With the festive season edging closer, Hits Radio has officially launched 2020’s Mission Christmas appeal and is inviting locals to buy one extra gift to help thousands of disadvantaged children in Greater Manchester.
Mission Christmas – the largest Christmas toy appeal in the UK – is an annual campaign run by Cash for Kids, supported by Bauer Radio’s regional stations – including Hits Radio Manchester – and has collectively raised over £20.9 million in 2019 through gifts and donations, which were distributed to more than one million disadvantaged children across the UK.
42,420 recipients of which were in the Greater Manchester area.
And in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Christmas is going to be tougher than ever this year for those in need.
The Trussell Trust has predicted that at least 670,000 extra people will become destitute in the last three months of the year, which is a level of poverty that leaves them unable to meet basic food, shelter or clothing needs, and with the increase in unemployment and reduction in working hours for many families, Christmas is simply a luxury they cannot afford.
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Some families are even having to make difficult decisions this Christmas between food/heating, and gifts.
This year’s Mission Christmas campaign aims to beat last year’s fundraising total and make sure as many children from Greater Manchester can be supported as possible, so in order to make this safe for everyone, Hits Radio and Cash for Kids has carried out an extensive review and risk assessment to enable members of the public to deliver a gifts whilst keeping staff, volunteers and beneficiaries safe.
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This means that there will be significantly reduced drop-off points, and reduced volunteers in Mission HQ’s across the country to accommodate necessary social distancing.
Speaking on the Mission Christmas 2020 campaign, Fleur East – Presenter at Hits Radio – said: “This year is going to be particularly tough for many families across the UK. Mission Christmas is a brilliant way for people to act in the true spirit of the season and give a little something to lift the spirits of disadvantaged young people who really do deserve it.
“Last year our listeners really demonstrated their generosity and it was truly amazing what we achieved.
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“This year, there have been so many examples of the community pulling together to support everyone and I know that it will be even better than ever before.”
Hits Radio / Cash for KidsHits Radio / Cash for Kids
Taking part in the Mission Christmas appeal this year is simple.
All you need to do is buy one extra gift before 18th December and hand it in to one of the Mission Christmas collection points, or alternatively, you can text ‘HITS’ to 70910 to donate £10 and Hits Radio / Cash for Kids will buy a gift on your behalf.
Donations can be made at any branch of Wickes, selected B&M stores, and a small selection of essential retailers who can continue to operate safely within the current lockdown restrictions.
For further details – including information on how to get involved, gift ideas for different age groups, and how to make a donation – visit the Hits Radio Manchester website here.
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This Manchester hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package for pets to help keep them calm
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most luxurious hotels is transforming into the ultimate pet refuge again over the firework season.
Bonfire Night is loved across the UK for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that go along with it, but the November annual event isn’t so fun for our four-legged friends, as fireworks can be frightening to pets due to loud bangs, flashing lights, and the unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives.
With multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays too, pets are rarely able to pinpoint where the booming explosions are coming from, only making it more terrifying for them.
This is why, after becoming a huge success following its launch last year, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the heart of the city centre has brought back its special ‘Bonfire Night Escape’ escape package, turning the already pet-friendly hotel into a firework-free sanctuary.
The hotel‘s year-round ‘PAWfect Stay’ package includes any dog staying at no extra cost, plus a pet tuckbox, a guide to the best dog-friendly places in the city, and a toy waiting for them in the room, but this fireworks season, pet owners will also get a luxury hamper including Pet Remedy’s ‘Party Season Survival Kit’
The kit comes together with a range of fast-acting products to help immediately in stressful situations such as fireworks, and includes calming spray, a plug diffuser, and some calming wipes too.
On top of that, dog owners can also take advantage of the hotel’s Music Concierge service, which allows guests to request a record player and vinyls to be placed in the room ahead of check in – with lots of classical and relaxing music records available to distract anxious pets from the noise of Bonfire Night celebrations.
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package to help keep pets calm / Credit: Elisha Terada (via Unsplash)
The award-winning The Refuge Bar and Restaurant inside the hotel also offers a menu of carefully-curated dog treats throughout the week, as well as doggy Sunday roasts all Sunday.
David Lockhart, who is the General Manager at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, said he likes to think of the hotel as a “home-away-from-home for our guests”.
“Our top priority is making sure everyone is feeling safe and comfortable,” he added. “We can’t wait to welcome our November guests and help them care for their four-legged family members, giving them everything they need.”
The Bonfire Night Escape package at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is available to book from Friday 1 November, subject to availability, and you can request the package via the hotel concierge or by emailing [email protected] to book.
Scissor Sisters confirm reunion after more than a decade ahead of massive Manchester gig
Danny Jones
Still a firm cult favourite from the 2000s, Scissor Sisters are officially back and are bringing a special reunion tour to Manchester and the UK and Ireland at large.
The American outfit were one of the biggest and most well-known pop groups on this side of the Atlantic during their heyday, notching three BRIT Awards and two number-one albums.
Starting out in New York, like many bands in an oversaturated music market, they ended up proving to be much more popular here in Britain than they ever did in the US, not to mention becoming real icons among the LGBTQ+ community.
And now, over a decade later, the Scissor Sisters are set to repay the likes of Manchester, Leeds, London and more with a series of comeback shows, including one at Co-op Live arena – a gig which the venue has already teased earlier this week.
Confirming the reunion on social media on Thursday, 10 October, the band said: “Exciting news, for the first time in over a decade, we will come together again, live next May across the UK and Ireland.
“And for the first time ever, our debut album Scissor Sisters will be performed in full in celebration of its 20th anniversary – alongside all the other Scissor hits from along the way… See you very soon. Jake, Babydaddy, Del.”
Long-time fans were quick to notice that there was no mention of fellow founding member Ana Matronic nor former drummer Randy Real; the band themselves told BBC that the current lineup following their indefinite hiatus is by no means a way of replacing anyone but does give them a chance “to get some people on stage and ask some friends to do fun things.”
Frontman Shears’ 2023 Cabaret co-star, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, was also teased with a possible appearance on the Scissor Sisters reunion tour. Either way, they’ve promised a “little bit of chaos, anarchy” and an “‘anything can happen’ energy again.”
It’s been 12 whole years since we last saw them out on the road, so it’s only fitting that they give us a dozen UK/IE dates, starting at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena before bringing the comeback party down the home stretch in Dublin.
Scissor Sisters are set to stun the Manchester crowd with their Co-op Live debut on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, with special guest support from Alison Goldfrapp of the iconic electronic music duo, and we truly really can’t wait to roll back the years with them.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 6 November at 10am which you can access via their website and general admission tickets will be available from the same time the following Friday, 8 November.
We can’t wait to hear all the favourites – ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’, ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin”, ‘Take Your Mama’ and more – but, until then, the announcements coming out of Manchester’s biggest new music venue just don’t stop…
Emily Sergeant -
24th November 2020 
