Donations from incredible people like Michael play a crucial role in supporting the charity’s work and ensuring that we can continue to provide young people with activities, opportunities and the support to raise their aspirations and become the very best they can be.

Michael’s generosity over the past couple of years has enabled Mahdlo to provide a range of support and services to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people and families in Oldham with the flexibility to adapt and change our offer to quickly respond to any emerging needs. Michael has given them a safe and welcoming space providing them with a place to go where they can participate in fun and engaging activities, socialise with their peers, and develop new skills and interests. But most importantly, access the support they may need. Michael’s donations have been used to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people and provide affordable access for families all year round.

Mentoring is one area of our work Michael has supported and is a crucial lifeline for young people. This provides one-to-one support for a young person aged 8 -19 (or 25 with disabilities or additional needs). They meet weekly with an adult mentor who is a positive role model to talk to about any issues they are facing or concerns they have. Some young people have faced more challenges in their short lives than most adults will ever experience in their lifetime. Mentoring is life-changing and, for some young people, life-saving. One young person at Mahdlo who is part of the mentoring programme said, “It doesn’t matter how hard life can be there’s always something better waiting.”

Spending time together is so important. Every Sunday, families with children and young people of any age can come together and access all that Mahdlo has to offer. Over 26,000 young people in Oldham are living in poverty. Through Michael’s generosity, Family Zone is an affordable place where together, families can experience fun activities with their peers, spend time together, and be themselves. They can enjoy a cheap meal, learn valuable skills such as cooking and budgeting and speak to youth workers about worries, and concerns and if needed, be signposted to other local services.

Michael has made a significant difference to Mahdlo and the young people we serve. This blog has only scraped the tip of the iceberg. Without donations from philanthropists like Michael, the charity would not be able to provide the level of support that it does to the young people and their families from the local community. Together we are making a real, meaningful and long-lasting difference to their lives.

Blog by: Claire Crossfield – Funding Manager at Mahdlo Youth Zone.