About us.
Our story.
Back in 2017, our Patron Andy Burnham had a vision. He wanted to achieve real change for the vast numbers of people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping across the city-region. On his very first morning as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he set about to enact that change, leading by example and starting a fund that he has continued to donate into ever since. That fund became Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, a politically independent charity with the Mayor of Greater Manchester as Patron.
As a charity working to address homelessness and rough sleeping, the funds we raise lead to real and meaningful change, and our grant-making has evolved to meet the needs and challenges of our times.
In our early years, we focused on our role as a founding funder of the flagship A Bed Every Night programme. Then, through Covid-19, we invested more than £850,000 of unrestricted core funding into projects supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Today, our grant-making continues to support the unrivalled A Bed Every Night scheme, but also looks to support wider initiatives within anything from the temporary accommodation sector to programmes working to stop homelessness before they become a reality.
Our values: Pioneering, Effective, Collaborative.
Our ethos.
No one should be without a home. Homelessness should neither be an inevitable, nor an acceptable outcome for people at risk. With the support of the businesses, communities and people of Greater Manchester, change is possible.
We fund pioneering work, learning from and listening to our charity partners to make sure we are effective. This is only possible through real collaboration. Only by living these values can we fulfil our mission: to end homelessness in Greater Manchester through funding reactive, proactive, sustainable and long-term strategic measures and initiatives, making Greater Manchester a better place to live, work and thrive.
Our core values and mission shapes everything we do, including how we develop our partnerships. To understand more about the principles we apply when developing partnerships (within our fundraising and grant making), read our ethical code of conduct.
Our fundraising.
We champion pioneering initiatives that can support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping. But we can’t do that without the businesses, communities and people of Greater Manchester.
With anything from Mayoral DJ Battles powered by The Warehouse Project, to Bus Pulls in Manchester Central, our events are for everyone. You can also take on a challenge in your community or at your company, set up a regular donation or make a one-off gift.
Find out more about how you can support our work or get in touch for more information.
Our funding.
We fund projects, programmes and initiatives which aim to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping across Greater Manchester.
Our funding falls into three key priority areas:
Emergency Response: helping the frontline in addressing homelessness and supporting people currently experiencing homelessness.
Places and Spaces: supporting the construction of new spaces and the temporary accommodation sector.
Targeted Prevention: pioneering new ideas that seek to stop homelessness before it becomes a reality.
“I’m so proud of what Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity has grown in to. Because of it, we’ve now got a permanent infrastructure to support people.
“Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity has been hugely important for that and hopefully it will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and Patron of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity (2018 - present)
Our people.
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Dr Fran Darlington-Pollock
CEO
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Laura Field
Office Administrator
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Frankie King
Digital Engagement
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Louise Clarke
Campaigns & Grants Administrator
Our trustees.
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Tim Heatley - Chair
Co-founder | Capital&Centric, Regeneration Brainery & Embassy Village
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Rev Ian Rutherford - Vice Chair
City Centre Minister | Methodist Church
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Erica Boardman
Communications Specialist
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Lauren Rosegreen
Former Policy and Influence Manager | Macc
(on sabbatical) -
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Chris Monkman
Co-founder & CEO | Mana
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Gillian Duckworth
Solicitor & Monitoring Officer | Greater Manchester Combined Authority
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Bradley Russell
Senior Investment Manager and Divisional Director | RBC Brewin Dolphin
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Phil Kemp
Board Advisor
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Mike Gerrard
Chief Financial Officer | Great Places Housing Group
“Being an Ambassador has been an enriching and humbling experience, both personally and professionally.”
Rachel Chesters, Ambassador
Our ambassadors.
Our Ambassadors are a dedicated network of people who share in our vision that homelessness has no place here in Greater Manchester. Their vision, networks, expertise, advocacy and experience help us leverage new support, boost our profile, and raise vital funds to further our work.
Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity Ambassadors have strong roots in the city region, whether as business leaders, local influencers, or through their roles in local and regional media.
If you would like to get involved, send us an email to find out more.