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Putting you in touch with groups you can get involved with who're working for positive social, political and environmental change in Manchester:
activist and campaign groups, progressive voluntary and community groups, worker co-operatives and social enterprises.

Animal Rights

Manchester Animal Protection Society (MAP)
http://www.mapsoc.org.uk/
Campaigning in the Manchester area, fighting animal cruelty from circuses to vivisectors.

North West Hunt Saboteurs Association
http://www.nwhsa.org.uk
Direct Action against all forms of bloodsports.

Civil Rights

Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People
http://www.bcodp.org.uk/groups/gmcdp.html
Promotes full equality and participation of disabled people within society, forms local coalitions working on local issues.

Manchester NO2ID
http://manchester.no2id.net
A local organisation associated with the NO2ID campaign. A non-partisan organisation which seeks to raise awareness and generate opposition to the Government's National Identity Scheme in the Greater Manchester area.

Manchester No borders
http://www.nobordersmanchester.blogspot.com
A network of individuals resisting migration controls and the persecution, detention adn exploitation of refugees and other migrants. Committed to practical solidarity and direct action as well as imagining a world without borders and ways to realise this.

National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/
Provide practical support and assistance for people applying for asylum within Britain. A national group with a Manchester office.

Climate Change

Manchester Climate Action
http://www.manchesterclimateaction.org.uk
Taking action against the root causes of climate change, helping organise the Northwest Neighbourhood of the Camp for Climate Action and raising awareness of climate change. Organised by consensus so that everyone has a say.

Manchester Climate Forum
http://www.manchesterclimateforum.org.uk
"Manchester Climate Forum aims to be a forum. About climate. In Manchester..."

Rising Tide
http://www.risingtide.org.uk/
A coalition of groups and individuals committed to a grassroots approach to fighting climate change.

Community

Community Networks for Manchester(CN4M)
http://www.cn4m.net/
The Community Network for Manchester is the key network of networks, linking together neighbourhoods and areas of the city with communities of common interest and concern, in order to release our people power in shaping the future of the city.

Leaf Street Community Garden
http://manchesterpermaculture.net/localinfo/leaf/leaf.html
Inner city permaculture based in Hulme, Manchester.

Redbricks Online
http://www.redbricks.org.uk/
A community online project, based on the Bentley House Estate in Hulme.

Direct Action

do summat
http://www.dosummat.org.uk/
A new co-operative setup to bring people in Manchester together to take action to reclaim our city from government and corporate control.

Earth First!
http://www.earthfirst.org.uk/manchester/
Manchester group of the UK and international network that takes direct action to improve environmental, social and political situations.

Rising Tide
http://www.risingtide.org.uk/
A coalition of groups and individuals committed to a grassroots approach to fighting climate change.

Ecology

Environment Network for Manchester
http://www.en4m.org.uk/
A network of groups committed to environmental sustainability who work together to share ideas, information and resources.

Friends of the Earth (FoE)
Manchester: http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/
Inspires solutions to environmental problems which make life better for people.

Manchester Environmental Education Network
http://www.meen.org.uk/
A network of teachers, organisations and individuals working to promote sustainable development education. The network aims to be a support mechanism for anyone involved in raising awareness about sustainability issues - in both the formal and informal education sectors.


An informal discussion group set up to provide an open intellectual space where people from any academic discipline or non-academic sector can meet to discuss subjects with an environmental dimension.

Manchester Environmental Resource Center initiative (MERCi)
http://www.merci.org.uk
A charity working on the issue of sustainable living covering areas including organic food and gardening; energy efficiency and renewable energy; equality and human rights; animal welfare and genetic engineering; training and job creation.

Manchester Permaculture
http://manchesterpermaculture.net
Aims to apply permaculture principles within the Redbricks (Bentley House) estate in Hulme, to integrate new and existing projects into a cohesive model for urban sustainability. This is achieved through supplying specific services which support local projects; the development of knowledge and skills; development of community infrastructure.

Rising Tide
http://www.risingtide.org.uk/
A coalition of groups and individuals committed to a grassroots approach to fighting climate change.

You are here - Online
http://www.youarehereonline.org.uk
An online version of MERCi's "You Are Here" exhibition located at Bridge 5 Mill in Manchester. The exhibition explores some of the environmental issues which effect people in Manchester today and provides some useful links and advice for those wishing to do more.

Enterprise

Bicycle Doctor
http://www.bicycledoctor.co.uk
A worker co-operative bicycle shop in Rusholme, selling road bikes, mountain bikes, women specific design bikes, folding bikes, mountain bikes and childrens bikes.

EMERGE Recycling
http://www.emergemanchester.co.uk/
A not-for-profit community business which seeks to promote recycling through kerbside collections and a programme of arts and education.

Fairfield Materials Management
http://www.fairfieldcompost.co.uk
Pioneering social enterprise that produces compost from waste fruit and Vegetables from New Smithfield market for Manchester.

Fairfield Anearobic Digestion
http://www.fairfield-ad.co.uk
Stockport-based social enterprise developing a business to divert unwanted commercial and household food waste away from landfill through an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process.

Glebelands Market Garden
http://www.glebelandsmarketgarden.co.uk
A pioneering urban growing project on the banks of the Mersey in Sale, producing food for consumption within Greater Manchester.

Hulme Community Garden Centre
http://www.hulmegardencentre.org.uk/
A not-for-profit garden centre and community show gardens, run on an organic basis. Frequent seasonal events, volunteering opportunities and an accredited gardening course.

(The) Kindling Trust
http://www.kindling.org.uk/
A fledgling not-for-profit social enterprise with charitable aims working to establish a radical and pioneering social change centre and enterprise zone, based in the rural North West of England researching, demonstrating and supporting others to work towards an ecological and just society.

Unicorn Grocery
http://www.unicorn-grocery.co.uk/
A workers co-operative selling organic food, beer and wine; specialising in dairy-free, gluten-free and sugar-free products.

On the 8th Day
http://www.eighth-day.co.uk/
A workers co-operative providing vegetarian and vegan cuisine, vitamins, organic wine and beer, cruelty-free cosmetics, homeopathic remedies and eco-friendly products.

FoodFarming

Manchester Real Food Guide
http://www.realfoodguide.org.uk
A website providing information on what real food is, what its benefits are, how to get it, and a directory of real food outlets inthe Manchester area.

Gender

Central Manchester Women's Aid
http://www.cmwomensaid.org.uk
Offers refuge space to women and women with children who are escaping domestic violence. Also offers Outreach service to women who do not want to access refuge space but want support/information/advice around the issues raised from domestic violence experiences.

Manchester Womens Network
http://www.manchesterwomen.net/
Exists to support and develop the community and voluntary organisations serving women in and around Manchester.

Pankhurst Centre
www.thepankhurstcentre.org.uk/
A women-only space that creates a unique environment in which women can learn together, work on projects and socialise. Meeting space is available for female counsellors and women's groups.

Salford Women's Centre
http://www.poptel.org.uk/biz/salwomen.html
Training, adult education courses, one to one counselling, support groups, meeting space and free creche facilities.

Women's Electronic Village Hall (WEVH)
http://www.wevh.org.uk/
Skills training for women in Manchester with a particular focus on ICT and multimedia courses. Also offers support for women developing new businesses and co-operatives.

Health

Socialist Health Association
http://www.sochealth.co.uk/
Protects and improves the NHS and campaigns on issues of health and equality. Publishes reports, arranges conferences and; seminars and provides a platform for debate on health issues.

Human Rights

Amnesty International
http://www.manchesteramnesty.org.uk
Manchester group of Amnesty International, a worldwide voluntary movement that works to prevent some of the gravest violations of human rights.

Local Campaigns

Keep Chorlton Interesting
http://www.keepchorltoninteresting.org/
Campaign/pressure group aiming to keep their area of South Manchester interesting and unique, with a diverse range of vibrant, locally owned, small shops and businesses.

Media

ALL FM
http://www.allfm.org/
Broadcasting to Ardwick, Longsight and Levenshulme on 96.9FM, ALL FM is radio by the community for the community.

BeyondTV
http://www.beyondtv.org/
A Manchester based open publishing site for various media, news and projects; a source of low-cost digital/Internet video technical knowledge; a distribution network for a wide variety of films.

Ethical Consumer Research Association (ECRA)
http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/
The UK's only alternative consumer organisation looking at the social and environmental records of the companies behind the brand names. Based in Manchester.

Manchester Film Co-operative
http://www.manchesterfilm.coop
Manchester Film Co-operative organises regular screenings and discussions of films that challenge current economics, politics and society. Owned and run by its members, the co-operative offers a non-commercial space to explore alternatives through film.

Manchester Indymedia
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/
Reportage of radical political events in Manchester.

Mule Newspaper
http://themule.info
Check out the website for news with a kick! MULE is a not-for-profit, grassroots, UK-wide project committed to using media production and mass distribution as a tool for promoting social, environmental and economic justice and peace.

NATO (Northern Tactical Arts Offensive)
http://www.nato.uk.net
Northern Arts Tactical Offensive (NATO) - Purveyors of the finest subversive street art.

Networking Newsletter
http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/
Puts people working on issues of peace, environment, development, animal rights and human rights in touch with each other in Manchester.

Radio Regen
http://www.radioregen.org/
An urban regeneration scheme where unemployed Mancunians are trained in radio production, enabling them to set up radio stations in their own communities.

Red Pepper
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/
Independent magazine of the green and radical left, based in Manchester.

Peace

Alternatives to Violence Project (Greater Manchester)
http://www.avpbritain.org.uk
A network of volunteers running workshops for anyone who wants to find ways of resolving conflict without resorting to violence. Currently work in the community and in prisons throughout Britain.

Campaign Against the Arms Trade
(via http://www.caat.org.uk/)

Campaign Against Depleted Uranium (CADU)
http://www.cadu.org.uk/
Focuses on trying to achieve a global ban on the manufacture, testing, and use of depleted uranium weapons.

Greater Manchester and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (GMDCND)
http://www.gmdcnd.org.uk/


Poverty

Lifeshare
http://www.homelessness.org.uk/
Charity working to help combat the problem, and associated problems, of homelessness.

Shelter
http://www.shelter.org.uk/housingadvice/viewhac.asp?HacID=32
Shelter believes everyone should be able to live in a decent and secure home that they can afford, within a mixed neighbourhood where people feel safe, can work and fulfill their potential.

Resources

Blatant Incitement Project (BLINC)
http://www.eco-action.org/blinc/
Exists to empower people to organise themselves without hierarchy, for radical action towards social change, by sharing skills, knowledge, and inspiration.

Bridge 5 Mill
http://www.merci.org.uk/
Manchester's first centre for sustainable living and a focus for action to make Manchester greener, healthier and more equitable. The centre includes food projects, community garden, green technologies, social enterprises, free internet access,library and exhibition.

Fairfield Materials Management
http://www.fairfieldcompost.co.uk.co.uk
Pioneering social enterprise that produces compost from waste fruit and Vegetables from New Smithfield market for Manchester.

Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations (GMCVO)
http://www.gmcvo.org.uk/
Offers a range of services and projects that aim to improve the effectiveness of voluntary and community groups in the county.

Grumpy
http://www.grumpy.org.uk/
Gateway to a comprehensive range of children's play and educational resources.

ICA-UK
(via http://www.ica-uk.org.uk/ )
An organisation which will: contribute to the strengthening of global civil society by offering facilitation skills, training and supporting volunteers, mobilising support for local initiatives and sharing experience with other change agents; facilitate a social network amongst ICA UK members.

LETS
GM LETS:http://www.gmlets.u-net.com/

marc (Manchester Area Resource Centre)
http://www.marctheprinters.org/
Print and design resources and services for the voluntary sector.

Manchester Real Food Guide
http://www.realfoodguide.org.uk
A website providing information on what real food is, what its benefits are, how to get it, and a directory of real food outlets inthe Manchester area.

MCIN MyManchester
http://www.mymanchester.net/
Ensures access to community information.

Networking Newsletter
http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/
Puts people working on issues of peace, environment, development, animal rights and human rights in touch with each other in Manchester.

Open Space Co-op
http://openspace.coop
A co-operative offering cheap, flexible office space in a creative, friendly atmosphere in Hulme.

Primal Seeds
http://www.primalseeds.org/
A network to actively engage in protecting biodiversity and creating local food security.

Self Help Services
http://www.selfhelpservices.org.uk/
Works to develop local self-help groups on a variety of topics across Manchester. Self-help is not therapy, as there are no experts present, only people who want to take on responsibilty for their own problems and experiences.

Shortcutz
http://shortcutz.org.uk
Website of the invaluable "Shortcutz to Manchester" guide, exposing the underbelly of Manchester's new corporate image. Ideas and contacts for DIY music, squatting, etc.

UHC Collective
http://www.uhc-collective.org.uk/
Manchester radical arts collective. Produces the "Activist Toolbox" CD-Rom containing a library of information for effective campaigning.

Voluntary Action Manchester (VAM)
http://www.vamanchester.org.uk/
A council for voluntary service, offering advice, information and support to voluntary and community groups.

Women's Domestic Violence Helpline
http://www.wdvh.org.uk/
Contact them if you need to talk to someone in confidence or/and leave home due to physical, mental or sexual abuse directed at yourself or your children.

Sexuality

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation
http://www.lgfoundation.org.uk/
Manchester based organisation which exists to promote and develop services and activities which work towards real and long-term improvements in the health and quality of life for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite and transsexual people.

Manchester Lesbian Community Project
http://www.cmwomensaid.org.uk/
Provide information to the voluntary sector and promote lesbian friendly services and to support the development of self-organised groups and networks for lesbians.

Students

Manchester Student Volunteers
http://www.manchesterstudentvolunteers.org.uk/
Links students at the University of Manchester and UMIST with the community.

Manchester University Stop the War
http://www.umu.man.ac.uk/stopwar/
University of Manchester society campaigning for a just peace in Iraq and the Middle East in general.

Transport

I Bike MCR
http://www.ibikemcr.org.uk
Brings together some of the diverse bike groups and riders in Manchester that seek to promote cycling as a form of transport and as something fun.

Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign
http://www.gmcc.org.uk/
A voluntary group working to make cycling in Greater Manchester quicker, safer, easier and more enjoyable.

North West Cycling Project / Bike Links
http://www.cycling.org.uk
Bikelinks help Community Groups get started on cycling projects. They encorage young people to: Learn about bikes, find local routes, fix up old donated cycles, provide workshop and job related skills, source of cheap and clean transport, plus develop health benefits.

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