Manchester businesses encouraged to support homelessness help fund

by Laura Jones

Businesses are being urged to join the public in giving to a new scheme that provides a direct way to donate to the homeless in Manchester.

The Big Change Funds hopes to change the way people donate to the homeless instead of giving spare change to people begging around the city.

Shoppers in the city centre have so far raised £5,500 and now businesses are being asked to make corporate donations to help raise the figure even higher.

The money raised from the fund will go directly to helping the homeless get what they need to start building a life away from the streets, such as clothing for job interviews and training to get them into employment.

NJL Consulting, based in Heald Green, is one of the first companies to have made a donation, giving £500 to the fund.

We’re backing the Big Change Fund to help get homeless people off the streets https://t.co/V18YfmIFnD pic.twitter.com/sT9jcT0VJE

— NJL Consulting (@NJLConsulting) February 8, 2016

Justine Entezari, a planning consultant, said: “Working in the property industry, we recognise the severity of the housing crisis and wanted to find a way to help people most affected. Big Change MCR is a fantastic charity and we would urge others to get involved."

You can make a donation can by visiting their Just Giving page or text REAL01 to 70070 to donate as little as £1 – although bigger donations are more than welcome.