Shelter searching for Manchester children photographed in 1960s slums

HOMELESSNESS charity Shelter have begun a search to find children featured in photographs of Manchester’s shocking housing conditions from the 1960s.

As part of Shelter’s 50th anniversary, the housing and homelessness charity is searching for the people behind the pictures and is urging Manchester residents to view the images to identify family or friends.

The collection of photographs, taken for the charity in the 1960s by documentary photographer Nick Hedges, depict the lives of families living in cold, damp and often dangerous conditions in Manchester and Salford.

The children photographed will now be aged between 50 and 70.

Photographer Nick Hedges, said: “It would be wonderful to meet the children I photographed all those years ago and for them to be able to tell their stories.

“I often wonder what happened to them, if they went on to lead happy and healthy lives.

“When I was commissioned by Shelter to take these photographs, I never imagined that decades later they would still have such impact.

“The poverty and terrible conditions I witnessed shocked me to the core. I hope that all these years later, by reconnecting with some of those I photographed, I am able to hear good news of what happened to the families.”

Nick Hedges was commissioned by Shelter in 1968. He spent three years visiting some of England’s poorest and most deprived areas, documenting poor housing conditions.

Shelter’s Chief Executive Campbell Robb, said: “We would love to hear the stories of the people behind these iconic pictures to help us mark 50 years of fighting bad housing and homelessness.

“These photographs are a sobering piece of history not only for Shelter, but the nation as a whole, and it’s important to preserve the stories behind them.

“They show us how far we have come, but also that we must do more for the tens of thousands of families and individuals still desperate for a safe, secure and affordable home.”

If you recognise yourself, or someone else in the images, please email stories@shelter.org.uk, call 020 7505 2032 or visit www.shelter.org.uk/shareyourstory.

You can find the full gallery of images here.