Our Campaign

We're up against the clock! Help The River survive and purchase our home in Openshaw, so we can keep supporting survivors of domestic abuse in Manchester and beyond.

We need to secure £40,000 by 8th November, or risk losing our home of 11 years. 

Why is this so urgent?

The River on Ashton Old Road in Openshaw provides a safe space for over 250 survivors of domestic abuse every month. In September 2024, we were told that after 11 years, our home was being put up for auction. This news came as a huge shock to us and the community we have lovingly built. If The River stays as a tenant of the building, the lease will include a break clause that means we will be evicted at any given notice. That's why it is so important for us to buy our space outright.

In this short space of time, we have secured a mortgage to purchase the building, but we need your help to raise the remaining amount and future-proof our work to keep supporting communities for years to come.

About The River

The River stands as a beacon of hope in the heart of Manchester, transforming lives for over a decade. Our mission is to support the community and empower people recovering from domestic abuse through comprehensive services, resettlement packages, and skill-building programmes. We provide a safe space (for some a "home"), counselling services (one-to-one in person or online) for people to recover from their trauma instead of a 18 to 24 months wait for mainstream services. In response to the cost of living crisis, we have established a community food club to support those in need and run a charity shop to provide good quality essentials to restart their homes. 

Our small, dedicated team, enriched by a diverse pool of volunteers, reaches all areas within Manchester. We take pride in our ex-beneficiaries who, having recovered through our services, now serve others in the community. Our team includes a host of volunteers, a specialist domestic abuse worker, an experienced project manager, and a CEO with over 20 years of experience in tackling homelessness and poverty.

For over a decade, we have operated from a prime location that is crucial to our mission. However, the property we currently rent is being auctioned, jeopardising our continuity. We have a fantastic opportunity to secure this property and continue our vital work. Our vision is to raise £40,000 in addition to what we have already secured to enable us to purchase the property outright.

Your support is urgently needed today. Join our mission to bring hope and healing to those who need it most.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts

This is a keep what you raise campaign, and should we be unable to hit our Crowdfunder campaign target, your generous donations will allow us to continue our important work and find an alternative space when the time comes. 

Get in touch

To claim your Crowdfunder reward, email: [email protected]

If you would like to support our campaign in another way, get in touch: [email protected]