Prime Minister Andy Burnham is taking on the 45th Great North Run today to raise money for Newcastle-based charity Changing Lives, just weeks after visiting the organisation in the city.
Andy is running in a Changing Lives shirt to support the charity’s work helping people experiencing homelessness and other challenges to rebuild their lives.
His support for Changing Lives goes beyond today’s run. The Prime Minister has pledged to donate 15% of the additional salary he receives for serving as Prime Minister to charities and causes tackling homelessness, and Changing Lives has been chosen to receive his first donation.
The commitment continues his long-standing support for tackling homelessness, having also donated a proportion of his salary while serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
His Great North Run fundraising follows a visit to Changing Lives’ Alex’s Place in Newcastle last month, where he sat down with residents and heard first-hand about their experiences of homelessness and what it takes to rebuild a life.
The visit came as the Labour Government launched a national drive to offer everyone sleeping rough in England a route off the streets by Christmas.
The programme will see accommodation and support rolled out across the country this winter, backed by £442 million of funding, as part of the Prime Minister’s wider commitment to end rough sleeping.
Speaking ahead of the Great North Run, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“I’m running the 45th Great North Run for Changing Lives because I’ve seen the difference they make with my own eyes.
“A few weeks back I visited Alex’s Place in Newcastle to launch our drive to offer everyone a route off the streets by Christmas. I sat down with residents over a cup of tea and heard what it actually takes to rebuild a life once you’ve lost everything – not just a roof, but people who stick with you while you find your feet again.
“That’s what Changing Lives does.
“Tackling homelessness is a moral mission for me. It’s why I promised to end rough sleeping on my first day as PM, and why I’m proud to pull on a Changing Lives shirt today.
“If you can spare a few quid, please chip in and support them.”
The Prime Minister made tackling rough sleeping one of his first priorities after entering Downing Street, describing ending rough sleeping as a “moral mission”.
Newcastle Labour Group Leader Cllr Ged Bell said:
“It’s fantastic to welcome Andy back to Newcastle for the Great North Run and to see our Prime Minister using one of the North East’s greatest events to support a brilliant Newcastle charity.
“Changing Lives does incredible work with people across our city and beyond, and Andy saw that first-hand when he visited Alex’s Place just a few weeks ago.
“The fact that he has chosen Changing Lives for his first donation from the portion of his Prime Ministerial salary he has pledged to homelessness causes shows just how much their work impressed him.
“Ending rough sleeping will take national investment alongside the knowledge and commitment of councils, charities and communities on the ground. Labour is determined to bring those partners together and make sure nobody is simply written off.”
The Great North Run brings tens of thousands of runners to the North East each year, starting in Newcastle before crossing the Tyne Bridge and continuing through Gateshead to the finish line in South Shields.
Newcastle Labour wishes Andy, and everyone running, volunteering, working and supporting this year’s Great North Run, the very best of luck.