Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity launches new funding collaboration with AO Arena to help end homelessness

The AO Arena has joined forces with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity in a powerful new partnership to help end homelessness: one tap at a time.

Written by I Love MCR
Last updated 4 weeks ago
Charity, Sponsored

A new ‘tap to donate’ point has been installed at the AO Arena, offering thousands of visitors the chance to make a real difference with a simple gesture.

Every donation goes directly to A Bed Every Night (ABEN), a life-changing initiative that’s already helped reduce rough sleeping in Greater Manchester by 43% since its launch in 2018.

There are 600 beds available in A Bed Every Night, forming one part of the city-region’s ongoing work to end homelessness and truly eradicate the need for rough sleeping.

A Bed Every Night

But this is about much more than just a bed for the night. Delivered across all 10 boroughs, A Bed Every Night offers safe accommodation and tailored support for people facing or at risk of rough sleeping.

ABEN’s compassionate team works closely with each individual, helping them rebuild confidence, restore dignity, and begin a new chapter. For many, it’s the first step on a long journey back to normality.

Matty White, Ambassador for Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity

Matty White, Ambassador for Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity cut the ribbon last night to mark the launch of the latest addition to the charity’s donation points installed across the city region.

He knows the importance of schemes like this, having experienced rough sleeping when he was younger: “I have slept on the streets, I have slept on friends’ sofas.

“I know how important it is to get support and care, like what we see in A Bed Every Night, when you feel at your lowest. I’ve spent some time with some of the residents and heard first-hand what ABEN has done for them, literally saving lives.

“It can feel like so little, but just imagine if even a tenth of the people coming to see some the great shows and concerts at AO Arena decided to tap, how many nights of care and support we could see funded in A Bed Every Night.

“I know this can raise some real funds!”

Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity

Fran Darlington-Pollock, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, said: “We’ve funded over 87,400 nights of accommodation in A Bed Every Night, and are proud of the role we play in enabling the people and businesses of Greater Manchester to support this incredible scheme.

“This collaboration with AO Arena opens up the opportunity for even more people to get behind our mission to end homelessness.

“We want to see a time where no one has to sleep on the streets, and where everyone who needs it can get access to the life-changing support ABEN offers.”

The AO Arena X Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity

Ellice Eadie, Interim Head of Marketing at the AO Arena, said: “For the past 30 years, the AO Arena has been a cornerstone in Manchester, not just physically but culturally too.

“As a venue, it’s the people of our local communities that make us who we are, and that’s why it’s so important to us to work with initiatives such as the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to ensure that everyone in our City gets the chance to live well.

“Ultimately, we’re lucky enough to work in the power of live entertainment, an industry that transcends cultures, communities and languages.

“We believe that everyone deserves the right to access this, through the stability of having a place to call their home.”

How much have the ‘tap to donate’ points raised so far?

The device at the AO Arena is part of a number of devices across Manchester, which have collectively raised over £4,000 over the last 12 months.

Unlike devices elsewhere, programmed to £3.00, this new device gives the public the option to choose how much they want to donate, ranging from £3.00 to £50.00 with just a tap of their phone or card.

Visitors to the AO Arena can find the device located on the main concourse. Just £32 covers a night of accommodation in this pioneering scheme, so get tapping!

To find out more about this awesome charity initiative, please visit the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity website by clicking here

What’s on at the AO Arena

You can find out more about what’s on at the AO Arena by clicking here

This article was last updated 4 weeks ago.
It was first published on 16 May 2025 and is subject to be updated from time to time. Please refresh or return to see the latest version.

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