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Welcome to the latest edition of the Young Carers Newsletter! This edition is brought to you by Araya Worsley.
As we step into spring, we’re celebrating new beginnings, fresh energy, and all the incredible things our young carers continue to do every day. This month is packed with updates, upcoming events, and opportunities. Whether you’re looking for support or activities to get involved in, we hope this edition brings a little brightness to your month.
As always thank you for all that you do to make a difference, and the support you offer.
If you have any good news or opportunities to share please contact araya.worsley@manchester.gov.uk
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Just a gentle reminder that Berry the Cat is very popular, and his diary fills up quickly. If you would like Berry to attend your session, please make sure you book him in advance so he can attend your preferred date.
Booking form for Berry the Cat! – Fill in form
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The award for Young Carer Champion of 2025 is now open to receive nominations!
We are incredibly proud of our Young Carer Champions, their work makes such a positive and lasting difference to young carers and their families.
Let us celebrate their hard work, recognise their contributions and thank them for all that they do!
The winner will be announced in April 2026!
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Young carers from Broadhurst Coop Academy Primary marked young carers action day with lunch with the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Carmine Grimshaw, his consort Councillor June Hitchen and other special guests.
The day started with a creative activity led by our friends at the Halle Orchestra Archives Team, discussions with Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, followed by a delicious afternoon tea in the Lord Mayors Reception. The children then took on the role of the City Council Leaders and made a visit to the chambers, where they led a spirited debate on the pros and cons of homework, we certainly have some very inspiring young people in our city!
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The day closed with a special visit from Berry the Young Carers Cat – a truly memorable day, we wish to thank everyone who made the event possible. |
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A group of our young carers were lucky enough to receive complimentary tickets to the BRIT Awards, and what a night they had! They told us they had an epic time, with one of our young carers being spotted on TV!
We are so grateful to the organisers for making it possible – a special mention to Ethan Gilbert from our Events Team and everyone involved in the planning. You all did a superb job, thank you for thinking of our young carers, it is truly appreciated.
The photo shows students from Trinity High School, including some of our young carers.
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 Young carers from The Barlow RC High and Newall Green Primary School joined forces with the Cracking Good Food company, to develop culinary skills, reduce food waste and enjoy tasty nutritional dishes!
This project was designed to give young carers the chance to cook, since many had never experienced it before. The initiative concentrated on reducing food waste, encouraging nutritious eating habits, and sparking a genuine interest in cooking and healthy lifestyles.
The project not only promoted health and wellbeing but also fostered new friendships, reduced food waste, and built confidence in the kitchen.
Special thanks go to Keena Jeffers at Our Manchester Food Partnership for making this experience possible.
If you’d like to learn more about this project or find out how to get involved, please contact Cracking Good Food.
Well done to all involved – you should be incredibly proud!
Photo is of Newall Green Primary School students proudly holding their certificates of award.
 Two of our young carers from Varna Primary Community School recently joined fellow young carers from Barnet and Suffolk in an important initiative. Together, they delivered an impressive total of 15,000 postcards to Downing Street, all calling for increased support for young carers in schools.
Carers Trust organised the event for Young Carers Action Day on March 11, to spotlight this year’s theme of fairer futures for young carers. This was an amazing opportunity for Manchester young carers to represent the voices of young carers from across the country!
We are proud of our students' involvement and Manchester Young Carers Partnership's ongoing efforts to support young carers.
Photo credit: Carers Trust
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Reading is one of those small pleasures that brings big rewards. Whether it’s getting lost in a story, learning something new, or simply taking a quiet moment for ourselves, reading helps us slow down and switch off from the noise of everyday life. A good book can make us laugh, think differently, or see the world through someone else’s eyes.
To celebrate the joy and benefits of reading, we’re excited to launch our Book Review Competition!
Have you read a book you couldn’t put down? Or one that really made you think? We’d love to hear about it!
Write a short review using these templates as prompts
Book review
Book review
All book reviews will be saved on our webpages for others to enjoy, by submitting a book review, you are confirming consent for your review to be published online and in our newsletter. One Star Reviewer will receive a book token and feature in our future newsletter! Reviews should be submitted via your school Young Carers Champion.
Happy reading – and we can’t wait to see your recommendations! Please send your completed reviews to araya.worsley@manchester.gov.uk 📖
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Spring is finally here, the season of sunshine, new beginnings, buzzing bees and bright flowers. And we want YOU to capture it!
Whether you're a doodler, a painter, a photographer, or someone who just loves being outdoors, this competition is your chance to shine.
Your Challenge
Create an original piece of art inspired by a spring scene.
It can be…
A drawing or painting of your favourite local park
A photograph of something that screams “SPRING!”
A poster bursting with colour and imagination
A scene from a memory — maybe a garden, a picnic, a walk, or even your street in bloom
The only rule➡️ Your work has to be your own no AI generated images. We want to see your creativity! Make it Bright. Make it Bold. Make it You!
We can’t wait to see your spring magic come to life!
Please send all entries to araya.worsley@manchester.gov.uk
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This challenge from The Lowry celebrates children’s creativity and imagination and amplifies the voices of children from across the North West. It is a writing competition for ages 7-11 and entries can include poetry, short stories and scripts. The competition closes on Friday 20th March. Shortlisted entries will be invited to present their work on Lowry's Quays Stage.
For more information on Lowry’s Creative Writing Challenge, including how to enter, please click here.
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Power UP is the ultimate hands-on, interactive gaming experience.
Play the very best video games from the past five decades and try out over a hundred different consoles. There’s something for everyone from Pong to Pacman, Sonic to Street Fighter and Mario to Minecraft, plus a selection of games created in Manchester.
Challenge your friends and family in multiplayer showdowns. Rediscover your childhood favourites and test out some of the latest virtual reality experiences.
Open weekends and school holidays only. (10am-5pm)
Article Originally Published by Loads to Do-Prices Included
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SEND and SEMH young people are invited to join The Platform—a creative event designed to help young people explore ways to be heard and shape the future of Manchester. The afternoon will feature a variety of fun, hands‑on workshops and activities.
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Head to the Outdoor Art Club at the Whitworth Art Gallery. Enjoy fun, creative activities with your little one. Play freely in the fresh air and explore nature and the outdoors with family and friends.
These sessions take place outdoors – come rain or shine, so it’s recommended that you wear suitable warm clothing, waterproofs and wellies, especially during the cold and wet months. The gallery has plenty of wellies and rainsuits of different sizes for you to borrow.
Sessions take place on 20 December 2025, 21 February 2026 and 21 March 2026. Just drop in.
20 December 2025-21 March 2026 10:30am - 1:30pm
Article Originally Published by Loads to Do-Free to attend
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Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures leap from page to stage, as the beloved Who’s in Your Book? series makes its debut as a brand-new musical show.
A high-energy 50-minute adventure featuring lively original music, this show is the perfect introduction to live theatre.
There’s a Monster in Your Show… and he can’t wait to meet you!
2 April 2026 - 4 April 2026 4:30pm - 4:30pm
Article Originally Published by Loads to Do-Prices included
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Learn more about the game through our objects on one of our National Football Museum guided tours. Please ask about our tours when you arrive at the Welcome Wing, or ask a member of our team for more details.
Our friendly museum guides will tell you more about the museum, some of the incredible objects on display and the fascinating stories behind them.
10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm. 1:30pm. 2:30pm, 3:30pm: Museum Highlights
Meet outside of the Match Gallery on level 1 and find out more about the museum’s crown jewels. Our guide will take you through over a century of football history via objects in our collection, from the first international match in 1872 right up to the present day.
Article Originally published by National Football Museum charges included
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Thanks for joining us for this edition of the Young Carers Newsletter. Want to read more? All previous editions are available on our Help and Support Manchester Page.
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