"It's getting harder out there." Women in Manchester who were already marginalised and unsupported have been pushed to the brink of survival by the cost of living crisis. Women are turning coming to MASH in desperation, with basic needs unmet, starving, struggling to get to appointments and access support or medication. Some have found a place to call home but lack even the bare essentials and struggle to make ends meet. Women who sex work also bear the weight of stigma and being unheard.

MASH is somewhere welcoming and trusted for women to turn to where they won't be judged or asked lots of intrusive questions before they can access support. We provide nutritious hot meals to eat in our drop-in centre and emergency food parcels. We provide bags of essential items like underwear and personal hygiene items. We also hope to continue our hardship fund which was set up during the pandemic which hundreds of women have accessed for travel cards, mobile phones, kitchen items and more