National Lottery helps the Together Trust celebrate 150 years

We’re excited to announce that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded us £99,200 to explore and celebrate our 150 years of history. Since 1870, we've provided life-changing care, support and education across the North West.

Our project ‘The Ever Open Door - 150 years of Together Trust’ will be led by young people from across our services. They will help open up our history to the local community and beyond. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on the origins of the Together Trust and our impact then and now on people’s lives.

The Together Trust was founded in 1870 by Leonard Kilbee Shaw and Richard Bramwell Taylor as the Manchester and Salford Boys’ and Girls’ Refuges and Homes. They aspired to improve the lives of young people neglected by the state. Their work continues to inspire our mission to champion the rights, needs, and ambitions of looked-after children, people with disabilities, autism and mental health difficulties.

As we celebrate our 150th birthday in 2020, our heritage project will share stories from people we’ve supported and the difference we’ve made to thousands of lives. These will be shared through exhibitions, digital projects, events, and activities. People who have been supported by the Together Trust, both past and present, and our supporters will come together to explore our charity’s history.

Mark Lee, Chief Executive of the Together Trust said:

We’re delighted to receive this funding to explore and share our history and the stories of the people we’ve championed over the years. For 150 years we’ve been working to champion the rights of people in need of support, just as our founders did in 1870. 

This funding will also help us share the views of the people and families we support today. And continue to highlight the things that are blocking them from reaching their full potential.

Through this project, we will support people to develop new communication and artistic skills while gaining a deeper insight into our history. Working together, they will create new heritage material and capture stories that will be preserved for future generations.