Manchester mayor Andy Burnham moved by donation to his charity for homeless people

Christmas is the time of year when most of us eat too much, drink too much, watch too much TV and generally overindulge.

It’s also the time of year when some people think about those who are less fortunate and like to volunteer their time or make a donation to a local charity or good cause.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham was caught off guard when he received a cheque for £200 for The Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Charity.

Not because the charity doesn’t receive lots of donations but because it was from an elderly couple who had decided to donate their winter fuel allowance, a non-means tested payment to help with heating costs, to the charity because they didn’t need the money.

Mayor Burnham was so moved he decided to tweet about it.

Have a read of this letter which I received the other day. Does the heart good in these dark times. God bless them both & the generous people of Greater Manchester. You can help here > https://t.co/SBkOnDDfHj 2/2 pic.twitter.com/lLBv2P740W

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 17, 2019

According to Shelter, more than 5,000 people will be homeless in Manchester over Christmas. Last year, 19 homeless people died, making Manchester the city with the third-highest mortality rate in the country.

The Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is an independent charity helps front line projects deliver innovative initiatives tackling homelessness and supporting the goal to end rough sleeping in Greater Manchester.

To donate to the charity click here.

Mr Burnham has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 and was previously MP for Leigh. He was Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport from 2008 to 2009 and Secretary of State for Health from 2009 to 2010 and was once thought of as a future leader of the Labour Party.

Who would have thought that, less than a decade later, he would be Mayor of Greater Manchester or that Leigh would be represented by a Conservative MP?