Manchester Pride has announced that the highly-anticipated Parade event has been cancelled for 2021.
The LGBTQ+ festival – which historically takes over the city every August Bank Holiday weekend – had its 2020 edition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the charity confirmed earlier this year it would be going ahead next month.
The celebratory festival is due to be one of the more significant events taking place in the city centre following the lifting of lockdown restrictions earlier this week – but the announcement of the cancellation of this year’s Parade comes after organisers confirmed it held a number of COVID safety advisory group meetings yesterday.
Manchester Pride announced the Parade cancellation in a statement published to its official social media platforms this evening.
ADVERTISEMENT
A statement regarding this year's Manchester Pride Parade.
We understand that you may have many questions about this announcement – please get in touch with us via [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
The statement read: “Whilst the Government announced an end to restrictions on 19 July, there were guidelines issued to support the safe delivery of large scale events [and] unfortunately, we are extremely sad to say that following this announcement and subsequent COVID safety advisory group meetings yesterday, we recognise that it is not possible for us to deliver the much-loved and anticipated Parade.”
The charity has apologised for the cancellation, but hopes attendees “understand the tough decision we had to take”, before reassuring that every other element of the festival will be “just as fabulous as expected”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Several other events have been announced to take place instead of the Parade, including five ‘Equality Marches’ on Saturday 28 August.
The marches will be limited to just 400 people per march, with 2,000 participating overall.
“We recognise that it is not possible for us to deliver the much-loved Parade.” / Credit: Manchester Pride
The Manchester Pride Parade is a march for equality and one of the Festival’s most highly-anticipated events.
ADVERTISEMENT
Thousands of people march proudly together through the streets of the city centre in front of tens of thousands of supporters and allies cheering them along the way.
2019’s Manchester Pride Parade was said to have been the “biggest and boldest yet”, with a whopping 200 organisations, over 14,000 people marching and tens of thousands spectators filling the streets with colour.
The theme for the Manchester Pride Parade 2021 was due to have been ‘Garden Of Freedom’.
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
News
All students in England to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE
Emily Sergeant
All students in England are soon to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE.
Said to be part of the UK’s ‘enduring support’ for the Ukrainian community and continued commitment to stand with Ukraine and its people, young people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to study for a new Ukrainian GCSE, the Government has announced.
While the qualification will be open to all students, it marks a ‘particularly significant’ milestone for Ukrainian children and young people living in the UK.
It’s hoped that the introduction of the new GCSE will help Ukrainians to preserve a vital connection to their language, culture, and identity.
It’s also hoped that it’ll open pathways to future education and employment for all pupils.
In line with the other modern foreign language GCSEs that are currently on offer, the qualification will assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, while also recognising the cultural and historical contexts that shape the Ukrainian language.
Examination board AQA will now begin the next phase of development, bringing together language and subject experts to design what will be a ‘high-quality’ qualification reflecting the richness of Ukrainian language and culture.
Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, commented: “As they build their lives here in the UK, it is right that Ukrainians and their children should have every opportunity to maintain that connection to their heritage and to be proud of who they are.
“This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine’s rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine.
“Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders.”
The Ukrainian GCSE is expected to be available for first teaching from September 2028 – with first assessments taking place in 2029.
The Manc -
21st July 2021 
