Liam Fray has announced he will play a one-off acoustic show in aid of Andy Burnham’s charity ‘A Bed Every Night‘.
The show will take place at the 02 Ritz tonight in Manchester.
‘A Bed for Every Night’ is a flagship scheme which has been active in decreasing rough sleeping, it includes specialist women’s, LGBTQ+, pet friendly and ‘No recourse to Public Funds’ accommodation.
All funds raised from the gig will go to the scheme.
The programme has helped more than 4,000 people but due to the current cost of living and energy crisis there is an increased need to offer support.
It provides wrap around support, food, shelter, emergency accommodation, and the help that is needed to help move people on to more permanent housing.
Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham, who recently presented Fray with an award to recognise 1,000,000 sales of the Courteeners’ 2008 single Not Nineteen Forever, said: “We are a musical city so what better way to help those who need it but with a night with Liam Fray. I’m delighted he’s on board.”
Dr Fran Darlington-Pollock, head of strategic development at the charity, said for a celebrity like Fray to take the time to do an event like this and then hand over his profits to a charity is incredible.
“Everyone is struggling at the minute, so it’s hard to see past your own front door but not everyone has that luxury,” she said.
Homelessness Prevention Manager at Manchester City council said the scheme offers a “vital service for vulnerable people in homelessness crisis.”
There are currently more than 600 people in A Bed for Every Night accommodation across Greater Manchester who would otherwise be at risk of rough sleeping.
Darlington-Pollock added: “To be able to say that’s someone who means something to me and whose music I’ve listened to, and they care about this – it raises the cause of the charity in peoples’ minds who may never have heard of it.”
Picture courtesy: Jon Tyson/Unsplash
