Manchester’s homeless charities prepare for winter freeze

The Manchester Homeless Partnership is bringing together the council and homeless charities to provide support to people sleeping on the streets of Manchester. 

It comes after the Met Office issued a recent amber warning for the UK with Storm Bram bringing cold winds and heavy rain. 

Coffee4Craig is part of Manchester Homeless Partnership and offers a safe space for people on the street to visit and recuperate, especially during the harsher winter months.

“We all work together and work very closely with the council as we’ve all got different skills and things we can bring to the table,” says Risha Lancaster, co-founder and operations manager.

“It is difficult all year round, not just the winter, as it is just different needs, the need for warmer stuff.” 

According to Risha, people should do what they can to donate to local charities during the Christmas period, as this is a key time for charities to stock up on living essentials. 

“What happens is that a lot of people [homeless people] will get given a lot over Christmas, but then come Boxing Day, they don’t get anything and depression hits and it gets cold,” she says.

Councillor Joanna Midgley, deputy leader of the council, believes its agreement with Manchester Homeless Partnership will save lives this winter. 

This year, the partnership will offer a small number of women-only accommodation spaces to encourage more women to feel safe enough to reach out for help. 

“People do not have to sleep outside when the temperature is at its coldest. There will always be a warm space provided by the council and its partners,” said Councillor Midgley. 

Greater Together Manchester is an anti-poverty charity which supports communities and hosts the Greater Manchester Homeless Action Network. 

The charity works closely with the Manchester Homeless Partnership – in 2026, the pair will be celebrating their 10th year collaborating together.

CEO Lily Axworthy said: “We play a big part in helping to tackle the issue [of homelessness], it’s not something that the city council could do on their own, particularly because we have the flexibility to support people who wouldn’t be eligible for support through the city council.

“[Manchester City Council] have always been really involved from the very start of the homeless partnership in various different ways, and we’re able to challenge them on decisions.

“When the weather gets really cold, it is very difficult, and there is additional provisions put on by the city council and partners when the weather does get very cold to stop people from dying.”

Amanda Croome, the head of homelessness for Caritas Salford, who work on behalf of the Manchester Homelessness Partnership, added: “At this time a year, as the weather worsens, it’s arguably more important than ever that people know where they can come so they aren’t having to sleep rough.”