The Manchester Trailblazers club has been praised by one of the city’s leading charities for homeless people following an introduction to the power of Rotary networking which resulted in a single £11,000 donation.

“Our relationship with Trailblazers has been a real testament to the value of networking and building positive relationships within the community,” says Amy Hinks, Development Manager of the Manchester-based Booth Centre.

The young Trailblazers club - founded only four years ago – began supporting the centre after a visiting speaker described their work. And last year the club donated more than £600 to help them.

But it was the then treasurer John Doyle’s introduction to the North West branch of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors that resulted in a RICS fundraising dinner which raised nearly 20 times that amount.

“As a small homeless charity, working to support the growing number of homeless people in our city, the relationships built through the Trailblazers club has been extremely valuable,” said Amy.

“Not only did their own fundraising activities support our work but John put us in touch with RICS who selected us as the beneficiary charity for their annual dinner which raised an incredible £11,000. The far reaching impact of this will positively change the lives of vulnerable people within our community and we are so grateful for their support and commitment.”

Trailblazers president Helen Doherty added: “So often, individual Rotary clubs would love to give more than they can afford to the many deserving causes that approach us every week. But Rotary networking can be so much more powerful than individual clubs and we are thrilled, in this instance, to have used that power to increase the value of our support for the Booth Centre.”