Since being made aware of the fantastic work Mustard Tree delivers, GRAHAM wanted to support this charity combat poverty, inequality and homelessness across Greater Manchester in any way possible.
In March, GRAHAM made a £5,000 donation to the charity that we hoped would have a positive impact on the local community - supporting Mustard Tree meet the needs of the 450 people they see every day. Our donation was used towards helping 277 families build up their weekly shopping in the charity’s Food Club, as well as providing training and development opportunities. It covered the cost of supporting a ‘freedom trainee’ for six months to aide their development through classes, courses and workstreams that the charity provide – guiding them through their journey; moving on from the charity and into meaningful work.
Harry Dwan, Fundraising Manager at Mustard Tree, said:
“Having GRAHAM’s support is very reassuring and vindicating. Not only with this donation, but knowing we have the support of an organisation that has a local impact. GRAHAM has helped relieve financial pressure and anxiety, feed families and provide people with equity, dignity and opportunity. This support allows Mustard Tree to help brilliant people build themselves back up, at a time where there are so many ways to fall down. We look forward to continuing to work with GRAHAM to support the Greater Manchester community.”
Since making the donation, we wanted to learn more about the services Mustard Tree offer, and see firsthand how donations, like GRAHAM’s, truly help the Greater Manchester community. On Wednesday 24th April, GRAHAM, Equitix, Derwent Facilities Management and Sheppard Robson, as long-standing partners collaborating on projects in the Manchester area volunteered for a day at the charity’s Ancoats HQ, Manchester, supporting across its ‘front-line’ services and training offering.
Throughout the day, our volunteers supported across several activities, including:
- Food Club – supporting clients pick essential food items, packing their shopping bags and answering any questions about the service
- Community Shop – sorting clothes donations, tidying the shop and assisting clients who are moving out of homelessness to make their new house a home
- Driver’s Mate – helping the charity’s van drivers deliver and collect furniture from across Greater Manchester
- Classes & Courses – assisting with a class and/or course including ESOL (for non-native English speakers), creative writing, art, textiles, computer confidence and customer service
Equitix Development Director, Craig Young, who volunteered at the ‘Food Club’ for the day, said:
“I was truly overwhelmed by how Mustard Tree is helping to address the ongoing struggles local families and communities face here on a daily basis. The teams’ positivity, upbeat manner and the welcoming atmosphere they create takes the stigma out of what is a critical social issue. The resourcefulness of the organisation is an inspiration.”
Neil McFarlane, Strategic Development Director at GRAHAM who was a volunteer, said:
“We are living in very difficult and uncertain times. Volunteering at Mustard Tree provided us all with an opportunity to meet the charity’s fantastic staff who deliver these vital services, and most importantly, meet its clients. Meeting the people of Greater Manchester who rely on these services, who benefit from these services, and who NEED these services was a very fulfilling and uplifting experience.”
Marvin Odubanjo, Volunteering Coordinator at Mustard Tree, said:
“We are blessed with supporters, but only ever either receive donations or volunteering, very rarely do groups deliver both!”
GRAHAM is committed to making a meaningful contribution to the communities where we work and live. All employees are entitled to, and encouraged to take, two volunteer days per year, which are paid time off from normal day-to-day roles.
