A group of students are gathered in a library, sitting on cushions and reading books. The background features shelves filled with colourful books.
“The real test of this reform is whether it moves us from crisis response to early, preventive support"
Read our Institute for Children's Future's response to the Government's new White Paper outlining reforms to the schools and SEND system 🔗 https://bit.ly/3ZUe0zJ
Group of people smiling
🎉 2026 milestone unlocked: our ICF Independent Advisory Panel is officially launched!
Our new panel members' independent insight, constructive challenge, and advocacy will help us push further in improving the lives and futures of children and young people.
www.mmu.ac.uk/institute-fo...
🎉 We’re excited to share My Voice Matters in Research launch event!
📍 The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
📅 23rd March 2026
⏰ 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Come along, get involved, and help shape meaningful inclusion in mental health research.
Discover how our Institute for Children's Futures has responded to the Government's new Child Poverty Strategy 👇
🔗 https://bit.ly/3KKHD2m
Following the launch of the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy @icf-mcr.bsky.social researchers highlight three essential elements to turn child poverty ambitions into effective practice.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4aJWCEm
‘Respect our rights’: young people in Manchester have spoken and our researchers are responding!
Our Children’s Rights Conference explored how they’re being respected, protected and realised – marking one year of our Institute for Children’s Futures!
🔗 https://bit.ly/3M3vcz6
A person is speaking at a podium during an event at the Institute for Children's Futures, with a mountain climbing wall visible in the background.
Three people are seated, laughing together during an event. They are surrounded by colourful posters and sticky notes on the walls.
A person speaking with a microphone to an attentive audience in a festively decorated room, possibly during a public event or meeting.
Three individuals standing together at an event promoting Manchester as a child-friendly city. They are smiling and posed in front of a colorful backdrop with playful designs and text related to children's activities and urban plans.
On UNICEF World Children’s Day, our Institute for Children’s Futures joined forces with Manchester City Council to empower young people and explore how their rights are being respected, protected and realised. 🙌
#McrMetProud
'Aspirations: Breaking down barriers education, employment, and training' was the theme of a panel discussion today - a great way to hear insights from:
Prof Lisa Russell and Dr Katherine Davey (ICF);
Anthony Turner (Manchester City Council);
Marie O’Neill-Steinegger (We Love MCR).
#ICF2025
Great to kick off our anniversary event with speeches from Cllr Bev Craig and Tom Stannard from Manchester City Council about the importance of hope when planning a bright future for children and young people and the need to listen to them and empower them to drive positive initiatives.
20.11.2025 11:47 — 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0
Event at the HideOut Youth Zone with people seated and listening to a speaker at a podium, in front of a colorful indoor climbing wall.
On #WorldChildrensDay we’re empowering young people in Manchester! 🙌
Our Children’s Rights Conference is exploring how they’re being respected, protected and realised, and marks one year of our Institute for Children’s Futures!
@mancitycouncil.bsky.social #ICF2025 #McrMetProud
Happy #WorldChildrensDay! We’re thrilled to celebrate this historic day and the first anniversary of the ICF by holding an inspiring conference on children’s rights in the Manchester city region. Thanks to our partners at Manchester City Council and HideOut Youth Zone for making this possible.
20.11.2025 10:29 — 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 2 📌 0
Promotional image for Manchester Metropolitan University, labeled "Modern University of the Year 2026" by The Sunday Times Good University Guide.
We're making our mark after being named Modern University of the Year! The prestigious honour highlights our exceptional performance in teaching quality, student satisfaction, research, and graduate outcomes.
Thank you to our colleagues, students and partners!
#McrMetProud
MetroPolis is proud to support @manmetuni.bsky.social colleagues at this year’s #LabourPartyConference.
🎓 Education | 🧠 Mental health | 🎨 Creativity | 💼 Future economy
Our leaders will share expertise to help shape national debates.
🔗 www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
#WeAreHiring! You could help us develop and manage a portfolio of partners in the field of research, community engagement and policymaking.
Learn more about the role and apply by 8 October:
manmetjobs.mmu.ac.uk/jobs/vacancy...
We're taking part in a number of events at this year’s Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.
Our experts and Vice-Chancellor Prof Malcolm Press, will join panels and discussions across three days.
Find out more 🔗 https://bit.ly/427LD2A
📢 #WeAreHiring a Senior Business Engagement & Partnerships Manager!
Apply for this full time role at @manmetuni.bsky.social by 8 October if you have a strong interest in children's rights and inequalities, and a track record of managing strategic partnerships.
manmetjobs.mmu.ac.uk/jobs/vacancy...
Thank you to @manmetuni.bsky.social for highlighting the imptce of trauma-informed support for neurodivergent children and their families who have been id’d as ‘at risk’ of school exclusion and youth justice involvement. @manmetcrimsoc.bsky.social
www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
When you’re doing your best to work from home with the kids around, it’s pretty difficult to monitor what they are doing on the tablet or TV.
07.08.2025 06:59 — 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
For too long, victims of grooming gangs were dismissed, disbelieved, or blamed.
In my latest article for @uk.theconversation.com, I explore how repeated system failures led us here and what must change now
theconversation.com/the-uk-faile...
@manmetuni.bsky.social
@icf-mcr.bsky.social
Expertise from @manmetuni.bsky.social is helping to build a brighter future for children at risk of missing out on education, employment and training opportunities.
Discover the evidence on how to safeguard children presented at the House of Lords this month: www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Great to see the mission, people and launch of our Institute featured in this insightful new issue of @mcrmetropolis.bsky.social! It includes a great collection of policy briefs from our members and collaborators on improving #ChildrensFutures.
Read it here: mcrmetropolis.uk/wp-content/u...
#WeAreHiring
Could you be our new Senior Research Associate?
Apply if you have an academic speciality in the field of children and young people at a postdoctoral level, and the drive to improve #ChildrensFutures through research and evaluation: manmetjobs.mmu.ac.uk/jobs/vacancy...
⌛Deadline: 7 May
We're delighted to announce that we are partnering with We Are Futures to better drive positive impact on young people’s lives! This collaboration brings together @manmetuni.bsky.social’s breadth and depth of research and expertise with We Are Futures’ impressive track record of advocacy and impact.
23.04.2025 15:19 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Great to see the contribution of our member
@anne-marieday.bsky.social alongside colleagues from MCYS and Metropolis at @manmetuni.bsky.social
to report that argues for a whole-child approach to childhood vulnerability: vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/new-rep...
#ChildrensFutures
Our Co-Director, @michellemcmanus.bsky.social, has co-created an intelligence tool used by law enforcement agencies to prioritise the indecent image offenders most likely to be contact-abusing children: www.mmu.ac.uk/about-us/200...
It is now used across 27 countries in the EU and beyond.
📢 New opportunity for policy professionals! 📢
Our new Chancellor’s Visiting Fellowship offers policy experts the chance to work with researchers & shape real-world impact.
Curious? Find out more below:
mcrmetropolis.uk/new-chancell...
The UK Government recently launched a national listening exercise to let #YoungPeople have their say on support services, facilities and opportunities they need outside the school gates. They are invited to share their views via an online survey by 16 April: www.iwill.org.uk/NYS-Deliver-...
26.03.2025 12:43 — 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
🚨 Save the date! 🚨
Join us at Manchester Met's Business School on the 8th May 2025 for a research symposium on a safer criminal justice system.
📢 Speakers include Dr. Kay Lalor, Prof. Michelle McManus, Prof. Chris Fox & Kevin Wong. Special guest: Dr. Jamie Bennett.
🔗 Register now: lu.ma/eqg45rtx
A great opportunity!! Please share widely. Full-time, 3 yr post based at GMCA under the guidance of Manchester Centre for Youth Studies, working on a project implementing child-centred justice across GM. Any queries, get in touch @mcrmetropolis.bsky.social @nayouthjustice.bsky.social
24.03.2025 12:58 — 👍 4 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
On 20 November 2024, our leadership team, our members and external stakeholders came together at @manmetuni.bsky.social to mark the start of our Institute's activity across research, policymaking and community engagement.
Watch highlights from the event: youtu.be/_Kkc4e9QUtw
#ChildrensFutures
