This Christmas, you can help people like Mooch find a new future. 

WATCH MOOCH’S STORY  

Keith Ashley, better known as Mooch, grew up in Longsight, an inner city area of Manchester, where he was surrounded by violence. He was only 15-years-old when he was first remanded in custody and served a prison sentence when he was just 17.

Trapped in a cycle of offending, Mooch spent much of his life in and out of prison. After his release in 2014, Mooch lived in supported accommodation. It was here that he first met Karen Eplett, Volunteering Project Manager at Step Together Volunteering. 

Karen knows the impact volunteering can have for someone like Mooch. With her support, Mooch began volunteering with a local homelessness charity.

 “When I started at the homelessness charity, I felt a whole load of weight lift off me. I felt relaxed and immediately comfortable around the other volunteers. I was volunteering and enjoying myself. I didn’t think I could turn my life around this quick.” 

Today, as a result of volunteering, Mooch is employed on a project aimed at reducing homelessness in Manchester. 

This Christmas, Mooch will be celebrating in his own home with family he hasn’t seen for 14 years.  

Will you make a donation today, to help us keep supporting more people like Mooch?   

For many people leaving prison, they will have lost their homes and jobs and damaged relationships with their family while serving their sentence, making it far harder to integrate back into society. It’s during this period of transition that individuals are desperately in need of support. 

Volunteering enables individuals to be part of positive and purposeful activities, improving integration into the community, building a sense of belonging and learning new skills to take into the workplace.  

Every donation will help us provide this crucial support. Thank you!