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Welcome to Manchester Active Voice.
In this edition, we share some inspiring stories, key information and plenty of new opportunities & events for you to get involved in as we head into the festive period.
Learn more below!
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 What a night at the #MCRSportsAwards 2025!
On Saturday 15 November, the iconic Kimpton Clocktower Hotel played host to an unforgettable celebration of sporting excellence.
From grassroots heroes to elite athletes, we came together to honour the incredible talent, dedication, and passion that make Manchester a true global sporting city.
Congratulations to all our winners and finalists. Your achievements inspire us all and showcase the power of sport to unite communities, break barriers, and create lasting impact.
Events like this matter because they shine a spotlight on the people behind the success - the coaches, volunteers, and athletes who make Manchester’s sporting heartbeat so strong.
With such a rich pool of talent and commitment, the future of sport in our city has never looked brighter.
Here’s to celebrating Manchester’s sporting spirit and continuing to build a legacy that inspires generations!
All winners, finalists and event films can be accessed here.
ROLL ON 2026!
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The Christmas holidays are coming!
There are thousands of FREE places for activities during the Christmas school holidays.
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 to get involved.
- Register for FREE benefits-related school meals
- Create a family account MCRactive Go account
- Find and book your sessions.
Head to mcractive.com/haf for more information.
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 Empowering communities in Cheetham Hill!
As part of our #NeighbouhoodMoves campaign, we were delighted to join the Wai Yin Centre in Cheetham Hill for their Empower 8 event. A fantastic celebration of the wide range of activities they offer to improve wellbeing in the community.
Watch the video here.
Initially, Manchester Active began working with Wai Yin to deliver a physical exercise session for 12 weeks. In 2023 we connected the centre with local organisations, including Winning Hearts & Minds, and local health development coordinators to further develop the activities on offer, and help the centre to be self-sustainable.
Now, residents can get involved in everything from chair-based exercise sessions, to music, creative tech like 3D printing, gardening, and a variety of community and lifestyle support activities.
Manchester is proud to fund this work through our Neighbourhood Moves & Making Manchester Fairer campaign, helping reduce barriers and increase access to activities within local neighbourhoods. A brilliant example of community-led wellbeing in action.
Check out all our #NeighbourhoodMoves content on our social accounts! Let’s celebrate and support local groups helping Manchester move!
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On Saturday 8 November, over 200 women joined the Lights Up ride through Manchester’s streets in the dark.
Following an immensely successful event in 2024, Bee Pedal Ready and Station South again returned to deliver Lights Up, a mass night ride designed to make cycling after dark feel safer and more welcoming for women and underrepresented riders across Greater Manchester.
Women and girls who cycle to work are often leaving their bikes at home as the winter nights close in, and studies show that the number of women who cycle to work in the winter months drops by a third. This event aimed to change that statistic, raising awareness and encouraging more women to cycle – especially at night.
Both Bee Pedal Ready and Station South strive to improve the gender balance in cycling and have created ways to inspire more women and girls to get out on their bikes.
Lights Up 2025 proved to be yet another fantastic event, and an incredible success and achievement. A short film is being produced on the event, due for release soon.
But in case you can’t wait, here’s a sneak preview.
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 ParkySMASH! recently served up a storm at the Great Northern Ping Hub, a pop up table venue based in the Great Northern Warehouse, Deansgate Manchester, created by Table Tennis England.
The event helped to demonstrate the unifying power of sport, and how table tennis can help alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
The ParkySMASH! Event in Manchester saw 20 competitors in action in singles and doubles, including three who travelled from Japan.
Their presence was a reciprocal visit after a delegation of English players with Parkinson’s went to Japan earlier this year.
Table tennis England have produced a series of videos with some of the players who took part. They discuss how table tennis has helped them live with Parkinson’s, as well as the other benefits they have seen.
The hub is a legacy programme linked to the WTT Feeder Event which took place in Manchester in February 2024.
Learn more about this initiative and watch the videos here.
To book a table tennis table or find out more click here.
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 England Squash has announced the 2025 England Squash Awards winners, celebrating their impact on the squash community over the past year, and Manchester has shone in 2025!
The Awards shine a spotlight on the hard work and dedication of the players, coaches, volunteers, and officials who have made a positive impact throughout the 2024-25 season.
City of Manchester Squash Club was crowned Club of the Year, recognising the inclusive and collaborative environment the entirely volunteer-run club has built for the city’s diverse and ever-changing population, from its thriving women’s section to forging strong relationships with neighbouring clubs to support the squash community across the region.
Local #SquashHero Sally Archibald was also selected as Diversity & Inclusion Champion. Her charity, Girls in Motion is committed to creating a space for women and girls in squash, notably hosting a Women’s Squash Week celebration with 60 attendees. Sally also helped launch a division for beginner and inexperienced players in the North West Women’s Squash League, attracting 15 new teams.
On behalf of everyone at Manchester Active, we would like to say a massive congratulations to both winners, you help make Manchester #AliveWithSport!
Learn more about the awards here.
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 If you normally vote by post, please note there are new rules for postal voting in 2026.
New legislation as part of the Elections Act 2022 means that all postal voters must reapply every three years and complete an identity check.
What’s changing?
If you applied for a postal vote before 30 October 2023, you need to reapply this year to keep voting by post.
How to reapply
Apply securely online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
If this affects you, you should have received an email or letter from Manchester City Council's Elections Team. Please respond as soon as possible. Don’t wait for the deadline.
If you don’t reapply, your postal vote will be cancelled and you’ll need to vote in person at your polling station. We’ll confirm your polling station when we send your poll cards.
Not sure if this affects you?
Contact Manchester City Council’s Electoral Services Unit at esu@manchester.gov.uk or call 0161 234 1212 for advice.
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 Across Manchester, we're promoting daily messages of support, inspiration, guidance and updates to the city across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – tagging #MCRactive.
Follow @MCRactive to stay connected with the latest updates on staying active and healthy and share details with your friends and family.
We'd also love to hear about the innovative ways Mancunians are being active to share with others. If you have inspiring content – a short video, image or message, you can send via: info@mcractive.com or share them through @MCRactive on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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