Bright start at new base for LGBT+ community
A RAINBOW-coloured digger has been brought into action as building work began on a new LGBT+ centre in Manchester.
The Proud Trust is building a £2.4m replacement for its current base on Sidney Street, which opened 30 years ago.
The old building will soon be demolished in order to create a three-storey, state-of-the-art premises that will be triple the current size.
Centre manager Dr Ali Hanbury said that the current building has no natural lighting due to the way it was built, and also has a broken porch and a leaking roof.
He said: “The new centre will have more efficient space, natural lighting, and a bigger cafe area for people to socialise.”
The centre is currently visited 17,000 times a year, with 20 regular groups holding regular sessions there.
It is hoped the new centre will allow around 50,000 visits per year.
“Lots of people have been coming to the centre for three decades, it has saved people’s lives,” Dr Ali added.
The Proud Trust work with people in need - including those with addictions, people fleeing from abuse, those at risk of becoming homeless and many people who suffer from acute loneliness.
“The new centre will still be a safe space,” said Sally, who started with the charity in 1989 as a youth worker.
“But the aim is to create a bright, welcoming building that’s fit for purpose in 2020.”
To celebrate the start of the redevelopment, VIPs including Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham MP and the Lord Lieutenant Warren Smith, donned hard hats and brightly coloured high vis jackets to power up the rainbow JCB digger.
The digger was provided by Building Equalities, a LGBT+ Staff Group working to drive equality and inclusion across the construction industry.
Andy Burnham said: “This centre was the birthplace of the LGBT+ rights movement in Manchester and that is a big part of Manchester’s story so, for that, we are very proud.”
Dr Ali said: “Unfortunately, LGBT+ people still face a lot of discrimination, people are coming out earlier in life and that might mean that they may need more support,” she said.
“We’re going to be able to have more groups and more services, and we’ll have a programme of events in the evenings.”