Manchester Twestival, the local arm of the global, Twitter-based fundraising festival, has chosen Wood Street Mission as its charity to be supported at its event on 24 March.
The festival will see Manchester’s digital community come together to raise money to help local children and families affected by poverty.
According to a recent report by Save the Children, Greater Manchester has one of the highest levels of severe child poverty in the UK, affecting more than 27 per cent of children. Deprived children are more likely to suffer in terms of their education, health, self-esteem and life expectancy.
All the funds raised at this year’s from Manchester Twestival will go to Wood Street’s Clothing Project, which provides vital, practical help for more than 4,500 local children and parents in desperate need of clothing, bedding, baby equipment and toys.
Wood Street Mission has recently helped families whose babies were sleeping in drawers or shopping baskets because the parents can’t afford a cot, young children who have no toys or stimulation other than a ball of blu-tac and struggling single parents who cannot afford winter coats for their children.
The families that Wood Street helps are all referred by local social services, health visitors and housing support, or voluntary agencies such as women’s refuges and Sure Start centres. All are disadvantaged by poverty and live in Manchester or Salford. Many families are caught in the poverty trap and need long-term support, while others just need a little help until they get back on their feet again.
Rachel Bywater, development worker for Wood Street Mission said: “As a small charity, with just seven staff, we really struggle to raise the funds needed to help the thousands of families affected by poverty in Manchester and Salford. In the current economic climate, demand for our services continues to rise and support from Manchester Twestival will help us ensure we can support every family referred to us for help.
“Manchester Twestival will be helping to make a real, positive difference to the lives of thousands of vulnerable children in our community.”
Organisers say 100 per cent of funds collected through ticket sales and donations from Manchester Twestival will go direct to Wood Street Mission who will use it for their clothing project.
Josh R, coordinator for Manchester Twestival2011, added: “The work that Wood Street Mission does to help some of those most desperately in need to get the basic essentials is staggering. The child poverty statistics in Manchester are simply shocking and I hope that everyone will get behind this incredibly good cause.”
The Wood Street Mission was chosen through a nominations process during which 1,800 people proposed a range of charities and good causes to support. A group of local bloggers and digital community leaders then scrutinised the most popular nominations and determined the final choice.
Globally, Twestival is the largest global grassroots media fundraising initiative to date. By harnessing the power of volunteers and social media, Twestival has raised more than £760,000 for 137 good causes since autumn 2009. Each Twestival is run on the same date in host cities around the world, this year on 24 March.
Since 2009, Manchester Twestival has raised more than £10,300 for both local and global causes such as St Ann’s Hospice, Charity: Water and Concern. This year, the event is being organised by Social Media Manchester, which also organises the city’s monthly Social Media Café.
Manchester Twestival takes place Thursday 24 March from 6.30 at Noho, Stevenson Square, in the Northern Quarter. Tickets cost £6 and the event will feature a charity auction, as well as special performances from members of the local digital community. To find out more visit the website, email twestival@socialmediamanchester.net or tweet @MancTwester.
[...] All the funds raised at this year’s from Manchester Twestival will go to Wood Street’s Clothing …, which provides vital, practical help for more than 4,500 local children and parents in desperate need of clothing, bedding, baby equipment and toys. [...]