Top Picks
Guides
What’s on
Where to go
See all

Celebrating Life: The Sunday Assembly at the Niamos Centre

Gemma Gibb, Associate Editor

Visit now

Celebrating Life

Niamos Centre, Manchester, Manchester
13 January 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Free
Book now

Fancy doing something uplifting this January? Look no further than the first Manchester meet-up of the year for The Sunday Assembly, a non-profit, non-religious movement for wonder and good that meets to hear great talks, sing good pop songs and generally celebrate life.

Expect a family-friendly, party atmosphere with inspiring TED-style talks, comedy, dancing, power pop sing alongs, crafts, tea, cake and more. Yes really. Special guests comedian and Sunday Assembly founder Sanderson Jones will be talking about the wonky wonder of being alive and Mighty Heart artist Lisa-Marie Hoctor will be sharing thoughts on self-compassion.

With a motto of “live better, help often, wonder more” Sunday Assembly was first started by comedian friends Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans. On their way to a gig they discovered they fancied the idea of going to church but also definitely not going to church. Something fun that inspired better connectedness and community in an increasingly fragmented society but that was also most definitely not like religion. So they coined the term “Lifefullness”.

Now with over 70 Sunday Assembly chapters in 8 different countries, everyone is welcome with the aim to instill fun, energise, vitalise, restore, repair and recharge people, while also connecting and facilitating community action. So as well as having a blinking fun and enriching time, you can also meet and make plans for creating social change in the community through volunteering or other means.

The Manchester chapter also star in Martin Parr’s current Return To Manchester exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery. Cool beans, eh.

 

Where to go near Celebrating Life: The Sunday Assembly at the Niamos Centre

Hulme
Hulme Playhouse Theatre

The Playhouse Theatre, originally known as the Hulme Hippodrome opened its doors on 6 October 1902. In 2018, the historic venue was relaunched as a community arts centre by NIAMOS – a collective of artists, musicians and local residents.

Clay Studio Manchester
Manchester
Event venue
Clay Studio Manchester

Clay studio was founded in 2016 to provide a dedicated workshop for new graduates, hobby ceramicists and experienced makers. The studio also offers a range of classes for students of all abilities.

Venture Arts
Hulme
Gallery
Venture Arts, Manchester

Venture Arts is a progressive visual arts charity based in Hulme, Manchester, with a small exhibition space. It works alongside learning disabled artists to create and show exciting new collaborative visual artwork.

Manchester
Theatre
Z-arts

Z-arts was formed in 2000 as a ‘creative space for young people’ with a priority on providing participatory activity.

Manchester Metropolitan University Brooks building, Birley Campus in Manchester
Manchester
Event venue
MMU Birley Campus

Birley is Manchester Met’s world-class centre for Education and Health Professionals and the university’s flagship community campus.

Manchester
Restaurant
The Old Abbey Taphouse

STEAM focused – pub, hub and event space, food, local ale, recording studio, rehearsal room, urban farm + micro-brewery. Food served 11.30am-3pm and 5-10pm.

Manchester
University
MMU Student Union

Manchester Metropolitan University Students’ Union building houses a bar and various other facilities for students and staff.

Manchester
Gallery
Manchester School of Art

The Manchester School of Art, of which the Holden Gallery is a part, is a beautiful neo-Gothic building that’s part of MMU’s All Saints campus.

See all places

What's on: Families

Until
FamiliesCity Centre
Manchester Christmas Markets

The Manchester Christmas Markets are back for 2025, with many dozens of stalls in front of the town hall, and hundreds of traders spread across city-centre squares.

Free entry
Two young visitors looking up at a banner in a case, holding pencils and an activity sheet.
Until
ActivityManchester
2025 Banner Bingo at PHM

Explore the People’s History Museum with your banner bingo card in hand as you navigate their galleries through the lens of craftivism.

Free entry
A performer in a bright red costume sits on a snowy stage set, holding a large snowball between their legs with a surprised expression. The colourful winter backdrop features snowflakes, hills, a snowman, and a traffic light with glowing lights.
–
FamiliesManchester
The Snowy Day at Z-arts

This winter, families with little ones are invited into a shimmering world of snow and discovery with the new production of The Snowy Day.

From £10.00

Culture Guides

Sepia image of a courtroom with the words 'Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird’
Theatre in the North

Winter brings a huge haul of seasonal shows, as well as productions that resolutely veer away from the fairy lights.

Music in the North

Manchester’s closing out the year – and looking to the new one – with a run of gigs from some of the country’s best underground exports.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

A white mattress is burning in a black rocky landscape.
Exhibitions in the North

In galleries around the North this autumn, you'll find tactile sculptures, Treasures with a capital 'T' and plant magic.

Food and Drink in the North

Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

See all guides