This incredible new youth centre is everything Manchester’s inner-city needs
Founded and funded by local businessman and BetFred owner Fred Done, HideOut was originally scheduled to open its doors this March, with the red ribbon-cutting pushed back due to the ongoing pandemic.
Acharity focused on protecting and empowering young people in Greater Manchester is opening a huge new community centre in Gorton.
Designed for everyone aged 8-19 regardless of background – the new £6.6m facility is providing mini Mancunians with a safe space to socialise and discover their talents; aiming to tackle child poverty and homelessness, obesity, and gang culture in the process.
Focused on giving youngsters “somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to”, HideOut is packed out with exercise space.
Alongside an indoor climbing wall, 3G kick pitch, skate park, four court sports hall, fully-equipped gym, dance and drama studio, and martial arts gym, the centre also offers space for youngsters to flex their creative muscles with a media room, recording studio and arts and crafts studio.
Alongside recreational fun, organisers will be operating employability workshops to help youngsters kickstart the careers of their dreams, aided by the state-of-the-art training kitchen and employability suite.
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This incredible Youth Zone will ultimately help to create dozens of new jobs and volunteer opportunities; whilst strengthening the wider Manchester community as a whole.
Founded and funded by local businessman and BetFred owner Fred Done, HideOut was originally scheduled to open its doors this March, with the red ribbon-cutting pushed back due to the ongoing pandemic.
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The facility is planning to welcome the first wave of youngsters later this year as restrictions continue to ease.
But in the meantime, they need your help.
A fundraising campaign has been launched called ‘The Thousand‘ – which will help HideOut raise vital money for running costs and specialist equipment/resources.
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Manchester City Council has pledged its support for the centre, but significant financial backing is still required to ensure HideOut can continue to operate, grow and expand.
Learn more about how you can help become one of The Thousand and ensure HideOut cements its place as an essential, vibrant hub of the Manchester youth community on their website.
News
NHS urgently needs 500,000 men to take part in ‘major’ cancer research programme
Emily Sergeant
Half a million men are needed to take part in a ‘major’ cancer research programme.
From this week, the NHS has announced that it will begin contacting 500,000 men to invite them to join a major research programme that will work to improve the vital early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
Men who have had or are living with prostate cancer will receive letters and text messages explaining how they can register to take part.
It’s hoped that this will become one of the world’s largest prostate cancer studies.
Formally named ‘Prostate Progress’, the study is designed to speed up the development of better tests, treatments, and care – with the NHS aiming to recruit as many participants as possible to improve how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated, as well as understanding the side effects of treatment and the impact they have on quality of life.
The NHS urgently needs 500,000 men to take part in a ‘major’ cancer research programme / Credit: rawpixel
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with around 60,000 new cases diagnosed every year and over 12,000 deaths annually.
Men who join ‘Prostate Progress’ will be asked to complete questionnaires about their experiences of living with the disease every few months.
Verified researchers will then be able compare men’s experiences of living with prostate cancer against their NHS records – including their symptoms and quality of life.
The NHS says it is ‘particularly keen’ to hear from black men for the programme, as they are at approximately twice the risk of developing prostate cancer – with around one in four black men in the UK expected to be diagnosed during their lifetime.
“Better representation will help researchers understand and address differences in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes,” the NHS said in a statement.
“Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK,” explained Health Minister, James Frith. “Every piece of data we gather brings us closer to the tests and treatments that future patients will depend on to live well for longer.
“Prostate Progress has the potential to become a hugely important resource, but only if men come forward and share their experiences, so I encourage anyone who receives an invitation to sign up.
“This is the kind of innovation the government’s National Cancer Plan is designed to support, making the NHS a world-leading destination for cancer research and ensuring patients across the country can help shape the treatments of tomorrow.”
Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)
News
Police charge and name man after broad daylight stabbing of 19-year-old in Northern Quarter
Emily Sergeant
A man has been charged and publicly named after the stabbing of a teenager in the Northern Quarter last week.
Bandar Alzahar has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place, and has been remanded in custody ahead of a scheduled appearance at Manchester & Salford Magistrates Court today (Monday 3 August 2026).
The charges come after a 19-year-old man was stabbed in the Northern Quarter, in Manchester city centre, last Friday (31 July).
The shocking incident took place in broad daylight at around 12:50pm on Church Street.
After police attended the scene, they ‘quickly located’ a suspect – initially described as just being a man in his early 20s – at Manchester Airport within three hours of the incident occurring, and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault.
The victim sadly remains in hospital in a stable condition but with life-threatening injuries, police have confirmed.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are still appealing to the public for information. In a public plea, police wrote: “We are still asking for information from anyone that may have witnessed the incident on Church Street to get in touch with us.
“This includes any CCTV, mobile phone or Dashcam footage that may assist our enquiries.”
Any information can be submitted to GMP by calling 101, quoting log 1580 of 31/07/2026. Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Manc -
6th July 2020 
