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Marcus Rashford to be honoured with ‘City of Manchester’ award

The award is to honour his "outstanding" contribution to ending child food poverty.

The Manc The Manc - 28th October 2020
Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford is to be honoured with a City of Manchester award for his “outstanding” contribution to ending child food poverty.

At just 22 years of age, the Wythenshawe-born Manchester United star is to be specially recognised with a City of Manchester Award, which has been introduced as a way of recognising an individual’s “outstanding and exceptional contribution to the city”.

It follows his ongoing campaign to #endchildfoodpoverty, which enabled thousands of children to claim free school meal vouchers throughout the summer holidays in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Wythenshawe councillor Tommy Judge will give the award as his first act as the new Lord Mayor of Manchester at the Full Council meeting today, and then Marcus himself will be invited to formally receive the award at a future meeting of the Council when social distancing rules allow. 

This City of Manchester Award joins a long list of plaudits for the Manchester United star.

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It comes after he was featured on the cover of British Vogue (for the magazine’s Activism Now edition), was made a the youngest ever Honorary Doctorate at the University of Manchester, was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2020, received a Pride of Manchester Award, and is to also receive a ‘Special Recognition’ Pride of Britain Award at the ceremony this Sunday.

Cllr Tommy Judge – incoming Lord Mayor of Manchester – said: 

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“From one Wythenshawe lad to another, this is a truly memorable moment.

We could never have known that Marcus was going to become the world-famous footballer that he is celebrated for today, but perhaps his recent campaign to feed needy young people will become his true legacy. 

The way he and his wonderful family has stood up for what they believe in, the way they have given a voice to the powerless has been remarkable to see, and the pride we feel in Wythenshawe for what he and his family have done is huge, so, it’s with great honour that as my first act as Lord Mayor of Manchester we bestow the City of Manchester Award to Marcus.

Thank you for everything you have done for young people in this city and across the country.”

Cllr Tommy Judge

The ‘City of Manchester Award’ is a unique honour, which is separate to the ‘Freedom of the City’.

The ‘Freedom of the City’ is an award which is given to recipients as recognition for a lifetime’s contribution to the city, and has been previously awarded to United greats such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Sir Matt Busby. 

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Manchester has been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A new study has revealed the cities which are deemed to be the most ‘caring’ in the UK, and Manchester features proudly on the list.

Because of course it does.

In case you missed it, last week, our city was awarded the not-so-coveted title of the UK’s rudest city, which, it’s fair to say, definitely got Mancs talking, and had a lot of people in denial too, as they just couldn’t seem to wrap their heads around the bold claims.

But now, we’ve got a new title that brushes those claims of rudeness right under the carpet… and that’s because Manchester has also been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK.

Now, that sounds more like the Manchester we know and love, right?

From donating blood, to volunteering for charity and helping out with neighbourhood tasks, there’s so many ways to lend a hand and support your local community – but which UK cities are the best at this? Ultimately, which UK cities are the most caring? Well, in a bid to answer this question, the life insurance team over at Compare the Market has analysed 30 of the country’s most populated cities to determine which of them are the most ‘community-minded’.

Manchester has been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK / Credit: iStockPhoto

The research study has taken into account a wide range of factors – with everything from recycling habits, the amount of fly-tipping incidents, and crime levels, to the number of charities, blood drives, and community centres in each city considered.

Manchester has found itself firmly within the top five, claiming the third spot on the list, largely thanks to having the highest number of charities per 10,000 people of any location in the whole study (52), which equates to an impressive 2,063 in total – with 31 of these dedicated to animals.

Top 10 most ‘caring’ cities in the UK

  1. Leeds
  2. Bradford
  3. Manchester
  4. Milton Keynes
  5. Wolverhampton
  6. Reading
  7. Bristol
  8. Hull
  9. Cardiff
  10. Coventry

There’s also plenty of opportunities to give blood here in Manchester too, with nine blood donation centres dotted around the city, as well as 51 community centres for anyone looking for a supportive space, or for somewhere that might offer activities or volunteer projects to get involved with.

The North features heavily within the top 10, with the Yorkshire cities Bradford and Hull also finding themselves on the list, and the title of the UK’s most ‘caring’ city also being awarded to the ever-popular Yorkshire city of Leeds.

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What do we think to this then? Rudest city what? After all, we know us Mancs are a caring bunch… but it’s always nice to have a study prove it.

Keep being ace, Manchester.

Featured Image – Matthew Waring (via Unsplash)

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Eurovision 2024 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester next month.

Following the success of the first-ever live streams of Europe’s biggest party onto the big screen when it was held on British soil in Liverpool last year, cinemas up and down the UK are set to come together once again to celebrate 2024’s edition of the major night in the music calendar by hosting the ultimate viewing events.

The epic Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on Saturday 11 May will be broadcast live on BBC One, and streamed into more than 100 cinemas nationwide – including several in Greater Manchester.

Hosted by CinemaLive, the live stream events will allow Eurovision fans to gather under one roof and be “united by music” to share in the unbeatable experience of celebrating the brightest and boldest music party of the year on the big screen.

Eurovision 2024 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester / Credit: Cinema Live | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)

You may remember that Sweden is hosting Eurovision this year, following the Scandinavian country’s well-deserved victory at the 2023 contest with the song ‘Tattoo’ performed by Loreen.

But thanks to these live stream events, you won’t need to make the trip to Malmö to get in on the action, as you’ll just need to nip down to your nearest participating cinema instead.

Not only will the long-awaited final of the show be streamed live onto the big screen in 5.1 surround sound, but fans are invited to bring their Eurovision parties from the front room to the cinema instead, as organisers say fancy dress is “heavily encouraged” as are enthusiastic sing-alongs too.

Speaking ahead of the event next month, John Travers from distributors CinemaLive, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring Eurovision’s grand final live into cinemas across the UK for the second year in a row.

“We want audiences to enjoy themselves, so come along in groups, get your fancy dress on, and join together to enjoy this incredible occasion on the big screen”.

Tickets are now live and available to book at your local cinema here.

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Some of the participating Greater Manchester cinemas include Vue Manchester Printworks, Everymans in Manchester city centre and Altrincham, The Light in Stockport, and Cineworld in Didsbury, among others.

Featured Image – Nick Robinson (via BBC)

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