‘150 years of the Together Trust’ exhibition: the story of a charity and its people
A new exhibition, exploring the 150-year history of the Together Trust, opened this week at Manchester Central Library.
The exhibition, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, tells the changing story of our work to champion and care for people in the region over the last century and a half.
The Together Trust was founded in 1870, by Leonard Shaw and Richard Taylor, to provide shelter for homeless boys in Manchester and Salford. Its first home, the Night Refuge with 12 beds, was on Quay Street, Manchester. In its first 50 years, the charity helped around 124,500 children.
Today, we deliver individual care, support and education services across the region, supporting more than 2,000 people and families every year.
At a launch event on Wednesday, students from Inscape House School showcased their talents. James, 16, impressed the audience with an amazing rendition of 'Rocket Man'. Jess, 15, spoke about how Inscape has changed her life and how she is proud to be autistic.
Thanks to National Lottery players, a £99,000 grant was awarded to the Together Trust by the Heritage Fund, enabling the charity to draw on its long history to celebrate its milestone anniversary.
Some of the display highlights from the charity’s early days, include information about the charity’s very first home for orphaned children in Manchester, caring for newly released juvenile and adult prisoners, social welfare campaigning on street hawking and child cruelty, and the development of its home (Bethesda) for children with disabilities and health conditions.
Manchester Central Library is open Monday to Thursday 9 am to 8 pm and Friday and Saturday 9 am to 5 pm. More about the Together Trust’s 150-year history, including the digital timeline, can be found here.