At Great Places, we believe in the power of community and the difference that collaboration can make in people’s lives. Our long-standing partnership with the 422 Community Hub is a testament to this belief. We are thrilled to have contributed to such a meaningful project by providing them with a new storage container, which is already making a significant impact on the services offered at the hub.
The 422 Community Hub: extra help to Longsight resident
The 422 Community Hub, operated by Manchester Vineyard, has a rich history that speaks to its importance in the Longsight community. Formerly known as the Longsight Youth Centre, the building has served the community in various capacities for over a century, including being one of England’s first free public libraries back in 1850. After being closed for over a decade, Manchester Vineyard took on the monumental task of renovating the building through a community asset transfer with Manchester City Council. Over the course of three years, and with more than £1 million raised through donations and grants, the 422 Community Hub has been reborn as a vibrant space for the local community.
The mission of the 422 Community Hub is clear: to tackle social isolation, provide practical assistance, and deliver long-term support to loosen the grip of poverty in one of the most deprived areas of England. The hub offers a range of services, including the 422 Cafe, Stay & Play groups, an English Language Cafe, and a crucial food and essentials programme through the 422 Pantry.
Great Places’ role in supporting 422’s work
Our journey with 422 began soon after the hub opened its doors post-pandemic. We were introduced to the passionate team at 422 and were impressed by their commitment to the community. When they applied for a grant we advertised, Pete Crean, Community Partnership Manager at Great Places saw that their vision aligned perfectly with our goal of building stronger communities.
One of the critical needs for 422 was additional storage space to support their Pantry operations. With limited storage within the building, the team at 422 faced challenges in storing food and essential items, which are vital to the success of their Pantry program. This is where Great Places stepped in.
We were delighted to fund a new storage container for 422, which has become an indispensable asset. This container has allowed the hub to store larger quantities of various items, freeing up space within the building and enabling a more organised and dignified shopping experience for Pantry members. This additional storage capacity also allows 422 to accept larger donations and purchase items in bulk at reduced rates, stretching their resources further to help more people.
Naomi Woodcock, the Centre Manager at 422 Community Hub, expressed her gratitude for the partnership, saying, “The support that Great Places has given to 422 has been vital to the success of the Pantry. We are able to operate in a new way and receive donations and support that we may have needed to turn down in the past thanks to this very neat new storage unit! We will be able to support more people and do our bit to meet the growing need for food and essentials support in our community.”
Looking forward to continued collaboration
We are extremely proud of the role we’ve played in supporting the 422 Community Hub and look forward to continuing this valuable partnership. The work being done at 422 is truly transformative, and we are excited to see how our collaboration will help further the hub’s mission of uplifting the Longsight community. Together, we are not just providing storage or funding; we are fostering hope, resilience, and a brighter future for all who walk through the doors of 422 looking for help.
