The new Christmas markets’ scheme raising money for Manchester’s homeless

Manchester Christmas Markets have launched a new partnership with local fund Real Change, which supports people experiencing homelessness in the city. 

Visitors can now donate their £2 cup deposit by dropping their festive drink glasses into the designated Real Change donation bins instead of reclaiming the money. 

The scheme is running at four out of the 10 markets, with two deposit bins in Albert Square, one in Piccadilly Gardens and one at Bar 3 on New Cathedral Street. 

Making Real Change

Manchester has some of the highest levels of homelessness in the UK, according to statistics published by the charity Shelter in 2023. Manchester ranked the third-highest in the country for levels of homelessness per capita.

Founded in 2016, Real Change works with around 25 Manchester charities to help people move away from the streets and into long-term housing. The fund has raised over £431,400 and more than 1,760 people have been helped.

James Charnock, chair of Real Change, spoke to NQ about the new scheme and what the money would go towards. 

He said: “The idea for the scheme came from Manchester City Council, who work closely with the Christmas Markets. This year they approached us and asked us if we wanted to do it. Absolutely we do. It’s a great idea.

“I’d like to think we could do this every year with the markets.”

In terms of what the money will go towards, he said: “A lot of it goes towards helping people secure their first proper home. We get a lot of applications for first-month rent and deposits. This is often the final step- someone has been working with a charity for a couple of years and is ready to move into their own place, and we facilitate that.”

He added, “People going to the Christmas Markets can choose not to pocket their £2 deposit, put it in the bin instead, and those cumulative £2 coins might mean someone ends up at Christmas with a new home. That’s a pretty good present”. 

Charnock stressed the dangers of cold weather, noting a recent case of a man in Didsbury who died of hypothermia before winter. Many others, he said, are sofa-surfing or living in unstable accommodation: “It’s a lovely time of year if you’re in the right circumstances, it’s a very lonely time if you’re not”. 

Alix Moreleigh, from the Booth Centre, one of Real Change’s partner charities, said the fund “provides an opportunity for people to access funds that make a real difference in their lives.”

“Without this essential funding, many people in our community would not be able to positively move on with their lives, out of homelessness and poverty.

“Particularly at this time of year, moving off the streets with help from Real Change can change the trajectory of a person’s life”. 

Manchester’s Christmas Markets run until 22 December, with Albert Square’s A Taste of Christmas open until 4 January 2026. 

Donate to Real Change: https://realchangemanchester.co.uk/

Donate to the Booth Centre: https://www.boothcentre.org.uk/donate.html