Supporting young women at risk of homelessness: Contact Hostel

At Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, we are committed to ending homelessness and eliminating the need for rough sleeping across the city-region. Through our grant programmes, we fund frontline organisations working across Emergency Response, Places and Spaces, and Prevention to provide stability, safety, and long-term change. 

Since launching in 2018, we have awarded grants to more than 170 organisations across Greater Manchester. In our latest Small Awards programme, we offered grants of up to £10,000 to help organisations sustain and strengthen their vital work. One of the organisations supported through this programme was Contact Hostel. 

Contact Hostel provides supported accommodation for teenage girls and young women who are unable to live at home. Many residents arrive without the consistent support of family, often at a point of significant disruption in their lives. Contact offers not just a safe place to stay, but stability and guidance at a critical time. 

Our £10,000 grant was awarded towards staff salaries, helping Contact to maintain 24 hour onsite support for residents. We spoke to Helen Gazard, Fundraising Lead at Contact Hostel, to learn more about the impact of this funding. 

How was the grant from Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity spent? 

“The grant was put towards our staff salaries. We have Support Workers on site 24 hours a day – meaning the girls have round the clock access to expert support. Funding for staff salaries can sometimes be hard to source – so to have been awarded £10,000 towards covering these costs is a massive help to us.” 

What has this funding enabled you to achieve? 

“This funding has enabled us to continue providing ‘everything a good parent should’ to our residents. Whilst no two girls who come to Contact are the same, we find that many girls have lacked the support of close family members or parents, so it’s really important that our Support Workers provide an example of what a healthy, supportive relationship with a trusted adult can look like. This can mean anything from providing a listening ear, helping teach girls how to cook or accompanying them to meetings and appointments.” 

In 2024–25, Contact Hostel supported 20 young women, with an occupancy rate of over 90%. The average length of stay was 3.7 months, and the average age on admission was 17.25 years. While some stays are short, many young women remain at Contact for several months, and some for more than a year. 

Demand for places remains high. Last year alone, Contact received 40 referrals — twice the number they were able to accommodate. 

Since opening their doors in 1970, Contact estimates that over 1,000 girls and young women have been supported through their services. 

Anya’s Story 

Anya* came to Contact when she was 17, at a time of significant change in her life. Contact was able to offer her the stability she needed to complete her studies and secure a place on a higher education course. 

After living in the main house, Anya moved into Contact’s ‘Move-On’ bungalow, a transitional space designed to help young people develop independent living skills while still receiving the care and guidance of Support Workers. Staff supported Anya to build confidence in budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and managing day to day responsibilities in a safe environment. 

When Anya felt ready to leave the bungalow, the team supported her to find a flat near her course. They also helped provide essential items such as a bed, kitchen equipment, bathroom items, a microwave, and a hoover.  

“We’ve seen Anya grow so much during her time with us,” says her Support Worker. “It’s been so rewarding to see her preparing herself for independent living. She embraced the challenges and responsibilities, and we know she will go far.” 

*Name changed to protect privacy 

Without this kind of support, many young people would struggle to afford the essentials they need to move forward. By helping young women start their independent lives properly equipped, Contact gives them the best possible chance to flourish. 

Over the coming weeks we will be continuing to share more of the impact our grants are making across Greater Manchester. This funding is only possible with your support.   

Please consider setting up a monthly donation here. With your help, we can get this vital funding to the frontline. 

Together, we can end homelessness. 

Learn more about Contact Hostel on their website.