Manifesto hopes to set off a wind of change for youngsters
YOUNGSTERS from Brinnington and Adswood took part in a conference and course to help improve the areas they live in.
The group, aged 12 and 13, worked with RECLAIM, a charity which aims to help young people from working class communities to develop and get their voices heard in society.
They spent five days learning about leadership, enterprise, activism and community.
Guest speakers included Solomon Onaolapo from Pie Radio and Rising Stars North West, and the entrepreneur Stephen Beech, who underlined the importance of hard work and not being ashamed of where you come from.
At the end of the course the group produced a manifesto, which focused on challenging people’s perceptions.
It was handed out in Stockport and some of the key points including ‘people have the right to love whoever, stop homophobia,’ and ‘living on a council estate is nothing to be ashamed of.’
The conference took place at Woodbank Community Centre, Offerton, was the first event of RECLAIM’s Stockport 2016 LEAD programme.
It is a two-year leadership programme that has already been run in other areas of Greater Manchester and aims to tackle inequality and promote positive social change.
This summer RECLAIM ran a project in Brinnington urging youngsters there to show their community spirit, culminating with them leading a tour showcasing the area’s highlights.
During the week participants had designed t-shirts to wear on the tour, which carried images and slogans to depict what the area had to be proud of.
The charity had already had a project in Brinnington in 2013 and returned after volunteers emphasised that there was a need for more positive youth activities on the estate.
Noreen Dillon, one of the volunteers, said: “It was great to see so many local young people having such pride in their community.
“They are all future leaders, with a vision of a better future for all.”
To find out more visit the website www.reclaim. org.uk.