Co-op Live Manchester Shares Details About £1 Million Annual Donation To Young Gamechangers Fund

When Pollstar delved into the building and opening of Co-op Live Manchester a year ago, one of the unique aspects was its naming-rights partnership with The Co-operative Group, a business with a fascinating history.

Part of this partnership is a pledge by the building’s owner and operator Oak View Group (OVG, Pollstar’s parent company) to donate a million British pounds per year to the Co-op Foundation, which intends to use the money for its Young Gamechangers Fund.

The money’s generated from a percentage of all ticket sales, as well as partner and premium revenue, and goes “directly towards supporting young people and communities across the UK,” according to a press release from Co-op Live.

Now, that the first of this annual £1 million ($1.35 million) donation has been made, Co-op Live shared a few details on how some of that money is being used.

Co-op’s Young Gamechangers Fund awards grants of up to £20,000 ($27,000) directly to young people aged 10 to 25 who are leading projects that drive positive social change.

One of the young changemakers supported by the fund is Thomas Cockroft, one of the founders of FungALL – a community organization based in Manchester that uses the power of mushrooms and nature to engage young people in sustainability, mental wellbeing, and environmental activism.

Aside from the monetary contribution, Co-op Live will also be incorporating FungALL’s own-grown mushrooms into special pizzas served in the Co-op Backstage Club during Billie Eilish’s run of shows this July – as part of the venue’s fully plant-based food offering, in line with the artist’s commitment to climate action and sustainability.

A Cooperative Partnership For The Next Generation: Inside Co-op Live’s Naming Rights Sponsorship

Comments:

Guy Dunstan, senior vice president and general manager at Co-op Live: “From the start, Co-op Live has been about more than world-class entertainment. Our partnership with Co-op Foundation is helping ensure every gig makes a difference. We’re delighted to deliver on our first annual donation of £1 million to the Co-op Foundation, and even prouder to see the impact in action through projects like FungALL.”

Nick Crofts, chief executive at Co-op Foundation: “Young people have bold ideas and deep-rooted passion to build fairer, more sustainable communities. Thanks to the support from Co-op Live and our partners on the Young Gamechangers Fund, we’re backing them with the funding and platform they need to turn vision into reality. FungALL is a brilliant example of what happens when young people are given the support they need to lead.”

Thomas Cockroft, founder at FungALL: “Support from the Young Gamechangers Fund has allowed us to grow FungALL from a small idea into a thriving project. We’re using fungi to spark conversations around climate action, mental health and community connection. We’re proud to represent Manchester and show what’s possible when young voices are heard and backed.”

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