Rarely Asked Questions

But who wants to spend the whole day in meetings about climate change?
You're right. That's why it's broken up into 'bite-sized chunks'. Take a look at the programme, pick which workshops you want to go to, and skip out the rest of the time if you like. There are dozens of places to grab a bit to eat and have a coffee and a chat very nearby.

But I won't know anyone, and none of my friends will come with.
There'll be lots of people in the same position. We'll be encouraging everyone to wear a name badge, and that should break the ice a bit (it's not compulsory of course.)

I don't want to be pressured into signing a direct debit, or buying a newspaper or told that I'm a bad person unless I take part in an illegal demonstration.
You won't be!

I don't know what to believe about climate change- you hear so many different things.
Then you should definitely come- at least for a bit- and talk to someone from our team of Real Live Climate Scientists. They'll be staffing a stall all day long, answering your questions about climate science, and pointing you in the direction of readable and reliable information.

I went to one of these 'workshop' things once, which was supposed to be all participatory. The speaker droned on for 45 minutes, and then there was only 10 minutes for questions. I wanted to ask a question but didn't get to because someone made a speech disguised as a question and then started having a loud argument with the speaker. It was a real waste of my time.
We won't let that happen! All the speakers are committed to allowing proper time for discussion, and there is a facilitator in each workshop to stop that 'speech/question' thing. Also, many of the workshops are designed around breaking into small groups, discussing and then feeding back...

Oh, alright, you've worn me down. Where is it and how much?
It's very central: it's on Oldham St, just off Piccadilly Gardens. There's a big Oxfam shop on the right. Keep walking another 25 metres or so and before you get to Dale St, there's the entrance to the Central Hall.

We're asking for a minimum donation of £4 if you're sticking around for the whole day. If you genuinely can't afford that, then come anyway and pay what you can.

Manchester Climate Forum doesn't get any funding from DEFRA, the government, the council or the usual suspects.  That gives it independence. And a hand-to-mouth existence...