Forever Manchester 25th Celebration Party – My Thanks & Why I love my job!

If you follow me, then you will know that I now work for Forever Manchester. What is Forever Manchester? Well here is a little info on what we do.

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Forever Manchester is a charity that funds and supports thousands of community projects across Greater Manchester. Through generous contributions from individuals and businesses, Forever Manchester strengthens communities and enriches local life by inspiring local people to do extraordinary things together. Throughout Greater Manchester there are over 20,000 community projects that bring people together and deliver activities that provide the social backbone of our communities. Individuals benefit greatly from being involved in community activity helping to improve mental and physical wellbeing, reducing social isolation, developing confidence to try something new and raising aspirations and employability as well as providing an opportunity to meet others. Often run on a voluntary basis, these projects require financial and non-financial support to help them deliver activities for the benefit of the wider community. By supporting Forever Manchester you are helping to support more community projects across Greater Manchester.

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Awesome right! Let’s move onto the fact that they have been going for 25years and decided that it was time to celebrate.

When I was offered this job I was asked to write up a proposal and present an idea for the 25th birthday. My final year at university wasn’t spent studying but in getting experience (as much as I physically could) with an aim to working in PR, social media and potentially events. During this time I volunteered for Forever Manchester and made it clear that an ideal job would be with them. Then university finished and I thought damn… what now? How do I stay in Manchester? Money, I could probably do with some of that! By some stroke of luck Forever Manchester offered me their Events and Volunteer Officer role, and I grabbed at it with both hands and possibly a foot. When they asked me to a 25th year party for 400 people, feeding them, entertainment and awards, I thought, right ok, I can do this.

I didn’t do it alone, I didn’t suddenly become an expert over night. I found people who have done this kind of thing and I asked them everything, I asked them anything I wasn’t sure of or that I was curious about. I pulled them together and got them to help me. I just want to thank my amazing team, because without them it wouldn’t have happened.

The brilliant team from Giraffe Event Solutions and the lovely Kat Farys & Mark Harrington, creators of our amazing centre pieces and who couldn’t do enough for me on the night. I wish I had a picture of my mini centre piece they made. I love it!

Next the gorgeous Rebecca Molloy, who looked after the volunteers so I didn’t have too. She did an amazing job.

The wonderful Susie Bell from So Beautiful Events who made sure the AV team did their job and kept me from flapping too much when there was a the odd hiccup (as happens with live performances).

Rachel Bell, my right hand lady from planning to the actual day! A definite friend for life!

A huge thank you the stunner that is Adi Thomas for the use of his amazing candelabras, it all looked so beautiful and matched our centre pieces perfectly!

Finally the actual volunteers themselves Georgina, Laura, Michael, Sam and co, you are all amazing!

This list isn’t exclusive, there are so many people who played a part in making things happen. I thank everyone for their valuable advice and kindness and just everything.

Well last Friday 5 months of hard work came to fruition and I know that I have found my calling. Forever Manchester has given me what university never could. A feeling of making a difference in the world. On Friday we celebrated not only with our sponsors and supported, but with the community groups that we fund (the entertainment on the night was made up of groups we have funded). The people who’s lives this charity has changed and improved and had an impact on. It’s hard to get across in words but here is a little video made by the lovely lads at Tunafish Media that really shows what we are.

So if I have any advice on how to love your job, make sure that your doing it for you. You need to get satisfaction from it otherwise it’s just money and what kind of a job is that. It’s not like it happens magically, be prepared to go through some mud and learn to graft and do the crappy things. So long as you have that goal in your mind about where you’re going to that’s all you need.

When I left university my goals were

1. To stay in Manchester, I love this city and I have so many friends and adopted family members I couldn’t bare the thought of not being near to them.

2. To have a job I love, preferably in the next 5years. (nailed it!!)

I worked hard to get here. I’ve done the crap jobs and I’ve been through some rough times with finding out that unfortunately some people aren’t how they come across. It’s all experience, don’t let that chip grow because it will weigh you down. It’s made me a better person and I love my job and who I am right now. I have so many friends, some of whom have become adopted family. It is an attainable goal, you just have to believe in it.

This year is going to be amazing and I can’t wait to crack on with the rest of the Forever Manchester events we have planned!!*

Some pictures from the night by the amazing Carl Sukonik from The Vain Photography.

Forever Manchester Team with Captain Manchester

Forever Manchester 25th Year Cake – Created by Bow So Sweet

Affinity Show Choir at the drinks reception with Capitan Manchester

Captain Manchester

Nick Massey – Chief Executive of Forever Manchester

Alexandra Suite at The Midland Hotel

Timeline of the last 25 years at Forever Manchester

MAD Theatre Company performing ‘Gin & Chronic Arthritis’ 

Andrew Trott-Barn winner of Fundraiser of the Year – Sponsored by Brooks Macdonald

Carly Ryan from Autistic Superstars

Ian Tomlinson winner of our Inspiration Community Group of the Year – Sponsored by CDL

Dave Foran winner of our Captain Manchester Award – sponsored by Vista Employment Services

Martin Finn from Autistic Superstars

CDL winners of our Coporate Sponsors of the Year – Sponsored by Weber Shandwick

Harry Alldritt winner of our Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by KelloggsTon

Me with my own personal centre piece from Giraffe Event Creations (see the relieved look in my eyes)

Confetti Magic ❤ 

Dave Haslam DJing the night away!

Twitter: @4EVERManchester

Facebook: www.facebook.com/forevermanchester

Website: www.forevermanchester.com

*This is a personal post ❤ no negative Nelly’s