We are Manchester’s oldest charity dedicated to providing essential services to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. In 1984, a group of volunteers recognised the lack of support for the city’s increasing number of rough sleepers and Lifeshare began. In the following decades, Lifeshare initiatives would become fundamental to the efforts in tackling homelessness in Manchester whilst remaining committed to its original mission to help those most in need of help.

Today, we achieve this in a number of ways:

Through our original Breakfast Respite project, which offers food, showers, essentials, clean clothes, barbers, podiatrists and advice in a warm and safe space, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the year.

Through our Christmas Respite Hub which is open for 7 consecutive days offering the same services, with additional workshops and Christmas cheer!

Through our weekly food bank, offering food parcels to anyone facing food poverty in Manchester.

The charity has previously pioneered the development of new initiatives such as rent deposit schemes and sexual health and drug awareness that are now widely spread. Through our programmes we have run initiatives to develop individual talents and were involved with the International Arts and Homelessness Summit & Festival. Our institutional status in Manchester has been gained not just through the longstanding and valued services we have offered but also by our instrumental role in the establishment of a number of vital organisations in the sector such as the Booth Centre and the Big Issue Up North.

Lifeshare has played a vital role in helping to establish a series of organisations working to create better lives for people experiencing homelessness and poverty.