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Leading law firm partners with North West innovation hub to support tech businesses

Sam Whitear
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Leading national law firm Irwin Mitchell is partnering with innovation hub HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology, to provide specialist legal advice to technology businesses in the North West.

The new partnership will allow the HOST community to have direct access to initial pro bono legal advice through physical and virtual support from Irwin Mitchell’s leading media and innovation team.

Irwin Mitchell, which has 15 offices across the UK and an international network of law firms, will also provide tailored business support to members through events such as webinars, workshops, seminars and masterclasses.

This includes the sponsorship of HOST’s first event since it rebranded in March, Wellbeing LIVE in partnership with MediaCityUK is a full programme of mental health and wellbeing virtual events for the creative, media and tech industries from 17-21 May.

The hub’s mission is to establish an ecosystem that supports skills, growth and innovation in the region by providing diverse and inclusive opportunities, particularly to those individuals and businesses who may not have previously had access.

To further this mission, HOST is working closely with Laura Harper from Irwin Mitchell, a recognised leading advisor to businesses in the creative industries and digital sector.

With over 20 years of experience, Manchester-based Laura has in-depth knowledge of the video games sector and a strong track record in advising international clients from across the interactive entertainment industry, from AAA studios to indie developers and VR and AR businesses.

Following the recent announcement of HOST’s partnership with Unity and its first Centre of Excellence in the UK, Laura’s expertise in the video games industry will be of vital support on areas including games development, intellectual property, acquisition and investment.

HOST at Media City combines the three pillars of skills, innovation and start up all under one roof, with a focus on building a world-leading reputation in data science, cyber, AI and immersive technologies.

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4.0 Group, operators of HOST, said: “We are delighted to announce Irwin Mitchell as HOST’s specialist legal partner. Laura and the media and innovation team join HOST with a wealth of experience in working alongside businesses in the creative industries and video games sector.

“With its national and international network of law firms, HOST’s innovation community will have access to every aspect of intellectual property and legal advice, which is a key part of the wraparound support we wish to bring to our members as they navigate out of the pandemic and look to a positive future ahead.”

Laura Harper, Irwin Mitchell partner and media & entertainment sector lead, said: “We are proud to be working alongside HOST as their official legal partner and are looking forward to assisting them with sector specific events, together with tailored legal and business advice.

“Irwin Mitchell has a strong tradition of providing advice to businesses in the technology and media sector. Working in partnership with the new home of the UK video games industry allows us to build on this work and continue playing our part in the success of local creative businesses.

“There will be plenty of opportunities to work with HOST on various projects and initiatives and our media and innovation team can’t wait to get started. MediaCityUK is fast becoming the hub for next generation entertainment, and we are delighted to be part of such a key project in the heart of Manchester and supporting North West business and the local digital economy.”

Kuits bolsters Employment offering after record growth year

Sam Whitear
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Manchester commercial law firm Kuits has strengthened its Employment offering with the hire of Senior Associate Claire Hollins.

Claire joins the team from Weightmans and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of employment law, with particular expertise in TUPE, restructuring and reorganisation matters. With vast experience in acting for a range of employers in both the private and public sector, Claire’s recent work has included acting for clients in complex discrimination claims and TUPE disputes.

The hire comes after the team, which is ranked Tier One in the Legal 500 Directory for Employee work, recorded another growth year in spite of the pandemic.

Kuits Head of Employment, Kevin McKenna said: “The team is going from strength to strength; with a growing case load and another successful growth year, it was the perfect time to bring Claire into the team.

“We are delighted to have attracted such a highly skilled lawyer. Her knowledge, her legal expertise and her focus on client service are a phenomenal attribute to the team. I have worked with Claire previously, so I already know what a great lawyer she is. She commands huge respect. The team and I look forward to working with her.”

Claire Hollins said: “The transition into Kuits has been fantastic. The firm as a whole has supported my arrival and integration into my new role.

“The Employment Team at Kuits has a great reputation, and I am therefore really pleased to be joining the Team.”

“It’s going to be an emotional day” – Greater Manchester businesses prepare to reopen on May 17

Sam Whitear
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Soft play centres, trampoline parks, breakout rooms and museums are among hundreds of businesses that will be reopening their doors across Greater Manchester on Monday 17 May, following the Government’s confirmation that stage three of the roadmap out of lockdown is to go ahead.

The indoor hospitality venues permitted to open (or extend opening) across the region as part of this third stage include many businesses that have been hit hardest by coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Janine Smith, Director of Business Growth at GC Business Growth Hub, said: “Many of the businesses in Greater Manchester that are set to reopen their doors on Monday have been closed for the best part of a year owing to both national and regional lockdowns impacting on their trade and services.

“Each step out of coronavirus lockdown restrictions has been a cause for reflection and optimism but this will be a particularly momentous occasion for so many of these businesses, as well as their customers and stakeholders, who have rallied around each other to keep going through some exceptionally difficult times.”

Since March 2020, thousands of businesses located in Greater Manchester have received various levels of guidance and support from GC Business Growth Hub to help mitigate health risks, adapt their provisions and services, reduce costs, and ensure resilience throughout the pandemic. Some of those that have received support and are reopening next week include:

Flip Out Rochdale – an indoor trampoline & adventure park which has had to remain closed due to COVID restrictions.

General Manager, Imran Matadar, has worked with the Hub to apply for and secure a COVID-19 Small Business Grant, having previously worked with the team to access a carbon reduction grant. With further guidance from the Hub, Imran has invested in new hardware and has enhanced health and safety measures in preparation for reopening, with First Aid and Fire Marshal training for all members of his team.

Imran said: “We’re really excited about reopening but after being closed for such a long time, this does come with a certain amount of nervous energy too. We’re confident we have everything in place to help our customers come back safely and we now just hope to see plenty of people coming back through the doors.

“A successful reopening will not only be good for us but will also have a knock-on effect for other nearby hospitality venues. We can’t wait to get going and wish every other business reopening this week the very best of success.”

Head over Heels Play – an award-winning children’s indoor play and party venue based in Chorlton. Following closure because of the pandemic, the business has installed and fit-out a new mezzanine level to increase their commercial floor area and enable visitors to socially distance when allowed to reopen. The business has also worked with the Hub to secure a £12,265 Resource Efficiency grant to part fund a heat recovery system. In addition to saving 66.7 tonnes CO2e, the installation of the identified energy efficiency technologies is expected to result in annual cost savings of £37,370.

They have also accessed a COVID-19 Small Business Grant with support from the Hub. This has been used to replace the onsite entry system with an online booking system, which has enabled pre-bookings and greater control to manage capacity and social distancing requirements.

Cathy Dunlevy, founder of Head over Heels Play, said: “It’s going to be an emotional day as the silence of the last 14 months is replaced by the sound of happy and excited voices. As one of the hardest hit industries we know how very fortunate we are to be able to partially reopen, as sadly many operators have lost their businesses during this time.

“It’s a huge relief for the whole team to finally come back to work and to have those all so important social interactions with colleagues and visitors. But even more important is the support we’re able to offer children and their parents by providing a space for them to play, socialise and to have good times and create lasting memories. Indoor play has a huge role in helping to repair the damage caused by the pandemic and we can’t wait to welcome back visitors – both new and familiar – to show them all the exciting improvements we’ve made in preparation for their return. Looking slightly further ahead, we’re also looking forward to the 21st June when we will be able to fully reopen and host birthday parties once again.”

People’s History Museum – The UK’s national centre for the collection and conservation of material relating to the history of working people’s lives.

The Hub has provided advice on accessing the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, renegotiating contracts with suppliers, applying for a Small Business Grant, and implementing digital technologies to continue service provision.

This year, PHM were successful in securing Living Wage accreditation following a review of their suppliers. They have also embedded a new communications strategy which saw the launch of a crowd funding project, which, with the help of spokespeople including Sir Ian McKellen, Maxine Peake and Andy Burnham, raised £58,000 and has boosted membership of the museum.

Katy Ashton, Director, People’s History Museum, said: “Having been closed for most of the last year since March 2020 and delivering great work online for our audiences, we’re delighted to be able to welcome visitors back to the national museum of democracy. We are thrilled to once again be taking our place within the vibrant cultural landscape that makes Greater Manchester such a fascinating place to visit and explore. It’s time for everyone to celebrate the joy that comes from visiting a museum and experiencing the exhibitions, collections and stories that connect the past with the present and the future.”

People’s History Museum reopens on Wednesday 19 May 2021 (Wednesday to Sunday, 10.00am to 4.00pm) and people can book their ticket to visit at phm.org.uk

Breakout Manchester – a live escape room game located in Manchester city centre. Following support from the Hub that has helped Breakout to unlock access to a £50k Bounce Back Loan, as well as £45k in other COVID-19 restrictions grants and a £54k cash injection through the R&D tax relief scheme, Breakout is preparing to once again host challenge-seeking groups on its premises.

Ed Roberts, Director of Breakout Manchester, said: “By making a decision to diversify our business with support from GC Business Growth Hub, I’ve been able to launch new online gaming products that have generated income for the business through lockdown.

“Growth Advisor Louise Dolan and her team have guided me through a number of options, including help with claiming R&D tax credits that have safeguarded our operations. This has allowed for the retention and hiring of new staff to secure the future of the company as we prepare to reopen the core business. We can’t wait for the public to now have the choice of experiencing our fun and exciting escape rooms in-person, as well as online.”

GC Business Growth Hub is part of The Growth Company and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Janine Smith adds: “While the outlook for businesses across all sectors is now looking more positive, there is a long recovery ahead and we continue to be here for business.

“No matter what stage your business is at, or how many employees; from start-up to SMEs and larger organisations, we can offer not-for-profit, tailored support, to help any business based in Greater Manchester to reach its objectives.”

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services. This and other GC Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester. The Hub is also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.

Manchester International Festival expands leadership team in preparation for The Factory

Sam Whitear
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Sheena Wrigley is appointed as Venue Director, while footballer Gary Neville, entrepreneur Grace Ladoja, visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and TV commissioner Shaminder Nahal join the MIF Board

Manchester International Festival (MIF) announced the appointment of four new Board members and a new Venue Director as the organisation prepares to move from a critically-acclaimed biennial festival of extraordinary events (this year taking place 1-18 July) to The Factory, a year-round home of cutting-edge art, music and culture.

Designed by Ellen van Loon of award-winning architectural practice OMA, The Factory will commission, present and produce one of Europe’s most ambitious and adventurous year-round creative programmes, featuring bold new work from the world’s greatest artists and offering a space to create, invent and play.

Sheena Wrigley joins the organisation as Venue Director, bringing years of experience in theatre and the cultural sector, in leadership roles and as a producer. Previous roles have included Director of the Palace Theatre & Opera House, Manchester, part of the Ambassador’s Theatre Group, Chief Executive of West Yorkshire Playhouse (now Leeds Playhouse), and Executive Director of HOME where she played a leading role in the successful opening of the new venue. Sheena will take up her new post in September 2021 and will lead on Venue management, Operations, and Visitor Experience, as well as overseeing the Producing and Technical teams.

Sheena Wrigley says: “The Factory will have enormous impact for communities, audiences and the cultural ecology of the north of England. I am thrilled to be part of this ambitious, international adventure and to have a role in shaping a new kind of arts company, rooted in a part of the UK I care passionately about.”

The new MIF board members are all leaders in their respective fields from the world of sport, media, visual arts and brand management: Gary Neville is a renowned footballer, pundit and businessman – one of the most decorated English players of all time; Grace Ladoja is a powerhouse in the creative industries who works across artist, brand and youth partnerships, management and curation, Ibrahim Mahama is an extraordinary visual artist whose work explores commodity, migration, globalisation and economic exchange; and Shaminder Nahal is a Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 with a wealth of broadcast experience as a journalist.

John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Manchester International Festival says: “These fantastic individuals all excel in their fields and we’re overjoyed to have them join the team at such a transformative time for us as an organisation. As we grow into operating The Factory, our new year-round home in the city, each will help guide us with fresh ideas and innovative ways of working, building on our international achievements and allowing us to grow ever-deeper connections in the city.”

Tom Bloxham MBE, Manchester International Festival Chair, commented: “We are really delighted to welcome these fantastic new additions to the MIF Board and leadership team. All four have real enthusiasm and energy, plus a breadth of experience and knowledge that is going to be invaluable as we move towards The Factory, which marks a real step change, not just for the organisation, but for Manchester and the whole of the country.”

Gary Neville says: “It is a great honour and privilege to be associated with MIF. The impact that it has had on our city has been incredible. I’m passionate about Manchester and the great things that happen in our city. MIF is one of the most prominent events that promotes Manchester globally and connects people from all over the world to our city”.

Grace Ladoja says: “I’m honoured to be part of MIF board, as a fan of one of the most innovative festivals in the world, I’m excited to be able to contribute in connecting art, music and culture globally.”

Ibrahim Mahama says: “I am excited to join the MIF team to first of all learn and then contribute to its great programmes so as to provide wider cultural experiences for audiences globally.”

Shaminder Nahal says: “I’m so excited to be joining the board at MIF, which I believe is one of the most brilliant and mind-blowing arts festivals in the world – especially at a time when it’s more important than ever to be thinking about what the arts mean to the fabric of all our lives, how the arts can help inspire, disrupt, challenge and bring people together.”

The 2021 edition of Manchester International Festival takes place from 1-18 July and features a vibrant programme of original new work from across the spectrum of visual and performing arts and music by artists from over 20 countries. Events will take place safely in indoor and outdoor locations across Greater Manchester, and a rich online offer will provide a window into the Festival wherever audiences are, including livestreams and work created especially for the digital realm. Tickets for MIF21 will be on sale on from Thurs 20 May 2021 and can be purchased from mif.co.uk.

Manchester’s What Media expands its team with two new hires as the business grows into 2021

Sam Whitear
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What Media has expanded its Manchester team with two new hires to tackle client wins and business growth.

Jordan Porrino, formerly Social Chain, will join the video agency as a second producer at the end of the month.

With a wealth of project management experience, Jordan will bring a variety of expertise in graphic design, storyboarding, photography and videography to the What Media team.

The agency has grown through the pandemic, kicking off 2021 with several new clients and project briefs, including Marketing Manchester, Places for People and The Invisible Orthodontist.

Nick Hussey has also joined the agency as a non-exec board adviser. The creative operations expert has supported What Media to set up a new board structure. Working with directors, Nick has helped to strategize roles and responsibilities, introducing a new KPI structure and support on recruitment and mentoring plans for employees.

Nick has also been coaching What Media’s three board directors as they look to take their business to the next level and grow.

Nick Hussey – who works with the team two days a month – said: “The What Media team has such a great work ethic and ethos that belies their ages, and their success during the pandemic has been inspirational. The team has a real appetite to learn and seek outside perspective to make their business even better, which is admirable.”

He added: “It has been great to see our early discussions and plans come to life and results already happening for the business. I love being part of the What Media family philosophy and feel privileged to be part of the team.”

Nick worked for McCann Manchester as creative operations director for seven years. He then left the agency to work for Forever Beta as chief operating officer. A Londoner who moved ‘up north’ 10 years ago, Nick has refined his creative business skills over 27 years working in the industry, including eight years with Mother London.

Creative director of What Media, Chris Townsend, said: “It is great to have someone of Nick’s expertise and background on board as a non-exec adviser. He provides a new perspective, that allows us to shape our business and focus the direction we want to go in to grow.”

Speaking about the latest recruit, production director, Sam Picton added: “We look forward to welcoming Jordan onto the team. It is really exciting time for our business as we expand, I’m sure he will do a great work with our fantastic clients.”

Huge virtual festival for the North’s creative sector returns

Sam Whitear
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The Creative Leaders Festival 2021, organised by GC Business Growth Hub on behalf of The Growth Company, will take place from May 25 to 26.

The virtual expo will provide advice about support available to the sector and its sub-sectors to help businesses plan and grow, with the two-day event featuring a series of high-profile speakers, roundtable discussions and workshop sessions.

More than 70 industry experts from creative, digital and tech industries will be speaking at the event.

Guests include Creative England’s Mehjabeen Patrick; Manchester International Festival’s Paul Clay; Northern Ballet’s Chief Executive Mark Skipper, and co-chair of Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership and CEO of Magnetic North Lou Cordwell OBE.

This is the second festival following last year’s inaugural event, which covered the North West and attracted more than 450 delegates to register. This year’s expo promises to be even bigger and has been extended to cover more Northern areas.

It is open to any creative, digital or tech business, based in the North of England, operating in fields such as film, TV, photography, design, gaming, fashion, marketing and PR.

The event is being supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

It will be opened by Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Caroline Dinenage, at 10am.

Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Caroline Dinenage, said: “The creative industries will play a vital role in helping to drive the economy as we build back better from the pandemic.

“It is fantastic to see thriving creative industries across the north where the sector is continuing to make important strides as part of our levelling up agenda. This festival is a great opportunity to celebrate this success and be inspired for the future.”

Delegates can join panel discussions, Q&A sessions, workshops and sector specific roundtable sessions, as well as a virtual exhibition and peer to peer networking.

Workshops delivered by sector specialists from across the North will cover topics such as understanding the funding maze; creating a culture of diversity and inclusion, and protecting your assets.

The Hub is part of The Growth Company and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Head of Digital, Creative, and Tech at the Hub, Sarah Novotny, said: “This is a unique festival which will give businesses the opportunity to hear from industry specialists, share knowledge and best practice, and discover the wide ranging support that is available.

To see the full schedule and to register for the event (at no cost), please visit: https://hopin.com/events/creative-leaders-festival-2021

The festival is also backed by Creative Industries Council, Creative England, Creative Industries Federation, Creative Lancashire, Boost Business Lancashire, Liverpool Growth Platform, Northern Ballet, Scale-up Institute, AD:VENTURE, and the Intellectual Property Office.

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services.

This and other GC Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project, designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester. The Hub is also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.

 

 

 

Pixel Kicks toasts new project with 92°

Sam Whitear
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Pixel Kicks, the Manchester based full-service digital agency, has won a major new contract with fast-growing coffee brand 92°

92° is an independent coffee company founded in Liverpool in 2014. It was Liverpool’s first micro-roastery coffee shop and now has seven locations across North England including Liverpool, Southport, Leeds and Manchester with continued growth planned. The business also offers online subscriptions, meaning customers don’t ever need to worry about running out of their favourite coffee.

The project will see Pixel Kicks design and develop a new ecommerce website for 92°. The main aims are to facilitate a smooth and clear journey for visitors to the site, to better integrate it within the company’s digital ecosystem, and to bring the in-store experience to the online business.

The new site will be launching later this year.

The win follows the news last month that the agency won contracts with DOCAN, Avaris e-bikes, Synextra and Sensory Solutions.

Matt Hartley – principal sales and account manager at Pixel Kicks said: “The hospitality sector has been battered over the past year so it’s great to be working such an innovative and dynamic brand. 92 Degrees offers fantastic services and products so our job will be to help amplify its voice, grow sales and really engage with its customer base.”

NPIF – Maven Equity Finance has invested over £7 million in the first quarter of 2021 to support the growth of businesses across the Northern Powerhouse

Sam Whitear
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NPIF – Maven Equity Finance has invested over £7 million in dynamic growth businesses across the Northern Powerhouse region in quarter one of 2021. A milestone for the fund, Maven has completed 17 transactions investing in 7 new businesses and supporting 10 portfolio companies in the last 3 months.

Appointed by the British Business Bank in February 2017, Maven manages £81 million worth of equity finance for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, working with the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Combined Authorities in the North West. Maven has completed investments ranging from £100,000 to £2 million, supporting the creation of over 600 jobs, and has also successfully leveraged an additional £74.5 million in private sector finance for local businesses since the Fund’s launch.

This quarter Maven backed a number of businesses in the digital health sector including AI powered patient management system Healum, and advanced industrial rheology specialist Stream Sensing. The £1 million investment in Cheshire-based iAm Compliant, a safety management and compliance online tool, accelerated the build out of the iAM learning library, a cloud-based content as a service that provides a range of eLearning topics.

Notable transactions also include over £1.5 million invested in Liverpool City region businesses to support the continued growth of companies such as international chemical technology business, Liverpool ChiroChem and video collaboration platform, YR Free.

Ryan Bevington, Investment Director at Maven, said: “The North West has historically been a hotbed for innovation and the main attraction for entrepreneurs and investors is the thriving business economy and opportunity for growth. We are delighted the fund has achieved such a significant milestone in such a short space of time and we continue to be a key player in supporting the growth of exciting businesses and the creation of jobs across the region.”

“The North West is fast becoming a global powerhouse and Maven continues to invest across many industries with the technology and digital sectors particularly prevalent, closely followed by the business services, niche manufacturing, science and healthcare sectors. We’ve backed some fantastic entrepreneurs to date, and this active quarter demonstrates the appetite and need for this type of equity finance. With such a great start to 2021 this looks set to be our busiest year yet.”

Grant Peggie, Director at the British Business Bank, said: “It’s been another really strong quarter for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, with investments to date exceeding £256m with an additional £310m of investment from the private sector. Maven has been crucial in delivering investment across the North West, providing equity funding to ambitious businesses across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool City Region, Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria.

“As we build back from the pandemic it is vital that we continue to address the historic imbalances between the North and South, ensuring businesses of all sizes have the means to continually innovate, adapt and grow – creating a more prosperous regional northern economy We will continue to work with our fund managers, LEPs and Combined Authorities to achieve this goal and congratulate Maven on achieving this milestone.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

Tech scale-up partners with Young, Bright and Grey

Sam Whitear
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Manchester’s latest creative agency Young, Bright and Grey have added one of the city’s leading tech scale-ups, Wakelet, to their expanding list of clients – to support their next stage of growth.

Based in Pollard Yard in Ancoats, Young, Bright and Grey have been chosen by Wakelet to provide their expertise on the tech company’s brand positioning and messaging to support their ambitious growth strategy.

Emily Northin, VP of Marketing & Growth at Wakelet said: “Wakelet allows people to curate and share content from across the web, creating engaging and informative collections, and is now used by millions of people worldwide.

“When searching for a new agency to support our expansion, we wanted to find a team who could match our ambition and really challenge us creatively. Young, Bright and Grey certainly fit that criteria and we’re very much looking forward to working together.”

Young, Bright and Grey Co-founder, James Summerscales said: “Wakelet are exactly the type of client everyone hopes for – a brand that values creativity, strategic planning and its people. The fact they’re one of the region’s leading tech companies is obviously a bonus.

“From the moment we met the team at Wakelet, we knew this would be a perfect fit for all involved. They know how to balance the hard work that’s involved when trying to grow and become leaders in their industry – with ensuring everyone in the business has a great time doing it.”

This is just the latest in a string of new client wins for Young, Bright and Grey, less than a year since it was founded. Unfazed by current restrictions, the creative agency has hosted virtual brand workshops and onboarding processes for brands all over the world – including Hollywood and Dubai.

To coincide with their latest influx of work, they are also expanding their team and are currently on the lookout for a like-minded Junior Designer and Account Manager.

Manchester United Foundation and DK join forces to deliver 5,000 books and balls to local children in an effort to tackle mental health.

Sam Whitear
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In support of Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16th May), Manchester United Foundation will be running a week-long promotion about all-things ‘wellbeing’. Supported by club captains, Harry Maguire and Katie Zelem, the Foundation will be distributing books, balls and resources to children across Greater Manchester, encouraging them to look after their mental health.

This forms part of the Foundation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on young people’s mental health. Social isolation, a loss of routine and a breakdown in formal and informal support has led to young people feeling lonely and isolated.

In an effort to inspire and encourage children to talk about their mental health, the Foundation will be distributing over 5,000 books and balls to children living in deprived areas of Greater Manchester.

Created in partnership with global non-fiction publisher DK, the book has kindly been donated to the Foundation in support of local communities. Aimed at children aged 8-12 years, the 48 page book entitled United Minds: Be positive. Be curious. Be united, features Manchester United-themed activities, advice and self-care tips to inspire and engage children in looking after their overall wellbeing. DK are passionate about making books that are not only fun, but accessible to everyone and inspire a lifetime of curiosity.

Georgina Dee, publisher at DK said: “We know that giving children access to books about things they love, such as football, is crucial to self-belief, wellbeing and having fun. DK is thrilled to be able to contribute to the incredible work of Manchester United Foundation.”

To accompany the book is a small football that features wellbeing phrases. Foundation coaches have put together an array of activities that children can complete either at home or in school that support discussions around mental health and what it means to look after their mental wellbeing.

Club captains Harry Maguire and Katie Zelem fully support the initiative recognising the need to support young people’s mental health. Harry said: “The pandemic has been especially hard for children up and down the country. They have been without regular exercise, social contact and routine, which is bound to have an impact on their mental health.

I’m really pleased the Foundation is tackling those issues and supporting young people across Greater Manchester and beyond. The ‘book and ball’ is a great way to have fun, exercise and look after their overall wellbeing.”

He continued: “As a parent, I know how important it is to encourage children to look after their mental health as well as their physical health. My advice to any young person is to talk about how you’re feeling and seek help from your coaches, teachers or family when you feel down.”

Katie also championed the project: “It’s fantastic to see Manchester United Foundation supporting the mental health of thousands of young people across Greater Manchester. Covid-19 has been incredibly hard, especially for children who haven’t been able to socialise with friends.

The ‘book and ball’ is a great way for children to learn ways in which they can improve their mental wellbeing which is so important during this time, and I hope it really benefits many in the community.”

Ginny Buckley, one of the founding trustees of Manchester United Foundation has been involved since its inception. Ginny said: “At the Foundation we know that healthy bodies and healthy minds go hand-in-hand and as a journalist I am passionate about the power of the written word. A book can transport you anywhere and if you are in a difficult place that could be a lifesaver.”

She continued: “As a parent I’ve seen first-hand how a football and a good book have helped my 11-year-old son cope with the mental challenges he’s faced during the pandemic, I hope our ‘book and ball’ project will do the same for the children who receive it.”

Throughout the season the Foundation has also been working in partnership with local independent mental health charity, Manchester Mind. The charity has volunteered to train 74 front-line staff in recognising mental health concerns in the young people they work with. This training enables coaches to be better equipped in advising children and signposting them to the services needed.

All partner schools and community projects will receive a bundle of assets, which share information and guidance on the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ as well as contact information for services if they’re struggling. Supported by Manchester Mind, this information will also be relayed across Foundation online channels to ensure young people have access to the information to better support their mental and physical wellbeing.

The support will continue into the autumn when students return to school, as the Foundation plans to run two dedicated mental health programmes across partner primary and secondary schools. The work will include Foundation staff running workshops and group exercises, giving young people the tools to better understand and look after their mental health.

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