A free café opens the door to practical help in Gorton
At the Oasis Centre in Gorton, a free café can be the start of a much longer conversation.
The east Manchester charity, which celebrated its 25th birthday this weekend, says it helps around 2,500 people a year. Its 19 staff and 90 volunteers run classes, job clubs and crisis support alongside the café and charity shop.
Founder Victoria Armstrong began by offering tea and toast to neighbours who seemed to have nobody. Today, she says, anyone can walk through the door without having to prove they qualify.
A recent account from the charity shows how that welcome can develop into practical help. A mother, given the name Jasmine to protect her identity, received months of support understanding and navigating an eviction.
Her family still needs a permanent home, and this individual account cannot show how everyone fares after using the service.
But Oasis helped Jasmine and her children into temporary accommodation where, its worker reports, they now feel safe and settled. The team is continuing to help them find somewhere lasting.
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