Final numbers are in from the August bank holiday, and Manchester Village Pride has brought in £183,500 for five local charities. Added to the £12,500 collected at the Candlelit Vigil by George House Trust, the overall total reaches £196,000. Because Manchester Village Pride was run entirely by unpaid volunteers this year, overheads were stripped right back. That meant the cash could go straight where people actually need it, rather than being swallowed up by running costs. On top of a £30,000 ring-fenced fund for smaller grassroots projects, the money goes between five key organisations doing proper work across Greater Manchester. The actual impact on people’s day-to-day lives is what really matters here: akt can cover 681 nights of emergency shelter, sort practical support packs for 73 people, or fund three months of frontline casework for young LGBTQ+ people facing homelessness. George House Trust can keep vital crisis support running for people living with HIV and maintain local trans and community peer groups. The Proud Trust gets the backing needed to keep youth spaces open and accessible across the North West. Sparkle gets vital resources to keep showing up for trans visibility and community care. LGBT Foundation can put funding straight back into everyday wellbeing services. Every single leader involved, from Carl Austin-Behan at Manchester Village Pride through to Adam Pemberton-Wickham at akt, Darren Knight at George House Trust, Rachel Bottomley at LGBT…