Press Release: Trafford Centre announces partnerships with three new local charities

The Trafford Centre has announced three local charities as the new recipients of the centre’s Fountain Fund scheme for 2023 – 2024. 

FareShare Greater Manchester, Stockdales and Look Good Feel Better will each receive a share of the money dropped into the fountains, as well as working closely alongside the centre on fundraising and awareness-raising campaigns. 

Since the Trafford Centre opened in 1998, over £1.2million has been collected in total from the centre’s famous fountains. Every single coin generously dropped into the water is cleaned, dried and donated to the centre’s nominated charities.  

Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, said: “Trafford Centre is an active part of the community, and we’re passionate about supporting local charities and causes. Our three new charity partners are very worth recipients of our Fountain Fund scheme, and we’re looking forward to developing long-term relationships with their teams, providing opportunities such as free promotional spaces, staff volunteering days and support with awareness campaigns.” 

 Stockdales 

Stockdales is passionate about bringing as much enjoyment to the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities as they possibly can. Fountain Fund proceeds will go to Stockdales Children’s Club, which offers weekend activities for children with learning disabilities who need intensive, specialist support. The club offers a free of charge, safe space at the weekend to make friends and have fun– a rare resource for children with learning disabilities.  

Emma Morris, Stockdales CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Trafford Centre. Our work at Stockdales Children’s Club is so vital to children and their families. Having a presence within the Trafford Centre will mean we can fundraise directly with shoppers – and who knows, we may even be able to find new families we can support!’     

FareShare Greater Manchester  

FareShare Greater Manchester, run by EMERGE 3Rs, is fighting hunger and tackling food waste by using surplus food to feed thousands of people across Greater Manchester. By receiving donated food from the food industry and redistributing it to our 296 charity and community group partners, FareShare is ensuring that no good food goes to landfill, when it could go to dinner plates. The Trafford Centre partnership means that FareShare can continue this outreach – getting more food to more people in need across the region. With the Trafford Centre’s support, they are hoping to feed 40,000 people in 2024.  

Ruth Downes, Head of Development, said: “FareShare Greater Manchester has been fighting hunger and tackling food waste in the region since 2008 – throughout the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, we have been feeding 35,000 people weekly. With more people than ever before facing food insecurity, we are so thrilled to be chosen as one of the Trafford Centre’s Charity Partner of the Year 23/24. With support from the Trafford Centre and the Fountain Fund, we’re looking to further our outreach, provide food to more breakfast clubs, food banks, community grocers and pantries, continuing to strengthen our communities through food.”  

 Look Good Feel Better  

Look Good Feel Better delivers cancer support services in local communities across the UK through a series of face-to-face and online group workshops for people facing cancer.  Workshops are free to join.  Expert volunteers offer advice to women, men and young adults about changes during treatment to skin, eyebrows, eyelashes, hair and nails and how to improve body confidence. People leave workshops feeling empowered, motivated and less isolated – allowing them to live their lives confidently, during their cancer treatment. 

 Mark Flannery, CEO, Look Good Feel Better, said: “To be chosen as charity partner the Trafford Centre is a real game changer for us. Being linked to such a prestigious Manchester venue will help put our services firmly on the map in the area. Thank you to everyone at the Trafford Centre for helping us to support your customers and your communities, allowing us to reach more people in Manchester than ever before.” 

 -ENDS-