Celebrating five years of Step Up MCR
In November 2025, Step Up MCR came together with partners and supporters to celebrate five years of our place-based giving charity at the Treehouse Hotel in Manchester. The evening created space to connect with partners, reflect on our impact, and look ahead to the future of place-based giving in Manchester.
The event marked the launch of our MCR Giving membership programme, which makes social value simple by connecting businesses and public sector organisations with Manchester communities to create sustainable social impact.
Celebrating the power of local giving
The evening was focused on the power of place-based giving and what can be achieved when communities, businesses and partners work together.
We shared examples of place-based giving in action and hosted conversations about business and social value and the difference we can make together.
Social value in practice
A highlight of the evening was our panel discussion which explored what social value means across different organisations. We heard from Anton Schultz, Social Delivery Manager at Arup, Carys Roberts, Inward Investment and Social Value Lead at One Manchester, Tom Fairhurst, Communications and Engagement Manager at Informed Solutions, and Geraldine Finn, Associate Director for Marketing and Business Development at Menzies. A massive thank you to each speaker, who shared their reflections on how social value shows up in their work.
Sharing our impact
The evening saw the launch of our impact video and latest impact report, showcasing the stories, learning and outcomes from five years of place-based giving.
Pledges of support
Attendees were asked to make a pledge as part of the evening, thinking about how they could give back to the community. We are so grateful for the pledges we received, from offering expert time and resources, to supporting fundraising, social value and volunteering, as well as donating equipment to our supported community groups. Thank you to all who pledged.
If you are a business or partner with a pledge to give, we would love to hear from you! Please get in touch with us at hello@stepupmcr.org