Bruntwood supports Manchester Pride promoting diversity inclusion

The internationally renowned Manchester Pride Festival is coming to the city once again. Every year, Manchester comes alive for the celebrations, drawing tens of thousands of people from around the world to the city centre. Stretching from Mayfield to Deansgate with its heart in The Gay Village, the festival takes place 23 - 26 August 2019.

Bruntwood has supported Manchester Pride by contributing towards the organisation’s workspace overlooking the Gay Village since 2013. We're proud to work with the charity and how they tirelessly campaign for equality and challenge discrimination.

Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said: “Bruntwood has been a great supporter of the charity for a number of years. They not only provide subsidised space for us to work but they are also a business that truly understands the importance of inclusion and equality in the workplace and we are proud to partner with them.”

Director of Social Impact, Kate Vokes said: “We are committed to promoting equality and preventing discrimination. Bruntwood encourages, champions and celebrates the unique voices, experiences, and ideas of our customers, our colleagues and our communities.”

Creating opportunities for engagement and participation, Manchester Pride celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life, as well as fundraising to enrich and empower LGBT+ organisations, charities and communities in Greater Manchester. The Manchester Pride festivities aren’t just tied to the annual Festival, with a whole host of LGBT+ events and cultural activity going on throughout the year. From the Manchester Pride Spring Benefit to Superbia, there is a wealth of opportunity for LGBT+ people to engage and thrive, and we're excited to get involved throughout the year.

Looking forward to this weekend, thousands of people will take to the streets of Manchester city centre on Saturday to proudly march together in The Manchester Pride Parade. Cheered on by supporters, the theme for The Parade will be ‘Deep Space Pride: A Future World of Equality’, and those marching are asked to think about what LGBT+ communities and the attitudes towards them could look like in the future.

The theme of the parade will acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which kick-started the modern LGBT+ pride movement. This is an ideal opportunity for us all to reflect on the changes in society, and acknowledge the progress we have made so far.

Proud to be different

As in years gone by, our retail destination, Afflecks will be proudly embracing Pride, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and one of Manchester’s best loved events with its own float at the Pride Parade.

As a registered hate crime reporting centre, Afflecks has always been a safe space for those who may feel marginalised, discriminated against or are feeling isolated. The building has embraced and nurtured self-belief, self-love and pride in being yourself, even if it is a little bit different to the mainstream.

There will be bags of Pride themed party and parade accessories available to purchase on its four floors, a “Pose for Pride” selfie area and a colourful rainbow flower arch at its Church Street entrance created by the team at Verdure florists.

In keeping with this year’s Manchester Pride ‘Deep Space’ theme, Afflecks have asked their resident artists and creatives to design and decorate mini-planets ready to deck out the Afflecks float for the Pride parade. All of the planets will be up for grabs following Pride as prizes for the ‘best selfie’ taken in Afflecks’ pop-up Pride selfie area on the second floor during August.

Celebrate at Hatch

It’s all going to be happening under the Mancunian Way at our award winning independent food, drink and retail destination, with events for all the family whatever the weather.

Make Hatch part of your post Pride parade celebrations for places to eat, drink, shop and hang out. Bulb. Flower Studio is creating a fantastic gypsophila cloud arch using all of the colours of the Pride flag, standing 7ft tall and 4ft wide.

If you want a chilled Sunday then Hatch’s Big Top transformation could be for you. A Greatest Showman Singalong will kick off between 2pm and 4pm, as well as circus skills sessions running throughout the afternoon. Adults and children can get an insight into circus skills from trained performers and have a go themselves. You’ll also get to see amazing aerial performances from Cloud Aerial Arts. For full info on everything happening at Hatch visit their latest blog post.

Showing our pride

Marking the home of Manchester Pride, the talented Myro Doodles and Signed by Jen created a beautiful illustration at Manchester One. Be sure to check it out if you’re around the Village this weekend.

If you go along Chester Road you’ll see the Pride rainbow flag shining brightly from the side of Trafford House, displayed proudly alongside Venessa Scott’s ‘Fabric of Community’ mural. Designed to create and reflect the principle of unity, it felt fitting to sit the Pride flag next to Venessa’s mural: both representing the amazing things that can be achieved by groups of people when they weave together in unity.

For more information about Manchester Pride and their work campaigning for the advancement of LGBT+ equality and celebrating LGBT+ life at manchesterpride.com.