42nd Street

27/02/2026

Where do you feel safe, joyful, understood or like you belong?⁠
What spaces and places in Greater Manchester support your mental health and wellbeing?⁠
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For this year's Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health Week theme ‘This Is My Place’, we’re inviting young people to creatively share the places that matter to you - big or small.⁠
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It could be:⁠
• A place to unwind or feel understood⁠
• Somewhere you create, connect, move, learn, or just be⁠
• Or even a place you wish you could access but don't feel able to⁠
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You can take part on your own or with others by sending:⁠
• A photo, artwork*, or short video with a quote⁠
• A poe, or reflection - written or by voice note.⁠
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Selected contributions will be shared online and during The Future Is Ours Festival and symposium at The Horsfall, 42nd Street's art gallery and creative space for young people.⁠
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📩 Send to [email protected]⁠
🗓 Closing date: 20th March 2026⁠
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*For physical artwork please send a picture to [email protected] and arrange by email on how to drop off.⁠
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26/02/2026

A message to all young people ages 13-25:

"We are here to support you with your emotional well-being and mental health by offering a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred and rights-based approaches.
The 42nd Street team recognises that many of you feel disempowered, that some services are difficult for you to identify with and access and that your mental health and personal difficulties can be made worse by the health, social, cultural and economic inequalities that you might experience.
We will do all we can to make you feel listened to, valued, included, safe and unique."

25/02/2026

RAYS next group intake is opening to start in June ✨⁠
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And is a space to feel seen, heard and held. A space where you can share your thoughts and experiences with people who get it.⁠
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If you’re a young Black or Black heritage woman (inclusive of trans Black women and non-binary young people), aged 18–25, this is may be for you.⁠
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🤎 Mondays, 5.15–7.15pm⁠
🖤 In person at 42nd Street⁠
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At RAYS, joy and representation are at the forefront. Together, you’ll explore your voice, build confidence, connect through creative activities and conversations, and grow alongside a powerful sisterhood of like-minded women. Expect peer support, culture, social action, opportunities beyond the group – and space to have fun.⁠
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“Rays offers multiple opportunities to learn new things, meet new people and a way to learn about yourself, culture and background.”⁠
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From intimate conversation and group activities to exhibitions and anti-racism projects, RAYS members have created work that reaches far beyond the room.⁠
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If you are interested in joining please sign up here:⁠
https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/event-listing/rays-young-black-women-s-group/⁠
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Please share with young people you think will be interested in Rays.⁠
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24/02/2026

JET42's next cycle starts in June, and you can express your interest now.⁠
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JET42 is our weekly peer support space for young Black and mixed-race men (16–25) to explore and strengthen their mental health and emotional wellbeing together.⁠
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🖤 Wednesdays, 5–7pm⁠
🖤 6–8 week cycles (with a 1-week break)⁠
🖤 At 42nd Street Group Space⁠
🖤 Up to 16 spaces⁠
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Facilitated by Eric Thompson and Samson Owolabi, our Black male practitioners, JET42 is a powerful, supportive and non-judgmental space to be seen, heard and understood. Through honest conversations and creative activities, you’ll build healthy coping tools, boost your confidence and develop skills in public speaking and advocacy.⁠
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This group is for us, by us.⁠
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“Jet 42 offers peer-to-peer conversation… a way to learn about yourself, culture and background.”⁠
“It’s a space to be seen, heard and felt… we can all share experiences without judgment.”⁠
“[Jet 42] helps us reinforce positivity in our life and provides us an opportunity to empathise with other young black people that may go through the same struggles.”⁠
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Mental health is about having the tools to support yourself daily and you don’t have to build those tools alone.⁠
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Beyond the group, there are opportunities for friendships, skills development, social action and justice networks - including podcast projects created by JET42 members.⁠
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To join express your interest here:⁠
https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/event-listing/jet42/⁠
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For more information email ⁠
[email protected]⁠
or [email protected]⁠
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20/02/2026

Want to feel more confident talking with young people about social media and AI?⁠
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This free training explores how social media and artificial intelligence show up in young people’s lives (aged 12–25) and what that means for wellbeing and mental health.⁠
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Youth workers across Manchester told us they wanted a clearer understanding of how young people are using social platforms and AI, and how this can support or impact mental health. We listened, and developed this training as part of Making Manchester Fairer - working to tackle health inequalities and help all young people get the support they need to thrive.⁠
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You’ll explore:⁠
-How algorithms shape what young people see online⁠
-The positives and risks of online communities⁠
-What neuroscience tells us about social media and the developing brain⁠
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This training is FREE for grassroots VCSFE and VCSFE organisations supporting young people aged 11–25 in Manchester.⁠
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🏢 Where: In person at 42nd Street⁠
📅 When: 26th February | 10.00am – 2.00pm⁠
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➡️ Find out more:⁠
https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/news-articles/free-training-supporting-young-people-s-mental-health-and-wellbeing/⁠
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📧 To book your place, contact Angeli at:⁠
[email protected]⁠
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18/02/2026

We’re opening our doors for a Groups Open Event in The Horsfall (our creative space) for young people aged 13–25 to explore our range of groups.
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📅 Thursday 12th March⁠
🕓 4–7pm⁠
📍The Horsfall, The Space, 87–91 Great Ancoats Street, Ancoats, Manchester⁠, M4 5AG
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Come along to meet our practitioners, try out some creative activities, ask questions and chat about which group feels right for you.⁠
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Whether you want to connect with others, get creative, build confidence or campaign for change.⁠
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All of our Connect, Create and Campaign groups offer:⁠
-Peer connection⁠
-Confidence building⁠
-Skills & opportunities⁠
-Support from workers with lived experience⁠
-Friendly, inclusive energy⁠
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Sign up via Eventbrite to let us know you’re coming. We can’t wait to welcome you. 🌱⁠
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/42nd-street-group-open-evening-tickets-1983253580848?⁠
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If you know any young people who would benefit from our groups please reshare this post and event.

16/02/2026

Change Ambassadors – Now Recruiting (14–25)⁠
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Are you passionate about using your voice to create positive change? 💬✨⁠
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At 42nd Street, we believe young people should be part of the conversations that shape their lives - especially when it comes to mental health and the issues that impact our communities.⁠
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From 18th Feb we’re recruiting new Change Ambassadors to join session from April.⁠
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🗓 Wednesdays, 4.30-6.30pm⁠
📍 The Horsfall (ground floor)⁠
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This is a space for young people (14–25) who care about social issues, want to tackle barriers, and are ready to build confidence, skills and friendships along the way.⁠
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As a Change Ambassador you can:⁠
✨ Run campaigns on issues that matter to young people⁠
🎙 Develop skills in research, podcasting & public speaking⁠
🗣 Speak at events and conferences (with our support)⁠
🤝 Shape and improve 42nd Street’s services⁠
💡 Influence local, regional & national conversations⁠
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Social action can be powerful for your mental health - connecting with others, feeling heard and making a difference can change how you see yourself and your city.⁠
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If you’re ready to be part of a compassionate, authentic group of young people creating change in Manchester, we’d love to hear from you.⁠
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🔗 Sign up at https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/event-listing/change-ambassadors/⁠
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12/02/2026

Wishing the very best of luck to Katy Wright and the team from PHSO as they take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in support of 42nd Street 💙⛰️

On 30th May 2026, they’ll be swapping desks for mountains to raise vital funds to support young people (aged 13–25) across Greater Manchester can access free, creative and confidential mental health support when they need it most.

If you’re able to, please consider supporting Katy and the team and cheering them on by donating here 👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/phso3peaks?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Help Katy Wright raise money to support 42nd Street - Supporting Young People Under Stress

11/02/2026

Good news from Youth Access!

We're really pleased £7m of Early Support Hub funding has been extended for another year for Youth Access, protecting early, local mental health support for young people across the country.
This shows the impact of young people, members and partners coming together and how important is to keep the focus on long-term, sustainable funding.

Thanks to the combined power of our members, partners and young people, £7 million of Early Support Hub funding will continue for another year.

11/02/2026

"It's important that people working with young people understand the full impacts of social media on young people's mental health so they can better support them" - Making Manchester Fairer Young Practitioner. ⁠
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Join our free online training and learn about algorithms, data, online communities and what the neuroscience shows about the impacts.⁠
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Part of Making Manchester Fairer's work to reduce health inequalities and help all young people thrive. Especially designed for grassroots and VCSFE organisations working with 11-25 year olds in the most deprived localities in Manchester. ⁠
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📧Book your free place today by emailing [email protected]⁠
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➡️To find out more visit: ⁠ https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/news-articles/free-training-supporting-young-people-s-mental-health-and-wellbeing/⁠
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Next Sessions⁠
Thursday 26th February, 10.00 – 2.00pm (In-Person at 42nd Street)⁠
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10/02/2026

A big thank you to SEFE Energy UK for supporting our work with a book exchange and bake sale. 📚 🧁 Every donation helps us make a difference in the lives of young people in Greater Manchester! 👏 Thank you!

Help Sanjna Suryavanshi raise money to support 42nd Street - Supporting Young People Under Stress

10/02/2026

THIS IS MY PLACE 💛

Where do you feel safe, joyful, understood, or like you belong?
What spaces and places in Greater Manchester support your mental health and wellbeing?

To mark Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health Week and this year’s theme ‘This Is My Place’, we’re inviting young people to creatively share the places that matter to you - big or small.

It could be:
• A place to unwind or feel understood
• Somewhere you create, connect, move, learn, or just be
• Or even a place you wish you could access but don’t feel able

You can take part on your own or with others by sending:
• A photo, artwork* or short video with a quote
• A poem or reflection - written or as a voice note

Selected contributions will be shared online and during The Future Is Ours Festival and symposium at The Horsfall, 42nd Street’s art gallery and creative space for young people.

📩 Send to [email protected]
🗓 Closing date: 20 March 2026

*For physical artwork, please send a photo to the email above and get in touch to arrange drop-off.