 Manchester Community Young Champions are
delighted to be working alongside S4B to support the third annual Brunswick’s Got Young Talent, giving local young people the opportunity to step into the spotlight and share their talents. Taking place on Monday 28 September 2026, from 5pm–7pm at Brunswick Community Space, the event is open to young people aged 6–16. Whether it’s singing, dancing, performing or another special talent, everyone is welcome to get involved. There will be great prizes to be won, free refreshments and plenty of encouragement for everyone taking part. Want to join the show? To register, contact Sharon Thomas on WhatsApp 07418 367396 or email [email protected], or contact Mike Edwards on 07447 918371 or [email protected]. 📍 Brunswick Community Space, Brunswick Village, 50 Brunswick Street, M13 9PE Come along, share your talent and be part of a fantastic community event!
0 Comments
 At Young Champs, we want young people to have opportunities not only to take part in activities, but also to develop new skills, gain valuable experience and grow into leadership roles.
Over the past few months, we have been delighted to see a number of our young people and volunteers taking important steps forward in their development. Developing Young Leaders At the end of June, two young people successfully completed the Manchester Sport Leaders Programme, reflecting their commitment to their own development and supporting their progression towards leadership roles within our sessions. Our young volunteers have also continued to play an important part in the programme, with several completing more than 20 hours of volunteering during the quarter. Through volunteering, young people have the opportunity to gain practical experience, improve their communication skills and build confidence while helping to deliver activities for others. As part of their development and to ensure they are properly prepared for their roles, young volunteers are required to complete mandatory training. This includes safeguarding training for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults, First Aid training and an enhanced DBS check. Supporting Individual Progress We are also proud to see individual volunteers progressing in their own development. Jason has successfully completed his First Aid and Safeguarding training and continues to grow in confidence, resilience and engagement through his work with young people. Following his progress, we are now looking at supporting him towards a Level 2 Youth qualification. Another volunteer, who joined the programme following a referral from Manchester Settlement, is also progressing well and working towards their minimum qualifications while continuing to develop their skills and confidence within sessions. Creating Pathways for the Future These achievements are a great example of what we hope to create through Young Champs: opportunities for young people to get involved, discover their abilities and take positive steps towards their future. Whether someone begins by attending an activity, volunteering their time or taking on more responsibility within a session, we want Young Champs to be a place where young people can continue to learn, develop and progress.  Manchester Young Community Champions is proud to be working alongside SLK Sports Group Ltd and The Salam Project on the Second Chance Football Project, supporting footballers aged 18–25 across Greater Manchester and Greater London.
The project is designed for players who may have been released from academies, previously played professionally or semi-professionally, stepped away from the game, recovered from injury, or simply need another opportunity to show what they can do. But the support goes beyond getting back onto the pitch. Through the collaboration, players can access training and playing opportunities, education and employment pathways, work experience, business start-up advice and connections to semi-professional and non-league football. The aim is simple: to recognise untapped potential and help young players take positive steps towards their future, both within football and beyond. Interested in finding out more? Text or WhatsApp 07538 740319 or 07399 748487 with your name, age, recent clubs, playing position, location and the type of support you are looking for. It has been a busy and positive few months for the Young Champs youth program, with more young people getting involved, new activities being introduced and growing confidence across the sessions. As participation has increased, we have continued to expand the range of sports and enrichment activities available. Our focus is not simply on giving young people something to do, but on creating a welcoming and supportive environment where they can build confidence, develop resilience, make friends and feel included. Giving Young People a Voice An important part of the project is giving young people the opportunity to have a say in what happens within their sessions. Young people shape the project to benefit their involvement and group needs. Five young people are now actively involved in our Youth Voice, helping to shape how sessions are run and suggesting the activities they would like to see. Their ideas have already led to new activities being introduced and have had a positive impact on the project. Giving young people this responsibility allows them to know that their opinions matter while encouraging them to become more involved in the program and their community.  Celebrating Positive Progress
One of the highlights of the quarter was a go-karting reward trip that took place in June for young people who had demonstrated positive behaviour and commitment to the youth project. The trip was a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy a new experience together while developing teamwork, confidence and motivation. It was also our way of recognising the effort young people have been making and encouraging them to continue their positive involvement. As the youth project continues to grow, we look forward to creating even more opportunities for young people to take part, have their voices heard, try new experiences and grow in confidence.  Manchester Young Community Champions and
Young Champs Sports Foundation, in conjunction with East Central Falcons FC, are offering football support and second chance training sessions for players aged 18–29 across Greater Manchester. The sessions are aimed at released academy players, as well as players who may have fallen out of love with football but are ready to take their first step back into the game. Whether you're looking for an opportunity to start playing again, develop your skills or explore a future within football, the sessions provide a supportive environment in which to train, develop and reconnect with the sport. Sessions include:
Players who demonstrate consistency, good technique, a positive attitude and a strong commitment to developing their skills may have opportunities to progress further. Training takes place every Wednesday, 8:30pm–9:45pm at Dean Trust Ardwick, 345 Stockport Road, Manchester, M12 0LF. Interested in getting involved? Call, text or WhatsApp 07447 918371, or email [email protected] to book your place.  Young people and local teams came together at Barrack Park for the Greater Manchester Peace in the Community Football Tournament, a community event created to bring people together through sport and positive activities.
The tournament was founded by Mike Edwards of East Central Falcons Football Team, who also works with the Young Champs Sports Foundation to provide sporting opportunities for young people throughout the week. The idea behind the tournament is about much more than football. By bringing together young people, coaches and youth workers in a positive environment, the event aims to help break down barriers, strengthen relationships and create a greater sense of community. Mike first introduced the tournaments last year as part of his work to create a positive environment around Barrack Park, working alongside the parks team and the wider community. The tournaments typically bring together between six and eight teams, competing in 9-a-side football. The tournament is also part of a wider community day, with activities taking place alongside the football and opportunities for young people and families to come together and enjoy the event. With the continued support of local stakeholders, community partners and the Manchester United Foundation, the hope is to continue building on the success of the tournaments and create even more positive opportunities for young people in the future. Mike was a winner in the top eight at the Football Blacklist Awards 2022 held for the first time in Manchester at the National Football Museum in September. The incredible evening was hosted by Sky Sports News Presenter and Manchester’s very own, Kyle Walker. Check out video below: In December 19, CocaCola and StreetGames Presented the Youth Football Tournament attended by premiership Player Jesse Lingard, Hosted by Manchester Young Community Champions. It was during a match day/training day that the team was surprised or should be say shocked when Jesse showed up in the famous cola cola truck! The team was thrilled and surprised to say the least with his visit. Jesse handed out memorabilia to all the young players who attended. |
Archives
September 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed
OUR PARTNERS
ABOUT US'Manchester young community champions is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC). This was set up in 2010 as a platform to have close links with the community that would support young people's development through a variety of sports programmes.
This has enabled us to create the right offer for young people's growth focusing on young people's physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing. |
HELPFUL LINKS |
GET IN TOUCHConnect with us! |
Copyright © Manchester Young Community Champions, 2026. All Rights Reserved.