We will rock you…community music in aid of local mental health services!

As we approach Mental Health Awareness Week, we thought what better time than to head into the sunshine with our good friends GM Rock Choir to raise the energy over the May Bank Holiday.

For 10 years our city-centre collection days have created awareness and vital funds for our local mental health charity, with volunteers donning their blue wigs and hitting the streets with charity tins in hand. At these events we’ve had many heartfelt conversations with members of the public, with some people disclosing for the first time about their own struggles. So often we may want to reach out, but are unsure where to turn. Manchester Mind wants to make it easier to ask for help and our public events help spread this positive message.

For our first collection of 2025 we wanted to do something a little different – focusing on this year’s theme of “community” for Mental Health Awareness Week – so we joined forces with the amazing GM Rock Choir, who we had the good fortune to meet last year.

Manchester means many things, but the strong sense of unity through music is at the heart of our city, which celebrates our belief in people and community. Xander-Jaymes, choir leader and co-ordinator for the regional group said, “At Rock Choir, we see first-hand how singing together uplifts spirits, builds friendships, and supports emotional wellbeing. Mental health awareness is deeply important to us, which is why we proudly support charities such as Manchester Mind working in this vital area — because everyone deserves to feel heard, connected, and cared for.”

On Saturday 3 May the legendary GM Rock Choir did us proud, with 160 singers performing music at 4 spaces across the city (Exchange Square, St Ann’s Square, Market Street and St Peter’s Square). Our charity team shared free wellbeing information with over 200 people and raised £434.46!

As a local Mind association, we raise all our own funds to ensure we can continue to there for 11,000 people across the city. This year, donations will support our Welcome & Access Team, who deliver one of our frontline services, so the monies raised last weekend are very much appreciated.

We continue to be humbled and inspired by everyone who engages and gives – so if you came along on 3 May, had a dance, had a chat with us or made a donation, THANK YOU…and our special gratitude to Xander-Jaymes and every singer within GM Rock Choir for being absolute legends!

It was an experience which we’ll never forget and one of the best Manchester Mind collection days on record. Watch this space for the next city-centre take over!
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If you’d like to get involved with future events, or are inspired to fundraise we’d love to hear from you: fundraising@manchestermind.org