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Helen Clarke Manchester BIBA Conference. Credit: All photos courtesy of XR Chris J is part of Extinction Rebellion and is involved in both the Didsbury/Withington group as well as central Manchester. What are the objectives currently for XR in Greater Manchester We are made up of a number of local groups, which have individual actions and come together to co-support on those actions and to organise actions in Central Manchester such as the Insure our Survival march through the city centre. Our aims remain those of XR overall. We have also protested outside the BBC about their low level of reporting of climate issues and protest. We have done two citizens assemblies in Didsbury with other local climate groups, one on the Mersey and Dirty Water and one on Cean Air, to demonstrate how they work and create joint plans and proposals. Our main local aims have been about public awareness through outreach, supporting local actions such as Ryebank Felds campaign, protest outside United Utilities and the 'die in' at Manchester Museum to mark the State of Nature report. A secondary aspect of the outreach and actions is to increase the numbers within the groups and to involve people in both local actions and the national actions and marches such as the Big One, restore Nature Now and Insure Our survival.   At Manchester level we have done three Insure Our Survival actions, two involving a protest march with theatre drum band and choir singing outside Manchester offices of Insurance companies. Insure Our Survival is about persuading those insurance companies to stop insuring oil and gas projects. Two have also involved occupying but not blocking the lobbies of those offices for a specific time. Thursday 31 October was a protest march to some of the offices, again with theatre and drum band, as well as public leafleting and one lobby occupation. Finally, we have taken part in Defend our juries protests outside courts and when XR people come to court for offences from the past. Are the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) doing enough - and if not, what needs to be done Although the GM local authorities have all declared a climate emergency (albeit Tameside less so) and created plans to achieve net zero, those plans have often been very weak and progress very slow. We have campaigned by approaching local councillors and officers and being involved in any local climate action activities, to draw public attention to lack of progress. Climate Emergency Manchester do this very thoroughly and create quarterly progress reports. We have also gone to the Greem summit each year organised by GMCA to protest lack of progress. You can see the lack of progress from their own reports, they should have reduced emissions by 49% but only 16% achieved by this year. GMCA produce GM wide reports is £21.3 million overspent on its carbon budget to 2022. The plans are simply insufficient in the first place and with insufficient progress, as well as a lack of compensating actions. GMCA are poor at holding the Manchester airport group to account for their net zero plans, including their dependence on future technology solutions. What is your view on the crossover between XR and Just Stop Oil   XR has similar aims to JSO but differ in tactics. XR declared on 1/1/23 that we would temporarily suspend disruption to the general public, although keeping it for Government and corporates.   Many people in JSO came from XR and we have worked in partnership such as on the Restore Nature Now march. I think they have the same goal just different approaches. We don't overlap on those approaches. What's your view on the new Labour administration and its approach to climate change From our local discussions, a lot of disappointment - lack of urgency about the climate and nature emergencies, lack of investment in sustainable energy and actions, little about insulation in new and retro fitting homes, not stopping some of the oil and gas exploration projects approved by the last Government but not fully started, such as Rosebank. Also turning to Carbon capture and massive investment in technology that will be slow arriving and may not be effective, and a lot of which will go to the oil and gas companies who continue to create the problem. Finally little about reforming the protest laws especially their more recent changes.   On the positive side, appointing the nature envoy, stopping the Cumbrian coal mine, some of Ed Miliband’s activity and ministry, more on planning for sustainable energy, the slight increase in the oil and gas windfall tax (only 3%), but removal of the set off provision whereby the companies could offset new investment against the tax.   A very mixed response so far.

Helen Clarke The construction of Embassy Village, a pioneering homelessness project in Manchester city centre has officially begun with the support of manufacturer Daikin UK. A purpose-built community will provide a long-term and sustainable home for 40 homeless men within the city region as well as a village hall, outdoor green spaces, mini allotments and a multi-use sports area. In support of this project, air-conditioning manufacturer Daikin has committed to installing heat pumps to provide sustainable heating and cooling solutions to the residents, who are expected to move in from October 2025. Rachel McCrystal, Greater Manchester Partnerships Manager at Daikin UK said: "It is a privilege to be able to promote sustainable solutions while giving back to the communities our clients and colleagues work and live in. "By providing Daikin’s advanced, energy-efficient heat pump systems for the Embassy village, we aim to ensure residents have access to safe, reliable, and sustainable heating and cooling solutions while contributing to the decarbonisation of Greater Manchester." As well as providing a home, the Embassy Village will also offer training to residents including Daikin bootcamp courses, with the aim of upskilling them to meet the green skills gap and secure vital job. Daikin’s installation partner, Temperature Control, has also committed to installing and maintaining all of the heat pumps on the site. Sid Williams, Co-Founder and Director of Embassy said: "Daikin’s support to the Embassy Village project has been nothing short of incredible. "We’re breaking ground on the village build and hope other companies would like to join Daikin, Temperature Control and the rest of the team of companies making history together here in Manchester."

MCRJourno Spring 2025 at the Royal Exchange Theatre kicks off with female-driven stories of contemporary classic plays directed by two powerhouse directors. Sarah Frankcom returns with two revolutionary Caryl Churchill plays, ESCAPED ALONE and WHAT IF IF ONLY and Natalie Abrahami makes her debut at the venue with Mike Leigh’s iconic contemporary classic ABIGAIL’S PARTY. Greater Manchester audiences will be able to access theatre on their doorstep as the Exchange's pop-up theatre The Den will take up residency in Leigh and Tameside this year developing two unique festivals this spring and summer. The Royal Exchange also continues its partnership with Manchester International Festival with a world premiere to be announced early next year. ESCAPED ALONE and WHAT IF IF ONLY By Caryl Churchill Directed by Sarah Frankcom 7th February - 9th March These two short plays are brought together in one evening of theatre at the Royal Exchange. ESCAPED ALONE and WHAT IF IF ONLY are beautifully intricate meditations on life, and these stunningly crafted, complex and funny plays star stage and screen actor Annette Badland, Maureen Beattie, Souad Faress, and Margot Leicester. Completing the WHAT IF IF ONLY cast are Bea Glancy (Game of Thrones) as Child, Danielle Henry (Twelfth night by RSC) as Someone, and Lamin Touray (Waterloo Road) as Present. The production also includes eighteen members of the Royal Exchange's Elders Company which Elders Producer Andy Barry take on the role of Associate Director. ABIGAIL’S PARTY By Mike Leigh Directed by Natalie Abrahami 4th April - 17th May Mike Leigh’s modern classic has garnered cult status across the decades. Award-winning Director Natalie Abrahami makes her Royal Exchange debut with this ground-breaking tragicomedy classic drawing on the unique in-the-round stage to create an intimate party that audiences won’t want to miss. At the height of 1970s suburbia, social class and ambition, Beverly Moss, the Hostess with the Mostess, is inviting you to her exclusive cocktail party which descends into chaos and sexual tension. LOCAL EXCHANGE - THE DEN FESTIVAL The Den returns this year bringing the pop-up mobile theatre to Tameside and Leigh to offer bespoke community festivals in each area. Building on established relationships and forging new connections The Royal Exchange will use the theatre to provide workshops, performances and affordable access to the arts. Pay What You Can tickets will be available on every standard show as well as Under 30s tickets and Banquette Seats from £10. Access performances are also available for productions within the theatre space, including Sensory Adapted (SA), Audio Described (AD), BSL-Interpreted (BSL) and Captioned (C) performances, with all tickets for Sensory Adapted performances from £15.

MCRJourno Kyla Brox From blues to flamenco and dayglo punk to New Orleans brass, there's a whole world of music on offer at The Vale in early 2025. JANUARY Mossley's own blues legend Kyla Brox, who has been compared to Aretha Franklin, launches the new season on Saturday 25th January with a night of soulful blues and R&B sounds, mixing up original songs and covers. Cutting her teeth from her earliest years in her late Ashton-born father's outfit the Victor Brox Blues Train, Brox the younger has been described as 'the finest female blues singer of her generation' and is a regular at The Vale. Loose Articles FEBRUARY Music lovers are invited to spend an evening with internationally renowned flamenco music and dance superstars Ramón Ruiz, Rebecca Ortega, and Natalia Marin. In an event called Fuego, Sol y Agua (fire, sun and water), the trio will bring the sunny rhythms and vibrant melodies of Andalusia on Saturday 15th February with leading flamenco guitarist Ramon who is a regular live guest on BBC Radio 3. Specialising in discordant, hypnotic repetition, tales of boozy nights out, and radical politics, Loose Articles return to The Vale on Saturday 22nd February. A punk quartet with plenty to say, their music speaks to all those determined to get through the age of austerity with tongue in cheek, pint in hand, and two feet firmly on the dancefloor. Mr Wilson's Second Liners MARCH On Saturday 22nd March, paying homage to the diehard days of the Hacienda, 90s club culture and its greatest hero Tony Wilson, the Second Liners will deliver a New Orleans brass meets 90s Manchester club classics vibe. Support comes from canine-headed brothers Laurie and Sam Crombie on their second visit to The Vale after supporting HENGE in 2024. The founders of Liverpool's Kazimier club, Dogshow are on a mission to create the ultimate party experience, fusing live techno, jazz, dance and musicianship, their show comprises a battery-powered dog trolley in the centre of the audience. Johnny Clifford, programming manager at The Vale, said: "What unites the artists performing in the first quarter of 2025 is pure artistry and excellence in musicianship…. We can’t wait to welcome them to Mossley."

Helen Clarke Production image. Credit: Tracey Gibbs Amy Hailwood is a Theatre Director, Applied Theatre Facilitator and Artistic Director for Ordinary Glory - a Greater Manchester based theatre company that makes theatre for social change. Her last show Joy Unspeakable   tells the true stories of four different women who recovered from an eating disorder, in their own words. "Like the complexities of the stories staged, it resists a reduction to one simple message or interpretation. I hope that this richness is part of the enjoyment of it as a piece of theatre." Here is our interview with her... What is your message and who needs to hear it? The activist part of me is very clear that my message is that recovery is possible and there is hope and a way out of the horrific prison that people experiencing disordered eating can feel trapped in. It's a message for everyone - for those experiencing disordered eating first hand, but also for their friends and families who may also feel very disempowered and worried, not knowing how best to help the person they love. It's also a message that wider society can benefit from hearing, to help increase understanding and empathy for a mental health condition that is particularly silencing and surrounded by unhelpful myths - for example, the myth that you have to be underweight in order to have an eating disorder. Credit: Tracey Gibbs Why is now the right time for this play? Ordinary Glory has been working towards this production for over four years, motivated by a powerful sense of the importance of opening up the conversation around disordered eating, which remains poorly represented in culture. However, in that time, which of course intersects with the Covid-19 pandemic, referrals to eating disorder services have increased exponentially.  Research from leading eating disorder charity BEAT estimates that 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder, locally, Wigan & Bolton’s Young People’s Community Eating Disorder Service has experienced a significant referral increase of 496% between 2019 and 2022. The cultural conversation around mental health in our society has moved forward in important ways over the past ten years or so, but whilst this has arguably had a really positive effect on the destigmatisation of mental health issues like anxiety and depression, disordered eating feels a little left behind in comparison. Now that society is more familiar with talking openly about our mental health, we want to shift the focus onto disordered eating - a monster very much hiding in plain sight in our culture. What's important about the Greater Manchester locations chosen to showcase the play? Taking the show to various parts of GM means we are able to create the opportunity for people whose daily cultural reference points are much more local, to see the show, not just those audiences who might regularly attend theatre in the city centre. It has also meant we have been able to do locally focused youth and community engagement, offering pre and post show workshops and panel events, as well as free tickets to young people and those on lower incomes in order to reduce the practical barriers to going to the theatre.  What are the signs that people should look out for, with themselves or others? The SCOFF questionnaire is a tool designed to screen potential eating disorders rather than diagnose but if you can relate to any of the questions, we would encourage you to check in with your GP or a health professional for some support. Do you make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortably full? Do you worry that you have lost control over how much you ate? Have you recently lost more than one stone in weight?  Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin? Would you say that food dominates your life? Is there more of a stigma with overeating than with undereating? This is an interesting question but one that it isn't easy to give a general answer for; on the one hand, living as we do in a broadly pro-diet, fat-shaming culture, the associations of perceived greed that might go along with overeating could appear more stigmatised than behaviours of restriction that are broadly praised, often unthinkingly. Think how easily people fall into the language of 'good' and 'bad' food or 'being naughty' in everyday parlance, to delineate between types or amounts of food. On the other hand, the rise of the body positivity movement has seen some positive shifts in norms around the female body in culture, although we still have a long way to go. For people whose undereating makes them very visibly underweight or whose restrictive relationship with food makes it extremely difficult to take part in everyday social interactions, many of which are based around food, the stigma of undereating can also feel and be enormous. Ultimately, all types of disordered relationships with food experience problematic stigmatisations that prevent people getting the help they need. Amy Hailwood. Credit: Ordinary Glory What role does the media play, especially with women who grew up with so much body shaming in the 90s/00s? The media clearly has a powerful impact on shaping the culture in which we live, and whether through the lads mags and body shaming of the 90's/00's or the contemporary pressure to glow like an Insta influencer, women (and men) are constantly bombarded with messages that in essence say - you are not good enough as you are, be like this (insert new definition of perfect). That said, it's easy to demonise "The Media" at large, parts of which can also have a great power for good - the body positivity movement is a case in point. On top of this, the causes of eating disorders are often multiple, with complex elements interacting and to some extent different for each individual, so while a toxic media culture doesn't help, it's not the only contributing factor. The future isn't something hidden in a corner. The future is something we build in the present, as Paolo Freire said.

Helen Clarke Hannah is a student in Manchester who created a community to help tackle period poverty and host a creative festival to raise funds and awareness. What sparked the idea for this event and why now I chose period poverty for many reasons, one is that of poverty, poverty is heavily tied to Manchester. It’s a historically working-class city and with rising levels of homelessness that at times feels unescapable in the city centre, it felt an important issue stimulated with the suffragette movement beginning in Manchester. Another reason is the impact of the Sarah Everard murder - I was 16 at the time and witnessing thousands of women come together to support one another and create safe spaces. I thought it was incredibly inspiring, and their ability to tie a nation together through shared pain allowed me to believe that once again women could be brought together to show support for one another and shared community issues. As for the why now, with a new Labour government I believe it’s a time of fresh ideas and new policies to be born. For too long period poverty has been dealt with on a community basis, whereas I believe its important for the government to take account of their responsibilities for the public and alleviate social and economic issues that come from being born a woman. Labour has historically been the party of the working class, and I think it's important to hold them to account.  What is your message and who needs to hear it Poverty is not a choice. Periods are not a choice, and therefore why are we letting millions of women nationally suffer from this issue. It is a health and gender-based injustice. So much more needs to be done, thousands of women are gaining health issues from wearing unsafe products and reusing them, girls are dropping out of hobbies and sports from period poverty, women are missing work. So many issues are inherent to period poverty and yet many don’t even understand why it's important to talk about such issues. British women will spend as much as £18,450 on their periods over the course of their lifetime. This issue exists, and needs to be resolved and the public need to be educated on health/social/economic misogyny. With rising misogyny and incel movements women are unsafe and this is further indentured by economic problems the government do not resolve. This message needs to be heard by everyone as more needs to be done to remind the government that they are in their position of power to serve us, the people. How can we solve this problem While the government has removed VAT and stated schools should have period products for free it's not enough. They have seemingly tapped the iceberg of a much larger issue. Secondary schools also only have plans to provide products until summer 2024 and no plans have been confirmed for the future so clearly more work needs to be done there. It also should be made law for universities, large corporations and government owned buildings to provide free period products and a women’s equality select committee should be formed to help tackle and research misogyny within Britain. The government created a period poverty taskforce in 2019, but they haven’t met up since the pandemic, an example of easy short-term solutions to help the public feel as though change is being addressed, when in reality it is a façade of morality politics. Research also shows employers often want to help but aren't confident about doing so. There should be sufficient training to remove stigma of periods from the workplace. There is definitely constructive engagement with Scotland to be had to help understand how their system of free period products work, what it costs, lessons to be learnt. There is a multitude of ways period poverty can be solved, from directly creating systems to offer products, educating people on the issue, and helping to create ways to remove stigma. Who took part in the festival We had numerous artists from the university taking part as this was a great opportunity to showcase female talent, we also had talks presented in the form of literature circles/book clubs from female writers and students. Other speakers involved menstruation educators who helped women on the day better understand their period cycles and hormones better. What role can men play in solving the problem Men are crucial to helping to remove misogyny, they are the creators and necessary resolvers of the issue. They can help by not shaming women for periods as negative language and supposed ‘jokes’ create uncomfortable spaces and continued negativity. Men can also be advocators for women, signing petitions, helping to bring awareness to problems, and educating themselves on what inherently affects women. Reading feminist literature and academia is also important to help allow men to understand that it is not an 'us against them', issue but a human failing that has crucial gender biases.

MCRJourno Two of the UK’s most prominent theatre companies are joining forces for the UK Tour of Driftwood. Award-winning physical theatre company ThickSkin and rural touring company Pentabus have teamed up to remount their 2023 co-production written by Tim Foley. Performed by James Westphal and Jerome Yates and directed by Neil Bettles (ThickSkin) and Elle While (Pentabus), the show will be touring the UK from Friday 31st January to 21st March with the tour kicking off in Wigan. Neil Bettles, ThickSkin’s Artistic Director said: "It’s a show that we are very proud of - Pentabus are well-known for their craft in developing new-writing and it includes all the hallmarks of a ThickSkin show - fast-paced, cinematic, dynamic quality that we hope will have broad appeal." Driftwood follows two brothers from a northern seaside town Mark and Tiny, their Dad is dying and their town is crumbling. Family rifts and political divides try to pull them apart, while a figure made of driftwood stalks the shore at night. The show includes an expansive video design by Sarah Readman, which integrates creative captions, making Driftwood a fully accessible production for those benefiting from captions/subtitles. Playwright Tim Foley is a former winner of the Bruntwood Prize and was previously Pentabus’ Channel 4 Writer-in-Residence. When first approached to write this new play Tim knew what he wanted to write, he said: "North East England has coastlines that get under your skin, and I wanted to write the kind of story that lets you taste the salt in the air and gets sand between your toes. "This tale, with its bickering brothers and ancient myths and bags full of chips, is as wild and varied as the landscape that bore it - so join us in celebrating an area and confronting the forces that are working against it." Elle While, Pentabus’ Artistic Director said: "Upscaling Driftwood together with this team feels like a natural step forward, and we’re excited to share this evocative, deeply-rooted story with even more audiences." Greater Manchester dates Friday 31st January - Saturday 1st February 1.30pm (Fri 31 only) and 7.30pm The Mill at the Pier, Heritage Way, Wigan, WN3 4EF Thursday 20th - Friday 21st March - 8pm The Lowry, Salford (Studio) The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ https://www.thickskintheatre.co.uk/

MCRJourno Manchester is launching a brand-new four-day celebration filled with imagination, creation and free family-friendly activities that will transform the city into a giant playground. Taking place from Saturday 15th - Tuesday 18th February families can explore unique play zones scattered across Manchester’s most iconic spaces. With all zones completely free to experience, families will be able to escape the winter blues at a magical wonderland of play with no hassle, and pure playtime. Supported by the city’s hoteliers, Manchester Accommodation BID, the festival has been created in partnership with Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester, Aviva Studios (home of Factory International), Great Northern Warehouse and Printworks. Creators are aiming to show off some of the best locations in the city whilst sparking imaginations and creating incredible memories for families. The family festival will feature six key zones across the city: The Garden - Inspired by nature, this play zone will offer everything from street art by the mastermind behind the iconic MCR Monsters, Filthy Luker , to roaming performers like The Hedgemen, who will spring to life for the perfect photo snap by Exchange Square. The Carnival - St Ann’s Square transforms into a steampunk spectacle of old-school carnival games and modern-day madness. Complete with a traditional Victorian Carousel, side-show stalls with a mind-bending Hall of Mirrors, Test of Strength stand and maddening brain games by the Museum of Illusions. The Playground with Waterloo Road - Relive the joy of classic schoolyard fun with games like hopscotch, tig, giant chess, and giant snakes and ladders, or take part in a mini sports day featuring egg-and-spoon races and more at New Cathedral Street. The Arcade - Families can step into the future and relive the past at this electrifying digital playground, featuring   everything from retro arcade machines like The World’s Largest Pac-Man and the fast-paced Batak, to modern gaming on the giant screen using your phone in the chill-out zone at Printworks. The Sports Hall - where families can unleash their competitive, gaming spirit, and enjoy everything from funky football games in The Stadium to table tennis in The Ping Hub at Great Northern. The Party - at Aviva Studios there will be world-class DJs, a pumping sound system, and dazzling lighting, this is the ultimate family rave. Kumar Mishra, Manchester Accommodation BID Chairman said: "This festival is a fantastic opportunity to draw families into the heart of Manchester, showcasing the city’s vibrant culture, creativity, and its status as a world-class destination."

MCRJourno Last December colleagues at B&Q stores in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire raised £13,000 for its charity partner Shelter. 151 colleagues walked the 12km 151 bus route near Manchester city centre looping around B&Q's Cheetham Hill store to highlight that 151,000 children live in temporary accommodation at Christmas. This significant step to raise awareness resulted in an impressive £13,000 raised for Shelter.    The idea came from the joint efforts of B&Q colleagues Wayne Nixon (who suggested the bus route) and Rachel Coult (who suggested the number of people). Rachel Coult, Regional Manager at B&Q said: "We   are proud of our colleagues who came together to support Shelter and raise awareness about the challenges faced by families in temporary accommodation this Christmas. "By connecting the bus route to 151 participants , which in turn connected to the over 150,000 children  we created an event that raised funds and highlighted the urgent issue of homelessness." B&Q has created a series of snow globe baubles that shatter the illusion of festive perfection, based on true accounts from families.    The baubles were hung in stores across the festive period with B&Q donating £1 from every real tree sold to Shelter. Rachel continued: " The snow globe baubles serve as a poignant reminder of the difficulties these families face, underscoring the importance of having a safe and stable home during the festive season."

MCRJourno Oldham Council and Hive Homes are celebrating the start of works which will see 132 new homes built in Derker across four brownfield sites. The development will include only 44 affordable homes - 21 for 'truly affordable rent' and 23 for shared ownership with the first homes expected in December 2025. The two and three-bedroom homes are being built on vacant plots at Cromford Street, London Road, Evelyn Street and Abbotsford Road. Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: "Hive Homes is a partnership of socially-minded housing providers and funders, working together to unlock sites and help make home ownership more accessible to everyone." The Council has worked hard to continue Derker's redevelopment after the housing market renewal scheme was cancelled by the coalition government in 2011 and works have included a new Park and Ride car park for the Metrolink stop and 232 new homes. All of the 'Affordable' homes will be carbon neutral with no connection to gas and the electricity supply assisted by solar panels. They will use a system that constantly recycles heat around the home, making them eco-friendly and reducing bills for residents. The remaining private homes will be constructed to a ‘Low Carbon’ standard following a similar, highly efficient specification without gas.

MCRJourno A Manchester funeral home is the latest supporter of an awareness-raising initiative to encourage children to be safe on the roads. Co-op Funeralcare on Manchester Road, has donated high visibility reflective armbands to Co-op Academy Medlock as part of the organisation’s Be Safe, Be Seen scheme. The scheme sees funeral homes across the country educate youngsters about staying safe in the darker months. David Noble, Funeral Director at Co-op Funeralcare Droylsden, said: "We’re delighted to be working with Co-op Academy Medlock as part of Co-op’s Be Safe, Be Seen initiative. "Road safety is incredibly important, especially during the winter months when visibility is reduced for drivers on the road, which is why we’re keen to ensure the children of Manchester are educated on how to keep themselves as safe as possible." In 2024 more than 50 Co-op Funeralcare homes have taken part with more than 4,500 armbands donated. For more information about Co-op Funeralcare, go to coop.co.uk/funeralcare

MCRJourno Merseyway Shopping Centre's Giving Tree campaign has once again been a tree-mendous success, providing £100,000 worth of gifts to less fortunate children across Stockport. The Giving Tree invites individuals, businesses, and community groups to choose a red tag left on the tree and buy a bespoke gift for the child described on the tag ahead of Christmas Day. Achieving its most successful year to date with thousands of people donating gifts of toys, books, games, pyjamas, slippers and more, ready to be distributed to Stockport schools and charities. Victoria Nichol, Merseyway Centre Manager said: "The Giving Tree is a testament to the incredible spirit of our community here in Stockport. The Giving Tree. Credit: Merseyway "From our Centre Management team to the dedicated volunteers, the shoppers who purchase the gifts and the organisations who help collect and deliver the presents, it’s a seamless effort built on compassion and generosity. "Together, we’re ensuring that no child in our community wakes up without a gift on Christmas morning, it’s heartwarming to see how many lives we can touch when we all work together to spread joy during the festive season.” This Christmas' Giving Tree supported 14 primary schools across Stockport, as well as local homeless shelters, youth groups, refuges and local charities Chelwood Foodbank Plus and Emmie’s Kitchen.