Greater Manchester Youth Network
Greater Manchester Youth Network – helping young people build confidence
This month, we’re proud to feature Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN), a charity helping young people build confidence, connection and brighter futures by combining creativity, trusted relationships and accessible community spaces.
Young people with care-experience face particularly strong barriers to succeed at school. Only 7% achieve passes in English and Maths GCSEs, compared to 40% of their peers — a gap driven by disrupted education, isolation and lack of support networks.
“Greater Manchester Youth Network has turned my life around. If it weren’t for them, I don’t know where I’d be right now – they are like my family” participant in GMYN’s care leavers programme.
With support from IICF, GMYN is delivering a creative, trauma-informed literacy programme for care-experienced young people aged 16–21 across Greater Manchester.
Through library-based sessions, participants benefit from:
- Creative literacy development – including storytelling, writing, drama and arts-based activities
- Safe, inclusive spaces – building confidence and reducing isolation
- Lifelong access to resources – supporting young people to engage with libraries independently
Crucially, this programme helps young people build positive relationships with reading — a key driver of long-term social mobility.
The impact is clear. Through this project:
✨ 80% of participants are expected to improve literacy and confidence
✨ 90% will gain the skills and confidence to use library resources independently
✨ 75% will feel more socially connected and a stronger sense of belonging
The IICF is proud to support GMYN and their vital work improving literacy, wellbeing and inclusion for care-experienced young people.
