In honor of surpassing 1M Lime Hero trips and donations exceeding $500K, we are thrilled to introduce a new monthly series called “Hero of the Month!”

This month, we are spotlighting Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity raises vital funds to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in Greater Manchester.

We spoke with Fran Darlington, Chief Executive Officer and Frankie King, Digital Engagement Officer, from Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity for a fireside Q&A.

Can you give us a brief overview on what you do?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: As Chief Exec, I do a little bit of everything but my main role is to build relationships that can support our fundraising, and set the strategic direction for the charity. We exist to support the incredible organisations across Greater Manchester on the frontline of homelessness and rough sleeping. So, it’s important that we amplify their work, champion best practice within and beyond the region, and do everything we can to get the money where it is needed.

Frankie King: As Digital Engagement Officer I am responsible for all things communications at Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. This can mean anything from producing and scheduling content for our social media platforms, conducting interviews with organisations we have previously or currently support with grants and writing our blogs on anything from new government policies, upcoming campaigns or new supporter announcements.

However, as we are just a small team of 4, with 3 out of 4 of us working part time, we can often find ourselves doing a little bit of everything and helping wherever is needed to make sure our fundraisers and campaigns are as successful as possible.

How does Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity measure its impact on Manchester?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: There are lots of ways Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity measures its impact in Greater Manchester but perhaps the simplest one to understand is the number of nights our funding supports in the pioneering scheme – A Bed Every Night – or even the number of people in that scheme across the region. ABEN exists in the way it does – build on the principle that no one should have to spend a night on the streets – because of the funds we bring, because of people and organisations like you. To date, we’ve funded over 78,000 nights in that scheme – that’s pretty impactful!

Frankie King: A favourite thing about my job is the site visits I conduct with all our previous and current grant recipients. This is a brilliant way of being able to understand the impact of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity on a human level as I get to hear stories and anecdotes about how money they have received from us has had a real impact.

What is your favorite part about the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: To be honest, not sure I can beat Frankie’s answer. However, it is incredible to spend your working hours doing everything you can to raise money that can make a difference to so many organisations and people across the region. It’s great to be able to do something you enjoy, with people you want to be with, that is making a real difference.

Frankie King: My favourite part about working for Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is the people. That can be anything from supporters of the charity, organisations we support and people who they support. The generosity of the community of Greater Manchester is really inspiring and I feel honoured to work alongside these people every day.

What is the biggest obstacle Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity faces?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: I think our biggest obstacles are in terms of the scale of demand and need. The cost-of-living crisis has put incredible pressure on people, households and organisations, and at the same time the availability of genuinely affordable social housing is at an all time low. We’re asking people and businesses to donate, at a time when money may feel as scarce for them as it is for charities we support.

Whatever people can spare, we will make sure it gets to where it can have the most impact. And we’ll always work hard to (and it sounds cheesy!) put the ‘fun’ in fundraising. That’s how you keep people engaged, and hopefully, that’s how we can continue to grow the numbers of people and businesses supporting us this year.

Frankie King: It is important for us to establish long-term funding so we can plan for the future of the organisation and the charities we support. By having a better picture of the amount of money we will have coming in we can then understand better the number of grants we will be able to give.

How did you get involved in the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: I used to be a University lecturer, focusing on social and spatial inequalities. I really enjoyed this role but had a change of heart during the pandemic. This led first to Save the Children where I spent about a year as a Research Advisor before I saw a role at the Charity. The opportunity to work where I grew up and on a local cause that I really cared about was really exciting and I’m so pleased I got the job and even happier that we have been able to grow the team to the number we are now. I’m very lucky to work here.

Frankie King: My journey with Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity began April last year. I had previously been with Islamic Relief Worldwide but felt the desire to work for a charity with more of a local focus and so Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity seemed like the perfect fit. Going from a communications team to just me was certainly an adjustment but I am learning so much every day and am really enjoying working in and for a community I love.

What was the biggest project you worked on in 2023? What was the impact?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: Looking back, delivering our charity Bus Pull inside Manchester Central was a pretty big project! Spanning anything from risk assessments, sourcing equipment to attach to the buses, and recruiting teams, it was a mammoth task that we delivered largely in-house (though we could not have done this without the support of TfGM!). We’re very excited for round 2 this year, Manchester Central are helping us to put on a great event that will be even better than before.

Frankie King: The biggest project I worked on last year was our 1000 Beds for Christmas campaign. This annual campaign is one of our biggest fundraisers and it was the first online campaign I was able to see from beginning to end. It was a very successful campaign that smashed its fundraising target and will help ensure less people have to face a night on the streets in 2024.

What's ahead for Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: 2023 saw a brilliant period of growth for Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. We went from a team of 2 to a team of 4, introduced new and exciting fundraising events and underwent a full brand refresh. My hopes for 2024 are to build upon this growth and put Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity on the radar of even more businesses, organisations and people in our city-region.

Frankie King: My priority for the charity this year is to continue to grow awareness of us in Greater Manchester, with the aim of becoming a household name when people are considering who do their next sponsored run or bake sale. I hope this year even more amazing people get involved with our exciting roster of fundraising events, helping us to help even more people.

Rapid Fire Questions

E-bike or E-Scooter?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: E-Bike

Frankie King: E-bike every day of the week.

Favorite place to take a Lime in Manchester

Fran Darlington-Pollock: Central Bay

Frankie King: Salford Quays for a swim!

Favorite part about partnering with Lime?

Both: It’s such an easy way of getting our work and our message out to people, while they’re just going about their day!

Three words that describe Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: Pioneering, Collaborative and effective.

Frankie King: Community, Exciting, Collaboration

If Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity had a superhero mascot, who would it be and why?

Fran Darlington-Pollock: 100% concur.

Frankie King: As an all female team, it has to be Wonder Woma(/e)n