Merry Christmas from the Together Trust!

The newspapers issued on Boxing Day often told tales of Christmas celebrations around the streets of Salford and Manchester, at the various Churches, Charities and Institutions of the city. With the big day just around the corner it’s time to go back to a Victorian Christmas and join the children in their celebrations at the Refuge and homes. 

Christmas Collection Appeal Leaflet

For those living in the charity’s 16 homes at this time a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding was in store for the 450 children celebrating Christmas. In the early days all the children would gather together at the Central Refuge on Francis Street to celebrate but as the charity and inhabitants grew, each home provided its own dinner. This became advantageous to the children, making Christmas more of a family affair than a mass gathering. 

Collecting presents for Christmas at a Refuge Bazaar

Due to the kindness of the local community each child received a muffler or a small toy and games were put on as an evening entertainment. Those children who had left the homes and were now providing for themselves (either at home, in Canada or on the training ships) were reminded of the charity by a letter and motto card.

The Refuge also worked to reach others outside their own homes through the Santa Claus distribution. For several days the offices of the charity were inundated (much as they are today!) with parcels from all parts of the country. These were distributed to the workhouses, ragged schools and hospitals in the area, with some 6000 children reached with a toy or card.

Collecting presents for the young people at the Together Trust

‘One of the most interesting features of this work is that such a large number of children, who have comfortable homes in the suburbs, have taken an interest in it, and have packed up their old toys, &c., for their poorer brothers and sisters’.

- The Manchester Courier, 26 December 1882 

It allowed all to celebrate Christmas and a jolly good time was had by all.

Thank you for supporting the Together Trust this year. A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers and supporters!