Families Wanting Help

If you have answered yes to the above questions, Wood Street Mission may be able to offer you and your family help.

What should you do next?

You should now speak with your support worker and ask them to refer you to us for help. Your worker may be your Health Visitor, Social Worker, Education Welfare Officer or Housing Support Worker. Whoever is working most closely with a family in this time of need is the person who should complete the referral for you.

General Information

Wood Street Mission is not open to the general public. We are not a charity shop. Because of the amount of help we offer families we must insist families in need are first referred from their support worker. This referral should be from the worker who is working most closely with their family during their time of need.

All statutory and voluntary services throughout Manchester and Salford are regularly sent copies and guidelines of our referral system and will have forms at their offices ready for completion. The questions you will be asked relate mainly to size details for each member of the family, along with other sections for details of bedding and baby equipment, should you require any of these items.

Once the form is completed by your worker, it will be sent direct to us and we will then process your application and invite you to Wood Street to collect your parcels once they are prepared. The process normally takes between 1-2 weeks, but may be longer if you have requested specific items such as baby equipment.

Very often the workers themselves identify when Wood Street Mission may be able to offer help to a family they are working with, but in some cases the request for help may come direct from the family, when they have heard about the service we offer.

No charge is made for any goods given to families.

Welcome To Wood Street Mission

This page explains what will happen when you arrive at Wood Street Mission

• Please keep either of your appointment dates and times offered in the letter sent to you. If you are unable to make these dates, please advise us as soon as possible, otherwise your goods will be re-allocated to another family.
• A map will be included in your letter to help you find us. Please ring the office if you are still unsure where we are and we will give you further directions.
• You must provide some form of identification for each of your children. Upon arrival your ID will be checked. Details of what types of ID we will accept will be highlighted in your appointment letter. You are asked to collect your own parcels. If you wish someone else to collect your parcels you must advise us in advance of your appointment.
• Staff and volunteers will greet you when you arrive and will assist you throughout your visit as required.
• You will be invited to look around our family rooms and select toys and some items of clothing from those on display. Bags will be provided. You will also receive a parcel of pre-sorted clothing for each member of your family (if requested on your referral and subject to availability). These parcels are made up in advance and will be given to you as you leave, along with any bedding or baby equipment allocated for your family. We are sorry but we are unable to exchange any items.
• Please keep in mind that sometimes we have shortages of items and that you may not always get everything that you requested. All items received at Wood Street Mission are donations. We cannot determine what or how much we will receive throughout the year.
• Normally you will leave with more than you can carry. We can arrange a taxi for you. Unfortunately Wood Street Mission is unable to pay for the taxi. Please consider this and try and make your arrangements for travelling home in advance.
• You are welcome to come back to Wood Street Mission every 6 months for further help. Every 2 years you will be asked to obtain a new referral, from the worker is who working most closely with your family. This will confirm your family in still in need of help from us.
• Please note there are no public toilets on our premises.
• You are advised to wash all bedding and clothing before use as Wood Street Mission has no laundry facilities on site.