Inspirational children and young people from Manchester have been recognised at the city’s first-ever Child Friendly Manchester Awards, following the city gaining Child Friendly City recognition from UNICEF earlier this year.
Nominations across ten award categories were invited from youth and play groups, schools, voluntary groups and other community-based organisations across the city. More than 100 nominations were submitted, each recognising the achievements and talents of young people in Manchester.
The different award categories included Young Leader, Championing Inclusion, Mental Well-Being, Young Carer, Young Entrepreneur, Climate Champion, Making Manchester Safer, Youth Led Project, Youth and Play Projects and a special Contribution to Our Child Friendly City award.
Judges had a difficult job deciding the winners of each award and in the end whittled it down to 24 winners spread over the ten different award categories.
Amongst those who received awards for their creativity and commitment to helping make Manchester a better place for children and young people both now and in the future, were three individual young people who were each presented with a Young Leader Award.
Summer from South Manchester received her award for raising large amounts of money to provide Christmas presents and Easter eggs to children in Manchester who otherwise wouldn't have any and was nominated for her compassion, leadership and commitment to ensuring no child in her community feels left out.
Marcel from Wythenshawe received his Young Leader award for his commitment to his local Adventure Playground over the past 11 years where he has attended over 1,000 sessions since the age of seven. During this time staff have seen him progress through primary and secondary school and into university, whilst also giving back first as a volunteer and now a paid member of staff and an outstanding role model who inspires younger children.
And the final Young Leader accolade went to Praise from North Manchester - a phenomenal volunteer and team player who was rewarded for her consistently caring, positive attitude and inclusive approach which has had a significant impact on other children and young people in north Manchester.
Schools and organisations working with young people were also recognised at the awards - including the incredible Pioneer House Strawberry Fox Café, which received a Championing Inclusion Award.
The school and social enterprise café has been up and running for three years now and is well embedded in its south Manchester community helping bring local residents together.
Students from Pioneer House High School take an active part in running the café, helping plan the menu and prepare food, including fantastic coffee and cakes. In addition, they help grow some of the food used in the café, which is also the hub for the local food bank, providing a valuable resource for the local community.
Students' involvement in the café helps them develop confidence and valuable workplace skills, and they now have plans to launch a café van service in the community to expand their offer and help bring local people together.
Levenshulme Youth Project was another award-winning youth organisation, and one of three different winners of the Mental Well-Being Award. They were presented with the award in recognition of their youth-led sessions that take a 'Five Ways to Wellbeing' approach that helps shape how they support young people in a consistent and meaningful way. They have held a mental health community day, produced resources to help young people, and have worked in partnership with young people's mental health charity 42nd Street through their Ambassador programme.
Climate change continues to be a topic of ongoing concern amongst young people and it was perhaps no surprise therefore that it should be two of the city's schools who were crowned winners of the Climate Change Award.
St Clements Primary School in Openshaw were praised by judges for the fantastic child-friendly fun and informative Climate Champions Film they created to support their campaign to reduce, reuse and recycle, and to raise awareness of climate change amongst children and young people.
Meanwhile the Eco Team at Plymouth Grove Primary School also won a Climate Change Award for going the extra mile around school and with their local community to both collect rubbish and to recycle as much as possible, and also for producing posters sharing their eco tips to remind other children to switch off lights, save water, and recycle clothes and toys. They have also created an outdoor learning space in their school grounds, which they share with local schools as a place for them to play, grow and learn about nature, whilst at the same time improving their mental health.
Another school recognised at the awards was St Peter's High School, one of three winners in the Youth Led Project Award category. Students at the school have been at the forefront of a campaign over the last twelve months to educate children and young people, parents and carers, as well as professionals around the importance of making better choices to prevent knife crime and to reduce the harm and danger of knife carrying amongst young people. This includes making an amazingly powerful and impactful film on the issue.
St Marys Primary in Moss Side and Varna Primary in Openshaw were also recognised for their contributions to making Manchester a city that truly recognises Children’s Rights.
Alongside the awards given to individual children, schools, and youth organisations, recognition was also given to local Manchester arts organisation HOME, one of three recipients of the Contribution To Our Child Friendly City Award. They were given their award for always putting children at the heart of everything they do, exemplified in the work they do with schools on different projects - making sure their offer is inclusive and that all can participate, and always embracing the principles of Children's Rights. The organisation has also hosted a young carers' launch event and a Child Friendly Business event.
Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, said:
Every young person and organisation recognised at our first-ever Child-Friendly Manchester awards has played their part in helping make Manchester a better place for our children and young people to grow up in.
They have challenged us to think differently, encouraged us to do better, and reminded us why our work to become a Child Friendly City matters. Their voices have helped shape services for young people, influence decisions, and make Manchester a stronger, fairer, and better city.
To all the young people who have won awards - you are each amazing, an absolute credit to yourselves and to the city. We're very proud of you and your achievements and you should be too.
And to all the schools, youth organisations and others who have also been recognised with awards, I want to thank you for everything you're doing to support us and our children and young people in our shared ambition to make Manchester the very best place for a child to grow up in, both now and in the future.
Full list of winners in each category:
Young Leader Award
Child winner - Summer
Youth winner - Marcel
Youth winner - Praise
Championing Inclusion Award
Child winner - Bella
Youth winner - Dylan
Organisation winner - Pioneer House Strawberry Fox Cafe
Mental Well-Being Award
Child winner - the children of Varna Street Primary School
Youth winner - Anam
Organisation winner - Levenshulme Youth Project
Young Carer Award
Child winner - Haleema
Organisation winner - Varna Street Primary School
Climate Change Award
Winner - St Clements Primary School
Winner - Plymouth Grove Primary School's eco team
Making Manchester Safer Award
Winner - YPAC's Youth Forum
Winner - Manchester Settlement
Youth Led Project Award
Winner - St Mary's CE Primary School
Winner - St Peter's RC High School
Winner - Media Cubs
Play Project of the Year Award
Winner - The ADDY Young People's Centre
Winner - The Hideout Youth Zone
Contribution to Our Child-Friendly City Award
Winner - Heald Place Primary School
Winner - Manchester Enterprise Academy
Winner - HOME
The awards were sponsored by Stoneking, GLL, Rosgal, and Manchester College, all of whom are committed to making Manchester a better place for Children and Young People.
