HEINEKEN Manchester Brewery

Manchester South Central Foodbank opened in April 2014 in response to the need for a foodbank that covered the Hulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range and Old Trafford areas. These are some of the most deprived areas in Greater Manchester, which is an area with a high level of poverty. With a child population of about 600,000, roughly 41.7% of children are living in poverty in the region. We are therefore a small but busy foodbank, in the 2024/2025 financial year we supported nearly 10,000 individuals with a food support. The Foodbank is operated by the Registered Charity Bridging the Gap (Manchester). Our mission is to to support people in immediate crisis by providing emergency food provisions and to seek longer term solutions to address the underlying causes of financial hardships, enabling communities to build resilience and a life free from poverty.

MACS conditions are a group of rare, irreversible congenital eye anomalies; • Microphthalmia (small eyes), • Anophthalmia (no eyes) • Coloboma (cleft in the eye structure). Every year in the UK, 114 babies are born with one or more MACS condition. They cause lifelong visual impairment, visible difference, additional health needs and significant emotional and social challenges. Negative reactions can profoundly affect confidence, self esteem and mental health. Parents often feel frightened, isolated and unsure how to navigate complex medical, educational and social systems. MACS is the UK’s only charity supporting people affected by these conditions. We support 3,600 people across the UK, (1,200 with a MACS condition) - offering emotional, practical and financial support, peer connection, regional activities and confidence building experiences. Our mission is to ensure people with MACS feel connected, supported and able to reach their potential to confidently lead a fulfilling life.

Lifeshare is a grass roots organisation established by volunteers in 1984, and registered as a Charity in 1989. We offer multiple projects to meet the needs of our clients: Respite service: This service runs Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 7-9am, aimed at homeless clients, providing a full cooked breakfast, showers, toiletries, clothing, signposting to other services, and offering training sessions such as digital inclusion and cooking sessions. Manchester Digital Collective: This is a collaboration with other charities and public sectors around Greater Manchester, aiming to bridge the digital divide within the city. We teach digital skills in order to prevent digital exclusion. We also provide digital devices as required free of charge to those who need them, including SIM cards with data, calls and message allowances, and data for those receiving laptops and tablets. Food Bank: For our clients and those referred in by other agencies such as social services. We provide food parcels to cover a 3-day period, aiming to support those who cannot get support elsewhere, or are suddenly in crisis. Christmas Project: Lifeshare hosts Manchester's only 7-day indoor support over the holidays. The project provides three meals a day, hot showers, dry clothes and a raft of support services including opticians, podiatrists, drug and alcohol services, and barbers.