Charity set up to distribute We Love Manchester funds
Melanie May | 31 May 2017 | News
Manchester City Council has set up a charity to distribute the funds raised in the wake of the Manchester bombing, following advice from the Charity Commission.
The We Love Manchester Emergency Fund has raised £6m so far to help those affected by the tragedy including £1.89m from the British Red Cross and Manchester Evening News JustGiving appeal. According to Manchester Evening News, trustees of the charity include members and officers of Manchester City Council including former chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Hopkins, and Manchester Evening News editor in chief Rob Irvine, as well as independent experts.
£6 MILLION has been raised for the #Manchester fund!
Thanks to everyone for their donations. #WeStandTogether https://t.co/BW6ZNxcF8R pic.twitter.com/XgtmMzbfdp— British Red Cross 🧡 (@BritishRedCross) May 30, 2017
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While some early payments are already being distributed to those in need through Victim Support and police family liaison officers, further information on how those affected by the attack can access the fund will be released early next week.
This weekend will see Ariana Grande hold a benefit concert at Emirates Old Trafford for those affected. Grande will perform at One Love Manchester along with Katy Perry, Coldplay, Usher, Pharrell, and Take That amongst others. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 1st June at 10am.
.@Coldplay, @Usher, @Pharrell, @TakeThat & more will perform at the One Love Manchester concert. #WeStandTogether https://t.co/vBdBg6LMYc pic.twitter.com/svFef9oQMD
— British Red Cross 🧡 (@BritishRedCross) May 30, 2017
Other fundraising activity taking place has included more than 80 runners in the Greater Manchester Run and a bucket collection by more than 100 volunteers in Manchester and further afield last Saturday.
More Manchester fundraising
- Over £1.6m raised for those affected by Manchester attack (Civil Society UK, 24 May 2017)
- Ariana Grande releases One Love Manchester album to benefit victims and families (Mashable, 7 June 2017)
Fundraising challenges
All public disaster appeals face similar challenges, not least the appearance of fraudulent appeals. GoFundMe had to suspend two Manchester attack-related appeals. JustGiving also suspended withdrawals from more than 200 fundraising pages due to fears of fraud, according to The Independent.
The Greater Manchester Police had to issue warnings about this.
Please be aware of fraudulent fund raising pages on the internet. If you wish to donate please use this page – https://t.co/vFF04hGu02
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 25, 2017
Many are of course genuine, but sometimes need further confirmation. For example JustGiving had to confirm publicly that actor Tom Hardy’s fundraising page on its platform for the victims of the Manchester terror attack was indeed genuine.
In addition, the urgency of such appeals can lead to multiple competing crowdfunding campaigns.
Some individuals come to regret their well-motivated efforts. ‘I raised £52,000 after Manchester… I wish I hadn’t (BBC News, 8 June 2017) features three examples where a crowdfunding campaign caused the founders problems.
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About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.