DVD, it’s set to be a proper nostalgic homecoming for one of Britain’s most beloved comedians.
The summer shows – which are taking place from 9 – 11 July 2026, even including a matinee performance – this is a rare chance for local fans to be part of something incredibly special, with all funds raised going to Bolton Hospice.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… you’ll only be able to get tickets if you live in Bolton (and some parts of Bury), as it’s strictly limited to BL postcodes.
Peter Kay Live at the Bolton Albert Halls – 2026 Dates
Thursday 9 July (Evening)
Friday 10 July (Evening)
Saturday 11 July (Matinee)
Saturday 11 July (Evening)
Tickets officially go on sale Friday 24 April at 10am, and you can get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
News
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic if one should arise.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it’s ‘very poorly’ prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it’s ‘very well’ prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
When workers were asked how the NHS’s level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it’s no better prepared.
16% actively think it’s less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England – from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services – will now be ranked quarterly against ‘clear and consistent’ standards.
Emily Sergeant -
27th May 2022 
