September's Awards!

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. 

In September, we have awarded one SCF grant and four MRSF awards which came to a total of £7,583. Here is the full list of the fantastic local community groups and ambitious young Mancs we supported, and we look forward to sharing further details about them with you as their projects develop. 

Stronger Communities Fund 

• Together we thrive  

  
  

About: Together we thrive is a group dedicated to addressing the needs of individuals and enhancing lives. This group does this by providing support and activities that build skills, confidence and capacity. They aim to promote social inclusion by helping those who may already be isolated to thrive from their own efforts and become part of society. 

Award: £3720 to help support older people who are suffering isolation in Levenshulme and the surrounding area. They aim to engage 30 people in sessions to improve their mental health through creativities sessions and intergenerational activities.  

“We are deeply grateful for the generous funding support received for our Together We Thrive project. Your contribution will enable us to bring older adults, carers, and vulnerable residents across Manchester together through shared meals, creative workshops, and intergenerational activities. With your support, we can create welcoming spaces that reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing, and strengthen community bonds. Thank you for helping us make Manchester a more connected and compassionate place where everyone can feel valued and thrive.” 

Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund  

This month, we supported 3 young people through our brand-new university starter's theme via the Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund!  This theme, newly created for 2025, welcomes applications from young people who are due to start university in September, but need the correct equipment to do so.  Awards via this theme ensure Mancunian young people are ready to take their next academic step with confidence.  With all our young people securing places at either Manchester Metropolitan university or University of Manchester, we can’t wait to follow their journeys to academic succuss! 

• Maram, 18, Crumpsall 

  
  

Ambition: Maram’s ambition is to become a teacher of philosophy and religious studies. She states that she wants to be a Philosophy and Religious Studies because these subjects opened her eyes to different ways of thinking and helped her better understand the world around her. Maram has been awarded £947 has been awarded to for laptop to support studies at university.

“I am immensely grateful to the Manchester Rising Stars Fund for backing my ambition and reminding me that your background doesn’t limit where you can go, and I am confident that the support given will help me achieve my goals and also inspire me to give back.”  

• Yasmine, 18, Sharston  

Ambition: Yasmine’s ambition is to build a career in real estate, starting with a foundation in digital marketing.  Yasmine has been awarded £947 for a laptop to support these studies at university.

“I am sincerely grateful to We Love MCR for the generous award of a laptop to support my university studies. This opportunity will greatly enhance my learning experience and allow me to pursue a career in real estate, whilst doing what I love; travelling and exploring new places!” 

 Muthana, 17, Chorlton 

Ambition: Muthana’s ambition is to be a software engineer. He would like to develop efficient, accessible, and ethical software solutions. He has been awarded £947 for a laptop to support his in studies.  

“I’m really grateful for this award. Having a laptop will make a huge difference to my software engineering studies, helping me take part in lectures, work on coding projects, and build career skills. This support lifts a weight off my shoulders and motivates me to push harder.”