Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has launched a Christmas campaign for the second year to help fund emergency beds for people sleeping rough in the region.

The "1,000 Beds for Christmas" campaign will help fund 1,000 nights of accommodation with wraparound support as part of the flagship "A Bed Every Night" scheme.

A Bed Every Night was launched in 2018 by Mr Burnham via the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity (GMMC).

It provides emergency accommodation for anyone rough sleeping across the region, regardless of status.

It costs around £30 per night to fund emergency accommodation, supplying people with guaranteed shelter, food and support to help move people into more permanent accommodation.

The charity has helped over 4,000 people and has been instrumental in reducing rough sleeping in the region since its peak in 2017.

But due to the current cost-of-living and energy crisis, there is an increased need to offer support this winter.

Mr Burnham said: “Over the past few years our ground-breaking partnership approach to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping has made a real difference to people’s lives, ensuring there are safe place to stay and providing wraparound support so people can get back on their feet.

“But we all know that the winter ahead is going to be one of the most challenging we have ever faced, and more people than ever could find themselves pushed into unimaginable difficulty.

“That means, the safety net that A Bed Every Night provides is going to be more important than ever before. If you can, please help us fund 1,000 beds this Christmas, so we can offer a place of safety and support for those that need it the most.”

Donations to the campaign can be made by visiting www.justgiving.com/campaign/1000beds2022.

All public donations of up to £20,000 will be matched by property finance specialists, Together.

Kevin Fisher, group people director at Together, said: “Together are really pleased to be match funding this year’s ‘A Bed Every Night’ Christmas campaign for GMMC.

“We’re committed to supporting our local community and passionate about making a real difference for homelessness across Greater Manchester.

“Whilst Christmas is a time for celebration, it can also be a difficult time for many and especially those without a safe place to call home. That’s why this year we are proud to sponsor this campaign and work together to raise essential funds to provide emergency beds and support.”

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