2022 Our Year
Winner of the Martyn Hett Inspiring Manchester Award - MPA Inspiration Awards 2023
L.G Publicity worked with Roland Dransfield and Manchester City Council as project lead/producer for the campaign and launch of 2022: Our Year, MCC’s primary 2022 project for dedicated to children and young people who live in the city, with the aim of Manchester becoming a UNICEF child-friendly city by 2024.
This project involved producing the launch media and communications campaign (e.g schedule of work, campaign narrative, aims, critical path, method and included a comprehensive package of campaign content ideas.
L.G. Publicity sourced and confirmed 25 high-profile ambassadors across multiple industries (e.g: media, law, business, tech, culture, education, the arts, hospitality and diversity) to fly the flag for the campaign and dedicate a year of support for the campaign through their profile and vast networks.
These inspirational Mancunians pledged to support the Council’s 2022: Our Year by contributing their experience, talent, and time to take part in events, support fundraising projects, and provide practical opportunities such as work experience and mentoring.
They include global fashion brand owner Seema Malhotra, hospitality business owner Aaron Mellor, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and LGBTQ+ campaigner Carl Austin Behan OBE, festival and events director Jon Drape, sports lawyer and commercial litigator Marc Yaffe, media editor Shelina Begum, barrister Sally Penni, Manchester Youth MP Alex Kennedy, climate change activist Emma Greenwood and inspirational speaker and storyteller, Krish Patel.
Seema Malhotra said: “I am so proud to be part of Manchester City Council's Our Year initiative to support the UNICEF Child-Friendly City programme as I believe that we have a duty to provide a safe and happy environment where children can flourish and reach their full potential.
“I am a huge advocate of mental health and there has been a devastating impact on young people during the pandemic, not just mentally but also financially.
“We need to listen to their needs and create a legacy for our next generations to pass on. Now more than ever, it's time we made a change from the heart and what better place to start than Manchester.”
Over 100 guests gathered at Manchester’s renowned People’s History Museum where Manchester Council Chief Executive Joanne Roney OBE, Leader Bev Craig, and Executive Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Garry Bridges, officially launched the transformative year-long campaign.
To inspire and encourage local residents to view the city through the eyes of young people, L.G. Publicity arranged for Reece Williams to be commissioned by Manchester City Council to write a unique poem to kick start 2022: Our Year.
‘A City for Young People’ was recited by local young carers, children from St. James CofE Primary School Rusholme, and young people from Norbrook Youth Centre in Wythenshawe.
Poet and Contact Theatre Trustee Reece Williams said: "I was honoured to have been asked to write the poem to commemorate 2022 Our Year.
“Championing the voices of young people has been a part of my personal and professional life for a long time, from my work with Young Identity and The Agency project delivered by Contact, so it is fitting that I can be a part of such an exciting initiative. I feel strongly that our City's future is dependent on the present that we create for our young people."
The Council also invited global educational charity Debate Mate to host a lively debate about social inequality led by talented, local youngsters from Manchester Youth Council, Dean Trust in Ardwick and Eden Boys' Leadership Academy.
The compelling discussion: ‘This House believes that social inequality is the biggest factor affecting young people today’ was chaired by Our Year Ambassador, BBC Radio 6 Music presenter, Chris Hawkins.