Wood Street Mission has been chosen as the charity for Manchester Twestival, which will be held on 24 March 2011. 

Wood Street Mission is one of Manchester’s oldest and most established local charities, whose aim is to alleviate the effects of poverty on children in families in Manchester and Salford. 

According to a report just out from Save the Children, Greater Manchester has one of the highest levels of severe child poverty in the UK, affecting over 27 per cent of children. Children affected by poverty are likely to suffer in terms of their education, health, self-esteem and life expectancy. 

Funds we raise through Manchester Twestival will go to Wood Street’s Clothing Project, which provides vital, practical help for more than 4,500 local children and parents in desperate need of clothing, bedding, baby equipment and toys.

These are just a few examples of the situations were Wood Street has helped:

babies sleeping in drawers or shopping baskets because their parents can’t afford a cot;

young children with no toys or stimulation other than a ball of blu-tac;

struggling single parents who cannot afford winter coats for their children.

The families helped by Wood Street are all referred by local social services, health visitors and housing support, alongside other voluntary agencies including women’s refuges and Sure Start centres. All families helped are disadvantaged by poverty and live in Manchester or Salford. Many families are caught in the poverty trap and need support long term, while others just need a little help until they get back on their feet again.  

We went down to meet Rachel Bywater, development worker for Wood Street Mission. She told us that "as a small charity, with just seven staff, we really struggled to raise the funds needed to help the thousands of families affected by poverty in Manchester and Salford.

"In the current economic climate demand for our services continues to rise and support from Manchester Twestival will help us ensure we can support every family referred to us for help.

"Manchester Twestival will be helping to make a real, positive difference to the lives of thousands of vulnerable children in our community."

The work that Wood Street Mission does to help some of those most desperately in need to get the basic essentials is staggering. The child poverty statistics in Manchester are simply shocking and we hope that everyone will get behind this incredibly good cause.