Each month, our Trustees come together to award grants from our two core funds. The 'Stronger Communities Fund' (SCF), where we seek applications from community groups looking to make a difference in their area, and the 'Manchester's Rising Stars Fund' (MRSF) where we award grants supporting ambitious young Mancunians.
In July 2023, we've awarded 7 MRSF grants totalling £6,114! From future social workers to professional singers, joiners to entrepreneurs, read more below about the young people we supported this month. We look forward to sharing further details about them with you as their journeys progress.
Ibrahim, 18
Ambition: To successfully run his own "100% Halal" marketing agency! Awarded: £1,200 For: Camera, laptop and software subscriptions for a year.
“Thank you so much to We Love MCR for this amazing opportunity. This grant will allow me to properly launch my Halal marketing agency YTH Media. I will be able to get a professional camera and laptop to carry out client work and host meetings. I am beyond grateful to the charity for this amazing opportunity to help me achieve my goals as an entrepreneur. I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity and will make the most of it to make my business a success!”
Eden, 20 Ambition: To become a professional classical singer. Awarded: £1,392 For: Suits for performances, a portable recorder, copy of 'The Lieder Line' study book.
"Thank you so much for the second award from the Manchester Rising Stars Fund. All of the items have really set me up for a future as a performer. The ‘Lieder Line by Line’ book is an essential for a young singer - like myself - to get a firm foundation of language for the future. The suits and audio recorder also will open up more opportunities for performance for me, as I will be able to present myself professionally and send off self-taped auditions to the highest possible standard. I couldn’t be more grateful for this award as I can now continue to do what I love without a finances being a barrier. Also I want to thank the charity for supporting and advocating for young Mancunians, so they can make their aspirations come to fruition. You really make people’s dreams come true!”
N*, 16 Ambition: To study Medicine at Oxford University. Awarded: £348.95 For: Access to practice test websites and textbooks for exams.
"I have high aims and ambitions to study medicine at a top university and We Love MCR has yet again supported me in my ambitions. They ensured that my financial state was in no way a barrier in the pursuit of my aim. The support with my practice for the admissions tests mean that I will be able to do as well as I can to progress in my application. I want to thank you once again, the financial support you are providing is incredible and is helping me so much. I am glad the charity helps students financially, encouraging them and helping support their goals."
Kieran, 18 Ambition: To complete his joinery apprenticeship and go freelance in the trade. Awarded: £1,067.50 For: A specialist power tool set of his own.
“I want to thank We Love MCR for giving me the opportunity to advance in my joinery apprenticeship. Without you I wouldn't have been able to get the tools needed to improve my skills on my course. With my tools I can get more involved and progress. When I found out my application was successful I was through the roof! They are such an amazing charity and I don’t know where I would be without them.”
Esra, 18 Ambition: To become a youth worker after graduating from university. Awarded: £989 For: An iPad and Pencil.
“I greatly thank We Love MCR, the funding you have given me will make a massive difference in pursuing my future ambition of being a youth worker, as well as my studies in university. Your goal of helping young people in Manchester is amazing and inspiring, and I'm grateful for your immense help.”
N*, 18 Ambition: To become a solicitor specialising in contract law after university. Awarded: £989 For: An iPad and Pencil.
“Thank you for the generous support toward my ambitions and future. This device will be particularly helpful as a portable device to use during university, as well as allowing me to store my work in a compact area which would limit the pressure on my back, as I suffer from chronic pain. In the long term it will support my studies greatly and my dream to pursue law at university and beyond. I would like to also specifically thank the Grants Manager, Marie, who has been extremely kind and supportive, helping me further with possible events I could attend in law to gain more experience.”
T*, 15 Ambition: To study Marketing & Business at University of Manchester Awarded: £127.10 For: A laptop to support her A-Level studies.
“I would like to thank this amazing charity for approving my application for this laptop. It has honestly made me so happy. I am very excited to start my journey towards achieving my goal. I can't thank you guys enough, thank you so much.”
*name withheld at young person's request