“It would be a tragic mistake to attempt to re-establish pre-pandemic status quo with the UK worst in Europe for stagnating health improvement and widening health inequalities.”
- Sir Michael Marmot, Build Back Fairer Review
In Autumn, we launched our Winter Wish List - items we knew we’d be most in need of ahead of the cold holiday period.
As always, the reaction from our partners has been incredible, with our partners across all sectors coming together to ensure our Community Shops and Food Clubs have been well-stocked with food, toys, selection boxes and other gifts.
You may know that we’re the only Community Shops that gift up to 40% of what we get donated to our clients. However, the response this year has been so great that we’ve also been able to offer ‘Christmas credit’ for families working with the council and other organisations - who are struggling with their finances.
There are far too many of you to thank in this newsletter individually (always a good problem to have) so we’d like to express our combined gratitude to everyone who got involved and continues to support our campaigns - it’s the collective nature that makes these things so successful - thank you for coming together to make this happen and lighten the burden for so many who are having to make sacrifices this Christmas.
Homelessness Prevention Action Group
Earlier this month we were part of the first Homelessness Prevention Action Group meeting since the relaunch of the Manchester Homelessness Partnership in October. We drafted up terms of reference for the action group, and set out ideas for resources and systems to prevent homelessness.
Part of our commitment is to focus on the causes as well as consequences of poverty and homelessness, through training and vocational skills, support into Real Living Wage work, debt management and finding any way to increase people’s income.
The group will be meeting up several times next year, with anyone working across the voluntary, statutory or business sectors welcome to join, as well as anyone currently using support services. Want to know more? Please email info@mhp.org.uk.
Share the Warmth
You may have noticed there’s been a slight chill this week. Minus temperatures mean that cold weather provision has been activated, and we are asking for warm clothing, hats and gloves from our Amazon Wish List.
We’ve been working closely with Patagonia to provide crisis clothing, knowing there will be windy and wet nights ahead going into the new year.
Friends of the store have been dropping off clothing for us over the past month, with others - such as Sarah and Steve above - sending items directly to us!
Big Steps in Little Hulton
Below is the account of Daniella1, who joined the Freedom Project at our Little Hulton Salford hub. Not being able to see her grandkids during lockdown left her feeling depressed, so she came to Mustard Tree to help her find purpose during a difficult time.
Daniella first came to Mustard Tree in August 2021, when her friend received a voucher to furnish her new home. She had dealt with lots of challenges in her life, including losing her parents as a teenager, becoming a mum at a young age and spending time in prison.
Alison invited me to an open day and gave me a start date
Through all the hardship, Daniella says it was lockdown which had the most profound effect on her mental health.
“It was the first time in my life I said to my doctor ‘I am depressed’ - it was a big step for me”.
Daniella spoke to Freedom Coordinator Alison about feeling angry and frustrated towards restrictions which kept her from her family. Alison suggested becoming a Freedom Project trainee - “Alison invited me to an open day and gave me a date to start”. She felt a bit unsure before she started her first day, but felt at home as soon as she started training.
“I don’t care how old you are or how many jobs you’ve had, you still get those nerves - it’s like walking into the unknown” said Daniella, but the team helped to put her mind at ease and feel comfortable - “everyone was so welcoming - I felt like I’d been here forever”.
“I don’t care how old you are or how many jobs you’ve had - you still have those nerves.”
Daniella says the Freedom Project gave her a sense of purpose, at a time when freedom had been taken away from so many people. “I needed something to do with my time, rather than just mulling around doing nothing”.
You get to learn something new every day - no matter how old you are
Whilst training on the Freedom Project, Daniella gained experience in retail and Food Club, obtaining her Food Hygiene Level 2 Qualification and taking part in Customer Service training. “To me, Mustard Tree means you get to learn something new every day, it doesn’t matter how old you are”.
Daniella says the most rewarding part of the Freedom Project is being able to help other people. “I’ve met people from different cultures and I love that I get to help the elderly. I’ve got to meet some good people here too.”
Daniella graduated from the Freedom Project in Summer 2022 and is now a Freedom Graduate Mentor, training other trainees on the work streams and helping them learn new skills.
“I’m not saying I’m happy all the time, but when I come in here, I leave any bad feelings at home. I know at Mustard Tree there’s always someone I can talk to”.
Holiday Opening Hours
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Daniella’s name has been changed to protect anonymity