[2] Wood Street provides those in need with free basic but essential goods, such as clothing, bedding, baby equipment and school uniforms and treats of chocolate eggs at Easter and toys and gifts at Christmas.

[2] By providing the essentials, completely free of charge, Wood Street aims to ensure that no child goes without whilst giving disadvantaged families the chance to break the cycle of poverty.

During the late 19th century, the mission worked in the slums of Deansgate, running a soup kitchen, a rescue society and home for neglected boys, and a night shelter for the homeless.

Through this period, Wood Street was managed by prominent professionals, such as solicitor C. J. Needham, and was financially supported by businessmen such as clothing manufacturer, Edward Tootal Broadhurst and the engineer Charles J.

In 1910, Wood Street received praise from the Lord Mayor in providing help to a group of unemployed people whom the Manchester City Distress Committee could not afford to relieve.

With over 7 acres (2.8 ha) of playing fields and a swimming pool, the home allowed Wood Street to provide free week-long holidays to over 1,000 children each summer.

While the Second World War disrupted some of the mission's activities (the holiday home requisitioned by the Government and rooms in the Manchester building were used as an air raid shelter), Wood Street was able to run a centre for evacuated children.

Birchfield Lodge had 9 acres (3.6 ha) of ground and offered a variety of activities to children not available in inner-city Manchester including rock-climbing and canoeing, fell-walking, caving and fishing.

[1] During the late 1970s and 1980s, Wood Street Mission responded to an increase in unemployment in Manchester and Salford by distributing a larger quantity of clothing, bedding and basic items.