The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) has launched a new fund to support displaced Ukrainian students.
With the devastating conflict continuing to rise, and as the Russian invasion of Ukraine said to be “turning lives upside down” every day, the Manchester-based music school has launched the new fund with the aim of ensuring Ukraine does not suffer the loss of “a generation of musical talent”.
The RNCM says the fund will give young Ukrainian musicians the chance to fulfil the dreams they have been working so hard to achieve.
As the students will be leaving behind a country that has been occupied for four months, on top of funding fee bursaries, the RNCM will also provide additional support for living costs, English language training, and wraparound support that will include counselling, and health and wellbeing care.
The RNCM wants to ensure the students feel “safe and supported”.
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“We want to do everything that we can to ensure that these young musicians who have been displaced from their training have every opportunity to flourish, both in their music and as part of the communities of the RNCM and the city of Manchester,” explained Manus Carey – Deputy Principal at the RNCM.
The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) has launched a new fund to support displaced Ukrainian students / Credit: RNCM
“It’s unimaginable to think of what is happening in Ukraine.
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“But as part of the international community of musicians, it is our aim to give these talented young musicians a sense of hope.”
One of the RNCM professors, Rob Buckland – Head of Saxophone – has spoken about the impact the fund has already had on one of his “really talented” Ukrainian students, who has a “special gift for melody and phrasing”.
Explaining the importance of the fund, Rob said: “To be able to provide this young saxophonist with the support to be able to live and study in Manchester, to find the very best in herself, and feel safe and secure in the incredible learning environment that is the RNCM, will mean more to her than she can ever say.“
All donations made to the RNCM Ukrainian Musicians Fund will go towards ensuring that gifted young musicians from Ukraine can continue their future in music.
‘Disgraceful’ Manchester sex offender jailed after messaging several young girls under 16
Emily Sergeant
A sex offender from Manchester has been charged with 35 offences, including messaging several young girls while on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
William Howarth, from the Miles Platting area of Manchester, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison – with a further six years on licence.
The 23-year-old’s sentencing follows an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023.
Howarth was subject to routine checks due to him being an already-registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and it was here where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits.
After Howarth’s phone was seized by police, forensic analysis revealed a number of messages were sent to several young girls under the age 16.
#JAILED | On Thursday at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (28/7/2002), of Miles Platting, was sentenced to 15 years & 8 months with a further 6 years on licence – after previously pleading guilty to the 35 offences involving messaging young girls pic.twitter.com/HrYKCVay2l
An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, GMP managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with – who ‘bravely’ agreed to give their accounts.
Police say Howarth displayed ‘controlling’ behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests.
When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images to him, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online.
In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last week (10 November 2025), Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences – including 11 counts of breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and possession and making of indecent images of children.
Speaking following Howarth’s sentencing, Detective Constable Joshua Cresswell, from GMP’s Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), commented: “I’d like to thank the brave child victims in supporting our investigating through agreeing to give us their harrowing accounts of how Howarth came in contact with them.
“Howarth is a disgraceful predator and belongs behind bars away from causing further harm to children.”
DC Cresswell then spoke directly to child victims of sexual abuse to encourage them to come forward and report it to police.
“We are here to listen to you, and we will believe you no matter the passage of time. We can work at a pace that you are comfortable with.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Rochdale man jailed for 16 years after killing another man at a New Year’s Eve party
Emily Sergeant
A man from Rochdale has been handed a lengthy jail sentence after killing another man at a New Year’s Eve house party.
Hassan Suliman, of Rothesay Terrace in Rochdale, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week after previously being found guilty of the manslaughter.
His sentencing comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance on Essex Street in Rochdale in the early hours of New Year’s Day (1 January 2025), and upon arrival, officers found a man with multiple stab wounds.
Despite the best efforts of all emergency service workers, the man was sadly pronounced dead at hospital soon after.
The victim was later named as 38-year-old Alberto Ursu.
GMP’s Major Incident Team launched an investigation immediately after, which subsequently revealed that Hassan Suliman had been involved in a confrontation with Mr Ursu – which both of the men were left injured during.
#JAILED | A man has been jailed following the death of a man after a New Year's party in Rochdale.
Suliman fled the scene following the confrontation, but was found by officers collapsed nearby a short while after.
Forensic analysis by officers later linked the weapons to both Suliman and Mr Ursu.
Following a six-week trial at Manchester Crown Court in September, Suliman was convicted of manslaughter, but was found not guilty of all other charges, and then last Friday (14 November), he was sentenced to 16 years – ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years in prison, with a further three years on licence.
Speaking following Suliman’s sentencing last week, Detective Sergeant Helen Hitchen, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “This was meant to be a happy night celebrating the New Year, but sadly ended in the tragic loss of a life.
“This case just goes to show the devastating consequences of knife crime and its lasting impacts on lives.
“A man lost his life and will never return to his family.
“Suliman is now serving time behind bars for his actions that night, and I do hope that this sentence brings some measure of closure to Alberto’s family.”
Emily Sergeant -
29th June 2022 
