Manchester’s tech community has rallied to help its neighbours in some of the most deprived parts of the city by donating food and female sanitary products to people with the greatest need for them.
The first-ever Manchester Tech Festival – which will take place at various locations around the city from 17th to 21st October this year – is being preceded by several city-centre meetup events for those interested in tech. Attendees are encouraged by festival organisers to donate items at these events which can then be given to those with the greatest need for them via the Our Manchester Food Partnership.
Among the items which have been donated are infant formula packs, baby food and wipes, nappies, sanitary towels and tampons, mixed toiletries and mixed food items.
These have then been distributed to three local groups: Emmeline’s Pantry, a foodbank which supports women in need, some of whom have experienced domestic violence and abuse and all of whom are experiencing food poverty and issues associated with it; North Manchester Community Kindness, which was formed during lockdown to provide emergency food response; and The Rafiki Project, which supports people in Manchester from ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds.
“We have been working closely with Manchester City Council to discuss the various ways in which the tech community can support the region with its long-term digital inclusion goals, but people still need instant and short-term solutions too,” said festival founder Amy Newton.
“It is amazing. I can say with 100% confidence that all of these items have gone directly to people in need of the most basic items in life,” said Dawn Warriner, Project Officer at Our Manchester Food Partnership.
Registrations for the Manchester Tech Festival, together with more information about speakers and exhibitors, can be found at www.manchestertechfestival.co.uk
