Stand Up and Speak Out for the Ace Centre

Date published: 15 November 2018


Top North West comedians are coming together for a special gig to help give children and young people with complex communication needs a voice. 

The event, which is being headlined by some of the region’s hottest talent, is raising funds and awareness after local Failsworth charity The Ace Centre was targeted by callous thieves leaving children without the means of communication.     

The Ace Centre, a national charity which provides specialist equipment, training and support to children and adults, was recently burgled with more than £150,000 worth of AAC devices stolen.

It included the theft of state-of-the-art equipment including eye-gaze technology.

The equipment was integral to the assessment work provided by the specialists at the charity meaning families have faced delays in support and finding their voice.   

Now some of the region’s top stand-up comics are now putting on a show to raise awareness of the vital work the ACE Centre does and to raise funds to help children in the North West communicate with the world around them.

Ace Centre Chief Executive Officer, Anna Reeves, said they’d been overwhelmed by the response of the Oldham and wider community.

Anna said: “The support we’ve received in terms of donations and people raising awareness of our work has been phenomenal.

"It is enabling us to turn a difficult situation into positive action to help and empower more people communicate and live their everyday lives.”

The comedy event is the brainchild of stand-up comedian Sam Gore, who also works with children with special education needs, including 10-year-old Sam who’s benefitted from ACE Centre’s expertise.

Seeing the impact of Ace Centre’s expertise first hand, Sam has called in favours from the comedy industry to arrange two high profile charity gigs (Liverpool and Manchester) to support the charity’s vital work.   

Sam said: “At the heart of all of this are the many children like Sam that the ACE Centre supports, locally and all over the country.

"The comedy circuit believes that every child should have a voice, which is we’re choosing to Stand Up and Speak Out to help them regain and develop theirs."

In Manchester, The Frog and Bucket venue is backing him by opening their doors on Wednesday, December 12, to host a top line-up of some of the city’s hottest comedy talent.

The line-up includes Manchester comedy legends like Justin Moorhouse (Phoenix Nights, Looking for Eric), Mick Ferry (Michael MacIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow) and international headliners like Matt Stellingwerf (winner of four New Zealand Comedy Guild awards).

The night will be hosted by Bethany Black, another Manchester comedian and star of Russell T Davies’ Banana and Cucumber on Channel 4.

Tickets cost just £10, with all ticket fees and donations on the night going directly to the Ace Centre to help them continue to support children in the North West with special educational needs.

Buy your tickets via the link: https://frogandbucket.ticketsolve.com/shows/873596289

Anna added: “We are honoured by Sam’s response and the support these two events will bring to our charity.  

"Our service empowers people to enjoy life, to communicate more freely and express themselves.

"It also enables them to be funny and share in humour which is why these gigs are so fitting.”


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