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Working with the whole sport, physical activity and health sector to encourage and inspire all Mancunians to move more each day

MOVE MORE
MOVE MORE

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FOR ACTIVITY PROVIDERS
FOR ACTIVITY PROVIDERS

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Health
Health

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SUPPORTING OUR CITY
SUPPORTING OUR CITY

Find out more about Manchester Active, the work we do, who we work with, and the…

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why volunteer? here's why...

The 2023 Para Swim World Championships recently wrapped up. The week-long event took place at the newly reopened and refurbished Manchester Aquatics Centre. The event saw the world's best in Para Swimming come to Manchester, winning medals, setting records and demonstrating the true power of sport. The event also brought volunteers from Manchester and up and down the country, and the success of the event was helped tremendously by their assistance. Manchester Active's very own Dan Roberts volunteered along with many others for the whole week, and has kindly shared his experience with us; "I was fortunate to be selected as one of the Volunteer Athlete Services Team Leader for the week of the competition, and as someone who knows nothing about competitive swimming, I have to say it was an incredible week and I had an absolute blast with smiles all around and only positive words shared about the event. Everyone across the board, from volunteers, to the centre staff, event staff and security embodied a real togetherness. We sorted dinners for teams who missed their window, dealt with training pool tensions, managed the training pool for wheelchair athletes and met Man United star Casemiro  – none of which was in the role description, but all of which people took on with grace and determination. It was a pleasure to work alongside the centre staff and life guards who went from slow short days during the refurb, to one of the busiest weeks of the centre for a while. Everyone knuckled down, cracked on and had a good laugh – admittedly with heavy bags under our eyes. Personally - I witnessed someone break a world record with one breath, got photo bombed by team Spain, set up a community of learning for the researchers and passionate people, recruited interviewees for my PhD research into the impact of Sport Volunteering on health and its Accessibility for Disabled People, convinced people to sign up to the upcoming Taekwondo and Davis Cup, held the Olympic torches and made some new lifelong friends – and plenty more. I think making time for events like this really puts into perspective the breadth and depth of the work we do at Manchester Active. There’s a lot that goes unnoticed, but the impact on each person I met at the event speaks for itself in so many ways. It opened my eyes to what’s possible when it comes to accessibility – for volunteers and for moving more. I will admit there is certainly more to do to engage local people with the incredible history and future of sport this city has, but it’s events like these that provide the inspiration for people to move more and take part. What’s still true today is the legacy of the Commonwealth Games from 2002, not just in the sporting infrastructure in Manchester, but the Games were a real game changer for so many volunteers too, and hope more people try volunteering and share the experience I did. Be proud and be grateful – that’s my take." #AliveWithSport are you interested in volunteering in manchester? Find opportunities on MCRVIP Also check out upcoming sporting events taking place across the city here.

inspiring inclusivity - inner city world cup 2023

On 15 and 16 July 2023, Manchester hosted the Inner City World Cup at Belle Vue Sports Village for the 2nd time. The event proved to be another historic milestone in the continued growth of the LoveFootball Inner City World Cup, while further promoting the power of sport in Manchester. For many weeks prior to the event, local communities in Manchester held training sessions and trials to enter a representative squad. This encouraged the less active and inactive to get involved with a positive common purpose accross age, gender and social status Following the inaugural Men’s event in October 2022, this year was even more popular, and saw a 25% increase within the open aged and ‘Legends’ over-40 categories. Across the two men’s tournaments, 20 community representative squads took part, totaling an amazing 300 players. The tournament also built impressively on the 2022 event with an increase in players and attendees of over 200%.    Better yet, this year’s tournament was expanded to women & girls, for the first time. Over 70 women and girls took part from over 15 countries of origin, split into 8 country representative squads of between 8 -11 women and girls. Teams included; China, England, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Morocco, Pakistan & Somalia.  With development games and young girls also involved, the event has created a clear pathway, that will encourage and inspire for many years and generations to come.  The foundations built this year allow the legacy to continue. The success of the 2023 tournament means the LoveFootball Inner City World Cup now has plans to move into a bigger more suitable venue.   The next event will involve other aspects of diversity within communities including food, fashion & music driven from its heart, the power of sport – in this case (for now), football.  bring on next year! View all the results from the 2023 Inner City World Cup here

women & girls football - on the rise

Increasing the participation of Women & Girls in sport and physical activity in Manchester is a fundamental target for all of us. We are committed to closing the current gender gap in this space to persuade more women and young girls to participate in sport, in whatever way that is.   Our aim is to make clear the benefits of sport and activity participation to physical and mental health. We also know the influence women often have within their own families, and how their involvement will often encourage others to join in too. Widening access and exposure for Women & Girls in Manchester to find a pathway into activity, regardless of shape, size, experience and ability, is therefore paramount to closing this gender gap.   One such sport we are determined to improve local female participation in is football.   We’re thrilled therefore to see that the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament is already having a lasting social impact on female participation in football. The Tournament raised the profile of the women’s game  in Manchester and we have seen demand increase from women and girls,  not only to participate but also join the workforce and we have welcomed a number of newly qualified female coaches and referee’s this season.   Through the UEFA Euro 2022 Legacy Plan, we have been able to support our Clubs & Leagues to ensure there is capacity for the additional interest and demand in women’s football following the tournament. SUMMER 2023 UPDATE   The UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 was a huge opportunity for women & girls across Manchester and Trafford to get inspired and engage with football and be a part of the rapidly growing female game, whether as a player, coach, referee or volunteer.    Some of the ways we inspired positive change are: - Women’s Flexi League and Recreational Sessions - Soccercise – A no pressure introduction to exercise with a football - Coach Development Programmes for girls aged 14+ to adults - Female Referee Development Programme - Supporting careers in football through internships, training and events - A Role Models campaign shining a light on inspiring women in football - ‘See It To Be It’ Women’s Euros themed Football Festival  - Equal treatment with MFA County Cup Senior Competitions - Creation of MFA x CFA Super Cup for September 2023 - North West Female Coaches Conference   Female participation in football has seen a fantastic rise of 50% (over 2 seasons) across Manchester, and thanks to a female specific course delivered last summer, we now have 20 newly qualified female match officials  Actively refereeing across grassroots football (33% increase).   There are now 4,772 registered female players in Greater Manchester split across 4 leagues; Greater Manchester Women’s League (1,009), Manchester Women’s Flexi-League (605), South Manchester Girls League (2,397) and North Manchester Girls League (953).   But our dedication does not begin and end with the Euro’s, We are pleased that the Womens Recreational offer has now been expanded for a further two years with funding secured from Sport England, The FA and Manchester Active. We will also continue our commitment to local clubs, groups and individuals responsible for driving the development of Women’s sport.   There are now 99 clubs in Manchester, from U7 to open age, with female teams. Check out just some of the football clubs and groups we’re working with below;   Manchester Laces - Women's Club, 16+ (CHECK OUT OUR 'IN FOCUS' INTERVIEW WITH THE LACES HERE) FC Bluestar - Girls teams from Wildcats to U15  AFC Manchester - U16 girls team Manchester Girls - U10 & U16 Fletcher Moss - U10 & U13 Hough End Griffins - Wildcats  Abraham Moss Warriors - Wildcats  Al Hilal - Unity Community Primary Khizra Mosque - Soccercise Sessions Check out the map of adult female teams affiliated to Manchester FA here.   For more information on Womens and Girls football in Manchester or any of the sessions taking place in Manchester and how to get involved you can search our activity finder or contact Leigh Gell, Mcr FA  – Football Development Officer (Women & Girls) leigh.gell@manchesterfa.com and Nicole Flynn, Mcr FA -  Womens Recreational Football Officer - nicole.flynn@manchesterfa.com