On June 28th, 2023 the partners of the New Victoria Project gathered for a celebration of the Project’s completion. The evening was a celebration of hard work building the two towers but also of the work the team had done to support Lifeshare. Throughout the previous three years of the build, Lifeshare was the lead charity for the project.
The efforts of this site were not just from the lead partners Vinci Construction, Muse Developments, and Pension Insurance Company, but also all of the subcontractors including Red’s Joinery, FK Facades, HE Simm, JCS Interiors, JF Catering, Mayo, Aquila, Sheppard Robson, O’Neill + Brennan, Haalo, Walker Sime, and WSP, along with many others. The projects undertaken to support Lifeshare included an Easter egg collection, office refurbishment, and defibrillator donation.
The biggest project undertaken by the partnership was Lifeshare’s Annual Christmas Project. In 2021, when the Project was in jeopardy due to the lack of a suitable space, the team from Vinci Construction put the idea forward to utilise the canteen and wellbeing cabins on the New Vic site to host the event. The partners agreed and thus began a journey through a first-of-its-kind project to take an active construction site and instead of letting the site sit empty over the holiday period, transform it into a suitable space to welcome those in need across the city. Whether rough sleeping, in food and fuel poverty, or dealing with social isolation, all were welcome to come to the project from December 23rd-29th for food, showers, clothes, and holiday spirit.
Over the two years the Project was hosted onsite over 1,000 guests crossed the threshold and over 4,000 meals were served.
On the night, our Digital & Marketing Manager, Abby, was asked to give a speech to thank the partners for their hard work over the years. She had the following to say:
“The impact of this collaboration was more than just numbers. The feedback from our guests and volunteers showed just how important the work really was. It was more than just a hot meal or a place to shower, it was somewhere to feel cared for, supported, and like you matter to the people around you.
Although was are saddened to not be joining you for a third year, as we search for a new site in the city centre to host Christmas 2023 please know that you have set a gold standard. Your hard work, dedication, ingenuity, and caring have made all the difference to the people of Manchester.”
The night concluded with a prize auction and a raffle of prizes donated by partners and supporters. All told the evening managed to raise a grand total of £15,000. The funds raised will help Lifeshare continue their work with their three weekly rough sleeper breakfasts to keep the people of Manchester fed and cared for.
