Last week, leaders from across youth justice, health, education, and local government gathered to celebrate the outcomes of SHiFT Manchester and launch the partnership’s second Programme. SHiFT Manchester is a partnership between SHiFT and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, and Manchester City Council. The event spotlighted the power of consistent, trusting relationships between children and professionals, the importance of investing in children’s strengths, and whole community working as the route to keeping children out of the criminal justice system and breaking the destructive cycle of crime.

The day opened with a powerful short film – ‘The Last 18 Months’ – sharing the experiences of children who have worked with SHiFT Guides: skilled practitioners who support children caught in cycles of harm, staying alongside them intensively and persistently for 18 months to help find new paths forward.

Dr Amy Ludlow, Chief Executive of SHiFT, said:

“Evidence of SHiFT Manchester’s benefits for children, community safety, and the taxpayer is compelling, but it’s the stories from children and their families that really stay with me. SHiFT’s work in Manchester is proof that with the right relationships, enabled by public services that empower practitioners to build and sustain them, change is not only possible, it’s inevitable. SHiFT is leading the charge as a part of a movement for change in which Greater Manchester is rightly centre stage.”

Attendees heard from Rosalyn Oladipo (Lead Guide, SHiFT Manchester), Carla Morris (SHiFT Practice Development Lead), and Mark Brundrett (Operational Lead, SHiFT Manchester). Throughout the event, the experience and insight of frontline practitioners was at the heart of the conversation.

A cross-sector panel chaired by Deputy Mayor Kate Green OBE explored the critical question: How do we keep children out of custody? Panellists included frontline experts such as Shienika Brown (SHiFT Guide), who was joined by a young person she has worked with over the last 18 months, Professor Erinma Bell MBE DL (Peace Activist), and Rich Timson (Superintendent, GMP), among others.

Kate Green said:

“Today has been a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we put children at the heart of the system. SHiFT Manchester is showing us that with consistent, trusted relationships and a commitment to seeing young people’s potential, we can break the cycles of harm and build lasting change. The Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit is proud to support this programme – it’s collaborative, community-led, and rooted in compassion. I’m proud to see our city-region leading the way in this transformation, creating conditions young people need to live a safe, positive life.”
A personal letter to the Mayor, written and read by Lead Guide Rosalyn Oladipo, was followed by a headline conversation between the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and author, journalist, and former Senior Advisor to the Labour Party, Tom Baldwin, delving into the deeper structural issues facing children in the region.

Andy Burnham said:

“SHiFT is part of our ‘Live Well’ vision for Greater Manchester. We’re on a mission, working with organisations like SHiFT, to demonstrate the benefits of investing hard in prevention, starting with people not problems and names not numbers to create cycles of success. We want SHiFT working alongside more of our public services across the GM city region supporting systems change that backs more young people to live safe and happy lives.”
Looking ahead, SHiFT outlined bold strategic aims for the next phase of their Manchester programme. These include:

Reducing the number of children remanded to custody.
Increasing housing and placement stability.
Embedding child-centred policing and strengthening relationships with the police.
Exploring how every child across Greater Manchester who needs it could be supported by a SHiFT Guide – including children currently living in HMYOI Wetherby returning to the region.

Tom Lang, Head of Service, Manchester Youth Justice, spoke about the importance of participation and trust, emphasising the need to involve children meaningfully in shaping the services that support them.

The event marks a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to reimagine how we support the most vulnerable children. With continued cross-sector partnership, SHiFT Manchester aims to lead the way in systemic, compassionate, and lasting transformation.

For further information, to continue the conversation, or for any press enquiries, please contact Phoebe Minson, External Affairs and Communications Lead at SHiFT, Phoebe.minson@shiftuk.org.

Article posted on: 30/05/2025 04:05pm