To celebrate #IWD2024 shoppers will be given a second chance to visit the audio-visual exhibition ‘RANDOM OBJECTS OF KINDNESS’ that explores how charities like MASH provide practical support to women in Greater Manchester.
Volunteers from MASH will be hosting a pop up in Manchester Arndale this International Women’s Day to help raise awareness of the work they do with vulnerable women in Greater Manchester.
The charity team will be in the City Centre shopping centre on Friday 8th March sharing information about their services and encouraging shoppers to make a much-needed donation to women in the community in crisis.
MASH stands by women in Greater Manchester who are involved in sex work or experiencing challenges like homelessness and gender-based violence. The local charity offers a non-judgemental support network aimed at improving health, safety, and wellbeing. MASH take ‘lifeline’ services to women in their community van, as well as providing a welcoming drop-in centre.
People will be able to make monetary donations to the charity, as well as offering new clothing, footwear, hygiene products and toiletries.
To mark this year’s IWD celebration, shoppers will also be given another chance to see part of last year’s Real Change MCR audio-visual exhibition ‘Random Objects Of Kindness’, which was created with the support of Manchester Arndale.
The installation comprises of large-scale portraits of the Random Objects Of Kindness storytellers and their spoken stories can be accessed via scanning a QR code on listeners’ mobile phones. Next to each ‘living portrait’ – captured by photographer Ahmani Vidal – is an image of an item pivotal to their journey towards independent living.
Three of the returning portraits are MASH service users and people will be able to hear from Barbara, Collette and Michelle. Situated in the lower mall shoppers can find exhibition outside Morphe. The MASH volunteers will be on site 12-6pm.
Janelle Hardacre, fundraiser at MASH said; “Although MASH is based very close to The Arndale, most shoppers won’t be aware that we exist. So, a big thanks to The Arndale for welcoming MASH to the centre on International Women’s Day.
“The theme of this year’s IWD is ‘inspire inclusion’ and sadly so many of the women we meet at MASH are not included. Many are living in survival mode, are pushed to the margins and rarely get a chance to be heard. This connection to The Arndale started in a really special way, with three incredible women who have experienced MASH’s support sharing their stories in the Random Objects of Kindness exhibition.
“Thanks to Michelle, Barbara and Colette, this partnership between MASH and The Arndale was created and we are grateful for their support to uplift a local charity through their big platform. If you spot our MASH volunteers in the mall on International Women’s Day, please do say hello and learn more about the brilliant women we know.”
David Allinson, Centre Director for Manchester Arndale, said: “Manchester Arndale is proud to partner with Real Change MCR, supporting organisations such as MASH and their incredible work across Greater Manchester.
“This International Women’s Day we want to inspire inclusion, and the returning exhibition is a great place to start in reminding people of the issues women face in the city. We hope the MASH pop up will inspire people to support women in crisis.”
