As part of our civic engagement, working in partnership with Manchester City Council, the University has pledged to listen and act together to create a programme of activities for young people. The pledges will provide opportunities and experiences for children and young people to develop their confidence, aspirations and explore the world around them. Our Year | Celebrating Manchester’s children and young people is a Manchester City Council led programme in direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic, recognising the significant impact the pandemic has had on young people in the city.

Colleagues from across the University have offered their support. There have been over 15 pledges so far – from empowering entrepreneurs of the future by running master classes in enterprise skills; working with young people to explore issues around sustainability to offering science apprenticeships. There is still time to pledge and get involved. Last year young people in the city identified themes that are important:

• Play
• Climate/environment
• Health and wellbeing
• Equal and included
• Feeling connected
• Safe and secure

If you are a member of staff or student at the University of Manchester and want to pledge an event or activity or offer an opportunity to the young people of Manchester you can get still involved – please fill out this form and we will get in touch about how you can add to the University’s pledge.

So that the Our Year leaves a lasting legacy on the future generation of young people who live in Manchester, the University will also support Manchester’s goal of becoming a UNICEF-recognised Child Friendly City. A child-friendly city is a city committed to improving the lives of children where the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programmes and decisions.