The Manchester Ball 2026
Schedule
Fri, 13 Nov, 2026 at 07:00 pm to Sat, 14 Nov, 2026 at 01:00 am
UTC+00:00Location
The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, by IHG (Manchester) | Manchester, EN
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The Manchester Ball is an independent fundraising dinner dance, generously supported by local business, industry, and the professional community. We pride ourselves on hosting a professional, yet relaxed evening, whilst raising awareness and funds for our chosen charities, and bringing you fantastic entertainment for a fun packed evening.In 2025, we raised an astonishing £56.645 for the EMPOWER Youth Zones, enabling them to continue the transformative work they do for children and young people in Manchester. Thank you for your kind and generous support!
This year, we are continuing to support EMPOWER – the overarching charity for HideOut Youth Zone and Salford Youth Zone (SYZ) – youth provisions that are transforming lives and empowering the future generation of Manchester, Salford and beyond.
Since opening their first Youth Zone (HideOut) in Gorton in 2020, the EMPOWER team have dedicated their resources to giving every young person a chance to find their passion and their purpose, empowering them to reach their full potential and to lead happy healthy, safe and successful lives.
Professional, passionate youth workers deliver a universal offer for young people aged 8-19 and up to 25 with additional needs. This includes sport, creative arts, music, employability and essential life skills, all of which have the aim of:
• Building confidence and resilience in Young People
• Supporting them to achieve their goals and ambitions
• Providing somewhere safe to go, something positive to do and someone trusted to talk to
Impact and progress since last year:
Between April 1st and March 31st 2025, 3,000+ active members visited EMPOWER’s facilities 28,356 times, accessing enriching experiences and 31,000+ free meals across the year.
In this period, EMPOWER was able to commit to free membership for the first time (previously £5 per year), bringing down financial and psychological barriers for young people and their families, of which 86% live in the top 20% most deprived areas of the UK.
A key focus this year was on gearing up for the official opening of SYZ, with a major recruitment drive taking place across the city. This was spearheaded by a brilliant young person’s development group, who helped developed partnerships with organisations like Salford Red Devils and MediaCity and collaborated on the final designs for the building. SYZ is in final stages of fit out and the grand opening is taking place on July 5th 2025. Excitingly, SYZ was recently featured on BBC 1’s The One Show (starting at 2:05)!
With 70 new staff now onboarded, EMPOWER’s ambition is to double its reach, and double its impact.
Other highlights from the year included:
• Delivery of 8 weeks of Holiday Club at HideOut, targeted at vulnerable families eligible for Free School Meals
• Over 20 performance opportunities including singing, dancing, drama, spoken word and sport skills
• A work experience event that saw 200+ young people connect with 14 businesses, landing 20+ work experience placements for our young people
• The onboarding of 13 new Patrons to the charity – all offering their own unique profile of skills, experience and donor support
• A range of young person led events including our International Women’s Day, PrideOut and Black History Month
• 121 young people achieved at least one AQA accreditation, and HideOut became an Arts Award Accredited Centre, making it possible for young people to earn a GCSE equivalent qualification
• Thought leadership on the youth sector including a feature from Empower’s CEO Adam Farricker
Young people have continued to demonstrate resilience, determination and ambition, despite another unpredictable year where they have continued to face so many unforeseen challenges. Their achievements highlight not only their strength, but the critical need for youth services like ours.
“HideOut is full of culture and very inclusive, makes her feel welcome and loved, recently moved to the area and joined so my daughter could make friends in the area, and they provided so much more than that.” Parent/Guardian
Donations from The Manchester Ball 2026 will help fund various projects and activities that enable children and young people to take part in life changing opportunities and experiences.
As we celebrate our achievements and continue our mission, we invite you to join us at the Manchester Ball on Friday, 13th November, at The Manchester Deansgate. Together, we can make a difference, turning dreams into realities and barriers into stepping stones for a brighter future.
Impact isn't just a metric; it's a reflection of lives transformed, barriers dismantled, and dreams nurtured.
Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to empowering our youth.
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Where is it happening?
The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, by IHG (Manchester), Manchester, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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