manchesterbeerfestival

The festival charity for 2014 is Henshaws Society For Blind People.

Henshaws Society for Blind People is a specialist charity providing expert support, advice and training to anyone affected by sight loss. Their principal object is the relief of people who are blind or visually impaired through the provision of services, care, facilities, support, advice, education and training. They also work with people with other disabilities, and because sight loss and disability affects family, friends and colleagues, they work with them too.

Henshaws is one of the oldest charities in the UK, opening in Manchester in 1837. Throughout
their more than 170 years of history they’ve built a reputation for trust and expertise. Their services support children and babies, their families, young and older people by providing reassurance, practical support and in some cases simply companionship. They help hundreds of visually impaired and disabled people each year to develop the skills and independence they need to lead lives that are as full and independent as possible.

There are almost two million people with sight problems in the UK, with this number set to soar over the next 25 years due to an ageing population and increased prevalence of obesity and diabetes. In Greater Manchester alone there are 17,775 registered blind and partially sighted people – this is just the tip of the iceberg however, with current estimates that only one in six people with a visual impairment are registered as such. At a time when statutory services are being cut, Henshaws continue to offer a crucial lifeline to all those affected by sight loss within Greater Manchester and beyond.

Henshaws work throughout the North of England, with centres and communities in Manchester, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Merseyside and Newcastle. They also have an Arts & Crafts Centre and specialist college, a unique further education college for students aged 16-22. Each centre offers different services and programmes – but they all have a common goal: to enable the people who use our services to live an independent and fulfilling life.

Manchester Beer and Cider Festival are delighted to be supporting Henshaws and look forward to working with them to raise the profile of their work and raise funds to support their activities.

www.henshaws.org.uk

www.facebook.com/Henshaws

@henshaws

The first Manchester Beer and Cider Festival, to be held at the National Cycling Centre’s iconic Velodrome, Manchester in January 2014 is offering one lucky charity the opportunity to associate themselves with the new event.

The festival is being organised by the same team who ran the National Winter Ales Festival (NWAF) in Manchester continuously from 2005 to 2013. During this time the festival had associations with various charities. The most recent, After Adoption, enjoyed a three-year association with the festival. During this time they managed to raise over £14,000 while also spreading the word about their aims and objectives. So successful were they that some local families have adopted children thanks to After Adoption being the NWAF festival charity.

Festival organiser Graham Donning & sponsorship manager Jim Flynn present After Adoption’s Chief Fundraiser Sophie Bell with a cheque for £14,000

The organising committee is now inviting applications from charities who wish to benefit from a similar association for the 2014 and 2015 events.The chosen charity will be offered a free promotional stall and free rein to collect loose change from customers at the event which is expected to attract in excess of 8000 visitors. They will also be promoted on the festival website, posters, flyers and in the festival programme.

At such a large event, there are plentiful other opportunities for fundraising which could also add value to the festival customer experience. Those organisations submitting innovative ideas for additional activities will be looked upon favourably by the organisers.

Although charities are encouraged to seek their own sponsors, if required, the festival sponsorship manager will assist the chosen charity in obtaining a sponsor for their time at the festival.

Charities are invited to contact the festival organiser outlining their charitable aims, the number of volunteers they would expect to assist the festival, examples of similar events they have participated in and suggestions for activities which they would be willing to run. Applications should be sent to organiser@mancbeerfest.uk by no later than May 5th 2013.

For further information, contact festival organiser Graham Donning on organiser (at) mancbeerfest.uk or by phone on 07961 886696