It’s been exactly 250 days since one of the city’s most iconic charities launched a dedicated fund to help determined young Mancunians take the next step in education, entrepreneurship, employment, or training.
It then provides them with the resources needed to achieve these ambitions.
Manchester is a top-class city – recently named the third best city in the world, actually – but for some young people living here however, that doesn’t always match up with their experience, as with more than one in three children in Manchester who are living in households defined as being in poverty, they may sadly not be given the chance to turn their ambitions into successes.
This is a loss both to them and to our city.
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And so, in February 2021, We Love MCR Charity launched the fund to give these young people the opportunities to overcome their financial barriers and allow them to make the most of their talent and drive.
People aged 16-24 can apply for funding to pay for what they need, to take their next steps to success in work, qualifications or entrepreneurship.
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The charity ultimately believes “circumstances should not determine futures”.
In the 250 days since the fund launched, We Love MCR Charity has already awarded over £70,000 to dozens of industrious young people – and here’s three success stories.
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Trinity
Sound Engineer
£1,200
Trinity was awarded £1,200 from the MRSF / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
Trinity has had a difficult path through her teenage years.
No longer in formal education, she had been volunteering at the Abbey Taphouse in Hulme, which often hosts music performances, and it was there she discovered a keen interest in sound production and engineering.
Trinity applied to the Rising Stars Fund for the professional equipment she knows will help her to make the most of her newfound passion – a laptop, sound card, microphone and headphones – and was awarded £1,200.
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She is now on an apprenticeship, practicing her craft at home, and will be supporting events at the Abbey Taphouse, including their own radio station and podcasts broadcasting across Manchester.
Kenan
Actor
£2,000
Kenan was awarded £2,000 from the MRSF / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
Kenan is a talented young actor from Wythenshawe who earned himself a place on the Professional Acting course at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which only accepts 28 students a year from 3,000 applications.
Kenan is the only Manc representative in the current intake of students.
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We Love MCR Charity awarded Kenan vital funds towards his rent in Bristol, as he was not eligible for further student loans.
To be a working class Manc with Turkish heritage performing on the one of our greatest stages is incredible, and the charity says it is proud the Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund can help Kenan to be in the spotlight.
Mo
Football Coach
£1,600
Mo was awarded £1,600 from the MRSF / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
Mo’s passion for football runs deep.
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Born and bred in Moss Side as the oldest of seven siblings, Mo was a top-class player when he was younger, but his potential career was sadly cut short by injury. Despite this, Mo decided to continue in the game regardless and now runs his own coaching business – where he’s coached future Manchester United and City players thanks to his links and respect across Manchester’s football community – whilst also taking his FA badges.
The MRSF supported Mo by awarding him £1,600 for a sports camera, venue hire, and coaching equipment to help him to take his young business to the next level.
He already does lots of work with inner-city young players, and We Love MCR Charity says it can’t wait to see the next Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden come from under his wings.
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As mentioned, We Love MCR Charity has already awarded over £70,000 to dozens of industrious young people throughout the city – but the charity says it is keen to reach £200,000 by March 2022 by finding even more rising stars who need a helping hand.
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Did any of the above inspiring success stories remind you of someone who’s a perfect fit for the Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund?
Keen to apply yourself?
You can find more information and stick an application in here.
Featured Image – We Love MCR Charity
News
Salford murder victim named and pictured after human remains found
Daisy Jackson
The victim of a major murder investigation in Salford has been named and pictured by police.
Detectives are ‘confident’ that the victim is Stuart Everett, 67, though formal identification is yet to take place.
A major investigation was launched on 4 April after body parts wrapped in plastic were found in Kersal Dale.
Further human remains were then discovered at Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood over last weekend.
DNA samples have been sent away for urgent forensic analysis, after which the victim’s identity will be formally confirmed.
Stuart’s family are being supported by specially-trained GMP officers.
GMP said: “In the last 48 hours they have heard the most devastating news that anyone could hear, and our thoughts remain with them as they begin to process this.”
Two men have been charged with murder and will appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning.
A large police presence will continue to be deployed around Salford as GMP looks to recover more evidence.
The remains found at the other three locations in Salford are still to be tested, but GMP says it is ‘confident’ that they belong to the same victim.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “My thoughts and the thoughts of officers and staff across Greater Manchester Police are with Stuart’s family at this traumatic time. Family Liaison Officers are supporting them through each update in our investigation.
“On behalf of Stuart’s loved ones, I ask the public and the press to please respect their wishes for peace and privacy while they process this most devastating news.
“My officers and detectives, alongside additional resources from across the force, have worked tirelessly over the last three days to secure charges.
“We are grateful for the public’s continued help and support throughout this case. We understand the shockwaves this has caused throughout the community and beyond, and we hope you are reassured by the pace of our investigation and also our large police presence in the areas as we continue to make enquiries.
“We have officers drawn from different teams and units in GMP who have helped us search and their efforts do not go unnoticed, and they have all played an important role to help us get to this stage in our investigation.
“We said right at the start that our investigation will not stop until we have every stone unturned, and this continues to be the case. Our investigation has been a huge process so far, and we will continue to push forward in our enquiries to find answers for Stuart’s family.”
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder. They are due to appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning (30 April 2024).
Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour
Danny Jones
The Premier League has reached an agreement in principle on a new spending cap for all teams as the English top flight looks to replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Set to be installed from the 2025/26 season onwards once fully ratified, revised spending limits will placed on teams in the first division, the number for which will be calculated in relation to a multiple of the money earned in prize money and TV rights by the lowest-earning club in the Premier League.
If approved at the AGM (annual general meeting) this June, the new model will replace the existing PSR system under which multiple clubs have broken FFP and been charged with other breaches over recent years, with Everton and Nottingham Forest having already been deducted points this season.
Although 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs reportedly agreed to the newly proposed regulations, four clubs were not in favour, with Manchester City, Man United and Aston Villa all said to have voted against the decision, while Chelsea chose to abstain.
BREAKING: Premier League clubs have agreed in principle to a form of cap on squad spending ahead of regulations being formulated, Sky News understands.
The proposed spending cap wouldn’t come into effect until the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The new max-spending model is being referred to as ‘anchoring’ or ‘tethering’, which will take into account total amounts spent on buying players, weekly wages, agents’ fees and more.
If successful following a final vote in June and brought through the season after next, the aim is to curb the increasing financial gap between the top and bottom of the table by preventing things like big sponsorships which may otherwise see clubs assert massive spending power during transfer windows.
According to the Independent, cost controls will now “limit club expenditure on salaries, signing and fees to 85 per cent of total revenue” for those not competing in European competitions.
This comes after Premier League teams previously the latest UEFA rules that will see those playing in the likes of the Champions, Europa and Conference League only allowed to spend 70% of that revenue, given the added financial uplift from qualifying for these tournaments.
While 16 yeas were enough to see the initial vote move forward, it will only require 14 out of 20 clubs to agree to the rule change in June for the motion to be fully passed.
A Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) spokesperson said: “We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages.
“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”
Emily Sergeant -
30th September 2021 
