Join us for an accessible, simple, recipe-building workshop!

We’re over the moon to be hosting an interactive Build Your Own Banquet workshop with Manchester-based Agent, Eliah, who has pioneered Food for All, a recipe booklet, meal cards and video tutorials available to users for free and tailored to meet the needs of a growing number of food bank users.

Between 1 April 2022 and 30 September 2022, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK-wide network distributed 1.3 million food parcels to people facing hardship – an increase of 52% compared to the same period in 2019. Half a million of these parcels were distributed to children [Source: The Trussel Trust].

Eliah’s Agency-funded project aims to celebrate and consider a variety of cultures, providing recipes for exciting meals using food available in local food banks.

We will also be collecting for local foodbanks during this session; if you’d like to get involved, please bring canned, jarred and dry food. Food banks will only take longer-life products that they can store for those in need. Learn more here.

To ensure we have all the supplies we need for the Oil + Spice Packing Party, we kindly ask for your donations in advance of Saturday, July 29th. We are looking for the following:

• Chilli Powder
• Salt & Pepper
• Garlic Granules
• Mixed Herbs
• Other spices
• Cooking Oils
  
• Additionally, we would appreciate donations of cereal, coffee, squash, and sanitary products.

Your contributions will go a long way in supporting the Manchester foodbanks and the individuals and families they serve.

The Big Banquet

Every day is a party at Contact. But, this summer, we’re bringing you something extra special.

From 28 - 29 of July, we’re lowering the drawbridge and throwing open the castle doors for a weekend full of festivities!

“For 50 years, Contact has proven what can be achieved by putting the future first. I’m so excited to mark this remarkable legacy with The Big Banquet and can’t wait to share the beautiful Contact energy with our audiences, artists, visitors, friends and family over one incredible weekend. After a year at the helm of this magnificent organisation, I know one thing for sure: there’s nowhere in the world like Contact” - Keisha Thompson, Contact's AD and CEO

Join us in the castle on Oxford Road as we wrap up our 50th birthday celebrations with The Big Banquet, and feast on a range of extraordinary cultural delights.

From morning raves to poetry slams and fashion shows, we can’t wait to celebrate 50 years of changing the face of UK culture with you.

Learn more here!