Throughout the year, our Trustees award grants from our two core funds. The 'Stronger Communities Fund' (SCF), where we provide funding to groups making positive differences in their communities, and the 'Manchester's Rising Stars Fund' (MRSF) where we award grants supporting ambitious young Mancunians from disadvantage in their next steps to success.
We awarded 3 SCF and 17 MRSF grants in December 2024 which came to a huge total of £26,646! Here is the full list of the fantastic local projects and young people we supported, and we look forward to sharing further details about them with you as the projects develop and our Rising Stars' ambitions grow.
Stronger Communities Fund
The Spearhead Foundation (Sharston, Wythenshawe)
About: The Spearhead Foundation works to reduce loneliness and isolation among veterans and emergency service workers in South Manchester by providing social events, support links, and mental health resources. They aim to prevent suicide and mental illness by empowering people to give back to their community.
Award: £4,000 - to fund a weekly breakfast, coffee, and walking club, as well as a volunteer to reach out to those in need. The project will support 50 veterans each week.
"Thank you to We Love MCR Charity for this grant. This funding will allow us to expand our services and provide vital support to veterans and emergency workers in South Manchester, helping them to feel less isolated and more connected to their community."
1st Wythenshawe Scout Group (Baguley, Wythenshawe)
Ambition: To provide a permanent base for the 1st Wythenshawe Scout Group, enabling them to expand their activities and support more young people in the community. The group currently has 150 youth members and a waiting list of 65 young people due to lack of space.
Award: £4,000 - to help fund the refurbishment of a building in Baguley Park, which will serve as their new headquarters. The building will also be used by other local community groups, providing affordable community space.
"Thank you so much for awarding us this grant! This will make a massive difference not just to our young people in scouting, but to our local communities in Wythenshawe, as there is a huge lack of affordable community spaces available. We will now be able to offer this thanks to the grant to renovate our building!"
Collyhurst & Moston Boxing Club
About: CMBC’s commit to supporting young children in one of Manchester’s most deprived areas. Their focus on early intervention through physical activity and social engagement will help set these children on a positive path for the future.
Award: £2,264 - to fund the Boxfit Juniors programme for children aged 3-6, providing them with a fun, non-contact introduction to boxing and fitness, which will run for 20 weeks and engage up to 300 young children in the Harpurhey and Moston area.
"We firmly believe that it is never too early to guide our youngsters on the path to good physical and mental well-being, and thanks to We Love MCR, we can now help more young people in our area of North Manchester. It is only through awards like these that activities such as Boxfit Juniors can take place at all, so thank you again to We Love MCR for enabling us to continue our valuable services in our community. We can’t wait!"
Manchester's Rising Stars Fund
Ruby, 19, Harpurhey
Ambition: To become a fully professional athlete playing American football in America. Ruby currently plays for the U19s team, Lancaster University team, and the Manchester Titans women’s team.
Award: £1,500 - for return flights to San Diego and two internal flights to participate in games. Ruby comes from a single-parent household and relies on her student loan and part-time jobs.
Ruby’s talent and dedication to American football is infectious! We're delighted to help Ruby achieve her ambition to play professionally in the USA with this grant, and can't wait to see how her trip goes.
"Thank you so much for the award. It means everything to me and will allow me to grow my skills and become an even better football player."
Haowra, 17, Cheetham Hill
Ambition: To complete a degree in business accounting at Manchester University and help others make better financial decisions. Haowra is currently studying A-levels in Maths, Business, and Economics at Loreto College.
Award: £1,144 - for a suitable laptop. Haowra’s family shares one device, making it difficult for her to complete her studies efficiently.
Haowra’s determination to excel in her studies and support her family is inspiring. Her proactive approach to participating in online programmes like PwC management consulting demonstrates her commitment. We're confident she will achieve her goal of becoming a successful business accountant and make a difference in her community!
"This award will enable me to excel in my studies and will hopefully present me with opportunities I may have otherwise struggled to achieve."
Sara, 17, Cheetham Hill
Ambition: To become an optometrist and improve people’s vision and quality of life. Sara is currently studying A-levels in Maths, Biology, and Business at Loreto College.
Award: £650 - for an iPad, pencil, and insurance.
Sara’s ambition to work in healthcare and improve people’s lives is admirable. We're confident that Sara will achieve her goals and make a significant impact in the field of optometry!
"I’d like to thank the We Love MCR Charity for helping me pursue my ambition for optometry."
Fatima, 19, Levenshulme
Ambition: To become a fashion designer and open her own shop. Fatima is currently studying Fashion Design at the University of Salford.
Award: £1,600 - for an embroidery machine and iPad.
We're confident that Fatima will achieve her goals and make a significant impact in the field of fashion design!
"Thank you so much for We Love MCR Charity. They helped me and provided me with the things I really needed for my work."
Nahum, 16, Woodhouse Park
Ambition: To attend college or do an apprenticeship, though he is still exploring his specific career path. Nahum is currently studying GCSEs at MEA.
Award: £170 - for a basic laptop with insurance. Nahum has been using his phone to complete schoolwork after his own laptop broke.
Nahum’s resilience and hard work despite personal challenges are commendable. We're confident that he will achieve his ambitions and thrive in his future career!
"I am so grateful to be awarded this grant to help further develop my academic studies."
Jana, 18, Gorton and Abbey Hey
Ambition: To become a dentist or doctor, specialising in healthcare. Jana is currently studying Biomedical Science at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Award: £750 - for a standard iPad, pencil, and insurance.
Jana’s maturity and kindness shine through in her work and studies. We're confident that Jana will achieve her goals and become a successful healthcare professional!
"Being awarded the grant will aid me in furthering my education in university."
Emily, 17, Ardwick
Ambition: To become a children’s nurse. Emily is currently studying Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care at Connell Co-op College.
Award: £1,144 - for a standard laptop with insurance.
Emily’s exceptional work ethic and commitment to achieving excellent results are what sets her apart. We can't wait for her to become a children's nurse in the future!
"We Love MCR Charity kindly provided me with a laptop, which will be a huge help in supporting my career."
Ajmal, 18, LAC (placed outside Manchester)
Ambition: To become a car mechanic or electrician and eventually open his own business. Ajmal is currently studying ESOL Level 1 at TMC.
Award: £170 - for a basic laptop with insurance.
Ajmal’s determination to learn English and pursue a career in mechanics or electrical work is inspiring. His drive to build a better future for himself is admirable. We're confident that Ajmal will achieve his goals and succeed in his chosen field!
Mohammed, 20, Clayton and Openshaw
Ambition: To work in IT as a coder. Mohammed is currently studying ESOL Level 1 at TMC.
Award: £170 - for a basic laptop with insurance.
Mohammed's dedication to learning and his drive to pursue a career with coding skills mean we're excited to see where his journey takes him next. You have all our support Mohammed!
Imran, 17, Moss Side
Ambition: To study cybersecurity and computer science at the University of Manchester and eventually work in the field of cybersecurity. Imran is currently studying A-levels in Maths, Computer Science, and Chemistry at Trinity CofE Sixth Form.
Award: £1,144 - for a standard laptop with insurance.
Imran’s passion for computer science and his commitment to achieving high grades make him a true Rising Star. We can't wait to see what he does in the cybersecurity industry!
"Thank you so much We Love MCR Charity for this grant. Without them, I don’t think this would’ve been possible."
Toluwalase, 17, Moston
Ambition: To develop his skills in photography and grow his photography business. Tolu is currently studying Level 3 Photography at The Manchester College.
Award: £1,650 - for a standard laptop and camera.
Tolu’s passion for photography and his proactive approach to growing his business is brilliant. We can't wait to see how Tolu's journey progresses!
"Thank you very much for the award. It will help me upgrade my equipment and give me the tools to outshine my competitors."
Ibrahim, 19, LAC (placed outside Manchester)
Ambition: To become an electrician working on cars, and eventually open his own business. Ibrahim is currently studying ESOL Level 3 at Trafford College.
Award: £170 - for a basic laptop with insurance.
Ibrahim’s drive to learn English and pursue a career in mechanics and electrical work is a credit to him, we can't wait to hear what happens next!
Iqra, 22, LAC (placed outside Manchester)
Ambition: To become a family law barrister specialising in child protection and advocating for vulnerable children and families. Iqra is currently in her third year of an LLB in Law at Liverpool John Moores University.
Award: £5,000 (pending results and funding) - to cover the costs of completing her LLM course.
Iqra’s commitment to becoming a barrister is inspiring, her dedication to advocating for vulnerable children and families in particular. We're all rooting for Iqra!
"Receiving this award would be transformative in helping me progress towards my ambition of becoming a family law barrister."
Abdelrahman, 19, Clayton and Openshaw
Ambition: To work in technology and eventually own a business manufacturing drones. Abdelrahman is currently studying GCSEs in Maths and English at Stockport College.
Award: £170 - for a standard laptop with insurance.
Abdelrahman’s proactive approach to volunteering and teaching IT skills demonstrates his commitment. We're confident that Abdelrahman will make strides in the tech field!
"I want to say thank you for the opportunity I've received from you to advance in my studies."
Mahnoor, 17, Cheetham Hill
Ambition: To become a paediatric nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner. Mahnoor is currently studying Health and Social Care at Bury College.
Award: £650 - for an iPad, pencil, and insurance. Mahnoor comes from a large family reliant on universal credit and does not have her own device.
Mahnoor’s clear sense of purpose and dedication to her studies are evident. We're confident that Mahnoor will achieve her goals and make it in nursing!
"Thank you so much to The We Love MCR Charity for your generous support."
Mohammad, 18, LAC (placed outside Manchester)
Ambition: To work in medicine. Mohammad is currently studying GCSEs in Biology, Physics, Maths, and Chemistry at Trafford College.
Award: £150 - for a standard laptop with insurance.
We have every faith in Mohammad for his GCSE exams and future goals!
"Thanks a lot for this lovely award, I will use it to achieve my goals."
Jamal, 18, LAC (placed outside Manchester)
Ambition: To work in cybersecurity, ideally for the government. Jamal is currently studying ESOL Level 2 at Stockport College.
Award: £150 - for a standard laptop with insurance.
Jamal is determined to learn English and pursue a career in cybersecurity, we're confident that Jamal will achieve his goals and make a significant impact in the field!
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