- Funding award will help to support children and families on low incomes.
- Cash donation to be dedicated to 156-year-old Mission’s core project.
Wood Street Mission, an independent children’s charity that supports low-income families across Manchester and Salford, has received a funding boost, thanks to the generosity of Manchester Credit Union members.
The Mission, which is based on Wood Street in Manchester city centre, is the latest recipient of funding from Manchester Credit Union’s Busy Bee Lottery.
The lottery is exclusive to Manchester Credit Union members and combines the opportunity to support local good causes with a chance of winning a monthly cash prize. Since its inception in 2023, the initiative has raised more than £32,000 for charities and community groups.
A £1,882 lottery donation has been awarded to Wood Street Mission. The money will assist the charity in providing practical support to struggling families, helping to meet children’s day-to-day needs and improve their life chances.
Wood Street Mission helps thousands of children and their families each year, and has been doing so since the charity was founded in 1869.
The Manchester Credit Union donation will be dedicated to the Mission’s Family Basics initiative, a core project that provides day-to-day essentials for families living on low incomes. Parents and carers can access free toiletries, bedding, towels, clothes, baby equipment, toys, and books through the project.
Commenting on the donation, Wood Street Mission Chief Executive, Des Lynch said: “This very generous contribution will make a real, tangible difference to families facing poverty in Manchester and Salford.
“It is a big boost for our Family Basics project and will help us to alleviate the worry that parents and carers feel when they are struggling to provide the day-to-day items that are so important for their children’s health and wellbeing. By offering this support, we also help families stretch their budgets to cover other costs they need to meet.
“We’re hugely grateful to Manchester Credit Union and their members for backing our cause.”
Mandy Wilcock, chief executive of Manchester Credit Union, added: “Wood Street Mission is a crucial lifeline to many local families. The charity is dedicated to improving the life chances of children and families living in poverty, and it’s a goal that aligns closely with ours, as we support families in building financial resilience and improving their futures. We are only too happy to support the Family Basics project and hope the money makes a real difference to those who need it most.”
As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial co-operative, Manchester Credit Union offers a range of services from savings accounts, including one dedicated to Christmas, to fair and affordable personal loans with no application fees and no early repayment fees. The credit union is dedicated to helping people in Greater Manchester free themselves from a cycle of costly and stress-inducing debt.
Operating from three physical branches, Manchester Credit Union serves members in the City of Manchester, Stockport, Bury, Rochdale, Tameside, Trafford, and the High Peak.
Manchester Credit Union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA.
