Manchester Metropolitan University to collect donations to the Big Change fund for each conference visitor booking received

Manchester, United Kingdom – 4 July 2017

One of Britain’s biggest universities is to collect a donation to a homelessness fund for each delegate who visits for a conference in the future.

Manchester Metropolitan University’s Conference and Events team have committed to collect direct donations of £1 from each conference day delegate rate booking for the Big Change fund.

The fund is run by Manchester Homelessness Partnership – a campaign drawing charities, grassroots groups, Manchester Council, businesses and residents together – and supports those without somewhere to live by providing grants for education or training courses; furniture, furnishing or essential appliances; clothes for interviews, and to cover deposit and rents.

The fund is Manchester’s alternative giving campaign, which aims to maximise the use of public donations for the benefit of individuals to help address the complicated range of reasons that led to them becoming homeless.

Manchester Metropolitan University is delighted to help the Big Change Fund to raise both money and awareness for this invaluable campaign, fulfilling one of the four pledges to which the University committed when it signed up to Manchester Homelessness Partnership’s Manchester Homelessness Charter in May 2016.

Manchester Metropolitan University’s Head of Conference Services, Janet Scull, said: “We hope to make a small inroad to help raise funds and awareness and encourage others in the business events industry to contribute to such a worthy project.”

Since signing up to the charter, the University has participated in World Homelessness Day activities alongside our Students’ Union to raise awareness of Big Change and responsible giving and it has identified research projects, committed to funding a PhD Studentship to research partnership working and homelessness, and participated in and publicised the activities of the Manchester Homelessness Partnership.

Planning is underway at the University to further support the four pledges of the charter over the coming months.

For more information about meeting facilities at Manchester Metropolitan University contact venues@mmu.ac.uk or visit our website: mmu.ac.uk/venues.