MCYS in short film on BBC News at 10: Girls at risk having their lives turned around

The work of the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies has been featured in a short film made by the BBC News at 10 team which went live last night.

You can watch the short film here.

"Catching girls and young women when they’re at risk of getting into a life of drugs, crime, gangs or sexual exploitation is a priority for the government, researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University have found.

A project, funded by Comic Relief, is working specifically with women aged 14 to 24 in Greater Manchester.

The young women who are referred to the project are given an intensive three-month programme of mentoring, advice and activities by the charity Positive Steps with the aim of turning their lives round."

The Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (MCYS) is an interdisciplinary research centre.‌ Our vision is for MCYS to become a world leader in youth-informed and youth-led research that positively influences the lives of young people.  

We believe young people should have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect them. MCYS employs participatory approaches to engage with young people across a range of contemporary and historical issues. 

Comic Relief have extended the project for a further 24 months for an additional £150k. In addition to this being great news for MCYS, it also and more importantly, will ensure that the provision for young women continues, as the film demonstrates, this is much needed provision.

Professor Hannah Smithson, Head of Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (MCYS), said:

"I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate and thank Deborah – her commitment to the young women and the hard work and dedication she has shown the project is the reason why it has been extended."

Dr Deborah Jump is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is the principal investigator and MCYS are the research centre for responsible for the project. Susan O Shea is the co-investigator on the project.  Dr Susan O’Shea is a Lecturer in the department of Sociology at Manchester Met.