Category Archives: Awards

Levenshulme Market To Close Until 2024

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Levenshulme Market organisers have announced the Market will close in July for the rest of the year as they face a series of challenges. The last Market this year will now be on 15 July then the Market will close until 2024.

This is dreadful news for Levenshulme as the Market, run as a social enterprise, has been developed through the hard work and commitment of people in Levenshulme over the last 10 years. In 2020 the Market won Best Small Outdoor Market at the Great British Market Awards 2020 organised by the National Association of British Market Authorities and was a finalist in the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2019.

The Market says increased costs, staffing challenges, and the cost of living crisis have all played their part as well as the impact of the pandemic. Special mention is made of Manchester City Council, though, as it seeks to increase the fees charged to the Market to operate. This comes after a “painful planning permission process” to renew the permission with the Council. The Market also states “We reached out on a number of occasions to our local Levenshulme Councillors for assistance to no avail”.

Levenshulme Community Association has contacted Levenshulme Market to show our support and ask how we can help Levenshulme Market.

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Levenshulme Writer Paul Magrs Wins National Award

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Levenshulme writer Paul Magrs has won the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association award for best crime short story of the year 2022.

The awards were announced at a dinner in London last night. Congratulations, Paul. The judges said of the winning story:

“Paul Magrs’ story, ‘Flesh of a Fancy Woman’ is a wonderfully evocative mix of the Dickensian and the Ealing black and white films. The sparkling dialogue of Lily Mahon slowly unveils the dark, and sometimes comedic experiences of Lily’s bizarre marriage to her husband, Patrick.”

Flesh of a Fancy Woman is one of 14 stories published in the collection Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time in support of the charity PoHWER.

  • Flesh of a Fancy Woman by Paul Magrs
  • From: Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time
  • Edited by: Samantha Lee Howe
  • Published by: Telos Publishing
  • Available: HERE
Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Award
Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Award dinner

Queen’s Awards Triple Win

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We are delighted that three groups connected with Levenshulme have won Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. 

Congratulations to AllFM, Burnage Library and Manchester Parents Group for their invaluable and inspirational activities.

AllFM

All FM announced the award on their Facebook page with the simple statement:

“We’re delighted to have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Hurrah!!!!!”

ALL FM 96.9 uses radio to improve the lives of the people and communities of Greater Manchester. Broadcasting live, 16 hours per day, 7 days per week, it provides a positive medium of expression for those in our communities whose voices are least heard, as well as an opportunity to highlight events, issues and the voice of the Manchester communities. Plus some of the finest music to be heard anywhere on the radio.

Burnage Library

Announcing the award on their Facebook page, Burnage Library says:

“Our little Library has some big news to share! Our fantastic volunteer team has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Theyare an amazing bunch and really go the extra mile to welcome everyone. Big shout out to the power behind our Community Powered Library!”

Burnage Library, Activity and Information Hub is run by Friends of Burnage Library, in partnership with with Southway Housing Trust and Manchester City Council. Located in the centre of Burnage, it runs activities and educational events for community groups, children and adults. The Hub is also the base for a outreach library service delivered by Manchester City Council. The programme of activities and events encourage community involvement, helping people make new friends and learn new skills. Burnage Library, Activity and Information Hub is run by a dedicated team of volunteers committed to providing a much needed, and much loved resource for the community.

Manchester Parents Group

Manchester Parents Group’s Chair, Barbara Spence says:

“We are delighted that this culmination of many years’ work has been recognised, we would particularly like to pay tribute to Catherine Johnson, the late Joyce Leyland and the late Brenda Oakes all of who led Manchester Parents Group from its inception. We would also like to thank the group of volunteers for their commitment, over the years, in supporting the work of the group.”

Manchester Parents Group is a voluntary organisation which supports families and friends of lesbians, gays and bisexuals. Volunteers are all parents of lesbian, gay and bisexual sons and daughters and understand the confusion and questions people may have when they first find out their child is gay.

MPG volunteers have accepted their children’s sexuality and want to help other parents and family members to do the same. MPG works to help people understand gay and lesbian children in various ways.

  • We meet each month in central Manchester as an informal support group.
  • We run telephone help lines and offer a friendly listening ear.
  • We campaign for acceptance, justice and equality for all our children.
  • We educate other organisations and work with the media on issues surrounding homosexuality.

Manchester Parents Group has been a partner and participant in Levenshulme Pride since it was founded in 2017. See the post on the Levenshulme Pride website HERE

MIF Paid Opportunities for Creatives

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PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR GM CREATIVES

We know these are difficult times for artists and communities in Greater Manchester and that lives and livelihoods are being impacted daily. We want to support artists and creative practitioners to continue to experiment, dream and to support and influence society.

We are repurposing some of our artist development funds to support this and offering the following opportunities to GM-based artists and creatives. Alongside this we’re continuing to reach out nationally and internationally to support artists and projects impacted by these times. We are very open to proposals that would be delivered through online international collaborations in response to this call out, and we will be developing our ideas further in the coming weeks.

We encourage proposals under the following headings:

– Festival In My House – an opportunity to re-imagine MIF’s Festival in My House programme for today’s unique times. We want people to host their own micro-international festival at home, exploring remote collaborations and audiences – up to £1000 budget for each event

– Get creative – opportunities to create and deliver activity that safely engages artists / community / wider society during the crisis. This could take the form of an online workshop, performance, talk, discussion or other creative idea of your choice – up to £350 per activity.

– Remote residencies – an opportunity to develop your practice and to develop new ideas and projects. This could include responding to the COVID-19 situation or other imaginative ways to support communities, artists or audiences during the coming months,  alternatively, this could be an opportunity to research and develop an idea you’ve always wanted to do. Residencies do not have to result in specific outcomes but need to take place at home – up to £1000 per residency.

Key notes: 

  • We’re open to ideas that are not digital in form provided they are compliant with current government guidelines – these might include the use of phones, radio or other ideas.
  • Budgets includes all fees, materials and other expenses
  • Whilst our teams will do our utmost to offer support and help remotely, we’re unable to offer our usual level of producing or technical support at the moment; please bear this in mind when submitting your proposal.
  • You are eligible to apply for this opportunity if you are over 18 years of age and resident in Greater Manchester.
  • We encourage proposals from people with specific access needs and are happy to work with you to help with both the application process and to realise your idea.

How to apply: 

We are accepting proposals from GM-based artists and creatives. Please send a maximum 500-word overview of your idea to creativeengagement@mif.co.uk; we will also accept video proposals (up to 2 minutes in length) or if you would like to apply in another way, get in touch.   If you are applying via video, please send us the URL via email.

You should include:

  • what you would like to do and which of the three strands it sits within
  • how you might do it
  • who it would benefit or engage
  • any support that you might need in delivery
  • how your budget is worked out
  • your postcode
  • links to your previous work or any reference points for the ideas you’re suggesting.

Selection: 

We aim to review all proposals quickly – we’ll be looking for:

  • interesting ideas with the ability to stimulate creativity and connection
  • ideas that consider the local and international
  • ideas that are deliverable on the levels of financial and practical support available
  • proposals that help artists to develop artistically, a space to dream, imagine, create and test new ideas
  • ideas that allow for audience participation and involvement, beyond simply broadcasting
  • proposals that represent the diversity of Greater Manchester.

We will be reviewing applications based on the ideas and the opportunities these will make for the applicants.

Timeline:

We’ll be accepting proposals on a rolling basis until the end of April, or until all available opportunities have been filled. We will be continuing to respond to the needs of our community during this time and will be looking at providing ongoing opportunities past April.

Questions or support:

If you have any questions or need any support in preparing your application please email: creativeengagement@mif.co.uk and a member of the team will respond. We can also arrange to call you if that is more convenient.

Further Links 

Resources For Artists and Freelancers – An evolving open document of resources for the freelance creative community who are looking for support and guidance.

MIF Drop in for Artists and Freelance Creatives – A forum for chat and support, every Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm.

MIF Drop in for Artists and Freelance Creatives – A place to share information, useful links and discussion.

Levenshulme Market Wins National Award

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Levenshulme Market wins Best Small Outdoor Market Award 2020

Levenshulme Writer Paul Magrs Shortlisted for BBC Audio Drama Award

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Levenshulme writer Paul Magrs has just been shortlisted in the BBC 2017 Audio Drama Awards.

Best Online/non Broadcast

Baker’s End: The King of Cats, Bafflegab Productions

This was the first instalment of Baker’s End. The third instalment has recently been recorded and is in production now. The series stars Tom Baker with a supporting cast including Sue Jameson, Katy Manning and David Benson.

More success for the lovely, talented people of Levenshulme. We are our own creative hub.

You can order/download the first two episodes of Baker’s End on the Bafflebab website HERE

Find out more about the BBC Audio Drama Awards HERE

Manchester Be Proud Awards

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Why not nominate an individual or group for a Manchester Be Proud Award?

Nominations close on 30 September 2016.

There are ten categories this year. Three of these will be dual awards, this means that there will be an award for both an individual, and a group (two or more people). This is because of the popularity and number of nominations we usually receive for these categories.

The categories are: 

Blossoming Communities – celebrating people or groups whose gardening achievements have brought about a positive change to the surroundings and the lives of people.

Business in the Community – focusing on the businesses that invest resources, staff, time or money in their local community outside their core activity, and making a really positive impact.

Community Force – acknowledging a person or group that has worked hard to create a safer neighbourhood and helped to make a community where people are proud to live.

Community Project of the Year (dual award) – recognising fresh thinking in local projects that really get people involved, and help to build happy communities people are proud of.

Creativity in the Community – championing community arts and creative projects, big or small, from individuals or groups. The winner will prove how creative activities can benefit individuals and strengthen communities.

Clean City – this award could be for a project, an exceptional individual, or a group that has worked with their community to tackle local environmental problems, helping to create a cleaner, greener city for now and the future.

Neighbour of the Year – a perfect opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to a neighbour whose kindness, practical help and support have made a real difference to you or your community.

Unsung Hero (dual award) – honouring those who make a big difference but whose help often goes unnoticed. Whether it’s ongoing work or a big one-off, this person’s efforts deserve a moment in the spotlight.

Volunteer of the Year (dual award) – highlighting the exceptional contribution made by volunteers, who give their time to improve the lives and environment of others.

Young Achiever of the Year (under 18 years) – whatever their achievement, and whoever they have helped, this young individual or group will show pride and passion for and commitment to their community.

Apply online or download a nomination form HERE