As schools across Manchester close their books and shut their doors today on an academic year like no other, councillors have released a heartfelt letter addressed to all the city's children and young people.
The letter has been penned by Councillors Garry Bridges and Luthfur Rahman - who between them lead on children, schools, skills, and youth work. It speaks directly to young people - acknowledging the tough time they have all had over the last few months, and pledging ongoing support for them now and into the future.
Councillor Bridges, Executive Member for Children and Schools, Manchester City Council, said: "We know how difficult these last few months have been for children and young people - away from their friends, their classmates, their teachers. All such a massive part of their normal lives and then taken away from them in an instant. We can't change any of that but we do want them to know that we get it, we understand, and we're determined to do whatever we can to support them and help make up for this."
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure, Skills, and Youth, Manchester City Council, said: "I think back to myself as a small child running around with my friends, and then hanging out as a teenager, playing football with them, always on the go somewhere, and I can't begin to imagine how I would have coped as a young person over these last few months, not seeing them and having to stay inside.
"We know how hard these last few months have been for all our children, but we want them to know we've got their backs - from the tiniest of tots to the tallest of teens - they are our number one priority, and we won't let them down."
Here's a copy of their letter:
To the children and young people of Manchester
The last few months have been tough. This pandemic has meant that schools and youth clubs were closed, your favourite activities stopped, birthday parties cancelled, holidays scrapped. Worse still, you’ve been stuck at home getting bored and wondering when you’d ever see the outside world again.
We're hearing that many of you have even missed your schoolwork, and every young person we've spoken to has missed their friends and wider family members who don't live with them.
Sure, you can do a video call, but you know and we know that it isn’t the same as meeting someone face to face. You’ve missed a big part of your lives over these last few months and you’ve probably felt, like us, that things were out of your control.
We're writing to thank you for your immense patience during a very difficult time, for your understanding of the difficulties that everyone is experiencing, and for complying with social distancing which has saved countless lives.
As Manchester councillors we’re responsible for ensuring that we deliver the best services for children and young people across the city. It’s been hard though over these last few months to reach many of you. We have limited resources, we’ve all been taken by surprise at the demands the virus has placed upon us, and resources have been pushed into different areas while we try to cope with the staggering effects of this disease.
But rest assured that you’re not forgotten, no, never that.
Manchester always comes together in tough times and we have. Thousands of volunteers, young and old have been helping the city cope. They’ve packed food, they’ve delivered games and activities directly to people’s homes, and they've helped save lives.
We still need to do more; we will do more and we promise that as part of this we will work harder to connect with you and any young person who feels isolated and lonely and feels as though their future has little to offer. I can tell you now that we are 100% committed to your well-being and making sure that nobody is left behind. We’re working around the clock with your schools, colleges, youth teams, and city employers to guarantee the kind of services that you deserve.
To every young person in Manchester we want to say that you’re our top priority. You are the future of this great city and we are confident that when things do return to normal we will all be stronger, more connected, more resilient, and ready to reach the stars.
Regards
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure, Skills and Youth
Councillor Garry Bridges, Executive Member for Children and Schools