Manchester Pride is launching a series of online workshops for LGTBQ+ young people as it pilots a year-long programme of engagement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The charity which campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion focusses on engaging with as many people as possible and this initiative has been curated entirely with younger members of Greater Manchester in mind.
Themes of the workshop will include flash-mob style dance with young people choreographed by Stuart Bowden, content creation workshops, guest takeovers by young people and a discussion around Manchester Pride’s Youth Ambassador programme.
Attendees will have the opportunity to join the Content Creation Committee, which will give them the chance to be in control of content which is shared on Youth Pride MCR Instagram and TikTok channels.
The workshops focus on working with members to share their voices through the channels, a chance to showcase user-generated content from blogs to quizzes and plenty more.
The workshops will be lead by artist, producer and freelance creative facilitator, Jana Kennedy, supported by Manchester Pride’s Community Engagement Officer.
The hourly workshops will run from May 6 until October 28 on a bi-weekly basis.
Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said; “With schools currently being closed and the current climate of social distancing, we recognise that our youth audience are in need of opportunities to engage with their peers and the LGBTQ+ community. Digital platforms offer us the chance to create an online community of young people and offer them something that we hope will be really useful and positive in what may be quite a scary and lonely time.
“The project will be very much participant-led as we want to work with young people to ensure that everything we do is right for them. The Youth Pride MCR social media channels will be a unique opportunity for them to inject their voice into Manchester Pride and make it their own. ”
