Loneliness charity to close due to insolvency

Manchester Cares, a charity set up to address loneliness of young professionals and elderly Manchester residents is to close.

Described as “a community network of young professionals and older neighbours hanging out and helping one another in a rapidly changing city” the trustees have announced that it is to cease operating immediately “due to insolvency”.

Part of a family of charities under the Cares family name, for the financial year ending 31 August 2022 the Manchester Cares charity had a total income of £309,635, with total expenditure of £308,587. It’s income was from grants and donations.

Its last impact report published in 2018 thanked corporate donors Pretty Little Thing and Adidas, but didn’t specify the amounts. 

A statement read: “The Board of Trustees is deeply sad to share that The Cares Family charities will cease operating immediately, due to insolvency. We know this news is sudden and will come as a shock.

“We’re fiercely proud of the work of our charities in tackling loneliness and isolation across London, Manchester and Liverpool, and in supporting others across the UK to make a similar difference in their own communities.”

Painting a bleak picture of the squeeze on many charities during the cost of living crisis, the statement goes on to highlight the growing need for the service it can no longer provide.

“The sad reality is that, like many charities, we’re in a desperately difficult fundraising environment. While support for tackling isolation increased during the pandemic, in the current economic climate this has fallen away significantly, with many pressing issues competing for the limited support available.”