M13 was founded in January 1995 by Helen Gatenby, a number of local churches who were keen to reach out and offer support to the young people of the surrounding communities and Urban Action, Manchester, YfC.

After three years working as a volunteer, supporting other volunteers in Brunswick and Victoria Park to work with local young people, Helen and the newly established Local Steering Group attracted M13's first grant funding, from the Church Urban Fund. This began a new phase in the project's life; enabling the Steering Group to employ Helen and a second worker, Chris Macintosh, in 1998.

Chris and Helen began the staple activity of M13's work - detached work, working in pairs to meet and engage young people out on the streets, in Brunswick, Coverdale, Victoria Park and Grove Village. Today, the project employs 7 full and part-time workers supported by eight Trustees, has a number of Young Leaders (aged 15-19) volunteering with the project and works in partnership with a wide variety of statutory and voluntary sector agencies.