You Are Not Alone Festival 2022: mental health fundraiser event returns to Manchester

A Manchester festival that raises money for a mental health charity is returning this year.

You Are Not Alone Festival was created by Stockport local Ben Taylor who lost four friends to suicide in a year and a half.

All money raised through the event, which will take place in the Northern Quarter on 5 March, will be donated to charity Manchester Mind.

The first event was held in 2019 and was a great success, selling out before the day.

The success of 2019 was hoped to be replicated in 2020 and 2021, but the pandemic and the subsequent restrictions forced these events to be cancelled.

The 2022 festival is set to be held in eight venues across the city and have over 70 acts perform.

Ben spoke to ManchesterWorld about how the festival was created and how people can support this year’s event.

He said: “The festival came about through a pretty sad time for me. I’d lost four friends to suicide in the space of 18 months.

“As you can imagine it was very tough to process. I thought I needed to take the experience and turn it into some sort of positive, and the idea was born.

“Originally it was going to be a one venue event, but the response was so big that it ended up being across three venues.

“The first year was 2019 and the bill was superb.

“The event sold out in advance and post event was all so positive that I couldn’t just stop at one event.”

Ben added: “We were due to have the second year in March 2020, but the pandemic put paid to that. We then moved to November thinking we’d be good to go. It wasn’t to be.

“Then 2021 didn’t happen and all focus was on 2022, and we’re on track for a belter. Eight venues this year, featuring 70+ artists.”

Wristbands are just £10 and that grants you access to all eight venues across the city.

To buy a wristband, see the Skiddle website here. All profits will go to Manchester Mind.