Behind an unassuming brick building in Ancoats, tucked just off a busy main road, something extraordinary happens every day.
It might look like a shop or a warehouse at first glance, but step through the doors of Mustard Tree and you’re met with an incredible group of people.
There’s the smell of fresh coffee brewing in the café, laughter from an art class and shelves filled with essentials: clothes, food, furniture, for people who need them most.
But it goes much further than that. It’s a place where people come to be seen, heard, and reminded they matter.
Mustard Tree, Ancoats
In a city where inequality is growing, Mustard Tree has been a constant source of hope for over 30 years, supporting people who are homeless and struggling to get by.
But its mission goes far deeper than handing out emergency aid. It’s about restoring dignity, rebuilding confidence, and challenging the systems that keep people trapped in poverty.
Mustard Tree CEO Jo Walby
Speak to CEO Jo Walby, and it quickly becomes clear that Mustard Tree isn’t your average service provider. It’s a movement, a community driven by solidarity and the belief that poverty is never a personal failure.
“Poverty isn’t all about money,” said CEO Jo Walby. “It’s about not having access to opportunity, culture, and creating a community.
“When you’re excluded from those things, you’re excluded from hope.
“One of the biggest myths about homelessness is the idea that it’s somehow the person’s fault,” said Jo.
“There’s a tendency to look at someone sleeping rough and immediately judge them. But by the time someone ends up on the streets, they’ve almost certainly asked for help: likely many times. It’s not a path anyone chooses lightly.”
For Mustard Tree, challenging stigma is just as important as offering support. Their approach is rooted in compassion and the belief that anyone can find themselves in need.
“Everyone makes mistakes, it’s just that some of us have more resources or safety nets to fall back on,” Jo said.
“The myth that poverty is purely a result of bad choices is something we work hard to challenge.”
Inside the Ancoats hub, creativity is everywhere. From walls adorned with paintings to classes buzzing with activity, it’s clear that Mustard Tree’s scope is much wider than crisis response.
“Not everyone who comes to us is ready for training or work experience. But many are ready to contribute, to commit to a routine, and to reconnect with the community. The arts offer that space,” Jo explained.
“They’re joyful. They’re where people start imagining a new future.”
How do you measure a charity’s success?
The impact is clear, but how do you measure something as nuanced as dignity, or a sense of belonging?
“Of course, numbers matter,” Jo acknowledged. “We need to demonstrate value for money, if someone donates £10, they want to know it’s making a difference. So we track how many people we help, how our services are used, and how we’re growing.”
But that’s only part of the picture. “What really matters is the impact we have on people’s lives. We look at how much money we help people save, or how their income improves after gaining employment. We also focus on more personal changes: like growth in confidence and self-esteem, or the development of new skills.”
It’s not uncommon for someone to start out taking part in a creative workshop or volunteering for a few hours a week, then later find themselves applying for jobs, starting a course, or reconnecting with family.
“We measure those things through focus groups, case studies, and support sessions. That qualitative insight is just as important as the data: it helps us understand the real difference we’re making.”
“The courage it takes to ask for help is immense”
Behind the numbers are stories of resilience and people who come to Mustard Tree not just for food or furniture, but for community and kindness.
“When I look into someone’s eyes, I see courage,” Jo said. “The bravery it takes to ask for help is immense. And the dignity people show when they walk through our doors is something that continually inspires me.”
That sense of shared humanity is at the heart of Mustard Tree’s ethos. The organisation treats every person with respect, recognising the strengths and talents they bring. “Everyone wants a home, a job, the ability to earn money, and everyone will face a problem at some point. Some of us are born with more opportunities, others aren’t. Some lose them through life circumstances or decisions.”
Jo leads the organisation with deep empathy, but also a fierce sense of justice. “I believe it’s unacceptable to have such deep inequality in this country. That drives me to act. When I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself that I’m lucky. I have a job, a family, a home. That sense of injustice motivates me to fight for those who need support.”
Weathering the cost-of-living storm
Like many charities, Mustard Tree has been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis. But for an organisation dedicated to fighting poverty, the impact has been particularly intense.
“It’s felt like a triple challenge,” Jo said. “Rising demand for support, increasing costs, and greater difficulty raising funds, because our supporters are also facing financial pressure.”
Despite this, the team has remained determined to protect the services that matter most. “Balancing the books has been one of our biggest challenges. We’re determined not to cut essential services, especially when demand is rising. We want to continue offering the deeper, more impactful work like one-to-one support, training, and work placements, even though those things are more costly to deliver.”
Support from partners like the University of Manchester has helped, and not just financially. “It’s the recognition that what we’re doing still matters. That emotional lift makes a big difference.”
The team has responded with creativity and resilience. “Our staff have been brilliant, finding ways to cut costs and generate income. For example, our café has become a successful income stream thanks to the innovation and hard work of our team and volunteers.”
Small acts, big difference
Sometimes it’s the smallest interventions that have the biggest impact. Jo shares a story that still stays with her.
“A woman in Little Hulton had come to us in distress, bailiffs were at her door, about to repossess the sofas her children were sleeping on due to a debt. One of our team stepped in and, through a small loan scheme, we paid off the debt, less than £200. She agreed to repay us over time, but it meant the immediate crisis was averted.”
The most surprising part? The call came from the bailiff.
“Normally, we speak to bailiffs to advocate for our clients. But this time, he was calling to thank us. He said that in his 35 years of work, he’d never seen an organisation step in to prevent the seizure of goods like that. His team didn’t have to remove the only beds those children had.”
For Jo, that moment captured everything Mustard Tree stands for: “practical help, human dignity, and stepping in when it matters most.”
“practical help, human dignity, and stepping in when it matters most”
As Greater Manchester faces rising inequality, housing insecurity, and ongoing economic strain, Jo is clear-eyed about the role Mustard Tree must play in the years to come.
“I want us to be sustainable so we can keep helping those most in need. But I also want us to be part of the bigger conversation, sharing the lived experiences of those who come through our doors to help influence policy and shape decisions across the city region.”
That means shifting the narrative as well as providing support. “Addressing inequality isn’t just about offering services, it’s about changing systems. I’d like to see Mustard Tree contributing at a strategic level, while continuing to represent the voices of those we support. And we must do that with care, dignity, and love—because the stories people trust us with deserve nothing less.”
Celebrating community and culture
One of Mustard Tree’s most joyful successes in recent years has been the deepening involvement of Manchester’s Hong Kong community in its creative programmes. “They’ve become an integral part of what we do,” Jo said with a smile. “Whether it’s making dragons for Chinese New Year or showcasing their talents through art, it’s been a privilege to share in that.”
That kind of cross-cultural celebration brings a special energy to the organisation, and shows how the arts can be a powerful route into connection and confidence. “Our classes are full of laughter, expression, and community,” Jo said. “That sense of belonging is just as vital as any formal support we offer.”
An invitation to be part of something bigger
As Jo speaks, one theme comes through again and again: that this work isn’t about charity in the traditional sense. It’s about community, about building a more just, more humane society together.
“We don’t see ourselves as ‘helpers’ and the people who come to us as ‘receivers’,” Jo said. “It’s not us and them, it’s just us.”
That philosophy is what makes Mustard Tree not only a lifeline, but a place where people rediscover their sense of worth, rebuild their confidence, and reconnect with joy.
In Jo’s words, “Hope grows here. And every single person who walks through our doors has something to offer.”
I love Manchester X Mustard Tree
This year, I Love Manchester is partnering with Mustard Tree to raise charity funds for the amazing work they do across Greater Manchester.
Named Manchester’s Most-Loved Charity at the I Love MCR Awards, Mustard Tree combats poverty and prevents homelessness across the city.
You can find out more about this partnership and donate by clicking here
What’s happening at Mustard Tree?
You can see what’s happening at Mustard Tree by clicking here
