News and stories | Together Trust

A Bridge College student holding a a Chinese New Year artwork which they have made

Bridge College celebrates Chinese New Year

24 February 2021 - 2:45pm

2021 is a year of the Ox, starting from February 12th, 2021 (Chinese lunar New Year Day) and lasts until January 31st, 2022. The new year, also known in China as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar; this means the date changes from year to year.

To celebrate Chinese New Year Bridge College students spent the week finding out about Chinese culture, traditions and Pangu (a being in mythology).

£4000s worth of IT equipment donated by The Federation of School Lodges

23 February 2021 - 3:30pm

We were delighted to receive a very generous donation of laptops, worth £4,000, from The Federation of School Lodges to aid students from our educational settings with their remote learning.

Government lets down thousands of children

20 February 2021 - 12:45pm

On Friday 19 February, the government announced that there will be new legislation to ban placements in unregulated homes for under 16s from September 2021 and Ofsted will have new powers to enforce action against illegal unregister providers.

Quote from the open Statement from Disabled People’s Organisations and Allies - February 2021

COVID-19 and the Rights of Disabled People

19 February 2021 - 11:00am

Open Statement from Disabled People’s Organisations and Allies

Coronavirus has hit disabled people hard. 60% of deaths from coronavirus have been those of Disabled People.

Letter to Gavin Williamson

18 February 2021 - 11:00am

We have written to Gavin Williamson to raise our concerns about the consultation process of the children's social care review

Phil and Callum* - fostering with the Together Trust

16 February 2021 - 5:30pm

Phil and Cullum have been fostering with us for over seven years ago and have cared for about 20 children. They spoke to us about celebrating diversity and the joys of fostering.

Mark Lee chief executive of the Together Trust

Statement in response to DNR orders for people with learning disabilities

16 February 2021 - 1:30pm

People with learning disabilities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the news at the weekend about DNR orders has highlighted just how far this goes. We, like Mencap, would like to see this group prioritised for the vaccine rollout.

Being an apprentice at the Together Trust: You’re never too old to learn

12 February 2021 - 11:00am

It’s National Apprenticeship Week this week. The annual event highlights the work being done by employers and apprentices across the UK. We had a chat with Mandy Conduit, Learning and Development Advisor at the Together Trust to tell us how we future proof our workforce through apprenticeships and the fantastic opportunities we have to upskill, regardless of whether you are at the beginning or more established in your career.

Our services going above and beyond to offer full-time support

30 January 2021 - 12:00pm

Over the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, staff members at one of our short breaks home, Meridian, have gone above and beyond to look after our young people and help a family in need of extra support during the lockdown.

Bridge College collaborates with LuxAI to develop QT Robot software

28 January 2021 - 4:00pm

Bridge College is excited to announce they have a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with LuxAI to develop robotic software. QT the Robot is designed to remove barriers to learning for students with autism and provides innovative opportunities for students to learn new skills.

Our commitment to addressing inequality

20 January 2021 - 9:00am

In the UK there has been a strong critique of the voluntary and community sector. Charity So White has highlighted institutional racism and challenged the sector to question whether it can say it is demonstrating best practice.

The evidence is clear that much has yet to be done.

The Woodlands team and Children in Need Day

Our residential services demonstrating resilience and commitment during Covid-19

19 January 2021 - 9:15am

Following the Christmas period, some of our staff at Woodlands residential home, along with two young people living there, tested positive for Covid-19. Despite the unfortunate events, a group of amazing colleagues volunteered to create a core team and moved into the home for the week to ensure a supportive environment for our young people.

Together Trust welcomes the launch of the Care Review for England

15 January 2021 - 11:15am

The government made a manifesto commitment of a ‘bold and broad review’ of the care system that prioritised stable loving placements for children in care.

Many of the care leavers we speak to say there is a lack of love in the care system. The review must address the stigmatisation, discrimination and loneliness that care experienced people experience.

Thank you to everyone who supported our Christmas Toy Appeal

6 January 2021 - 4:15pm

Vernon Building Society and Imagine Radio announced back in November that they had chosen to support the Together Trust for the second year running with their Christmas Toy Appeal.

There was an amazing response to the appeal last year, with hundreds of presents donated at Vernon Building Society branches in the run up to Christmas.

Call for care experienced participants

18 December 2020 - 11:00am

As part of our successful HLF grant, we are commissioning an oral histories project involving care experienced people supported by the Trust and beyond.

Six Greater Manchester-based artists selected for ‘Making of Us’ at The Turnpike

17 December 2020 - 7:30am

Making of Us brings together the expertise of partners across the arts, social care and education sectors. Artists will work with young people from the ages of 13 to 25 years facing adversity, to initiate mutual learning opportunities and new ways of collaborating.

Members of Marple Golf club holding up the total that they raised in numbers

Marple Golf Club raises £2,770

14 December 2020 - 12:30pm

In October the Ladies Section at Marple Golf Club presented Together Trust with a cheque for £2,770 raised through a charity of the year partnership from 2019-2020.

Carol, the Lady Captain at Marple Golf Club said she chose to support Together Trust because "they do such wonderful work in the local community and my niece has been helped by the trust". We spoke to Carol to find out more about their fundraising efforts in 2020…

Karten Network celebrates the Centenary of Ian Karten’s birth

14 December 2020 - 10:15am

Today marks the centenary of Ian Karten’s birth and in celebration, Karten is launching the Ian Karten Charitable Trust’s website. The website celebrates Ian’s life, vision and legacy. Put simply Ian was a remarkable man.

£2,526 raised for our Christmas appeal

7 December 2020 - 4:45pm

This year young people leaving our care and the families we support have been put under extra strain. With the additional impact of Covid-19, we knew that Christmas was going to be a tough time for them and we wanted them to know that they are not alone.

Bridge students design T-shirts for Children in Need

18 November 2020 - 3:15pm

To raise funds for Children in Need, Bridge College students and staff got involved in a T-shirt competition. They wore yellow or spots for the day and even completed laps around the college building.