Five minutes with…Mandi

Many of our services in Greater Manchester and Lancashire support people experiencing homelessness.

This month, we’re proud to have opened a brand new service – Caritas House – to provide 24-hour support for 19 single homeless local men.

The team there works alongside residents to provide a pathway out of homelessness, with support to improve health and wellbeing and to develop independent living skills before they move into their own tenancies.

Here, our hostel operations manager, Mandi, tells us more about her role and why she enjoys working at Caritas…

How long have you worked with Caritas Salford and why did you decide to come and work here?

I started in November 2020. I knew a person who used to work for Caritas Salford and she told me about the position advertised. After she explained about Caritas and what work they did I decided to apply as I have worked in homelessness for many years.

What’s the best thing about working at Caritas?

Firstly, we are here to help people – to help and encourage independence and hopefully keep people off the streets and bring them into a warm safe environment.

We give help to people in lots of different ways, linking in with multi agencies for that full wrap-around support.

What’s the best thing about working in your role?

I am listened to and fully supported by staff and management at all levels. This gives me satisfaction to be able to do my job to the best of my ability. Caritas is always looking at how to improve our services too.

Caritas is a charity. What’s it like working for a charitable organisation?

It’s good, organised and every person is considered to be an asset to the service they provide.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

Spending time with my husband and family, socialising with friends and looking forward to new experiences. I enjoy going on holiday too.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Greater Manchester or Lancashire?

I enjoy all the different experiences. There’s so much to see and do.

How would you sum up the difference your work makes in a sentence?

I am proud to be part of a charity that helps to make people’s lives better, and to reduce homelessness.

To find out more about Caritas House, click here now.

If you’re able to support our work by making a donation that would enable us to be there for even more local people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, you can do so by clicking here.