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We hosted the first inspire* Hub Meeting in the North East On Friday the 4th of April,  gunnercooke  partner Warren Kemp hosted the first North East inspire* hub! It was a great first session, bringing together charity leaders from the region for peer-led support, networking and developing.  As one of our foundation staff join the first session of a new Hub, for any additional support, it was great to see how instantly there was so much support and connection in this group. It is a great continuous reminder, of what a difference these safe spaces can make in the lives of busy charity leaders, who often carry a lot on their own. Thank you to Warren for volunteering with the gunnercooke foundation; we can't wait to see how the hub develops! Are you a partner that is looking to become a Hub Leader or a Charity that is looking for a Hub? Then get in touch today!

A night to raise money for people at risk of homelessness. No one should be without a home. So a room of hundreds of people, came together to support thos e most at risk of homelessness and tackle the root causes and stigma around it, at the Greater Manchester Mayor's Gala. A lot of money was raised, including a wonderful raffle and a live drawn artwork that was auctioned off. This event was wonderfully organised by  Fran Darlington-Pollock  and her team at  Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity  who are now also a member of our inspire* project. the gunnercooke foundation  and a few of our  House of Books & Friends CIC  team were so pleased to support.  Looking forward to hearing the final total raised, it looked set to totally smash last years total and provide even more beds for  the #ABedEveryNight  campaign which as we saw last night is making such a huge difference to so many people.

Donate to support women all over the UK. It's week 2 of our challenge for Step Up for Smart Works! T eams from across  gunnercooke , the gunnercooke foundation and  House of Books & Friends CIC  are raising money for  Smart Works Greater Manchester  this March.  The Smart Works team have sent us some lovely goodies to help us in our pledge to walk over 310,000 steps each, whatever the weather. Why are we walking 10,000 steps a day for Smart Works? Because Smart Works help unemployed women get the coaching, clothing and confidence they need to secure employment and change the trajectory of their lives. And seen as it's Women's History Month, there is no better time to be supporting the women near or far from you. How can you contribute? Donate to our gc trust teams that are participating this year. The fo undation Team:   https://www.fundraiseforsmartworks.org.uk/fundraisers/thefoundationsolemates Partner Services Team:  https://www.fundraiseforsmartworks.org.uk/fundraisers/partnerservicesteam The Marketing Team: https://www.fundraiseforsmartworks.org.uk/fundraisers/gunnermarcheting The Talent Team:   https://www.fundraiseforsmartworks.org.uk/fundraisers/gunnercooketalentteam   House of Books and Friends :  https://www.fundraiseforsmartworks.org.uk/fundraisers/HouseofBooksandFriends

House of Books & Friends only went and won... House of Books & Friends  went and won Inclusive Innovation Winner  at the Northern PoWEr Women Awards ! A huge thank you to  Naomi Self  and our team of ‘Bookworms’ who make our beautiful corner of Manchester a safe and welcoming haven for all.  House of Books & Friends only exists thanks to the vision laid out by  Darryl Cooke  coming out of the pandemic and the start up and ongoing support of  gunnercooke  - a professional services firm who believe in leaving the world a better place than they found it. We know the bookshop is having an impact on so many people’s lives.  A big thank you also to the judges for recognising all the hard work, initiatives and everything which has gone into, and continues to be developed across House of Books & Friends.  Make sure to visit our bookshop and café in Manchester! Find us : 81 King Street, Manchester M2 4AH. what3words ///stars.wished.papers

The Sleep Charity visit the House of Commons This week inspire* hub leader and gunner cooke  partner Joan Pettingill visited the House of Commons to hear about sleep and its impact on workplace safety, including hearing from The Sleep Charity about The Sleep Charter. Launched in 2020, The Sleep Charter's vision "is that sleep difficulties are understood in the workplace, employers are educated and that employees have access to effective, consistent evidence-based advice and support." Employers can sign up to The Sleep Charter and pledge to start considering: How to tackle fatigue and sleep deprivation in the workplace Adopting a cultural change within your business Start taking appropriate responsibility for your employees health and wellbeing Create a ‘SSS’- a Staff Sleep Strategy Ensure that employees have access to sleep education

See our schedule of inspire* Big Meet Ups for 2025 We kick off our 2025 Big Meet Ups with a Virtual Speed Networking Session  in January. Inspire* members can meet some of the 159 other charities in the network, find out more about what they do and how they can support each other this year. Big Meet Ups 2025 22nd January 4.30-6.00pm Virtual Speed Networking 19th March 4.30-6.00pm Fireside chat with Dallaglio Rugby Works CEO 14th May 4.30-6.00pm  Impact Reporting with Emma Insley 15th October 4.30-6.00pm Impact - Mergers and Asset Pooling - what charities can learn from the private sector, with Bean Partners. Big Meet Ups are open to all inspire* member charities, for more information about the network and how you can get involved please contact heather.kerr@thegunnercookefoundation.com

House of Books and Friends supports Home-Start This Christmas customers at House of Books & Friends have been supporting Home-start Salford, Wigan and Trafford with their Christmas Campaign 2024. Thank you to everyone who has donated toys and books, shopping in store and online. Your donations will help make Christmas brighter for families in Manchester.

In Manchester, London and Berlin volunteers from across gunnercooke have been helping vulnerable people stay warm this winter. This year Partners, Operating Partners and gcTrust teams have been supporting the brilliant WrapUp   campaigns across Manchester, London and Berlin. 80 volunteers committed over 18- hours to promoting WrapUp, leafleting, collecting and sorting nearly 850 costs and hundreds of warm items like jumpers, hats and gloves across the three cities. For the first time ever, we supported Wrap Up Manchester and we were blown away by the responses; nearly 50 bags of coats were donated between Piccadilly Station and House of Books & Friends . The team in Berlin held their second WrapUp and more than doubled the number of items donated! Over 20 volunteers braved the cold to collect coats at Berlin Central Station. Thanks to HandsOn London, Hannah from the gunner cooke  foundation was able to go over to Berlin and support the German team. We can't wait to see how WrapUp Berlin grows over the coming years. The London team were loud and proud in Moorgate Tube Station; many of the volunteers are on their second, third or even fourth year taking part! Soe partners brought along their clients and friends (and dogs) to join them. From all of us at the gunner cooke  foundation we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported WrapUp 2024!

Each year our colleagues from gcTrust and partners from gunner cooke  donate their time to this fantastic initiative - handing out flyers and taking donations at Moorgate Tube station. Wrap Up takes thousands of donations of coats and redistributes them to people in need, all across the country.  We are so proud to be a part of this work,  Wrap Up London returns for it's 14th year in 2024!  Working with Hands On London volunteers from gunner cooke  will be at Moorgate Tube Station on Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th November from 7am-11am.  Come along to support WrapUp London with your spare coats and jackets, and help keep people warm this winter! ​ Our Partners

For the first time in 2024 the gunner cooke  foundation will be collaborating with Human Appeal, taking part in a coat collection at Piccadilly Train Station on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd October, for WrapUp Manchester 2024. ​We will also be hosting a collection point at House of Books & Friends from 21st October to 8th November, you can bring your spare coats along during shop opening hours.  ​ To get involved or find out more, please contact laura@thegunnercookefoundation.com Our Partners

After 12 successful years in London, in 2023 we brought WrapUp to Berlin, marking the international start of this amazing initiative! This year WrapUp will again kick off at Berlin Central station from 5th to 7th November 2024 , where everyone can donate at designated drop-off points. Click here to find out more via our German website.  ​​ In 2023 we received political support from Hanna Steinmüller (Green Party MP) and Brian Nickholz (SPD MP), who actively participated in collection, as well as from international corporations as donors.   ​ For WrapUp 2024 we have already secured exciting partners and supporters from the political arena to further develop the WrapUp initiative in Germany and build on this year's success, your help is crucial. ​​ Would you like to participate this year as an official sponsor, volunteer or organise an office collection?  If so, please write to us at solidaritaet@gunnercooke.de   ​​ What Exactly is WrapUp? ​​ WrapUp is a pro-bono initiative by the British foundation Hands On London  which has been running successfully for 12 years and has collected over 200,000 winter coats.  Every November, winter coats are collected for those in need at various Tube stations and shopping centres in London and other UK cities, then sorted and distributed. ​ In November 2023, thanks to our volunteers, partner organisations, and strong political support, we conducted the first collection at Berlin Central Station and celebrated a great success.   ​ With Strong Charity Partners By Our Side ​​ Berliner Stadtmission:  The Berliner Stadtmission reaches people in need at over 90 locations and does good through various activities, including working with children and young people, supporting homeless people and refugees, and assisting needy, sick or elderly people. ​​ Moabit hilft:  The Moabit hilft association is a charitable organisation that advocates for the protection of persecuted people and refugees.  Besides donation campaigns and political work, the organisation offers support with hearing preparations, finding housing and provides workshops and German courses. ​ Berliner Obdachlosenhilfe:  This charitable association has been supporting people in need on the streets of Berlin for over ten years, providing warm food, drinks, clothing and sleeping bags. ​​ Rotary Club Platz der Republik:  This community aims to make a positive impact on the world.  Through their diverse contacts in various areas of society they connect skills and resources to support charitable initiatives.  Our Partners

This Easter, we proudly hopped-it-forward, delivering joy, sweetness, and hope over 400 times! Watch the video on how we did it all. Our 2024 gunnerbunnies Easter Campaign saw an incredible outpouring of generosity, with over 400 chocolate bunnies donated to The Joshua Tree, a wonderful charity supporting families affected by childhood cancers.   Thanks to everyone who joined us in spreading smiles and showing care during this meaningful time. Together, we made a difference, one bunny at a time.