Our Supporters:
Dr Stewart Manning

We caught up with one of our supporters, Dr Stewart Manning, about how being a Member of Leeds Community Foundation has helped him to make a difference around the issues he cares about.

Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I was a GP in Beeston South Leeds for 36 years. Since retirement in 2012 I have been involved in various types of Charity work and Volunteering. I am currently Chairman of The Yorkshire Cancer Community and a Volunteer and Fundraiser for St Gemma‘s Hospice in North Leeds. 

In 2021 I became a supporter of Leeds Community Foundation as a way of positively supporting the memory of my best friend David Jackson, who was one of the original Members of Leeds Community Foundation. He was involved in the project to regenerate Gipton Fire Station in east Leeds, which was funded by the Leeds Community Foundation. He was in fact a Trustee of The Old Fire Station. 

 

What community issues are most important to you, personally? 

I am passionate about reducing health inequalities across Leeds and West Yorkshire. Life expectancy can vary across Leeds by as much as 12 years and people with learning disabilities can have a life expectancy reduced by as much as 25 years. 

 

How has being a Member helped you to make a difference around the issues that you care about? 

As a Member of Leeds Community Foundation I joined the Community Engagement Event last year, where we visited 3 Community Organisations that had been funded by the Foundation. One of the organisations was the Hamara Centre in Beeston, and while visiting I met an ex-patient of mine. Connecting with them enabled me to put on a Health and Wellbeing Event at the Hamara Centre and we had several exhibitors and 150 Visitors. Because of this success we have now committed to put on another event in the autumn at The Old Fire Station.

 

Can you tell us about some of the connections you have made as a Member? 

Being a Member of Leeds Community Foundation has enabled me to reach out to some communities that find it difficult to engage with healthcare providers. 

My charity gives a talk called “Cancer Smart“ which deals with cancer prevention. Because of some of the connections I have made at the Foundation’s supporter events, I have recently delivered our talk to groups of people with learning disabilities and others with hearing / visual impairment. Hopefully this ongoing involvement will eventually lead to improvements, not only increasing life expectancy, but the quality of that life. 

 

What have you enjoyed about being a Member of Leeds Community Foundation? 

I have really enjoyed all the supporter events, but the most impactful was visiting 3 organisations at the Community Engagement Event in Leeds last summer. Not only was the feedback at these venues empowering but I was also able to see the direct results and benefits that my donations have helped create. 

 

If someone was thinking about becoming a Member as an individual, like you are, what would you say to them? 

To remember my Mantra: 

“One person cannot change the world but
Anyone can change the world for one person”

 

Leeds Community Foundation creates opportunities for all by working with partners to make a positive impact within communities across Leeds and Bradford. We do this by generating and investing philanthropic giving as well as maximising statutory funding to deliver grants and provide trusted expertise into Community Organisations, benefitting thousands of local people.  

  

Read more about Leeds Community Foundation Membership here.