The Boaz Trust runs a night shelter from November to April each year for male destitute asylum seekers who would otherwise be homeless and on the streets.  This year the Trust has successfully raised over £13,000 to keep the night shelter going until April.  This is a truly vital and life-saving resource in the city, serving an estimated 12 men each night, and the Trust would like to thank all those who continue to support them.

For more about the work of the Boaz Trust, visit their website at www.boaztrust.org.uk (http://boaztrust NULL.org NULL.uk/), or follow them on Twitter @boaztrust (http://twitter NULL.com/#!/boaztrust).

Over 40 women attended an interactive Kugel and Challah evening at the Chabad Centre in Whitefield.

The event was presented by Sora Jaffe who demonstrated how to make Challah (bread) and Kugel, a kind of savoury cake to be eaten either as a dessert or with meat as an accompaniment.  Sora also talked about the significance of both items in the Jewish faith.

Each person made their own and took them home to bake in time for Shabbos.

Based in Greater Manchester, The Nicky Alliance Day Centre accommodates the special needs of the elderly, frail, visually impaired, physically disabled, or those suffering from a dementia related illness.   To find out more about them, see their website: www.mjcc.org.uk (http://mjcc NULL.org NULL.uk/)

iNspire hub charity The Mustard Tree was successful in winning over £6,500 as a result of an innovative collaboration between The Funding Network and Coutts & Co.  This partnership resulted in a special evening being held at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

5 charities presented to an audience of over 200 guests who had an interest in philanthropic giving.  Over £40,000 was raised and distributed on the night.

The Funding Network was founded in 2002.  it has a membership of 150 generous individuals who have raised over £3 million for over 400 charities.

With the money raised The Mustard Tree (http://www NULL.mustardtree NULL.org NULL.uk/)can now continue to support over 8,000 homeless and marginalised people across Greater Manchester.

The fashion guru Gok Wan was in Manchester recently to launch this year’s Vodafone World of Difference Campaign; Wan is the ambassador for the scheme which gives people in the UK the chance to work for a charity of their choice for two months and get paid for it.

The event was attended by individuals eager to get involved in the scheme as well as previous years’ winners and charities who had benefited from the scheme.  One such individual was Heidi Hinchcliffe, a 2009 winner.  Heidi now works full time as a project leader for one of the iNspire hub charities, ReachOut!  Heidi was already volunteering when she applied for the scheme however, she wanted to work with young people and through the scheme was placed with ReachOut!  Xavier Bosch, CEO of ReachOut! believes World of Difference is a unique opportunity for charities too.

ReachOut! (http://www NULL.reachoutuk NULL.org/HTML/index NULL.html) is a mentoring charity working with young people in deprived areas to raise aspirations and help them grow in character and competence.  The charity recruits positive student role models to join flexible projects in various schools around Manchester.

The Vodafone World of Difference (http://worldofdifference NULL.vodafone NULL.co NULL.uk/) programme is about making a difference by working for your dream charity without the worry of having to make financial sacrifices.  The programme gives 500 people this fantastic opportunity.

For the last 4 years, as part of their Big Week Out, Addleshaw Goddard has offered its people the chance to spend a day doing something that will make a positive impact on the local community.  During Big Week Out 2010, 5 iNspire charities were fortunate enough to benefit from teams of Addleshaw Goddard people helping out on specific projects; the teams got their hands dirty and pitched in to make a real difference – a big thanks to everyone involved!

To find out more about Addleshaw Goddard’s Big Week Out please visit their website (http://www NULL.addleshawgoddard NULL.com/csr/view NULL.asp?content_id=4150&parent_id=313).

If you have ever wanted to do a parachute jump here is your chance. North West Air Ambulance are looking for adventurous volunteers to make a fundraising parachute jump and if you raise enough in sponsorship you will get to jump for free!

There are three types of jump available:

• Accelerated Freefall – where you can experience the thrill of skydiving solo from up to 12,000 feet.
• Tandem Skydive – from 10,000 feet attached to a professional instructor.
• Static Line – jump which is performed solo from up to 3,000 feet.

You can jump from any one of over twenty British Parachute Association approved airfields across the UK.  No experience is necessary as all training is given and if you raise from £360 (depending on the type of jump you choose) you will receive your jump for free.

So if you would like to make a thrilling skydive from 10,000 feet or an exhilarating solo jump from up to 3,000 feet give North West Air Ambulance a call on 0151 547 7830.  For more information contact Louise.Lin-Hawkins@nwaa.net (Louise%20Lin-Hawkins%3CLouise NULL.Lin-Hawkins null@null nwaa NULL.net%3E?subject=Parachute%20Jump)

North West Air Ambulance flies 2 helicopters 7 days a week, 365 days a year and provides a vital life saving service covering 5,500 square miles and a residential population of 7 million people.  The charity receives no central government or lottery funding and the £4 million per year it costs to maintain both aircraft is all generously donated by members of the public.

Find out more about North West Air Ambulance (http://www NULL.northwestairambulance NULL.com/).