In Spring 2021 Lifeshare got an exciting email…

When we opened up the email we found a message from  BAFTA and Emmy award winner Caryn Mandabach. Caryn’s company, Mandabach Productions produces a series that most Mancunians, in fact most Brits, are familiar with, Peaky Blinders. Peaky Blinders is a BAFTA winning series that is currently shooting its sixth season right here in Manchester. The series features a host of famous faces including Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Tom Hardy, Aidan Gillen, Sam Claflin, and Anya Taylor-Joy. The streets of Manchester have stood in for various locations across the UK over the first five seasons of the show and having experienced our great city, Caryn wanted to get involved and give back.

After chatting with us about our work providing crisis support, promoting digital inclusion, and fighting food poverty Caryn was particularly taken with our Weekend Breakfast Project. Lifeshare has run a humanitarian breakfast for the last 32 years and often serves over 400 meals each month, free of charge for those in need. Throughout the COVID pandemic, Lifeshare has partnered with charitable organisations around Greater Manchester including Barnabus, Audacious, and Mind, along with the Manchester City Council to continue providing critical support. Not only are Breakfast attendees provided with a hot meal, dry sock, and other provisions including bottled water, fruit, and snack bars, this service has also helped to refer people into accommodation – particularly during the freezing winter months.

Due to closures and safety protocols, Breakfast has not had a permanent home over the last year and has had to obtain permission for our premises on a month-to-month basis to ensure the continuation of this service. Hearing this, Caryn decided to bridge this gap and fund our Weekend Breakfast Project for the entire month of May. Not only with this generosity provide meals cooked and served by our dedicated volunteers it will also cover the rent and utility costs of our current location at the Nexus Art Cafe.  Lifeshare is extremely grateful for this generous support.

If you or your organisation want to help us continue our Breakfast Project in the month of June and beyond please send us an email at [email protected]