Background

The Monastery serves as a secular community anchor, welcoming over 65,000 visitors a year across heritage, health and wellbeing, sustainability, culture, and peace-building programmes. Its work

includes many programmes, such as the Men's Shed, the Re-Greening Project, The Sanctuary and a developing programme of therapeutic and restorative activities.

The Monastery is currently working in partnership with Manchester City Council's ACEs, Trauma Informed Practice team and is on the path to becoming one of the first certified organisation under their framework. Trauma-responsive practice is embedded in the culture — in how they welcome people, how they design programmes, and in the values that shape every interaction. The case studies in this

document reflect that commitment in action.

Men's Shed

This person first came to the Monastery in November 2025, referred by the Job Centre. He arrived quietly — reserved, perhaps a little uncertain — but what was clear from the start was his willingness to apply himself. He gave it everything. No fuss, no fanfare. Just steady, diligent effort, week after week.

The Men's Shed doesn't ask much of people when they first walk in, other than showing up. There's no pressure to perform, no expectation to arrive as a finished version of yourself. People are met where they are. And he showed up. He learned new skills, contributed to the work of the group, and gradually — almost imperceptibly at first — began to find his footing. His confidence grew not because it was demanded of him, but because the conditions were right for it to grow.

His voice was heard a little more each week. He became someone others gravitated toward, someone whose presence was felt when he wasn't there. By early 2026 he had become an integral and much valued member of the team — not just for the work he produced, but for who he was within the group. That kind of belonging doesn't happen by accident. It's built through consistency, through trust, through an environment where people feel genuinely safe to take up space.

In March 2026, we heard the news that he had secured employment. He won't be able to join us anymore, and we'll miss him but we are so delighted about the reason for his leaving. We couldn't be prouder. This is what the work is for — not to hold people close, but to help them move forward, stronger and more themselves than when they arrived.

Green Team Volunteer

“I started volunteering at the Monastery for the regreening project in February. At this time, I was relatively new to living in Manchester and didn’t know the team at the Monastery at all. I was drawn to this project because it aligned with my interests in gardening and being green, as well as my community and well-being values championed by the Monastery.

At the time, I don’t think I anticipated the scope and impact of what we were creating. In 9 months, we have transformed a desolate piece of land at the edge of the Monastery into a multi-award-winning oasis, adding to the heart of the community. Not only have we created somewhere where the wider community can benefit, we have each individually been able to sow a seed in the rich heritage of the building and all who benefit from it. The project is a tribute to the Franciscan monks who tended the land long before us, rich

with generosity and spirit.

Personally, I have received so much from taking part. I have learnt new skills, both related to gardening and transcending it. Workshops, as well as hands-on experience taking care of the land, have given me deeper insight into what it means to be closer to nature and what small things we can do to improve our wellbeing by having access to moments of connection outside our busy lives in the city.

I have also had the privilege of being a member of a community of various ages, genders, races and abilities (including multiple disabled and neurodivergent members) where we have all been accepted and been able to offer our nuanced and personal experiences to benefit the whole. I am so grateful for the relationships I have formed, and apart from watching our garden flourish under our collective care, this has been one of the most rewarding parts.

This project is the gift that keeps on giving. The more we put in, the more it gives back, which means we can continue to feed the community with the bounty of beauty that this space offers, as well as the occasional harvest in our kitchen. In such a short period, it has had a profound impact. I look forward to seeing what we accomplish with the rest of the.” year.

Men's Shed / Mentell

A local resident in his 50's was referred to the Men’s Shed project after a long period of social withdrawal and mental ill-health. Previously a tradesman, he had stopped working due to declining health and had become isolated from his family and community. He had no regular social contact, was disengaged from support services, and reported very low self-esteem and motivation. Before joining the Men’s Shed at the Monastery, he described feeling "like a nobody" and said he would often go days without speaking to anyone. His anxiety and lack of confidence made it difficult to leave the house, and he had not accessed any structured activity for years. Like many men in similar situations, he found it hard to ask for help and was wary of traditional support services.

His initial visit to the shed was tentative, but it marked the beginnings of a powerful transformation.

When he first came to the Men’s Shed, he was extremely quiet and reluctant to engage. Staff welcomed him without pressure and gave him space to observe. On his second visit, he started sanding a piece of wood — the first time he’d used tools in years. Slowly, week by week, he began to open up. He connected with others who shared similar life experiences, and his confidence grew. He began leading small tasks, advising others, and even mentoring new participants. Staff noticed a visible change in his posture, energy, and speech. He started dressing with more pride, arriving early, and staying late.

He described the Shed as giving him “a reason to get out of bed” and said it helped him feel like “someone again.” He began re-engaging with healthcare and talking about future volunteering. The Shed became a lifeline — not just a workshop, but a place of purpose and belonging. Today, he is one of the most engaged members of the Men’s Shed. He attends regularly, supports others with practical tasks, and plays a key role in maintaining the space. His confidence has grown significantly — he now greets people warmly, shares ideas, and talks openly about his experiences and facilitates at our Men's Mental Health Group. He has reconnected with his GP, is managing his mental health more proactively, and has expressed interest in taking on a volunteer leadership role. He has also begun to

participate in wider activities at the Monastery, including community events and gardening sessions.

He recently shared that the Shed gave him “hope again” and helped him feel valued after years of feeling invisible. The space continues to provide him with stability, friendship, and purpose. His story illustrates the transformative power of low-barrier, inclusive community-led projects — and the life-changing role the Monastery plays in supporting isolated people to rebuild.