Mustard Tree

COVID-19 UPDATES

Click here for our latest blog on ‘Life after Lockdown’ and what Mustard Tree is doing next

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, our priority has been to safely remain open to support our people within public health guidelines. Since the start of lockdown to the end of June 2020, we have:

Supported 4648 families
Delivered food or welcomed people to our Food Clubs over 14,500 times in three months
Given food, toiletries and clothes to over 1000 people living in extreme poverty

During this time, there have been countless personal stories which have touched us all – including finding older people with no cooking facilities, a family of four living in one room and a father and son living on the streets. The feedback we have had has been overwhelming and has reinforced the mission of Mustard Tree – to combat poverty and prevent homelessness.

The economic impact of COVID-19 is likely to be felt long after the lockdown, due to increasing unemployment, debt and evictions. Our focus will continue to be on food, furniture and essential items to those in need. We will also try to help people find ways out of financial crisis, and into opportunities to improve wellbeing.

Our services are applicable to those on benefits and on no income. Our opening hours are:

• Ancoats, Manchester: 10am till 2pm – Monday to Saturday

(Please note that our Ancoats hub is open on Saturday for Food Club only)

• Eccles: 10am – 2pm Monday and Wednesday
• Little Hulton: 10am – 2pm Tuesday and Wednesday (click here to read latest guidelines for our Little Hulton hub)

We want to take this opportunity to say a HUGE THANK YOU to our supporters, special donors, partners, customers, clients, volunteers and staff members.

We have been around for the last 25 years – combating poverty and preventing homelessness – and working to our values of Belief, Dignity, Opportunity, Diversity and Partnership. We think these values are more relevant than ever and we are committed to continuing to support people across Greater Manchester at this time.

For any queries, please contact information@mustardtree.org.uk.

STAYING COVID-19 SECURE IN 2020

We are complying with the government’s guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19, and have included updated steps we are taking below:

Latest News

LISTEN: BBC Radio Manchester (7/10/2020) - We are delighted to have been featured as part of BBC Radio Manchester’s ‘Make A Difference’ campaign, which you can listen back on Becky Want’s Breakfast Show here (skip to 07:56).

Mustard Tree’s Future Focus – Life After Lockdown (7/3/2020) - What did Mustard Tree do before Covid-19? For over 25 years, the Mustard Tree charity has been supporting and creating opportunities for people and communities in Manchester and Salford. We tackle both the causes and consequences of poverty and aim...

Featured Life Story

Ged’s Story

Ged (61) joined the Freedom Project – Mustard Tree’s life skills and employability programme – after facing a prolonged period of unemployment. He is now back in work after graduating, having regained his confidence and self-respect.

“Before I joined Mustard Tree, I had taken voluntary redundancy at the printing company I’d worked for over the past 25 years. After that, I worked in a nursing home for a long time, but lost my job after the company changed hands and felt like I no longer fit in.

Losing a second job in this way was a big confidence knock for me, as I really cared about the work and the residents I was caring for. I felt really picked on and didn’t know what to do about it. I felt like I was being portrayed as a bad person when I wasn’t, and now wish I had fought against it more”.

Ged first heard about Mustard Tree through a member of staff who previously worked with him at the printing company. He felt more confident attending the Freedom open day as he already knew a familiar face…