Here are the answers to some of the questions we get asked most often.

If your answer isn’t here, please get in touch  by email.

Where do you operate?
Our projects focus mainly on the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. However our work also has a wider reach: for instance, our Reflex prisons project operates right across North West, and our successful ‘Eden’ partnership model is being adopted by local partners in London, Sheffield and elsewhere.

Who do you help?
The Message Trust helps young people predominantly in the age group 11 – 18. Activities and opportunities are offered to all young people regardless of their background although the emphasis of the work is biased towards the areas of the city that have been historically blighted by poverty. Through our projects, we are actively working to reverse the negative effects of poor education, housing and health, the teenage drug and alcohol problem, and endemic crime and antisocial behaviour.

How did it all start?
The Message Trust was founded by Manchester-born Andy Hawthorne, who has a passion to improve the lives of young people of his city. Before becoming a Christian and setting up The Message, Andy had rebelled as a teenager himself. But since the late eighties he has been devoted to developing a multi-level strategy to give opportunities to every young person in the region.

How is The Message funded?
The Message Trust depends on external support, usually in the form of donations, grants, partnership and volunteering. We have been endorsed not only by everyday people, volunteers and churches, but also by the business world, the police, councillors and politicians.

Is The Message a church or denomination?
No, The Message is neither a church nor affiliated to any church denomination or group. We have excellent relationships with all churches and Christian groups across the city and work in partnership with many of them every year.