Woodhouse Park Family Centre

In 1996, Woodhouse Park Family Centre (WHPFC) published its first annual report, marking the organization's change from being governed by a steering committee to a management committee.
Prior to this, there had been little help for families, vulnerable individuals, and parents due to the political climate of the period.
So, with the cooperation of the then-minister, the Rev. Bob Day, and a diverse group of individuals, it was agreed that they could fill this vacuum and meet the needs of those in the community who had previously felt alone and unsupported.
With assistance and counsel from Voluntary Action Manchester, Kate Fitzhugh, a new Manager, was hired, and the Family Center started to change.
Our current Manager, Clare North, served as the Play Coordinator prior to taking over in 2006, ten years after our first AGM.
It hasn't been easy sailing, though.
Compare this to 1996, when the Family Centre received $120,000 in lottery proceeds to pay for two employees for a period of three years.
Although it was always a dangerous situation, financing was steady at this time.
Only Christine Greenhalgh and Edgar Roberts remained when the management team eventually dispersed after Bob Day resigned to pursue an academic career.
Edgar's presence serves as a reminder of how appreciative we are to the URC, who provided us with the space to rent, as well as how important the church has been to our development.
The Management Committee is a lean one, but it's well-rounded.
It has been supported for many years by a core group of a few individuals, including the chairperson/director Christine Greenhalgh, the URC representative Edgar Roberts, our member who serves as an elder at St. Marks, a local resident and member of the Tree of Life Management Committee Eula Mesquita, and our treasurer Stuart Armstrong. This has given us core stability.
We are able to maintain a stable course that distinguishes us as the sole autonomous organisation of our kind in Wythenshawe thanks to the steadfast assistance of the Center Manager Clare North and the Finance Administrator Nikki Stanley.
Success in creating a trade arm that can provide future income and open up job and training possibilities for locals is one of the main objectives.
We are lucky to be able to expand on our Mobile Creche's reputation as a reliable, high-quality child care facility.