Together Trust Archive

I came across this picture in the archive the other day.  Young Men’s Institute football team, 1917 It shows the Young Men’s Institute football squad from 1917 posing for a team photograph. It seems a relevant topic to talk about seen as we’re currently in the middle of the 2014 world cup. The Young Men’s Institute at this time catered for boys of working age who had no permanent residence to go to. It housed 35 young men and was largely made up by those who in early life had passed through the Refuge. Each youth had full board, a separate cubicle, use of a comfortable sitting room, news room, games room, bathroom and gymnasium at a cost of 10 shillings per week.

The delight in family history enquiries, apart from providing researchers with information about their ancestors, is the new wealth of information it can provide us about the charity and social work through the years. This can range from services we provided that were previously unknown, to the various people and companies who we were associated with. An enquiry the other day linked the charity in a roundabout way to the world of aviation .  Bethesda Home, George Street, 1930s

We’ve spoken before about the five different workshops located in the Central Refuge on Francis Street. These workshops; printing, shoemaking, tailoring, joinery and firewood were created to give the boys a skill and consequently a career for life. Documents of indenture were signed by the boys to a particular trade providing a contract between the apprentice and the Refuge.  Indenture of Apprenticeship

We all know the story by now – on the 4th January 1870 two businessmen, Leonard Shaw and Richard Taylor opened a ‘Night Refuge for Homeless Boys’ at 16 Quay Street , Manchester. This provided primitive accommodation for up to 40 boys as well as work within messenger and shoeblack brigades set up by the charity. Shaw and Taylor excelled at setting up the home and ensuring sponsors and assistance from members of the community. What they did not have experience in however, was caring for the boys themselves. This problem was solved by the appointment of a couple from London, Walter Thurlow Browne and his wife Emma. They became the first Master and Matron of the Quay Street home providing care and support to the boys. Walter T Browne on the back row