Spotlighting our Ambassadors! Welcome to Laura Jones
Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity benefit from the support and generosity of a strong cohort of Ambassadors. Their professional expertise, networks and insights add value to our work and help us further our mission. In this new series, we will spotlight each of our Ambassadors so you get to learn a little more about them and their work with us!
First up, we’re talking to new Ambassador, Laura Jones. Laura is Director of The Gunnercooke Foundation as well of professional services firm Gunnercooke LLP. Alongside the law firm, the foundation works to accelerate the growth of lesser known, but effective charities, by providing them with the support and networks they require to do more good, faster.
What inspired you to become an Ambassador for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity?
Homelessness is such a big issue and a much more complex one to solve than many people realise. One of those challenges is tackling the stigma which is something Fran and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity team do so well, raising awareness and tackling the issues head on. Hearing Fran (the Charity’s CEO) speak so passionately, I feel I’m in a great position to help the charity to further their aims.
What impact do you hope to make in your role as Ambassador?
I hope to assist in raising awareness, tackle the stigma and ultimately help raise valuable and much needed funds to support the A Bed Every Night Campaign and the wider charity.
How does this role connect to your day-to-day work?
I wear a number of ‘hats’ in my day to day role, as a Director of professional services firm Gunnercooke LLP, I have a foot in the corporate world, and then with being Director of the Gunnercooke Foundation and House of Books & Friends CIC, I work with a huge range of not for profits and their respective missions.
The majority of the projects and campaigns in my day to day role centre around tackling loneliness and social isolation in many forms, of which homelessness is a huge area. So I sit at the cross section between the corporate and third sector worlds and it is that variety of networks where I can spot the potential for collaborations and connections which can mutually benefit all.
How would you encourage others to get involved?
Speak to Fran or listen to her talk at an event. Read up on the topic, it’s in the news nearly every day, find out about the networks in Manchester who are tackling the issues not just on the ground and out on the street but further upstream. Increase your own awareness around the facts and the figures and challenge your own views on homelessness and what that ‘looks like’.
What does this opportunity mean to you?
Becoming an ambassador for the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity means I can actively contribute to the fight against homelessness, amplify the voices of those in need, and help create lasting positive change in my community!
If Laura’s reflections inspired you to help, reach out today to learn more about our work and how you can be part of our mission.
Together, let’s end homelessness!