It was great to join Sile Martin on Radio Offbeat, where we were also joined by Des Lynch, CEO of Manchester’s Wood Street Mission. It was insightful to hear Des speaking about the aims of Wood Street Mission and describe the efforts being made to support families experiencing poverty.
As Des explained, Wood Street Mission was founded by Alfred Alsop back in 1869 and despite the many changes since then, Wood Street Mission has remained a safeguard against poverty in both Manchester and Salford.
As Des highlighted, Wood Street Mission helps by providing children’s clothes, toys, books, bedding, baby equipment and toiletries and these are given out through a scheme WSM call the ’Family Basics’ service.
Wood Street Mission also have a ’Smart Start’ project, which helps provide new school uniforms and other essentials. During the festive season, Wood Street Mission also offers assistance with gifts for children and young people.
One campaign Wood Street Mission have been running is the ’Books Forever Appeal’, where over 8,000 new books have recently been donated to the charity. Last year, WSM gave out 20,500 books to children and young people through their schools based ‘Book Roadshows’.
Ahead of the interview, I spoke with Baroness Emma Nicholson of the AMAR International Charitable Foundation. Baroness Nicholson’s father was once chancellor at the University of Manchester and as a young child, among her favorite books were stories by Beatrix Potter.
Ashley Goodall, also of the AMAR Foundation, spoke about his childhood experience of getting to meet the world famous author J.R.R Tolkein, whilst performing in a 1967 New College School production of The Hobbit.
As Jacqueline Kennedy stated, “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all". Wood Street Mission accepts donations of new and good condition pre-loved books throughout the year!
For more on the 'Books Forever Appeal’ and other services WSM provides, please visit woodstreetmission.org.uk.
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