Manchester's
Rising Stars Fund

Our Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund is unique, enabling ambitious, talented 15 to 22 year old Mancunians to achieve their potential and flourish!

We support young people across the city whose family or personal circumstances mean they face financial barriers that are out of their control. We do this by funding vital equipment, training and resources to enable them take their next steps to success in Work, Qualifications or Entrepreneurship, via grants of up to £5,000.

In 2024/25, the Fund's third year, we have committed an additional £150,000 to the Fund to provide vital, practical support to young Mancunians. Read the latest Rising Stars awards on our blog:

Rising Stars news

Sir Howard Bernstein (1953 - 2024) was Manchester City Council CEO for 20 years until 2017. His legacy includes an unrivalled portfolio of regeneration, from the 1990s city-centre reconstruction, Metrolink creation, 2002 Commonwealth Games legacy including Manchester City's stadium and the wider SportCity campus, to involvement in Greater Manchester devolution and many more developments that define modern Manchester.

We Love MCR Charity were honoured to have Sir Howard as our first ever Ambassador. His Council farewell dinner in 2017 raised significant funds for the Sir Howard Bernstein Endowment Fund to benefit young Mancunians, which he entrusted to us and led to the creation of our unique Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund.

Sir Howard’s passion for seeing young Mancunians succeed from humble beginnings, just as he did, has run through the Fund from its inception to where we are now - having empowered 250+ ambitious Rising Stars and counting!

How To Apply

Basic Criteria:

Aged 15 – 22 (minimum school Year 11, and aged up to 25 if care experienced or a SEND young person)
Applicants need to Live in the City of Manchester 🔗
Applicants need to have a clear and realistic ambition or goal around employment, education, training or entrepreneurship (if over 18).
Applicants need to demonstrate inability to access funds themselves due to personal or family circumstances

We receive applications to the fund through our online platform and review applications every 6 -7 weeks. 2025 deadline dates are displayed on the platform and below:

30th June / 12th September / 4th November

We have updated the criteria to apply to the fund in 2025. Please read the full guidance below before you apply through our online system.

If you have any questions, please contact: welovemcrcharity@manchester.gov.uk

Manchester's Rising Stars Fund
Guidance 2025

Referral Network

There are many brilliant organisations supporting young people across Manchester. We believe that by building the MRSF into their own offer, these organisations can strengthen their offer, build on 'Skills For Life' and further help young people to step up into future success.

We Love MCR works with a number of these organisations through our referral partnership network, to help them identify the right young people to refer to the Fund. We work with youth organisations, universities, colleges and housing providers to provide guidance and support around applications, maximising young people’s chances of success!

To find out more about the referral partnership network and how to join, check out our referral partnership flyer below and email your sign-up form to welovemcrcharity@manchester.gov.uk

Referral Flyer

Sign-up

Form

The Manchester College The largest further education college in the UK and the number one provider of 16-19 and adult education in Greater Manchester.
Manchester Youth Zone
Manchester Young Lives
One Manchester
SODA (School Of Digital Arts)
SENDCode
N-Gage
Bedspace Bedspace provide vulnerable young people with avenues into secure housing, and provide them with opportunities to develop skills that can improve their situations.
Southway Housing
City In The Community
MAD Youth Theatre
Groundwork GM
Diane Modahl Sports Foundation

Manchester City Council has an ambition for Manchester to be designated UNICEF "Child Friendly City" status. A place that advances children’s rights, that can demonstrate that children feel safe, heard, cared for, and are able to flourish as a result.

We Love MCR Charity wholeheartedly support our partners at Manchester City Council in this aim of achieving CFC status, and as such we firmly place the wellbeing and development of our city’s children at the heart of our work - particularly with the Manchester's Rising Stars Fund.

Child Friendly City

Past Awardees

We've already awarded hundreds of grants to ambitious young Mancunians since we launched in January 2021. We offer grants from £50 to £5,000, for kit, courses, qualifications and many other things. But whatever form our grants take, one thing never changes - the commitment and ambition of our Rising Stars.

We've selected some old and new Rising Stars below. Read their stories and explore the fields in which our city's future are pursuing and excelling in!

Academic

Maria

Our first ever MRSF ambassador, Maria had huge barriers to overcome. Our support, with her drive and intelligence, made a big difference.

Read Their Story

Athletic

Tully

One of our many sporting Rising Stars, Tully is a Team GB Para-swimmer! We've been proud to support her to live her life to the fullest.

Read Their Story

Vocational

Kianna

We've funded many young people to remove barriers in their chosen vocational pathways. Kianna's route to self-employment is just one.

Read Their Story

Entrepreneurial Rising Stars

Our Rising Stars include young entrepreneurs – people who want to grow their own business or service in order to succeed. Our Fund pays for the materials and support they need to get started. Wherever possible we also provide extra support in the form of coaching and mentorship.

The next thing we can offer our budding business Stars is customers! Click the button below to explore our Directory of businesses created by our Stars.

And here’s a showcase of some Stars’ businesses, with links to their work and business emails if you wish to explore their portfolio. Please support and share their details – as they grow, they can take on more young people and share their successes!