Page 46 - Real Rochdale Issue 20 Winter 2023
P. 46

Comedy gig with Jason Manford


                                                                                                                                               raises £14,000 for Petrus







                                                                                                                                Renowned comedian Jason Manford
                                                                                                                                showcased his comedic prowess at Middleton
                                                                                                                                Arena in September in a special gig that raised
                                                                                                                                thousands for the homelessness charity Petrus.


                                                                                                                                The special night of comedy, which included
                                                                                                                                fellow comedians Barbara Nice and Steve
                                                                                                                                Shanyaski, raised funds totalling almost
                                                                                                                                £14,000 - which will go towards fighting
                                                                                                                                homelessness around the borough.


                                                                                                                                Having visited the charity’s hub earlier this
                                                                                                                                year and meeting with service users, Jason was        Photo: Photography by Karl
                                                                                                                                inspired to act, agreeing to take part in the
                                                                                                                                one-off show to raise money for a good cause.            The charity also offers temporary
                                                                                                                                                                                         accommodation, support to sustain
                                                                                                                                Jason, originally from Salford, is known for his         tenancies and hosts a range of wellbeing
                                                                                                                                role as team captain on the Channel 4 panel              activity from their hub and community
                                                                                                                                show 8 Out of 10 Cats, and has presented                 allotment site.
                                                                                                                                numerous TV shows for the BBC and ITV
                                                                                                                                including Comedy Rocks, The One Show and                 With the event generously sponsored by
                                                                                                                                Show Me the Funny.                                       S. Wellens & Sons Funeral Directors, 100%
                                                                                                                                                                                         of the money raised from ticket sales has
                                                                                                                                Petrus has been serving the community of                 gone to the charity.
                                                                                                                                Rochdale for more than 50 years, with a vision
                                                                                                                                to end homelessness and create safe spaces               Sonia Denham, Head of Petrus said: “We
                                                                                                                                where all people can flourish.                           had the most unbelievable night!

                                                                                                                                Through their hub, those who are homeless, or            “It was amazing to see so many people
                                                                                                                                at risk of homelessness can access a wide range          come out to support what we do at Petrus,
                                                                                                                                of support services, from HART (homeless                 meet so many new people and share our
                                                                                                                                alliance response team) nurses to welfare                vision of a world without homelessness
                                                                                                                                advice and wellbeing support.                            with them.

                                                                                                                                                                                         “We’d like to say a huge thank you to all the
                                                                                                                                                                                         acts, especially Jason for helping to bring
                                                                                                                                                                                         the night together and to S. Wellens & Sons
                                                                                                                                                                                         for their incredible support. We’ve never
                                                                                                                                                                                         done anything like this before, and we’re
                                                                                                                                                                                         ecstatic with what we’ve raised and the
                                                                                                                                                                                         positive impact this will have in our
                                                                                                                                                                                         community.”

                                                                                                                                                                                         To find out more about Petrus or make a
                                                                                                                                                                                         donation, please visit their website:
                                                                                                                                                                                         www.petrus.org.uk
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