Bouygues Energies & Services have helped Manchester Cares get closer to their £10,000 target. A charity that is focused on helping our older neighbours by reducing isolation, improving connection and bring people together.

At Bouygues Energies & Services there's a huge importance of giving back to the local community; the partnership with Manchester Cares allows them to do that through volunteering and donations. 

This year through their CSR initiative they were able to donate £1,000 to help the charity to keep elderly people connected and engaged during the Covid 19 crises. Their donation will help Manchester Cares continue its work with its older neighbours, by filling the gap in funding lost during the current unprecedented situation. This donation will help keep events such as, online social clubs, phone a friendships and mailing and emailing communications running as well as ensuring the most vulnerable get access to vital services in the Manchester Area.

“Donations like this are vital to allow us to continue our work when neighbors in Manchester needs us most. Like many charities, we have lost out on £1000s of income from postponed fundraising events and challenge events like the Great Manchester Run. This donation will help us to make up for this loss and continue to fund our Covid-19 response activities. Said Rob Paterson, Development Coordinator at Manchester Cares”

The contribution will help support Manchester Cares with their planned activity to help the elderly during this pandemic by:

- Posting activity packs to 630 older people every month. Activity packs include a month’s worth of daily activities, as well as messages of support and creative contributions from volunteers.

- Running 3 Virtual Social Clubs every week using Zoom and providing support to older people to set it up. This includes Desert Island Discs (watch everyone enjoying a dance here) and a pub quiz led by social clubs regular Ged (67). This is making a huge difference to people like Liz (68), who misses going to our social clubs, but says the online versions are giving her a 'sense of purpose' while she's stuck inside.

-Setting up and supporting Phone-A-Friend matches between younger volunteers and older neighbours to have multiple weekly phone conversations. We’ve set up 37 matches so far, including Alice (24) and Charles (67), who are having limerick battles to help each other stay positive. 

- Calling dozens of older people to check in on them, provide regular contact and make sure they're getting any urgent support that they need. This includes carrying out emergency food deliveries and referring to NHS support. 

“Supporting causes like Manchester Cares in these unprecedented times is key to keeping us in touch with our communities. Without being able to gift our time through volunteering days to causes such as Manchester Cares, we are at least able to gift donations from our central CSR Fund to help” said James Timon Senior HR Manager Bouygues Energies & Services Contracting