News

Bolton boy ‘inspired by Rashford’ uses own savings to buy schoolmate new football boots

Xavier's heartwarming gesture was captured on camera and has since gone viral.

The Manc The Manc - 26th March 2021

A schoolboy in Bolton has captured hearts across the nation after using his own savings to to buy a fellow student a brand new pair of football boots.

Xavier had noticed his classmate Eric had been wearing pumps during PE classes since his original shoes had been damaged.

Inspired by his hero Marcus Rashford, Xavier asked his dad if he could use his pocket money to purchase Eric a new pair instead, as he knew it would “make him happy”.

Xavier’s father filmed the moment his son handed over the shiny new pair of boots to Eric – which has since gone viral.

Hundreds of messages have poured in praising Xavier’s altruism.

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The gesture has even caught the eye of the Manchester United star who ‘inspired’ it all in the first place.

“Now THIS. An act of kindness,” Rashford wrote on social media.

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The footballer is now working with Granada Reports to “get a gift” to both Xavier and Eric.

Xavier’s dad, Jason Bonney, told ITV: “Xavier didn’t think it was fair that Eric didn’t have any boots, and he’d got a few comments from other kids asking why he was wearing PE pumps and not football boots.

“Xavier knew it would make him happy buy buying him some.”

News

Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.

Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.

A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.

Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.

It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.

Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.

As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.

Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.

The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.

Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.  

Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.

The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.

Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.

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“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.

You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.

Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)

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