Some information may be out of date.
I am migrating this page over to my new website and therefore information on this page may be out of date. You may have been hyperlinked to this page from my new website as a way to access my Projects & Volunteering page while I get everything migrated over.
More volunteering and social action projects from 2020 onwards will be added on my new website.
More volunteering and social action projects from 2020 onwards will be added on my new website.
2019 (aged 19/20)
Manchester's Volunteer of the Year (2019)
Myself and Arron Parker-Bowler led Manchester Young Carers Group from April 2016-December 2018, campaigning to ensure young carers get the support they need in Manchester. Not just this, but in 2019 we still maintain a strong influence and presence, representing thousands of young carers across the city.
On 9 November 2019, this paid off with us being nominated by Councillor Garry Bridges and supported by Young Carers Coordinator Kelly Hockaday, and subsequently won the award for Volunteer of the Year in 2019 at the Be Proud Awards.
It's an honour and privilege to win such an award, and being recognised for the work that me and Arron have done over several years, with us being young carers and students ourselves.
On 9 November 2019, this paid off with us being nominated by Councillor Garry Bridges and supported by Young Carers Coordinator Kelly Hockaday, and subsequently won the award for Volunteer of the Year in 2019 at the Be Proud Awards.
It's an honour and privilege to win such an award, and being recognised for the work that me and Arron have done over several years, with us being young carers and students ourselves.
Discover Uni
In July 2019, I was approached by the Office for Students, the non-departmental public body of the Department for Education, to be filmed for their new Discover Uni website, aimed at providing advice and support to prospective University students. They asked me to share my story about my struggles of being a young carer, struggles with family life and progression into University.
The video has received praise from friends, family and colleagues alike. The video aims to dispel myths that people from my background cannot go to University, or they think they can't achieve it. This video serves as a message that they can, as I and many others are living proof.
The video has received praise from friends, family and colleagues alike. The video aims to dispel myths that people from my background cannot go to University, or they think they can't achieve it. This video serves as a message that they can, as I and many others are living proof.
2017 (aged 17/18)
Manchester Young Carers Group
Following my taking over of leadership at the Manchester Young Carers Forum back in October 2017, I made the decision to change the name to the Manchester Young Carers Group, as I felt that was more inviting for young carers. From October 2017-December 2018, I led this group of young carers to successfully running the transition campaign, which saw us create a song, a music video, a campaign report and hosting a conference.
Our work has influenced Manchester City Council's policy on young carers, and has done for over 2 years, as well as influencing many services like children's services, Early Help and some schools.
Visit bit.ly/youngcarersgroup for more on the work we did at Manchester Young Carers Group.
Our work has influenced Manchester City Council's policy on young carers, and has done for over 2 years, as well as influencing many services like children's services, Early Help and some schools.
Visit bit.ly/youngcarersgroup for more on the work we did at Manchester Young Carers Group.
Manchester Youth Council
I've been an executive member since Summer 2016 till February 2018 representing young carers, the Manchester Youth Council is an apolitical organisation that sits under the city council, and has worked tirelessly on campaigns and ensuring the youth in Manchester are represented. The youth council adopts a unique affiliate system whereby youth organisations, schools and youth groups can become "affiliates" of the youth council, thus them becoming ordinary members and being able to get involved with campaigns, projects etc, with the youth council, as well as the youth council getting involved with their work.
The executive branch at the youth council are The Hive. Each member must be from an affiliated organisation and must be elected. Once elected, they will be involved in the strategic aims in the youth council, and also be at the forefront of running campaigns and representing the youth in Manchester on a local, regional and national level.
Since joining, I have represented young people on all levels, as well as pushing for reform and restructure within The Hive, and at the time of writing, this process is currently taking place. I was on a panel in scrutinising candidates for the role of CEO of Manchester City Council, as well as the Director of Education, and I help in designing posters, leaflets and flyers. I attend meetings frequently so my input is included in the campaigns.
My biggest achievement in the youth council was coining the name 'CommonUnity' and its slogan 'React, Report, Re-think' - this is a hate crime campaign on assisting young people in reporting hate crime. Not only this, I created the posters that spread this message and they have been sent to schools, colleges and youth groups across the city.
The youth council is undoubtedly the best youth council for its ability to successfully run campaigns. It is the only youth council which has been able to successfully campaign for A Curriculum for Life, which is to be trialled and implemented by the Manchester City Council in a few years. This campaign is for ensuring young people get knowledge of healthy relationships, politics, finance, citizenship, etc.
The executive branch at the youth council are The Hive. Each member must be from an affiliated organisation and must be elected. Once elected, they will be involved in the strategic aims in the youth council, and also be at the forefront of running campaigns and representing the youth in Manchester on a local, regional and national level.
Since joining, I have represented young people on all levels, as well as pushing for reform and restructure within The Hive, and at the time of writing, this process is currently taking place. I was on a panel in scrutinising candidates for the role of CEO of Manchester City Council, as well as the Director of Education, and I help in designing posters, leaflets and flyers. I attend meetings frequently so my input is included in the campaigns.
My biggest achievement in the youth council was coining the name 'CommonUnity' and its slogan 'React, Report, Re-think' - this is a hate crime campaign on assisting young people in reporting hate crime. Not only this, I created the posters that spread this message and they have been sent to schools, colleges and youth groups across the city.
The youth council is undoubtedly the best youth council for its ability to successfully run campaigns. It is the only youth council which has been able to successfully campaign for A Curriculum for Life, which is to be trialled and implemented by the Manchester City Council in a few years. This campaign is for ensuring young people get knowledge of healthy relationships, politics, finance, citizenship, etc.
PARTISPACE
From July 2017 to April 2018, Myself and other young people from Manchester, were approached by the organisation PARTISPACE, to do a project, that we'd choose, to show how young people could lead their own projects. We decided youth homelessness. We created a documentary of our findings and a pamphlet to assist homeless people in Manchester. I created the pamphlet myself. I have visited Paris in April 2018 for the final conference of PARTISPACE where the research into youth participation is expected to change policy within Europe.
View the video here. View the pamphlet here. |
2016 (aged 16/17)
YCF Manchester (Manchester Young Carers Forum)
I joined YCF Manchester (Manchester Young Carers Forum) back in April 2016. YCF Manchester is an organisation set up by young carers for young carers in Manchester. I am a young carer and have been for 6 years (at the time of writing) and it's something I'm really passionate about. I used to access Family Action for help and support. Trips, residentials, youth club sessions etc., before it closed down in 2014 due to it not reaching out to many young carers in Manchester.
There are approximately 12,000 young carers in Manchester. Family Action had under 200 young carers that were receiving help and support. But not only have these young carers lost Family Action, but their voice too. They want to be heard. One young carer decided 'this isn't right' and told the Manchester City Council that they should do more for young carers. In April, they decided they would like to support a service that young carers would create.
We have won an award at the Youth Buzz Awards 2017 for our continued effort to make a change and ensure help and support is given to young carers in Manchester.
There are approximately 12,000 young carers in Manchester. Family Action had under 200 young carers that were receiving help and support. But not only have these young carers lost Family Action, but their voice too. They want to be heard. One young carer decided 'this isn't right' and told the Manchester City Council that they should do more for young carers. In April, they decided they would like to support a service that young carers would create.
We have won an award at the Youth Buzz Awards 2017 for our continued effort to make a change and ensure help and support is given to young carers in Manchester.
Children's Rights Alliance for England
I applied to become a steering group member of CRAE as I was passionate about the work they were doing around children's rights. Quite recently in 2017, we campaigned on children and young people not having to stay in temporary accommodation for over 6 weeks. This campaign led us to the CRAE lobbying event in Parliament on the 25th October 2017. This would be my second time lobbying Parliament.
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ChildLine 30th Birthday - Lobbying Parliament with ChildLine
On 1st November, Myself and 5 other young ambassadors of ChildLine travelled to the Houses of Parliament for ChildLine's 30th Birthday. We were lobbying Parliament about the importance of ChildLine and the impact that it has had on young people across the UK.
I was lucky enough to meet many MP's who attended the event, including Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Angela Rayner MP. I was also lucky to meet Dame Esther Rantzen DBE, founder of ChildLine, and Peter Wanless, CEO of NSPCC.
I was lucky enough to meet many MP's who attended the event, including Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Angela Rayner MP. I was also lucky to meet Dame Esther Rantzen DBE, founder of ChildLine, and Peter Wanless, CEO of NSPCC.
2015 (aged 15/16)
Writing on the Wall
In an anthology created by young carers in Manchester, we were given creative freedom to express our opinions, beliefs and ideas and write about them in the form of poems and short stories. Family Action teamed up with Zoe Lambert of Lancaster University, and the Carers Trust to make this happen. Extra thank you to experienced local writer Michelle Green and Mike Garry. I won't spoil any of my work, however, you can purchase the book online for you to read. It'll be gladly appreciated.
You can purchase it here:
You can purchase it here:
2014 (aged 14/15)
ReachOut
ReachOut is a charity in supporting the transition of children from primary education to secondary education, by easing the pressure put on children, in a big part of their childhood. The way they successfully do this, is by having senior adult mentors who deal with fun lessons and activities during three weeks in summer, and junior mentors who have first hand knowledge about the transition and how difficult in can be.
As a junior mentor for ReachOut (Summer 2014 and Summer 2015) I treated this opportunity as a job and conducted myself professionally. In 2014, I helped run exciting lessons in maths and English, and bonded with the children who were struggling, assuring them that their work pays off. By engaging the children, it allows the children themselves to forge friendships when they head into year 7 together, which I believe is crucial to a better start in secondary school. I also ran a football session, as a footballer myself, and co-ran 2 basketball sessions. In 2015, the first week was administrating and inputting records. Afterwards, I'd do the same thing as I did the first year. I also led a team, though they were difficult to manage, but did effectively engage them in the Olympic-style activities.
As a junior mentor for ReachOut (Summer 2014 and Summer 2015) I treated this opportunity as a job and conducted myself professionally. In 2014, I helped run exciting lessons in maths and English, and bonded with the children who were struggling, assuring them that their work pays off. By engaging the children, it allows the children themselves to forge friendships when they head into year 7 together, which I believe is crucial to a better start in secondary school. I also ran a football session, as a footballer myself, and co-ran 2 basketball sessions. In 2015, the first week was administrating and inputting records. Afterwards, I'd do the same thing as I did the first year. I also led a team, though they were difficult to manage, but did effectively engage them in the Olympic-style activities.
2013 (aged 13/14)
Rise of the Unread!
I was the animator and prop designer for the stop frame short film animation. MCMA teamed up with the Ideas Foundation, Media Trust, Captive North. We created this animation in the aim of guiding year 7's into secondary education.
Watch the video here: |
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Teens and Toddlers
I got involved with Teens and Toddlers to enhance my skills and because of this, I earned an NCFE Level 1 Interpersonal Skills Award, by completing a 6 week course with developing a bond and engaging with a child assigned to me from reception, and develop an understanding of my career path, understanding what teenagers face during these years, and developing existing skills.
I worked with a child in reception, and when I left after 6 weeks, I had influenced his behaviour that was previously troubling, and from then on, he was well behaved. I made a huge impact in his life, and we both learned a lot about each other too.
I worked with a child in reception, and when I left after 6 weeks, I had influenced his behaviour that was previously troubling, and from then on, he was well behaved. I made a huge impact in his life, and we both learned a lot about each other too.
If We Had Known Then, What We Know Now
As a member of the MCMA Inc team, a group of students involved with creative projects, we teamed up with the Ideas Foundation to create a short film on how students should learn from their mistakes to succeed.
Watch the video here: |
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