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This March, our gunnercooke foundation and gunnercooke trust team took part in the Step Up for Smart Works challenge - a month-long movement challenge where participants aimed to walk 10,000 steps a day, or find their own way to keep active, all while raising money for a fantastic cause. Some of us hiked up hills, others cycled long routes, and plenty of us clocked up the steps day after day. However, we chose to do it, the goal was the same: to support Smart Works Greater Manchester , a brilliant charity that helps unemployed women transform their lives. Smart Works provides interview clothing, one-to-one coaching, and confidence-building support  to women looking for work. The impact is huge: 69% of clients secure a job within a month of their appointment , and 94% leave feeling more confident about their future . As the Manchester Evening News put it, “In 2023 alone, the charity supported over 700 women across the region, and 69% of those who accessed the service went on to get the job within a month of their appointment.” For us, the challenge was a reminder of the power of community. Every step, every ride, every hike helped raise vital funds for a service that makes a very real difference to women across the country. A huge thank you to everyone who took part, donated, or cheered us on.

Running a charity or not-for-profit can be incredibly rewarding, but let’s be honest, it can also be isolating, overwhelming, and full of unknowns. That’s exactly why we created inspire*.  inspire* is a free programme from the gunnercooke foundation, designed to support ambitious charity leaders/CEOs like you. But let’s be clear, this isn’t just another networking group. It’s a space built on trust, shared purpose, and practical support. A space where leaders can connect honestly, learn from each other, and grow, together.  At the heart of inspire* are our Hubs: small, confidential groups of 5–12 non-competing charity leaders who meet regularly. These Hubs act as a safe, supportive environment to share challenges, swap ideas, and develop new strategies, without judgement or competition. Think of it as your leadership lifeline.  As an inspire* member, you’ll also receive:  1-2-1 mentoring with a business leader who can offer a fresh, experienced perspective  Inspiring talks and events with expert speakers from across sectors  Toolkits and best practice resources to strengthen your leadership  Strategic support and guidance tailored to your organisation’s needs  Access to additional support at heavily discounted rates, if and when you need it  The opportunity to explore social enterprise through our Business For Good (BFG) programme  And yes, it’s completely free. Funded by the gunnercooke foundation, inspire* exists to help more charities “Do Good, Faster.” All we ask in return is your time, commitment, and ambition.  If you’re leading a charity or not-for-profit and want to be part of a community that truly understands the ups and downs of leadership, we’d love to welcome you.  Find out more and apply: https://www.thegunnercookefoundation.com/inspire-programme

On 18th June , the Little Green Sock Project  packed up their shelves, boxes of donations, and furniture, and moved into a new space. But they didn’t have to do it alone, as volunteers from across the community showed up to lend a hand, including our team from the gunnercooke foundation . It was more than just a moving day. Every box lifted, every shelf carried, and every item placed into their new home represents the lifeline this grassroots charity provides for families across Greater Manchester. Founded in 2022, Little Green Sock  has already supported over 1,300 children , distributed more than £240,000 worth of donated items , and saved 20 tonnes of goods from landfill . From prams and stairgates to bundles of baby clothes, the essentials they provide go directly to families in crisis - single parents, families fleeing domestic abuse, or those facing sudden financial hardship. As one parent shared: “Everything was carefully chosen… it felt so special - like someone truly cared. That feeling is indescribable.” in this article. The move marks an important step in their journey. Their old premises at Stretford Mall faced demolition, and thanks to the incredible generosity of the community, Little Green Sock raised the funds needed to secure a new home where their work can continue and grow. We’re proud to have been part of this day. Shifting boxes, building shelves, and making sure that when families walk through Little Green Sock’s doors, they’ll find the essentials they need, offered with so much care. But their story doesn’t end here. Little Green Sock relies on continued donations and volunteers to keep going. You can get involved by donating funds, contributing much-needed kit items (see their list here ), or supporting their fundraising efforts. Together, we can make sure Little Green Sock continues to provide hope, dignity, and practical help - one box, one bundle, one family at a time.

On 18 June 2025, our inspire* members joined an exclusive webinar exploring AI in the Third Sector, looking into the future, benefits and downfalls. While AI can feel intimidating, the session emphasised that when used thoughtfully, AI can be a great tool of efficiency. With recent surveys showing that over half of charities are currently using AI, the conversation was both timely and practical. Here are some articles to references: Charity Digital Skills Report 2025: https://charitydigitalskills.co.uk/report/detailed-findings/artificial-intelligence/ Access Group Employee Survey 2025: https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/01/28/employee-survey-highlights-charities-as-least-likely-to-be-using-ai-in-the-workplace/ Charity Excellence AI Benchmarking Survey 2024: https://www.charityexcellence.co.uk/charity-ai-benchmarking-survey/ Our expert panellists, Lucy Jaffe (Global Industry Consultant), Binu Paul (Operating Partner at gunnercooke), and Damien Ribbans (Operations Director at Noise Solution), brought a wealth of perspectives spanning finance, operations, technology, and social innovation. The panellists shared some real-world ways AI is already helping charities. Routine admin task: like summarising notes or drafting documents, can be automated, giving staff more time to focus on the work that really matters. AI is also making fundraising and bid writing more efficient, helping organisations generate insights on their social impact, and even providing real-time feedback to improve services. Communications and stakeholder engagement are benefiting too, with AI tools helping charities tailor messages and respond quickly to supporters and beneficiaries. But the panel was clear: AI isn’t a magic fix . There are real risks to watch out for. If AI is trained on poor data, it can reinforce inequalities. Governance and privacy are critical, especially when dealing with sensitive client information. And no matter what, human judgment and lived experience have to stay at the heart of decision-making, AI should support people, not replace them. For charities curious about AI but unsure where to start, the advice was simple: start small . Try low-risk tasks like summarising documents or drafting content, focus on areas where AI genuinely solves a problem, and give staff space to learn and experiment safely. Building confidence is just as important as the technology itself. The discussion made one thing clear: ignoring AI isn’t an option . While adoption should be thoughtful and ethical, charities that explore AI now will be better placed to innovate, strengthen operations, and ultimately amplify their impact. This Big Meet Up gave members the chance to reflect on how the sector can bridge the current gap in adoption and move towards using AI with confidence and purpose. Do you want to explore the full conversation? The replay is available exclusively to inspire* members . Join Inspire today  to catch up on this session and access future Big Meet Ups.

This month, gcScholars , the work experience programme run by gunnercooke and the gunnercooke foundation, welcomed Mums In Need , a Sheffield-based charity supporting mothers affected by coercive control and post-separation abuse. Students had the opportunity to hear from Laura Riley, founder and CEO of Mums In Need, who shared insights into how the charity operates and the impact it has on the community. The session covered: The practical and strategic responsibilities of running a charity The services Mums In Need provides, including emotional, practical, and legal support for mothers Training the charity delivers to professionals working with survivors of abuse The session offered students valuable insight into charity leadership, showing the challenges and rewards of running a not-for-profit organisation. It also gave them a real-world perspective on social impact work and the skills required to lead a charity effectively. If you are a Charity leader interested in mentoring, peer support, and practical guidance, you can join the inspire* programme by the gunnercooke foundation. Find out more and apply to join inspire* here: thegunnercookefoundation.com/inspire-programme

On 5th August 2025 , our gunnercooke team joined 50+ other groups at Manchester Central for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity Bus Pull - a challenge that saw teams of five pulling a full-sized yellow Bee Network bus over a 30-metre course. It wasn’t just about muscle power. Every rope tug, every cheer from the crowd, and every team effort was in support of the Mayor’s Charity and its “A Bed Every Night”  programme, which provides safe places to stay for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping across Greater Manchester. Together, the event raised an incredible £38,686 - enough to fund over 1,000 nights of accommodation  for those who need it most. For our team, it was a brilliant mix of challenge and camaraderie. Lining up shoulder to shoulder, we dug in, pulled hard, and celebrated every metre as the bus rolled forward. It was tough, but it was also a reminder of what can happen when people come together for a shared purpose. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us on the day and donated to the cause. We’re proud to have flexed our muscles not just for fun, but for a future where everyone in Greater Manchester has somewhere safe to call home.

On February 27th, partners from gunnercooke and our foundation team took part in the LandAid SleepOut , joining forces with colleagues across the country to raise money for young people facing homelessness. According to the latest Centrepoint data , over 118,000 young people in the UK  experienced homelessness in 2023–24, which is a 10% increase from the previous year. While the way these figures are counted has changed, the reality is clear: more young people need our support than ever before. The LandAid SleepOut  offers participants a small glimpse into the harsh reality faced by thousands every night. Some of our colleagues braved the cold by sleeping in their cars, in their gardens, or together with the main group in the city. It was a challenging night, but also eye-opening. As Laura Jones, our foundation Director, reflected: "Taking part in the SleepOut (last year) just gave a tiny insight into what many young people sadly have to face every night. It was tough, but I knew I had a warm bed to go home to - a luxury those we’re raising funds for don’t have. As well as being a tough night, it was also a great experience, and we want to raise even more money and awareness for 2025.” This year, LandAid participants collectively raised over £600,000 , directly funding projects that provide safe, secure housing and essential services for young people in need. The SleepOut 2025 may be over, but the fight against youth homelessness continues. Donate today . Together, we can make sure every young person has a safe place to call home.

Are you a charity leader or CEO looking for practical support and peer mentoring in Oxfordshire or Reading? Running a charity or not-for-profit can be rewarding, but it can also feel isolating, overwhelming, and full of tough decisions. That’s why the gunnercooke foundation created inspire *. What is inspire? * inspire* is a free programme designed specifically for ambitious charity leaders. Unlike standard networking groups, our programme focuses on peer mentoring, leadership guidance, and practical resources that help you grow your organisation and manage challenges more effectively. Our inspire* Hubs brings together small groups of 6–12 non-competing charity leaders/founders. These confidential meetings give you a space to: Share challenges and brainstorm solutions with peers Swap ideas and leadership strategies in a supportive environment Access one-to-one mentoring from experienced business leaders Attend expert talks and workshops tailored to charity leadership Being part of inspire* also gives you: Toolkits and best-practice resources to strengthen your organisation Strategic guidance customised to your charity’s needs Opportunities to explore social enterprise through our Business For Good programme Access to additional support at discounted rates Funded by the gunnercooke foundation, inspire* exists to help charities in the area, and beyond “Do Good, Faster”. All we ask is your time, commitment, and ambition. If you’re leading a charity or not-for-profit and want to join a community of peers who understand the highs and lows of leadership , our Hubs are designed for you. Apply to join your local inspire Hub today: * https://www.thegunnercookefoundation.com/inspire-programme

When the mornings start to bite, and the cold settles in, a warm coat can be the difference between comfort and real hardship. That’s why our team at the gunner cooke foundation was proud to once again support Wrap Up London, the annual coat collection campaign run by the incredible charity Hands On London.  For three chilly November days, gunnercooke colleagues showed up bright and early at Moorgate Tube Station, some arriving before their first meetings of the day, to collect warm coats from generous commuters. In total, 35 volunteers from across our network, including team members from our German offices, dedicated 96 hours of their time. Their efforts helped gather around 450 coats, which have since made their way to those most in need across London and Berlin.  This year marked an exciting new chapter. Thanks to support from our colleagues in Germany, Hands On London extended their reach to mainland Europe. Together, we helped establish the very first Wrap Up 2023 collection in Berlin, connecting with local German charities to ensure coats found their way to those facing winter without a warm layer.  Behind the scenes, our Marketing and Events team, along with the gunnercooke foundation, worked to raise awareness, creating promotional materials and sharing stories online to encourage even more people to get involved.     Since Wrap Up London began in 2011, almost 250,000 coats have been collected and passed on to charities working with people experiencing homelessness or hardship, co-ordinated and distributed by long standing inspire* member Hands On London. We’re proud to play a part in this growing movement, where a simple act of kindness, like donating a coat, can wrap someone not just in warmth, but in care and solidarity.

We’ve officially joined Instagram, and we’re pretty excited about it! Our first post went live last week, giving a little intro to the team behind the screen. It feels great to finally have a space where we can share more of what we’re up to, show the people and projects we support, and highlight all the amazing work happening across the third sector. We’ll be using our Instagram @dogoodfaster to give a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at life at the gunnercooke foundation, share updates from our projects, and shout out the inspiring organisations we work with. You’ll also find useful resources, stories from our community, and hopefully some content that makes you smile too. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that doing good doesn’t have to be complicated, but it works best when we do it together. Whether it’s charities, social enterprises or business leaders wanting to give back, we love bringing people together to help ideas grow and make a bigger impact. So if you’re curious about what we do, passionate about social change, or just want to see some good news on your feed, come and follow us @dogoodfaster . We’d love to have you with us!

Doing good, faster at the gunnercooke foundation. Although Good Deeds Day 2025 was over a week ago, we are committed to keep the momentum going. Doing good, feels good , doesn't it? At gunnercooke, and at the House of Books & Friends, we were able to coordinate some good deed activities such as Bingo! That's right, we are ticking off the good deeds on the Bingo Card - and it's been great to see things ticked off. What good deeds have you committed to?

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!