- Credit Union lottery proceeds gifted to Centrepoint, to help tackle youth homelessness.
- Funds come as the number of young people facing homelessness in the North West increases.
Manchester Credit Union (MCU) is doing its bit to help tackle youth homelessness, thanks to the generosity of its members.
Almost £2,000 of funds raised through MCU’s Busy Bee Lottery scheme have been awarded to Centrepoint – the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity.
This is the latest in a string of charitable donations made possible by Busy Bee Lottery participants. The lottery is exclusive to MCU members and combines the opportunity to support local good causes with a chance to win a monthly cash prize.
Since its inception in 2023, the initiative has raised more than £32,000 for charities and community groups.
Centrepoint supports almost 14,000 young people every year by providing accommodation, teaching valuable life skills, tackling their physical and mental health issues and working with them to get them into education or employment. Funds raised from MCU’s lottery will go towards Centrepoint’s work to get young people facing homelessness the right support when they need it most.
In Manchester, Centrepoint has been supporting 18-to-25-year-olds without a home since 2017. Its city centre drop-in service supports over 1,000 18-25-year-olds a year who are homeless or at risk of facing homelessness. At the drop in, young people can access a range of support, including housing advice and education, employment and training opportunities, as well as necessities like a hot shower, food and fresh clothing.
Centrepoint’s latest research has revealed that youth homelessness in the North West has increased by 7% between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Commenting on the Manchester Credit Union donation, Lucy Goble, Community Fundraising Manager at Centrepoint, said: “We can’t thank MCU enough for choosing Centrepoint as the latest beneficiary of the Busy Bee Lottery. Youth homelessness is rising not just in the North West but across the country, which means that the support we provide is needed more than ever.
“Donations like this mean that we can continue to reach those who need it most with the support and tools that can help them to escape homelessness for good.”
Mandy Wilcock, chief executive of Manchester Credit Union, added: “We strive, with the backing of our members, to support charities that have similar missions to our own. MCU has always focused on contributing to the alleviation of poverty and the economic regeneration of its communities. Recently we’ve placed an emphasis on boosting financial literacy for young people in Greater Manchester, via our Bee Smart with Money campaign.
Centrepoint is also striving to improve the financial futures of young people – helping them to avoid homelessness and find routes into education and employment. We are delighted to be able to support them in this vital work.”
As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial co-operative, Manchester Credit Union offers a range of services from savings accounts, including one dedicated to Christmas, to fair and affordable personal loans with no application fees and no early repayment fees. The credit union is dedicated to helping people in Greater Manchester free themselves from a cycle of costly and stress-inducing debt.
Operating from three physical branches, Manchester Credit Union serves members in the City of Manchester, Stockport, Bury, Rochdale, Tameside, Trafford, and the High Peak.
Manchester Credit Union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA.
