Providing a Vital Service

Practical help is in the form of good quality second hand clothing, bedding, most items of baby equipment and toys. We also provide toy and food parcels for families at Christmas time and Easter Eggs for children at Easter.

The vast majority of families we help are born in Manchester and Salford. Sadly many of them we support for many years. Some families however require our help only once until they can get back on their feet again and become self sufficient.

Working with all statutory services throughout the area and in particular with Health Visitors and Social Workers, families are referred to us for help where a need has been identified. We can also help as part of a package of support, especially when liaising with other voluntary agencies who are working with the family. For instance another agency may be providing a family with new beds for the children, whilst Wood Street Mission can then provide bedding for the beds. These partnerships enable the families' needs to be met quickly and without duplication, so maximising the donations we receive.

Within the last 3 years we have undertaken a Strategic Review of our service to see if we were still needed and whether we were providing the right kind of help.

The results unanimously showed us that our practical help is still a much needed resource and we remain unique in Greater Manchester, being the only charity offering this service free of charge.