Who can be admitted?

The Annual Report of 1909 gave a breakdown of the type of boys admitted to the Strangeways Homes at that time. 

 Boys at the Refuge were admitted for all kinds of reasons 


'Street Lad' – This term applied to a boy who spent most of his time on the streets and was usually of working age with no permanent residence. Most found themselves applying for temporary refuge with the charity under duress, often in the form of a harsh winter. Admittance in to the Refuge resulted in an expected level of discipline and the undertaking to partake in regular work, both an alien concept to the street boys. Many of these boys 'left without leave'.
'Fatherless Laddie' - The so called "Fatherless Laddie" was pretty much what it said on the tin. These children were of a younger age than the "Street Lad" -10 and below- who had no father in his life. Most were admitted to the George Street Homes as the mother was struggling to provide for her family on her own.
'Neglected and Abused' – One of the only classes accepted that were not considered destitute. Many were passed into the Charity’s care from the NSPCC after the courts had removed them from criminal or neglectful parents.


 
‘Neglected and Abused’ class
 

'Stranger Youth'
 – this class of youths stemmed from outside of Manchester and had wandered into the city looking for work. Most found their way into the Young Man’s Institute. Here they 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.
'Runaway' – another class who were not always considered destitute. Often these boys were of a better class, although they may have had other difficulties. Many of these boys’ stories showed discrepancies and were often returned to family or friends and only classed as temporary cases. 

Each boy who entered one of the Charity's homes had a different story to tell and each was admitted on a case by case basis. Most fell into the above categories however, which gave an insight into the type of boys needing care at the turn of the twentieth century. 

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