Trauma Support
In Manchester, many individuals—particularly those from Black, African, and Caribbean backgrounds—experience higher levels of trauma linked to systemic inequality, racial injustice, displacement, poverty, and adverse life experiences.
Despite the scale of these challenges, mainstream support services often lack the cultural competence or trauma-informed approaches needed to effectively engage and support these communities.
Barriers such as stigma, mistrust, language, and a lack of local provision prevent people from accessing the mental health and emotional wellbeing support they need.
This leads to cycles of disengagement, isolation, and unaddressed trauma that impact all areas of life — from relationships and education to employment and community belonging.
Our Trauma-Informed Support Hub was developed to break that cycle — embedding care, connection, and culturally competent support within the heart of the community.
What the programme does
The Trauma-Informed Support Hub provides holistic, person-centred support to individuals affected by trauma, adversity, and exclusion. The programme is grounded in culturally competent practice and delivered through accessible, community-based hubs.
Key features include:
Key Trauma Workers
Every participant is matched with a trauma-informed key worker who provides emotional support, helps set personal goals, and acts as a trusted point of contact throughout their journey.
Specialist Services
We support service users in navigating and accessing external mental health services, counselling, housing support, immigration advice, and more — ensuring no one faces complex systems alone.
Community-Based
Support is offered in safe, familiar spaces that reflect and respect the cultural identities of those we serve. Our hubs are intentionally placed within the communities they support.
Culturally Competent
Staff are trained in anti-racist, trauma-responsive approaches and have lived experience or deep contextual understanding of the communities they work with.
The hub is not a crisis service, but a consistent, relationship-based approach to long-term healing and empowerment.
The change we hope to see
The Trauma-Informed Support Hub is rooted in the belief that healing and progress begin with trust, care, and culturally competent connection. Through this programme, we aim to support individuals in a way that aligns directly with each of the five pillars of our Holistic Development Model:
Building Skills
Through personalised mentoring, service navigation, and peer engagement, participants develop critical life skills such as emotional literacy, communication, and self-advocacy — all essential for progressing in education, employment, and relationships.
Personal Growth
Participants are supported to develop confidence, emotional resilience, and self-expression. We create the conditions for individuals to reimagine their futures and take steps toward their personal goals at their own pace.
Civic Responsibility
The hub promotes community belonging and reconnection. As individuals grow in confidence and stability, they are encouraged to take part in wider community initiatives, volunteer opportunities, or group-based sessions, strengthening their role as active contributors to their local area.
Social Mobility
By addressing the trauma-related barriers that prevent engagement in work, education, or training, we open the door to long-term personal and professional progression. The hub acts as a stepping stone toward more stable, fulfilling futures.
Wellbeing Support
We prioritise social, emotional, and mental health by offering one-to-one support, safe spaces for healing, and access to trauma-informed and culturally relevant services. This ensures individuals can process experiences, rebuild confidence, and re-engage with opportunities.