Next weekend - don't miss Manchester's biggest free event for lesbian and bisexual women
Sat 7th & Sun 8th March

Sugar & Spice is The Lesbian & Gay Foundation's annual celebration of International Women's Day, now in its ninth fabulous year. Join us for a weekend of socialising, discussions, workshops and film screenings. Oh, and a tea dance! New for this year we also have a family friendly afternoon on the Sunday, with activities for children. Reserve your free place now by clicking here.

Throughout the weekend we'll be encouraging attendees to take part in making a Sugar & Spice quilt which will celebrate the LGBT women who have inspired us so start thinking about the women you'd like to highlight!

The Saturday session will conclude with a debate featuring five of those inspirational women: Aderonke Apata (lesbian asylum seeker, human rights campaigner and winner of the Positive Role Model award at the National Diversity Awards), Evelyn Asante-Mensah OBE (an experienced leader and campaigner against health inequalities who is currently a Commissioner for the EHRC and director of her own consultancy company EAM Solutions), Jenny-Anne Bishop OBE (transgender rights campaigner and organiser of Transforum), Claudia Carvell (freelance writer, student and campaigner, nominated for Young Person of the Year at the Brook Sexual Health awards) and Charlotte Dingle (journalist, former editor of G3 magazine and current editor in chief of Biscuit, an online magazine for bisexual women). We'll be discussing whether there are still barriers to success for lesbian and bisexual women, the people who inspire them and how to stay motivated to succeed.

Beaver Club Night Sugar & Spice After-Party
Sat 7th March 7.30pm-late

We're delighted that local club night Beaver is offering a very special Sugar & Spice after-party at Bed in Tribeca, in the heart of the Gay Village. 

The evening will start with a celebration of inspiring women and the organisers are asking YOU to submit dedications to pioneering women. This could be in the form of a photograph, video, poem, song or a presentation. Submissions must be received by Monday March 2nd, please call 07958 642090 for more info.

We will then have an international women day themed quiz from 8.30-9.30pm hosted by Kerry Leigh, with the winning team will receiving a year's free entry to Laughing Cows Comedy Club for two people.

The evening will culminate with a women-centred club night where of course the DJ’s will only play music written, performed or produced by females!

Advance tickets are on-sale now, priced at just £5. Click here to book.

Let's Get It ON! Free sexual pleasure workshop for couples
Sat 21st March 2-5pm

This fun (with a serious twist) workshop is designed for same-sex female couples who’d like to have more openness, fun, connection and variety in their sexual experiences together. 

Through a series of games and sharings and information about different types of touch, we’ll guide you to expressing your desires, listening to those of your partner and finding ways to communicate courageously and authentically to find the place of ‘Let's Get It On’. The place where Yes meets Yes...and No means No and its still OK...a place of truth and liberation from all that telepathy and uncertainty. A place of ease, flow and pleasure... 

If you may think there’s more sexual pleasure out there, but you’re not sure what it is or how to ask for it, this workshop is for you, just come with curiosity and an open mind and let us inspire you... 

This workshop is part of The LGF's programme for lesbian and bisexual women. It is free and is open to self-identified female couples but places are strictly limited so book yours now by emailing women@lgf.org.uk or calling 0845 3 30 30 30. 

We're also now taking bookings for our next workshop 'Introduction to Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)' on Sat 18th April 2-5pm.

Celebrating Wonder Women through March

In three years, British women will have much to celebrate. In 2018 it will be 100 years since women first won the (partial) right to vote. That right was the culmination of a long, hard struggle – and although we’ve come a long way, there is still much work to be done.

Every spring, the Wonder Women festival shines a light on some of the incredible, creative and campaigning women working in and from Manchester today – it’s our way of highlighting that feminist journey, via a month’s worth of events, debate, music, art, gigs, profiles and more.

Click here to see the full listings of events taking place during the Wonder Women Festival.

We are family! Events for parents, children and parents-to-be

Thinking about becoming a parent? Or maybe you already have kids and are looking for fun things to do with them? Either way, there are events in March coming up for you...

If you're thinking of parenting, LGBT adoption and fostering charity New Family Social are hosting a special event at The LGF on Monday 2nd March 6.30pm to mark LGBT Adoption & Fostering week. So you want to be a parent? is a free information evening for prospective LGBT parents to find out more about adoption and fostering and will be attended by local agencies. Click here to find out more and reserve your free space. 

Whether you're thinking of parenting or are already doing so, you'll want to make sure you and your family are protected. As part of Sugar & Spice, O'Neill Patient Solicitors will be holding a free 'The Small Print of Love' workshop at The LGF on Sat 7th March 4-4.45pm, exploring all the legal aspects of relationship planning and having a family. Click here to reserve your free place for Sugar & Spice.

Also as part of Sugar & Spice, on Sun 8th March 1-4.30pm we're hosting a Family Fun afternoon with badge-making, crafts, cookie-decorating and a family-friendly tea dance. Click here to reserve your free place for Sugar & Spice.

On Sat 14th March local LGBT parents group Proud 2 B Parents are teaming up with Hope Theatre to host a staging of the amazing 'Here Comes Tango' production, based on the much loved children's book about same-sex parenting, 'Tango Makes Three'. The production is going to be showcased on Sat 14th March 2-4pm at the Performance Space at Central Library Manchester. This is a great opportunity to see this lovely story come to life. Please book onto this event promptly to guarantee your space. Click here for free tickets.

Local women's cricket club needs new players!

As the Summer slowly approaches the women at Trafford MV Cricket Club are donning their whites and digging out their bats and pads for the forthcoming Cricket season in the Cheshire Cricket leagues and they are looking for new team-mates! This LGBT-friendly women's team currently train indoors on Sunday evenings at Lancashire C.C.C. Net Centre from 6-7pm.

The team is captained by Amanda and is managed by Carol and there is a good squad of friendly, but competitive, women playing for the team. Experience is not essential as we realise that the game is not played widespread among girls at school so we are quite willing to coach and develop our own players. 

Sport for girls/women is currently being promoted in the ‘’This Girl Can’’ initiative sponsored by Sport England and Trafford MV are doing their bit to provide opportunities for female fitness. In addition to Womens Cricket we also promote girls junior rugby, have a mixed fitness bootcamp and personal training sessions based at the Club via ‘’Infiniti 121’’ fitness and have Pilates sessions run by our resident physio Helen.

If you would like to play cricket please contact Amanda Gettins on 07717 752973 or Carol Ingham at Carol.Ingham@wchg.org.uk. Alternatively if you would like info on any of the other activities or the ladies cricket, please contact Wilf Dooley on 01942 884542.

More for lesbian and bisexual women from The Lesbian & Gay Foundation

Do you want to meet new friends, build your confidence or just socialise in a friendly environment? If so, check out our three groups for lesbian and bisexual women.

Carousel is a relaxed social group for lesbian and bisexual women. The group is free and is open to anyone who self-identifies as a woman and is aged 18 or over. Carousel meets at The LGF on the first and third Tuesday of the month, 7.30-9.00pm. This month, Carousel will be meeting on Tue 3rd March (Diva discussions!) & Tue 17th March (Bingo Night).

Stepping Stones provides a safe and welcoming space for women who are new to the area, 'coming out', have just come out of a relationship or simply want other women to talk to and share experiences with. Stepping Stones is free and is open to anyone who self-identifies as a woman and is aged 18 or over. The group meets at The LGF on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 7.30-9.00pm. This month, Carousel will be meeting on Tue 10th March (coming out discussion) & Tue 24th March (more discussion on coming out).

Bloomers is a friendly, informal group for women who identify as older (this means we would not turn anyone away of a certain age, but we generally would suggest over 55). Bloomers meets at The LGF on the first and third Tuesday of the month, 1.30-3.30pm. This month Bloomers will be meeting on Tue 3rd March (for an alternative therapies session) & Tue 17th March (coffee and a chat). 

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation ❤ Girls and we offer a range of Wellbeing services to help you ❤ yourself. From Befriending to social and support groups, Counselling to info on safer sex, if you're looking for support, information or advice give us a call on 0845 3 30 30 30 or email women@lgf.org.uk to find out more. All of our services for women are open to anyone who self-identifies as a lesbian or bisexual woman.

Research into lesbian and bisexual women affected by breast or gynaecological cancer

Have you or a female partner ever been treated for breast, cervical, ovarian, vulval or womb cancer? Joy Hall, a researcher from Birmingham City University, is undertaking a study exploring the sexuality and sexual health experiences of lesbian & bisexual women who have been diagnosed and received treatment for reproductive and female cancer. As part of the study she wants to interview women who are willing to share their experiences of these areas.

The ultimate aim of this work is to help guide and develop health care practice when working with lesbian and bisexual women and their partners, affected by female and reproductive cancers.

Interviews can be arranged for a time and place to suit you and the anonymity of all study participants will be maintained. Email joy.hall@bcu.ac.uk or call Joy on 0121 331 6049.

What Tammy Needs to Know About Getting Old and Having Sex
Fri 6th March 8pm

Tammy WhyNot (Lois Weaver) is in town and she’s on a mission to ask all the difficult questions, talk to those who really know and find out the truth about sex and all its associations, at midlife and beyond.

Part performance, part chat show, What 'Tammy Needs to Know About Getting Old and Having Sex' was developed in collaboration with older people in Manchester. Whatever the media might suggest, sex is certainly not just for the young and the photogenic. Tammy WhyNot is the creation of lesbian performance artist and activist Lois Weaver, former director of Gay Sweatshop and performer, director, and writer with the lesbian Split Britches Theatre Company. 

'What Tammy Needs to Know About Getting Old and Having Sex' is at Zion Arts Centre in Hulme on Fri 6th March 8pm. Tickets, priced at £10 each, are available by clicking here.

This show is part of SICK! Festival - the first festival in the UK dedicated to revealing and debating our most urgent physical, mental and social challenges. Click here to see the full line-up of events taking place across Manchester.

Manchester's LGBT-inclusive rugby union club now open to women

Manchester Village Spartans Rugby Club wants women players to join our club. We are holding an introductory ‘trial day’ this year for our new women’s team. This session will be short, fun, informal and will provide you with an opportunity to meet other new players. It doesn’t matter if you have never played rugby union before - everyone is welcome whatever your level of experience!

The club’s long term aim is to form a competitive women’s 15 a side team in 2016. By developing in 2015 playing touch rugby within the Village Spartan’s rugby programme which is supported by RFU level 2 coaches.

The women's trial day will take place on Sat 7th March 12.30-2.00pm at Sale Sports Club. Click here for more information.

The following is a list of events/activities in and around Greater Manchester which are for or of particular interest to lesbian and bisexual women. Unless otherwise stated, these events are not associated with the LGF and event organisers should be contacted directly for further information – follow the hyperlinked text to find out more. If you’d like to see an event or activity listed here in the future please email details to women@lgf.org.uk.

Sat 28th February 10pm Black Angel at Bangkok Bar 
Sun 1st March 7.30pm SM Dykes at Joyce Layland LGBT Centre
Mon 2nd March 6.30pm LGBT Adoption & Fostering Open Evening at The LGF
Tue 3rd March 1pm Bloomers Older Women's Social Group at The LGF
Tue 3rd March 7pm Slam Dunkin' Divas women's basketball training at Loreto High School, Chorlton
Tue 3rd March 7.30pm Carousel LBQ Women's Social group at The LGF
Tue 3rd March 7.30pm Biphoria bisexual social group at The LGF
Wed 4th March 6.45pm Manchester Stingers women’s football training at Trinity Sports Centre
Wed 4th March 7pm Manchester Frontrunners Women's Running Session at Sugden Sports Centre
Wed 4th March 8pm Northern Wave women’s swimming session at Chorlton Leisure Centre 
Thu 5th March 6pm Police Surgery at The LGF
Fri 6th March 12.30pm From Distress to De-stress at The LGF
Fri 6th March 8pm What Tammy Needs To Know About Getting Old and Having Sex at Z Arts
Sat 7th March 12pm Sugar & Spice at The LGF
Sat 7th March 12.30pm Manchester Village Spartans Women's Rugby Session at Sale Sports Club
Sat 7th March 7.30pm Saturday Night Beaver Sugar & Spice After-party at Tribeca
Sat 7th March 8.30pm Bolton Women's Night at The Star, Bolton
Sun 8th March 11am Sugar & Spice at The LGF
Sun 8th March 11am Manchester Jessies walk from Tockholes - email heather.gilbert74@gmail.com to confirm attendance
Tue 10th March 6pm Legal Advice Surgery at The LGF
Tue 10th March 7pm Slam Dunkin' Divas women's basketball training at Loreto High School, Chorlton
Tue 10th March 7.30pm Stepping Stones Support Group at The LGF
Wed 11th March 6.45pm Manchester Stingers women’s football training at Trinity Sports Centre
Wed 11th March 8pm Northern Wave women’s swimming session at Chorlton Leisure Centre 
Sat 14th March 2pm Here Comes Tango at Manchester Central Library
Sun 15th March 11am Manchester Jessies walk from Hebden Bridge - email debrapayne@live.co.uk to confirm attendance
Sun 15th March 1pm Biphoria Coffee Meet at the Vienna Coffee House
Mon 16th March 6pm LGBT Book Club discussing 'Zami - A New Spelling of my Name' by Audre Lorde at Richmond Tea Rooms
Tue 17th March 1pm Bloomers Older Women's Social Group at The LGF
Tue 17th March 7pm Slam Dunkin' Divas women's basketball training at Loreto High School, Chorlton
Tue 17th March 7.30pm Carousel LBQ Women's Social group at The LGF
Tue 17th March 8pm Biphoria Bi Pub Meet at The Waterhouse
Wed 18th March 6.45pm Manchester Stingers women’s football training at Trinity Sports Centre
Wed 18th March 8pm Northern Wave women’s swimming session at Chorlton Leisure Centre 
Thu 19th March 6pm Police Surgery at The LGF
Sat 21st March 1pm Manchester LGBT Heritage Walk from The LGF
Sat 21st March 2pm Let's Get It ON! workshop for couples at The LGF
Tue 24th March 6pm Legal Advice Surgery at The LGF
Tue 24th March 7pm Slam Dunkin' Divas women's basketball training at Loreto High School, Chorlton
Tue 24th March 7.30pm Stepping Stones Support Group at The LGF
Wed 25th March 6.45pm Manchester Stingers women’s football training at Trinity Sports Centre
Wed 25th March 8pm Northern Wave women’s swimming session at Chorlton Leisure Centre
Thu 26th March 6pm LGBT Professional Networking at Velvet
Sun 29th March 7pm Laughing Cows Women's Comedy with Katie Mulgrew, Holly Burns, Mandy Toothill and Kerry Leigh at The Frog & Bucket
Sun 29th March 8pm The Boi Zone Drag King Night at Polari


Click here to see an extensive list of local groups and organisations offering social opportunities or support to lesbian and bisexual women. 

Have we missed something? We're so sorry! We always want to know about events for and of interest to lesbian and bisexual women. Email details to women@lgf.org.uk. 

Join our meet-up group to make connections with other lesbian & bi women in Manchester.

Find out more about what the Lesbian & Gay Foundation has to offer for women – visit the ‘LGF ❤ Girls’ section of our website: http://www.lgf.org.uk/women.