Manchester University Settlement
There were huge levels of poverty throughout Britain in the 1800s. Many amongst the urban middle-class became concerned about the growth of poverty and decided to find a solution. In turn, the settlement movement was created with the first settlement created in Toynbee Hall in London in the East End of London in 1884. From that point the settlement movement gained incredible momentum, and dozens were created throughout not only Britain, but parts of Europe and the United States.
Many of the settlements were created by senior figures at universities across the country, like Manchester’s. Often, they would send students and graduates to live in the settlements on a full-time basis as residents, to help run various programmes. As settlements expanded though, a much larger range of people from different backgrounds assisted in running them.
It should be noted that the most influential figures in the settlement movement were from middle-class backgrounds. Many of the ideas circulated by influential figures were about maintaining social cohesion and using middle-class values, to educate working-class people. In this sense, the settlement movement should not be viewed as socialist, especially as there were few demands for greater class-based equality, despite the movement’s emphasis on social welfare. Instead, the movement is generally viewed as being rooted in the liberal tradition, due to its emphasis on philanthropy, cooperation and social cohesion.
Although the settlement movement was governed by these values, each settlement was fundamentally unique and responded to their respective local issues in different ways. They evolved overtime too to respond to different local needs. In Manchester they focused on hosting classes in the early 1900s, by the 1930s many efforts focused on social research, during the Second World War it was partly converted into a canteen and by the mid-20th century it had expanded its work to places like Moss Side and Beswick. In the 21st century, the settlement’s activities have continued to respond to local needs and is continuously evolving, quietly getting on with helping communities in Manchester.
For more see:
Social Welfare History Project : https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/settlement-houses/origins-of-the-settlement-house-movement/
Archive of the University of Manchester Settlement : https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/2718bf6d-8535-34e3-a429-2f66c67f7abc
Manchester Settlement: https://www.manchestersettlement.org.uk/
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