The Truth About Youth: Manchester campaign to quash negative views of young people gets £1million boost

By Dean Wilkins

Negative representations of young people are being tackled by Manchester campaigners for a third year running, with support from The Co-operative Foundation.

The Truth About Youth operation received a £1million funding boost from the Rochdale-established business to extend the original two-year programme.

The campaign united seven charities in seven cities to quash perceptions of young people as ‘problematic’.

Stockport 18-year-old Vicki Thompson was selected to join the advisory panel and said: "Young people throughout the UK feel really strongly about the negative way they are perceived in society.

"We are really excited to receive the go ahead from The Co-operative Foundation's trustees to continue to expand the programme in six regions of the UK and we are really looking forward to getting the chance to show more people the real truth about youth."

In Manchester more than 3,500 people have taken part in the event, which is partnered by the Royal Exchange Theatre.

The theatre will be taken over by young people for two weeks from July 16, and will include theatre, music, art, cooking, comedy, film, workshops, dance and great debate.

Michael Fairclough, head of community and Co-operative Investment for The Co-operative Group, said: "Truth About Youth has gone from strength to strength in the last two years and, with over 56,000 people getting involved across the UK, it shows that there is a lot of support out there for young people and a real desire to change the way that society perceives.

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