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Welcome to our May Newsletter!
You might notice that our newsletter has had a refresh- with new colours and updated branding, we hope you like the new look as much as we do!
It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks, and we’re so proud of everything that’s been happening across the Young Carers Partnership.
We were thrilled to have celebrated some of our young carers at this year’s Buzz Awards , this annual event helps recognise the achievements and contributions of young people in our city. Youth Buzz Awards 2025 - Child Friendly City Manchester
We’ve also presented our animation project at the Young Carers Alliance webinar, highlighting how together, we are reaching and supporting younger age young carers and showcasing the great work of the Manchester Young Carers Partnership!
We’re also excited to share a brilliant opportunity for Manchester young carers to take part in a university taster day, taking place in July (see below).
We hope you enjoy this edition, if you do have any suggestions or good news stories to share, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Kelly, Maureen and Kyreese.
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Carers Week 2025!
We would love for you all to get involved, raise awareness and celebrate the incredible young carers in our city. Whether it’s a picnic, a creative activity or an event to raise awareness, every small action makes a huge difference.
If you are planning something special, we’d love to hear about it and help share in our good news section!
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Virtual Network Meetings for Schools & Settings.
It was fantastic to see so many of our young carer champions at our last Virtual Network Meeting on the 24th of April.
Don't worry if you missed it- you can catch up on the presentation, including contributions from partners, offers and opportunities, by visiting our dedicated Virtual Network Pages here -
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FREE -Manchester Young Carers Schools Linking 2025-26
HOME is thrilled to be working with The Linking Network for the fourth year in a row, and we would love your young carers group to be part of this exciting opportunity. Through this initiative, we will be connecting young carers from different schools, enabling them to engage in creative and supportive activities while fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Young Carers Linking is supported by The Linking Network, alongside the DfE, DLUHC, Pears Foundation, and the Dulverton Trust. Rooted in research, this programme focuses on reducing prejudice and fostering inclusivity in young people. It has been running successfully since 2001.
The programme connects young carers from different schools, creating a year-long, curriculum-rich partnership. The aim is to empower young carers by exploring identity, celebrating diversity, and promoting social cohesion.
Dates for Your Diary
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Tuesday 24th June 2025, 3:30pm – 4:30pm – HOME will hold a Teams meeting for anyone interested in taking part in the programme. This will be informal and an opportunity to simply drop-in and ask any questions.
Joining link Meeting ID: 367 681 624 96 Passcode: J9pG7Gt7
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Monday 7th July 2025 – Deadline for expressions of interest.
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Thursday 5th October 2025, 12:30-4pm – CPD 1 at HOME.
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Thursday 5th February 2026, 12:30-4pm – CPD 2 at HOME.
If you would like to take part in Schools Linking again this year, please complete the online form here: https://forms.office.com/e/ZYXq5tJWXz Please return the form no later than 7th July 2025
If there is a school you would like to be paired with, please do let us know through the Expression of Interest form.
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Got a Good News story to share?
If you have a positive story to share or celebrate a young carer we’d love to hear from you!
Please email us with any photos, celebrations or news- and don’t forget to ensure that you have consent from parent or carer before sharing images or personal information.
Information can be sent to our Operational Lead: Kelly.hockaday@manchester.gov.uk
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Youth Buzz Awards 2025!
On the 1st of May 2025 we celebrated the contributions and talent of our city’s young people, at the 2025 Youth Buzz Awards.
The awards give the city and the Council a chance to formally recognise and reward young people for the fantastic things they do – not just for themselves but also for others.
The awards play a part in Manchester’s work with UNICEF UK to put children’s rights into practice and become an internationally recognised Child Friendly City which aims to create communities where all young people have a meaningful say in the local decisions that shape their lives.
The Youth Buzz Award finalists were invited to a prestigious event at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, where they were treated to a three-course meal, performances from emerging local talent, and a moving awards ceremony.
Congratulations to our finalists in the Youth Buzz Award Young Carer Category- Penelope Morettini and Shaun Blinkhorn, and the winner, Ericka Banza. We received so many strong applications this year, every young carer is worthy of recognition. All should be incredibly proud of what they've achieved.
(Pictured (L-R): Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, Winner Ericka Banza and our wonderful host Toni Banjo)
Youth Buzz Awards 2025 - Child Friendly City Manchester
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Design a Young Carers Badge!
We’re inviting young carers from key stage 3 and above, to take part in our design a young carer badge competition. We are looking for a unique design that our young carers would be proud to wear.
We welcome freehand or digital designs, but all submissions must be original and must not use copyrighted, or AI generated work.
All entries will be reviewed by an independent panel for shortlisting, the winning design will be sent for production and worn by young carers in their schools and settings.
The closing date for entries is 5pm Monday 30th of June 2025 all entries must be sent directly from your school or setting Young Carer Champion to Kelly.hockaday@manchester.gov.uk
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Young Carers Poster Competition – Enter Now!
To celebrate Carers Week (10-16th of June), we’re inviting Manchester Young Carers of all ages to design a poster on the theme: “How Young Carers can be Equal and Included.”
The winning entry will receive a creative pack, sent directly to their school!
Deadline: 30th May 2025.
Format: Digital or hand-drawn (No AI – generated content).
Eligibility: Open to young carers only, who must either be a Manchester resident or attend a provision or work in the city of Manchester.
Submit your poster by scanning and sending to kelly.hockaday@manchester.gov.uk
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Young Carer University Taster Day 2025 !
Hosted at Manchester Metropolitan University, with thanks to our partners at GM Higher. The Manchester Young Carers taster day is an opportunity for young people in Y9-12 with caring responsibilities to visit a university campus and learn about what it is like to study at higher education.
The aim of the day is to showcase to young carers in the region the wealth of opportunities available to them at higher education and learn more about their options after school and where they can go for advice.
During the day students will have a tailored experience and be able to:
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Take part in degree taster sessions and learn about the range of subject's student’s study.
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Go on a tour of a university campus
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Hear from advisors from local universities and learn about the support they can access at HE
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Meet with current students with caring responsibilities in a Q&A
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Lego Club
Saturday 17 May / Tuesday 27 May / Saturday 14 June
2 - 3pm Central Library - Lower Ground Floor
Do you love Lego? So do we! Drop in, pick your favourite bricks and build anything that takes your fancy. From castles to spaceships, the possibilities are endless! FREE, just drop in. First come first served. Suitable for ages 4 and above.
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Looking ahead to May Half-Term:
School holidays are just around the corner, Loads to Do is a great place to find out what’s happening across Manchester.
From free swimming clubs to creative activities and cultural events, there’s something for everyone.
It’s a helpful website to share with families looking for fun, affordable and often free things to do this half-term.
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Upcoming courses from The King's Trust
We have so many great opportunities for young people aged 16-30 to get involved in. Courses are free and give people the tools to build their confidence, find a job or start their own business.
Upcoming opportunities:
- Explore
- Get Started with Theatre
- Get Hired with Selfridges
- Education Mentors
- Development Awards
Upcoming courses from The King's Trust
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