Together Trust Archive

Once again, we find ourselves near the end of another year. It has been a busy one in the archive department with World War One commemorations and research for our forthcoming book. We’ve also been preparing for a busy year in 2019, as arrangements for our 150th anniversary goes full steam ahead. We’re excited to be celebrating this momentous occasion and share our fabulous story far and wide.  Santa at an annual bazaar

Christmas was always a wonderful time for the children of the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes. Thanks to the generosity of the general public, who contributed special gifts of money to the charity at this time of year, every home across the two cities was able to sit down to Christmas lunch and entertainment. Every child also received a small gift of a muffler or a toy.  Annual Christmas Bazaar

With only a few days left until Christmas Day we thought we’d finish off the year with a motto card from 1905. These were created yearly by the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuge and Homes in order to send to all of their children in Canada. They were also given to all the young people in the Manchester Homes on Christmas Day morning.  motto card for 1905

Taken from the Children’s Haven, 1898:   December 1898

It’s been a busy few weeks here at the Together Trust . As Christmas 2014 is fast approaching however, it seemed a good time to turn back the clock 100 years and see how our boys were faring in France and Belgium as World War One raged on. Our Boys

"This has been our seventh Christmas at Belmont, and it has been a real kiddies’ Christmas. The preparations in the kitchen are watched with eagerness, and the stirring of the plum puddings is carried out to the accompaniment of almost deafening cheers. There are many willing hands for the decorating of the rooms and the coming of the great Christmas Tree at night-time intensifies the excitement. Bringing in the Christmas Tree, 1935

It’s the 20th December and to shut out the looming panic of shopping lists only half completed we’ll turn instead to Christmas across the seas and see how our Canadian family used to celebrate the festive season. Christmas Letter Home 1904

We hope all our readers had a fantastic Christmas! In the Central Refuge Yard, 1890 As always, as we welcome in the New Year, the Together Trust celebrates another 12 months of helping people break through barriers. The beginning of January is always a special time of the year for the charity as it takes pride in its long illustrious history and celebrates another birthday. Today we reach the grand old age of 143! I thought we’d celebrate this wondrous event with two images taken from one of our older photograph albums. The first was taken in the Refuge Yard on Francis Street, Manchester and shows a group photograph of the Caxton Brigade alongside Mr Shaw , one of the charity's founders.

The newspapers issued on Boxing Day often told tales of Christmas celebrations around the streets of Salford and Manchester, at the various Churches, Charities and Institutions of the city. With the big day just around the corner it’s time to go back to a Victorian Christmas and join the children in their celebrations at the Refuge and homes.  Christmas Collection Appeal Leaflet

As we continue to celebrate UK Disability History Month we look back at how our Bethesda Home used to help some of the children who were under its care. Bethesda group, c.1910

Christmas day is over for another year. What will you be doing today? Travelling to see relatives? Off to the football? Continuing to force down chocolates and left overs from yesterday? For the Manchester Refuge boys' Boxing Day at the Strangeways Refuge was a time of giving. In the evening the boys would throw a party for children even worst off then themselves... Manchester boys on the street  

The great event of the year at the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges was Christmas with its good cheer and the arrival of Santa Claus. So as it’s only two days until Christmas I thought it was a good excuse to see how the charity used to celebrate the ‘big day!’ Taken from the Children’s Haven 1886

Last Sunday saw a familiar sight at the Together Trust Central Offices in Cheadle. Roaring down the road on motorbikes came around a hundred Santa’s, elves and Christmas fairies, members of the Roughley's Bikers , arriving to distribute presents to the charity. The Roughley’s Bikers’ present drop has been an annual occurrence for the last ten years, and has become a well-loved tradition for the children and young people at the Together Trust.  Roughley's Bikers dropping off presents at the Together Trust, 2011