What's On
This Manchester meditation event is helping boost mental wellbeing during lockdown
Meditation can reduces stress, frustration, depression and pain while increasing happiness
Manchester Let’s Meditate is a new online community event and fundraising initiative, and it’s open to everyone to help support people during these difficult times of lockdown.
It’s set to take place over seven days, starting Monday February 8th, and was created and developed by Forever Manchester supporter, Liane Grimshaw – a local small business owner who found meditation helped to overcome her own depression and anxiety.
Forever Manchester is a charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester. They believe that connected communities make stronger, happier communities, and love to promote any activity that brings people together.
We all know of the increased stresses and strains of these uncertain times and more people are suffering with stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and generally worrying about the future.
Most of us are stuck at home, working from home while juggling added pressures of childcare and isolation from our loved ones.
As such, you’re not alone if you find yourself struggling with negative thoughts and feelings.
But when everything seems out of our control and the uncertainty seems unbearable, there are tools which can help you cope, like meditation, an act which enables us to slow down, let our mind unwind and our body let go of stress.
There’s lots of benefits to meditation, including:
- Calms your busy mind and helps you find a greater sense of peace
- Reduces stress, frustration, depression and pain while increasing happiness
- Heightens levels of acceptance and compassion
- Develops strength and confidence to deal with anything life throws at you
- Helps you learn how to let go of the things that no longer serve you
- Improves both the quantity and quality of your sleep
- Improves personal relationships
- Gives you greater control over emotional reactions to people and situations
- Reduces the physical and mental symptoms of stress and anxiety
- Improves memory, focus and concentration
- Helps you become more present and less distracted
- Helps you develop a greater sense of enjoyment in life
Liane, the host and curator of Manchester Let’s Meditate, said: “I lead a busy life with many challenges, and I can honestly say that meditation has saved my mind and improved my experience of life.
“I am bringing many outstanding teachers, who have given their time and energy for free to support this event.”
Vicky Procter, Assistant Marketing Manager at Forever Manchester, added: “Manchester Let’s Meditate encapsulates the essence of what fundraising for Forever Manchester is all about – helping local people do extraordinary things together.
“It’s a tough time for everyone and Manchester Let’s Meditate is all about developing skills to improve our mental wellbeing, learn about mindfulness and generally bring our community together for something positive albeit online. We encourage everyone to book a session and donate however much or little as you can.”
So whether you’re already an expert in meditation or simply wanting to try something new for 2021, Manchester Let’s Meditate is the perfect event to learn skills for both body and mind to last a lifetime, all while raising money for Forever Manchester to fund and support our local communities across Greater Manchester.
Meditation is a skill anyone can develop and it’s a way of training the mind, exactly like you train your body in the gym – the more you do it, the greater the benefits you will enjoy.
Meditation costs nothing, can be done anywhere, by anyone, with no special equipment needed. You don’t have to be religious or into spirituality and science has proved its beneficial effect on our health, both physically and mentally.
You can find more info, view sessions, book online and make a donation by visiting the website here.
What's On
Huge beer festival with more than 500 different varieties coming to Manchester
Can’t wait for this!
Manchester Craft Beer Festival is back for another year, bringing with it more than 80 breweries and 500 different beers to sample.
The fourth edition of the festival will be taking place at Depot Mayfield on Friday July 5th and Saturday July 6th.
Cloudwater, Track, Marble, Northern Monk, Bundobust, Sureshot and Seven Brothers will be there to represent Manchester, alongside other UK stalwarts like Deya, Verdant, Siren and Leeds’ North Brewing Co.
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
Heritage breweries like Timothy Taylor’s, Chouffe and Timmermans will also be there, as well as international breweries from the US, Greece, Spain and Australia.
There will also be some great food options to line your stomach, including bao buns, crispy chicken and katsu tater tots at Bone Daddies, as well as Almost Famous, Bundobust, MorMor and Voodoo Rays.
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
Greg Wells, director of Manchester Craft Beer Festival, said: “It’s been a disheartening year for Manchester’s beer scene so far with closure of the beloved Indy Beer Con Fest and the unsuccessful debut of the International Brewing and Cider Festival, but we’re pleased to announce our return and bring more of what has been loved in the past three years.
“With even more breweries and experiences on offer and larger capacity this year, we’re buzzing to be back to satisfy all the beer lovers out there.
“The addition of a complimentary trade session to our programme is all about promoting this world class beer city and a small gesture to support all the incredible people who work across the drinks and hospitality industries.
“We all have a mutual understanding of the hardships our industries have faced in recent times so we thought it’d be a nice gesture to get everyone together for the love of drinks, food and music to celebrate beer and ourselves!”
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
The entry price includes all your drinks throughout your session, as well as festival glass and access to all the events happening.
And as it’s on during the Euros, it will be screening the football too.
Day tickets cost £57 per day session – with a discount for four tickets – or £145 for the whole weekend. Grab tickets HERE.
What's On
New makers market with everything from dog accessories to house plants and jewellery coming to Manchester
Get this one in your diary!
A brand new makers market is coming to Manchester this late May Bank Holiday weekend, with something for everyone.
Taking place at New Jackson – a new urban neighbourhood located at the southern gateway to the city – Manchester Made Market will be held on Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th.
Over the two days you’ll be able to browse a selection of local artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region.
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There’ll be everything, from food produce, homewares, crafts and creations to dog accessories, house plants, jewellery and homemade soap.
Among the traders will be Manchester and Cheshire-based florist and floral artists Dot & Flora, graphic artist Ablott MCR selling music prints, HGT with crochet fashion and homeware designs, and artisan candlemakers Leaves and Prickles.
Elsewhere, there will be essential oils and other treatments from Grounded Wellness, permanent jewellery from Sealed Links, and desserts from Cake With Heart.
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There will be plenty of street food options to keep you topped up while you shop, including The Wild Grill, Food Sorcery, Salvi’s and new favourite Medlock Canteen.
Neighbourhood Brew will be supplying some great drinks as well.
Supported by Renaker, the market is free, but you can upgrade your experience with a limited, free VIP ticket with access to the dedicated bar area.
What's On
Manchester Flower Festival returns with tributes to Sarah Harding and Caroline Aherne
It’s taking place later this month!
The legendary Manchester Flower Festival is returning to our city later this month, complete with pop-ups, installations and tributes to some local icons.
Taking place over the late May Bank Holiday, the event will be headlined by its ‘Floral Trail’.
This year’s theme is Manchester Icons, with a host of names past and present being honoured in flower form, including the late comedy legend Caroline Aherne, pop star Sarah Harding and suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Collaborating with Manchester illustrator Stanley Chow, floral designer Liv Woodward will create a portrait of Caroline Aherne at the Floral Marquee on New Cathedral Street, using sustainably sourced plants and flowers.
Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding will be remembered in a ‘tribute garden’, sponsored by the AO Arena, with visitors able to donate to the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal by scanning the QR code at the display.
The homage to Pankhurst has been created by female-led Decordia, featuring an ornate wooden Manchester Town Hall-inspired planter with sashes, posters and colourful icons, alongside a wicker figure of the suffragette herself.
This can be found at the corner of Cross Street and King Street, adorned with purple, green and white plants – the colours of the suffragette movement.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Other local legends will also be honoured with their own installations, including Happy Mondays vocalist Rowetta and iconic Manchester brewery Boddingtons .
Fringe events will be taking place too, at locations including Northern Quarter art shop Fred Aldous, The Bridgewater Hall, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and the National Trust’s Castlefield Viaduct.
Selfridges Exchange Square, El Gato Negro, Tast Catala, Franco Manca, Grand Pacific Manchester and Urban Playground will also be taking part, with alfresco dining, festival-related dishes and cocktails.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Now in its seventh year, the Flower Festival, which is put together by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, with live entertainment, workshops, and arts and crafts markets.
It all happens from May 24th to May 27th – head over to the website HERE to find more information.
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Huge beer festival with more than 500 different varieties coming to Manchester
New makers market with everything from dog accessories to house plants and jewellery coming to Manchester
New apartment development with huge gardens and outdoor space opening this year
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Manchester Flower Festival returns with tributes to Sarah Harding and Caroline Aherne
