Manc 108: Jo Walby - The Manc Planting Seeds of Hope

"Our job is to create as many opportunities as possible."Jo Walby is the CEO of Mustard Tree, the Manchester charity fighting poverty and homelessness. Every month, more than 11,000 people walk through its doors and the charity provides food, clothes and furniture for those who need it. It also offers training, work placements and a route into a home.Jo's personal story has shaped her work. She was born in Manchester, adopted as a baby and moved house five times before she turned 18. She grew up wanting to belong and for her, Manchester is the place that feels more like home.Jo built a high flying career in recruitment and IT, then motherhood and a serious mental crisis changed everything. After Jo recovered, she spotted a job advert at the Big Life Group asking for people with lived experience of mental illness. She applied, and was able to bring her whole self to work for the first time. The CEO role at Mustard Tree followed.Host Lisa Morton hears how Jo’s ideas around "industrial kindness" and dignity drive the charity. They discuss the asylum crisis and Andy Burnham's pledge to end rough sleeping, as well as what you can do to help tackle homelessness, even in the smallest of ways. You’ll hear why a simple "you all right?" to someone on the streets can be the first step in rebuilding their hope.This episode includes discussion of mental health and suicide. In the UK, call Samaritans free on 116 123. In the US or Canada, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988. In Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can find helplines in other countries at Find A Helpline.Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 30 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian 'family' and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:Via our websiteOn InstagramConnect with Mustard Tree:Via their website (mustardtree.org.uk)