This month marks two years since I joined Mustard Tree, a charity that combats poverty and prevents homelessness, as a support worker.

In that time I've seen the number of Greater Manchester residents and families in need skyrocket. We're made up of only 40 staff members across three sites in Ancoats and Salford, yet 10,500 people a month now access the charity for support. And that number continues to grow month on month at unprecedented levels.

Each month 1000 people come to us for training, whether it be in ESOL classes, computer skills training, or our creative drop ins.

Each month 400 people come to us to register for the first time, accessing our retail shop for clothes, furniture, and basic household items. Many of these are moving into their first tenancy - their first place of their own, off the streets or out of temporary accommodation.

Each month 3300 come to us to access our Food Clubs to get their weekly shopping.

Each month up to 100 Freedom Project trainees come to us to gain meaningful life skills and employability training, supporting us to operate the charity whilst improving their skills and experience as they take another step towards their goals.

And those are just scraping the surface of the work we do. Every month we support asylum seekers with immigration signposting and support. We help refugees reunite with family members, and support them in building their life in the UK. We support survivors of domestic violence to become independent, and work with people with mental health conditions to build their community. We offer a safe place and a welcoming community for anyone and everyone who steps through our doors. We listen, we understand, and we support with dignity.

But it is impossible to meet the growing need without the resources to do it.

So, I'm being a bit wild and impulsive. On the 29th of June, I'm abseiling down Barton Tower at the Trafford Centre. If you can get behind what we do and think we should keep doing it, I ask that you donate.

Or, if you just think the thought of me dangling by a thin rope from the top of the Trafford Centre is hilarious... send a donation anyway, maybe with a prayer.

Love and appreciation,

Samm