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.

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/).

The charity operates a school, a college and an adult residential home for people who have severe and complex learning disabilities combined with significant communication difficulties which include little or no oral language.

Despite being a large and established charity with the Queen as its patron, The Seashell Trust benefits from the experience and contacts base iNspire’s Leaders bring.  In addition, it passes on its knowledge to the other charities in the iNspire portfolio.

Please visit The Seashell Trust’s website (http://www NULL.seashelltrust NULL.org NULL.uk)to find out more about this charity.