Greater Manchester businesses are gearing up for an inaugural charity dinner aimed at combating rough sleeping and homelessness in the region. The event, dubbed “An Evening with Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity,” will be held on Wednesday, 26 April, at New Century in Manchester. Mayor Andy Burnham will take the stage for a live Q&A session, alongside live music and food from New Century’s array of indie traders.
Our very own Matt White will host the fundraiser, which is set to unite businesses from across Greater Manchester for a single night in support of a worthy cause. Tickets are now on sale for businesses, with a limited number of discounted tickets available for voluntary and charity sector organisations.
Mayor Andy Burnham, patron of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, expressed his excitement for the upcoming event. He said, “We are coming out of what has been a really challenging winter. We’ve seen the numbers of people rough sleeping edge upwards, and increased pressure on all our services. But together, we can make a difference. Join us for another great fundraiser and let’s show the world that in Greater Manchester, we don’t walk on by.”
The charity dinner follows a series of events that have raised over £45,000 for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. Some of the previous events include a solo charity gig by Courteneers’ frontman Liam Fray in January and a DJ Battle between mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, which also featured Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner MP on the decks.
Proceeds from the event will go towards the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, supporting A Bed Every Night. This flagship initiative aims to provide a bed and essential support for anyone at risk of or currently rough sleeping in Greater Manchester, while working to prevent homelessness before it becomes a reality.
Jemma Scott, Director of Spaces & Stories, expressed her delight that New Century would serve as the backdrop for this critical fundraiser. Tim Heatley, Chair of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, added that the event is more important than ever as the cost of living continues to affect people, leading to a growing number of individuals at risk of homelessness.
Launched in 2018 by Andy Burnham and supported by the Charity, A Bed Every Night provides emergency accommodation for anyone rough sleeping in the city-region, regardless of status, along with crucial personal support. The program has helped over 4,000 people since its inception and has been instrumental in reducing rough sleeping in the region since its peak in 2017.
In January 2023, an average of 582 people in Greater Manchester were in A Bed Every Night accommodation who would otherwise be at risk of rough sleeping. A total of 21 organisations across the region currently provide accommodation for the initiative.
The Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is grateful to its partners and sponsors for their support in delivering the event, including current sponsor Artorius. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets via Eventbrite or by contacting the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity or Katie Robson at Elevate GM. A limited number of discounted tickets are available for charity and voluntary sector organisations, with a maximum of two per organisation.
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An Evening with Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity
Venue: New Century
Date: Wednesday 26 April
Time: 6:30pm – 11:30pm
Price: from £125
