Families across Greater Manchester will benefit from a cash boost to help them through the coronavirus crisis - thanks to a Manchester-based business.
SUEZ recycling and recovery UK has made a £100,000 donation to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity - which will be split between the Covaid-19 appeal and the Bed for Every Night campaign.
The generous donation will be used to support vulnerable residents across the city region, including those who have been impacted by the pandemic.
Money raised through the Covaid-19 appeal will help existing charities and voluntary organisations provide care, specialist support, and much-needed basics such as food parcels and toiletries to those most in need of extra support because of the pandemic.
The remaining £50,000 will make a valuable contribution towards ‘A Bed for Every Night’ - a programme which provides much-needed emergency shelter and support for homeless people across Greater Manchester.
Through its waste management contract with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, SUEZ has made a commitment to donate £100,000 to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity every year.
In future the donation will come from proceeds generated through a network of ‘re-use’ shops SUEZ is setting up in Greater Manchester later this year.
Through the shops unwanted items donated at Greater Manchester’s 20 household waste recycling centres will be sold to local residents, giving them access to affordable second-hand goods such as furniture, bicycles, crockery, tools and sports equipment.
“This is a moment of real challenge for a lot of people in Greater Manchester, and the Covaid-19 Emergency appeal has seen so many individuals and organisations right across our city-region pull together to support some of the most vulnerable in our community,” Tim Heatley, chair of the mayor’s charity, said.
“This donation from SUEZ to the Mayor’s Charity is a great contribution to that effort, and one that I’m pleased to see them commit to every year through the proceeds from their re-use shops.”
John Scanlon, Chief Executive of SUEZ added: “Delivering social, economic and environmental benefits for the people of Greater Manchester is central to our work with GMCA, and I’m delighted to be making the first of SUEZ’s annual £100,000 donations to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Fund.
“We’re in unprecedented times, and this money will make a real difference to people who need it urgently, such as rough sleepers, those fleeing domestic violence, and families struggling to make ends meet because of the impact of Covid-19.”
The Manchester Evening News has joined forces with the mayor's charity to raise money for the most vulnerable people living across the region’s ten boroughs.
Every single penny of the £20,886 raised by the public so far makes a huge difference to those most in need during these unprecedented times.
A £10 donation could provide a box of toys and puzzles to keep children entertained, or weekly 'companionship' calls for elderly people who most need them.
A donation of £15 will cover a basic family food and drink parcel for a week.
If you can stretch to £20, that could provide daily house calls for vulnerable older people, while £50 covers a parcel including clothes, food and, if needed, baby supplies, plus debt or budgeting advice.
We want to carry on and raise as much money as possible to help those most in need during these trying times - but we can't do it without your incredible support.
Any amount you can spare, no matter how big or small, is helping to make a huge difference.
All the money raised will be distributed via the mayor of Greater Manchester's charity.
