School's help for dozens of families who face threat of homelessness

COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES AND CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENTS

- SERENA RICHARDS

A GREATER Manchester school has revealed how it is supporting dozens of families facing homelessness.

Manchester Communication Academy, in Harpurhey, revealed the scale of the housing issues parents are facing at an event where it talked about the difference it is making in the community.

The Silchester Drive school says it is determined to help students mitigate the impact of social disadvantage in whatever form is necessary.

But with so many of its pupils coming from families in difficult circumstances, that goes way beyond teaching, as executive principal John Rowlands explained at the launch of Harpurhey Together, a community initiative to celebrate the area’s achievements – and talk about approaches to the issues it faces.

Mr Rowlands revealed that the school is even providing cooking facilities and beds to struggling families.

He said: “We want students to have academic success which will give them the currency to go on in life, go to uni if they chose, or an apprenticeship and to really make a difference.