Janice Drew

“This community is the reason I get up every day.”

For many people in Salford, a warm welcome and a cup of tea from Janice Drew is the first step towards getting the support they need.

Janice works with hundreds of people facing hardship across the city and has become known for her kindness, dedication and ability to bring people together. Described by those she supports as a “motherly figure”, she has spent years helping people build confidence, skills and connections.

Although she was not born in Salford, Janice says she has always felt welcomed by the community and proud to support the people who live here.

Since 2021, she has been the Learning and Migrant Support Programme Manager at Loaves and Fishes, where she helped establish the charity’s Skills for Life centre. The centre sits alongside the organisation’s foodbank and focuses on helping people build skills and confidence for the future.

Janice has spent much of her career working in the voluntary sector. Before joining Loaves and Fishes, she worked with Talent Match, a youth employment programme in Manchester, and trained as an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher.

Her love of teaching started much earlier in life.

“When I’m in a teaching environment, I’m at my most alive,” Janice said. “I’ve always been a teacher, me. When I was a child, I used to teach the younger children. We used to do times tables and daft things like that.”

Growing up on a council estate in Ardwick, Janice was surrounded by neighbours from many different cultural backgrounds. She says those experiences helped shape her outlook on life and her passion for working with diverse communities.

“From being a young child, I was always interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds,” she said. “That was the greatest gift I was given in my life, really. To be able to grow up with people who have different backgrounds to me.”

Those values now sit at the heart of the Skills for Life centre — a space focused on employability, practical support and building community connections.

The centre opened in 2021 following a refurbishment of a building owned by Loaves and Fishes. What had once been used mainly for storage was transformed into a space where workshops, classes and advice sessions could take place.

Today, the centre offers a wide range of support, including housing advice, ESOL classes and help for people seeking asylum.

When staff first asked the community what additional support would be most helpful, the answer surprised them.

“But it was interesting really, that the main thing that people wanted to learn was cooking skills.”

In response, the centre launched “cooking on a budget” courses with support from the Delamere Dairy Foundation and guidance from the Salford health improvement team.

The sessions help people learn how to cook healthy meals on a limited budget. To make sure participants can continue using their new skills at home, the project has also distributed more than 100 slow cookers.

Janice now oversees a programme of activities designed to support people facing a wide range of challenges — from arts and crafts sessions such as “Happy Mondays” to one-to-one employment support.

Her work has had a significant impact on those around her. Sarah Davies, Employment Initiatives Officer at Pendleton Together, praised Janice’s dedication:

“Janice is passionate about supporting people and has adapted exceptionally well to the increasing diversity within the community she serves. Her commitment, flexibility, and genuine care make her a real asset to the Pendleton area.”

Through her work at Loaves and Fishes, Janice continues to support people across Salford, helping them build confidence, skills and a sense of community.

Her dedication has also contributed to the charity’s recognition at the Spirit of Salford Community Awards.

Janice’s work is a reminder of the power of community and the difference one person can make to the lives of others.

Read the full story on Salford Now.