We Love MCR Charity has launched a £200,000 fund to help determined young Mancunians hoping to take the next step in education, entrepreneurship, employment, or training.
The unique ‘Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund’ asks applicants what they believe they need to progress – and then provides them with the resources to achieve these ambitions.
The fund is open to all young people living or studying in Manchester aged 16-24 (or 16-30 if the individual has experienced homelessness) with awards up to the value of £2,000.
Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund was created with the generous support of the Sir Howard Bernstein Endowment Fund and has already helped several locals achieve their goals by funding vital equipment, courses and accreditations in a successful pilot scheme.
Marie O’Neill-Steinegger, Grants Manager for We Love MCR Charity said: “We’ve seen that a grant from the Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund can be life-changing for some young people.
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“The Fund is here to support those young people who might need some financial help to overcome these barriers, to help them become Manchester’s Rising Stars!”
Wythenshawe local Lauren became one of the first beneficiaries of the Fund’s pilot – enjoying financial support for her stay in the capital during a London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art scholarship.
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Lauren has since revealed that without We Love MCR, she may not have been able to complete her course.
“I will be forever thankful for how We Love MCR backed me,” she said.
“I urge anyone to help such an amazing charity if they are lucky enough to be able to do so – I know I will when I’m able, to return the favour to someone in Manchester who is starting off, just like me.”
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Over 20 of Manchester’s dedicated youth organisations have also signed up to the programme as Referral Partners. The likes of Manchester College, MCFC’s City In The Community, and the East Manchester Youth & Play Partnership are helping to identify young people in need of support and encouraging them to apply for a grant.
Daniel Cairns from Manchester City Council’s Leaving Care Service, a key partner of the Fund, stated: “I think the Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund is incredible and really does give our young people an opportunity to achieve their goals no matter what that field they may be in.
“Many of our young people simply don’t have the funds or start-up costs for a business or essential items for other endeavours, and to be supported by We Love MCR Charity gives them a real springboard to success. It means their goals can become realities.”
For more information about the Fund, full guidance and how to apply please visit the We Love Mcr website.
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
The Manc -
26th January 2021 
