“Mustard Tree has always been a family. It’s an amazing place. You don’t get that feeling in a lot of places. The biggest difference I see is that I have my confidence back. Before I didn’t believe I could do…
Life Stories
Shaun’s Story
I started working in the catering industry at 16, until I was 29. Then when I moved to Manchester, I did a number of different jobs until I went back to cooking in 2014. The last place I worked before…
Chris’ Story
“I spent most of my life, from when I was 15 until I was 40, using addictive substances. I got into all sorts of problems like sleeping rough, offending, going in and out of prison. That cycle went on for…
Leon’s Story
I grew up in care, when I left care I got into a lot of trouble and I ended up going to prison. When I got out I didn’t have anywhere to go so I spent some time sofa surfing…
Rozina’s Story
Rozina*, 22, managed to escape the cycle of homelessness and secure her first tenancy in a flat. However with no savings , a low paid zero-hours contract job as a cleaner she couldn’t buy essential items such as a bed…
John’s Story
I left prison in January 2016. I had been in care since the age of 7 and I was drinking a lot and getting into trouble. I felt like nothing when I was a kid, that I’d never amount to…
Keith’s Story
Keith, 59, has turned his life around. From a life of homelessness, crime and violence, he is now using his experiences to advise and shape how Manchester City Council works to tackle homelessness. “I grew up surrounded by violence and…
Anthony
Anthony, 52, had spent his youth in and out of prison, sleeping rough and using drugs. He hadn’t seen his daughter since she was a baby. But this year he is looking forward to spending Christmas in his own home…
James
James was made aware of The Freedom Project, our work readiness and life skills programme, by his GP. Struggling with mental health issues, James found Mustard Tree to be a non-judgemental environment that gave him the space to start to…
Rozina
Rozina became aware of The Freedom Project, our life skills and employability programme, when she visited Mustard Tree’s retail hub in Ancoats. Missing the routine that a job provides and prone to worrying about her immigration status, Rozina joined our…