Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity CIO

Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity CIO is an independent, politically neutral charity established in 2019 and formally registered in 2022, with Mayor Andy Burnham as Patron. Its core mission is to end homelessness and rough sleeping across Greater Manchester's ten boroughs through pioneering, accountable, collaborative, and effective approaches that blend immediate relief with long-term systems change. Rooted in the belief that homelessness is preventable, it emphasises equity, inclusion, anti-discrimination, and collective action among public, private, and third sectors, prioritising innovative, evidence-based solutions and best practices informed by lived experience and data-driven evaluation.

The charity funds three key themes: Emergency Response for frontline support to rough sleepers; Places and Spaces for accommodation infrastructure and temporary housing; and Targeted Prevention for initiatives stopping homelessness before it starts. Supported activities include direct services, innovation pilots, outreach, network building, core funding (selectively), capital projects, and partnerships, benefiting people facing homelessness, rough sleeping, mental health issues, substance misuse, or socioeconomic exclusion. Past grants have backed over 170 organisations, including the "A Bed Every Night" programme delivering 87,000+ bed nights.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, community groups, social enterprises, public bodies, and aligned commercial entities, with preference for smaller, locally-rooted groups delivering exclusively in Greater Manchester—no income thresholds apply. Typical grants range £5,000–£10,000 via programme-specific calls (e.g., Autumn Small Grants closed 14 Nov 2024); no unsolicited or rolling applications—check website for open rounds and email forms to enquiries@gmmayorscharity.org.uk. It uniquely convenes regional partnerships under mayoral auspices, rejecting non-GM work or unrelated causes to drive rare, brief, non-recurrent homelessness.