Vincent Kompany gets behind Mayor’s A Bed Every Night campaign

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has pledged his support Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham’s plan to introduce A Bed Every Night – a ground-breaking new scheme giving everyone sleeping rough in Greater Manchester the chance to access somewhere safe and warm every night.

A regular visitor meeting the homeless on the streets of Manchester, Andy Burnham addressed a delegation at Manchester Central to explain why he has taken the step of introducing A Bed Every Night”

“Just one night on the streets profoundly damages physical and mental health. When people do fall, our goal should be to pick them up as quickly as possible. So starting next month, we will introduce A Bed Every Night – a ground-breaking new scheme giving everyone sleeping rough in Greater Manchester the chance to access somewhere safe and warm every night.

“We can’t meet the costs from public money alone so we are mobilising all sides of GM society – ably led from the front by City Captain Vincent Kompany and the proceeds of his testimonial year – to find the funds to deliver it.

“Our goal is to end the need for rough-sleeping in Greater Manchester by 2020 and, given the way people are pulling behind the campaign, I am confident we can do it.”

70 years ago, Aneurin Bevan came to Greater Manchester to ‘receive the keys’ to his new NHS. 70 years on the NHS is undergoing change to ensure it is right for 21st Century living.

For the past 18 months Andy Burnham has chaired the Greater Manchester Reform Board representative of public services across the 10 boroughs.

Mr Burnham explained:

“When I was elected, I thought the challenge was all about integrating the NHS with social care. And, yes, it is partly about that. But as Mayor of the only city-region with health devolution, it has become increasingly clear to me that the unique opportunity Greater Manchester has is to integrate health with everything – early years, education, community safety, housing and employment. And we are all determined to take it.”

The Reform Board addresses: schoolreadiness, life-readiness, ending homelessness and active ageing and has informed in creating the Greater Manchester Model.

“We recognise that change will not come overnight. But, if we all commit to the Greater Manchester Model for the long haul, I am confident that, over the decade, we can make Greater Manchester healthier, happier and an even better place to live than it already is.”