Manchester Settlement

Manchester Settlement is a registered charity established in 1895 by the Univeristy of Manchester. We aim to help, support and empower people in our local communities to achieve, be active citizens, and improve their lives. We focus our efforts on working with young people, enabling them to contribute positively to their wider communities.The trustees of Manchester Settlement follow best practice guidelines provided by the Charity Commission in ensuring their governance of the charity is appropriate.A Manchester Settlement we have a number of policies to ensure our provisions and service are delivered to the benefit of the user. With these policies both Manchester Settlement staff and visitors can ensure the very best outcome.

Manchester Settlement runs Education programmes for young people aged 14-16 who are not reaching their full potential in mainstream school.Since 2002 we have delivered a successful education provision aimed at re-integrating young people back into mainstream school or further Education.We work in partnership with Greater Manchester high schools.The under 16s education programme is inspected by OFSTED.

Our pupils and parents recognise how we provide a unique package of care, support and teaching which sets our pupils up for making successful next steps. Within our curriculum we work towards achieving the standard GCSE level subjects including Sport. We also specialise in Art ,Drama, music, citizenship, personal development and careers advice. Sexual Health, Drugs and Alcohol awareness, conflict resolution, communication, emotional literacy. Healthy living, issue based work & Independent living skills.

Manchester Settlement is a provider of Young people’s Supported Housing over 3 projects. First Key Homes and Young Peoples Housing Project, offer accommodation and intensive support of on average 3 hours week to LAC, Care Leavers and single homeless persons with support needs.Our new service Next Step housing provides a step down service bridging the gap for care leavers from supported housing and living independently. Young people aged 16-24 can be referred to Manchester Settlement via various agencies working with the young person.

Manchester Settlement offer an individually tailored package of support which includes help with budgeting, form filling, claiming benefits, introduction to facilities and services, how to be a good neighbour and live independently and successfully in the community.In this time, our dedicated and experienced support staff, intensively support young people around budgeting, paying bills, accessing education, employment and training.

Our main aim is to get our young people moved on living in the community independently. We do this by working around 5 areas of the young people’s lives supporting them to be healthy, be safe, make a positive contribution, enjoy life achieving their goals and maintain economic wellbeing.Firstly we have 5 terraced houses where 3 young people have their own bedrooms and share a bathroom kitchen and living space. These were derelict homes in the Openshaw area that Manchester Settlement renovated to a high standard supported by the Homes and Community Agency. These homes are use as part of First key Homes project.Secondly we have 8 individual flats in the Openshaw area managed in partnership with Mosscare St Vincent Homes. This includes your own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living space. These 8 flats are the accommodation for both our Housing Related Support and Next Steps projects.

The settlement movement was a reformist social movement established around Universities in the 1880’s, with the goal of getting the rich and the poor of society to live closer together in an interdependent community. The Manchester Settlement was established by the University of Manchester in 1895 as the first UK University Settlement outside of London.The Ancoats district of Manchester was to be the first residence for university academics who would settle in the area, beginning to organise lectures, concerts, expeditions and the like for local people.

Manchester Settlement continued in this vain and across a number of sites, most significantly operating from the Roundhouse building, as sketched by LS Lowry in 1930.The activities of the Manchester University Settlement ebbed and flowed throughout the 20th century, however they all focussed upon supporting poorer residents through education and activities to promote what we would now determine to be social mobility.

Modern times saw the trustees of the University Settlement break the formal link with the university to become Manchester Settlement in response to changing priorities at the university. Manchester Settlement was established with a board of trustees from a range of key organisations, including the university. The charitable objectives were updated and a strategic direction was agreed.In 2009 the trustees were delighted to open the doors to The New Roundhouse in Openshaw an area of East Manchester subject to many years of economic and social regression. The New Roundhouse was a £2.2m bespoke build based upon the needs of a partnership of organisations. Manchester Settlement as the anchor organisation, The Manchester College, and a housing association – Mosscare.

Manchester Settlement continues to develop as a charity committed to impacting upon poverty and the effects of poverty through education and community development. In 2015 a new Chief Executive; Adrian Ball was appointed to develop and implement a strategy for the next decade in the Settlement’s history.