One of the city’s most iconic charities has announced an exciting new partnership with HideOut Youth Zone to support Manchester’s “ambitious young people”.
We Love MCR Charity has welcomed HideOut Youth Zone as the latest referral partner for its unique ‘Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund’ – which launched for 2021 back in January, and offers the region’s 16-25 year olds grants of up to £2,000 to help them take their next steps to success in work, qualifications or entrepreneurship.
It has joined over 30 of Manchester’s leading youth organisations providing the city’s most ambitious young people with the best possible start by removing financial barriers to their success.
We're delighted to share the news that we've partnered with HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton!@HideOut_YZ's state of the art youth provision will direct talented young Mancs to apply to our unique Manchester's Rising Stars Fund 🌟
HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton is a flagship £6.6 million youth centre for young people across Manchester, which overcame all odds by opening during the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
It is dedicated to supporting young people with three core provisions they all need and deserve – “somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to talk to”.
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HideOut Youth Zone
The Manc Group
HideOut supports young people to fulfil their potential, and the Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund is the perfect stepping-stone to help young people progress from the Youth Zone into a successful career or business.
The centre’s state-of-the art catering department, media studio, and health and beauty facilities offer unparalleled development opportunities for young people.
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“HideOut Youth Zone offers incredible support and guidance for young people across Manchester”. Councillor Tommy Judge, Lord Mayor of Manchester and We Love MCR Charity’s Chair of Trustees, said.
“Now, our Rising Stars grants will help their ambitious young Mancunians to take their next steps to success.
“Our grants ensure that money will not be the barrier to ambition in Manchester”.
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We Love MCR Charity
Adam Farricker – CEO at HideOut Youth Zone added: “We’re excited to link with We Love MCR Charity to add their fantastic Rising Stars grants to our offer, building on the vital support we already offer.
“It’s a perfect partnership and I can’t wait to see the first grants awarded to some of our members”.
Keen to learn more about We Love MCR Charity’s unique offer?
You can read all the Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund page on the We Love MCR Charity website here, and explore HideOut’s amazing opportunities here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group | We Love MCR Charity
News
Popular pumpkin patch attraction describes ‘catastrophic’ impact of Storm Boelo
Daisy Jackson
Bates Farm, one of the most popular pumpkin patch attractions in the North West, has shared its heartbreak after Storm Boelo forced its closure on the busiest day of the season.
The Warrington-based family farm said the financial impact has been ‘honestly catastrophic’, after they had to cancel all tickets for Sunday.
Sisters Ali and Fiona Wilshaw, who run the farm, said it was simply not safe to allow members of the public onto the farm in the storm, with ‘crazy’ gusts of wind.
They later shared a video that showed their marquee was badly damaged and many footpaths turned to deep mud.
The sisters said they were ‘heartbroken’ to have to close at such a busy time, but stressed to followers that ‘your safety and our integrity will always come first’.
On Saturday, as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo chased each other across the UK, several people shared videos of themselves getting battered by the weather at Bates Farm.
And it’s pretty clear from that why Ali and Fi decided to cancel all tickets and close for the day on Sunday.
They wrote: “We have put in so much love, energy and investment putting on this event at this scale. The cost to cancel and refund everyone today on our busiest day of the season is honestly catastrophic, but business aside, your safety and our integrity will always come first.
“To think last night we were running round Tesco trying to stock up on milk and now we are in the depths of recovering the site to go again tomorrow. All emails and enquiries are being responded to as quickly as possible and we are doing our best to open up more available slots next week.
“We are being tested like never before, but pulling together in true force. Huge shout out to the whole team and Farmer Fi the absolute queen in any crisis.
“Thank you all for your patience and especially thank you to those who have sent such kind words and support, we are so grateful to have customers like you.
“We will be back tomorrow to enjoy the remaining of this tough season, we are putting in so many provisions with wood chip paths, undercover seating and an indoor barn to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Ali & Fi.”
Anyone who had tickets to visit Bates Farm on Sunday will be refunded, and can book in for another date.
Bates Farm has safely reopened its autumnal experience and pumpkin patch today.
‘Violent’ Salford man jailed after raping two women he met on dating apps
Emily Sergeant
A man from Salford who police describe as ‘violent’ has been jailed after raping two women he met on dating apps.
Kenny Cox appeared at Manchester Crown Court for his sentencing last week (23 October) in relation to the rape of two women – one in November 2021 and one in September 2024.
The 46-year-old was arrested on 8 September 2024, charged and then remanded, before standing trial for both rapes in March 2025.
The trial, however, resulted in a hung jury, so a new trial commenced in August 2026, and Cox was then subsequently found guilty of two counts of rape and one of attempted rape.
It comes after, on 7 November 2021, one of the victims met up with Cox after connecting through a dating app. They went to a property in Salford, and after drinking alcohol together, the victim began to feel hazy and described herself as ‘feeling paralysed’ and ‘unable to move’.
It was during this time she was raped by the suspect.
After she was able to move, she left the property in a taxi and subsequently reported the incident to the police.
Cox was arrested on 14 November 2021 and bailed with stringent bail conditions not to contact the victim. But then, on 4 September 2024, he met up with a second victim, again after connecting through a dating app, and they went to a property in Salford where he raped her before she was able to leave and inform police.
Following the trial, Cox has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, with four years on licence.
He was also given an indefinite restraining order against the victims, and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
“I would firstly like to commend the strength of the victims in this case,” commented Detective Sergeant James Walsh, of GMP’s Salford Criminal Investigation Department. “They have gone through this trial process twice now and each time have has shown incredible courage to ensure Cox was put behind bars.
“He preyed on these women and is an violent, sexual offender.
“I hope this sentence and the subsequent sexual harm prevention order imposed gives the victims a sense of justice to help them try to move forward from this and put Kenny Cox firmly in their past where he belongs.”
Emily Sergeant -
28th April 2021 
