We’re thrilled to announce that MyHub Manchester recently won the Manchester Culture Award for Promotion of Talent and Leadership.
As lead delivery partner of the hub, we’re immensely proud of the recognition this award brings to the outstanding work of everyone involved, highlighting the incredible impact they’ve made on children and young people across the city for over a decade.
The Manchester Culture Awards launched in 2018 with a view to showcase the city’s reputation for culture and the arts – from grassroots to international – and serve as an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the very best talent the city has to offer.
MyHub was established to provide a platform for children to develop their musical skills and talents. This award celebrates the hub’s success in supporting young people from all walks of life to achieve their full potential in music.
Left to right: Stephen Gabriel (Headteacher, St. Peter’s RC High School), Debra King (One Education board member), Sue Harrison (Chair, MyHub), Bekki Gocher (Head of Music, Parrs Wood), Bronwen Donoghue (Headteacher, St. John’s RC Primary).
Debra King, who sits on the board of One Education as a non-executive director, was also honoured with a Special Recognition Award for her long career in and contributions to Manchester’s cultural scene. Debra led Brighter Sound as director for 15 years and has previously worked as the director of Women in Music, music officer in North West Arts, and a regional officer at the Youth Music Arts Council.
Sue Harrison, Chair of MyHub, comments on the award and the hub’s great legacy over more than a decade of music education:
“It was a truly special moment when MyHub were announced as joint winners of the Manchester Culture Award, along with Brighter Sound, for the Promotion of Talent and Leadership category across Manchester.
As an education-led organisation, the MCC Culture Awards seemed out of our reach as it has mainly been led by the arts and community-focused organisations. This makes winning this award all the more meaningful and shines a light on the far-reaching impact of our service.
MyHub was set up in 2012 to nurture and grow young music talent across Manchester, supported by a grant from the DfE and delivered by Arts Council England. The grant continued up until 2024, when Manchester was selected to serve in the new Hub Lead organisation (HLO) serving Greater Manchester.
From the start, our board has brought together a dedicated team of music and education specialists from across Manchester. Their creative thinking and expertise has been instrumental in shaping the success of our service and constantly improving our engagement with young people.
A key part of this has been commissioning One Education Music to deliver music opportunities for young people across the city. Working together, we have overcome a number of challenges, including deprivation levels and budget constraints, to provide a platform where children can develop their musical skills and play together in groups, bands and ensembles. Over the years, our work with special schools, PRUs and early years settings has been exemplary.
Inclusion has always been at the heart of MyHub, ensuring that children from all backgrounds – including those facing challenging circumstances – are given the opportunities and pathways to thrive. Through our combined efforts, MyHub and One Education have regularly exceeded the national average in nearly all areas of activity, providing life-changing opportunities for children from all walks of life to explore, learn, and excel in music.
What makes our music offer so unique is how it reflects the diversity of Manchester’s communities. From classical forms of music to rock and pop, steel pan groups, African drumming, and, of course, our work with the award-winning Irish Music Centre – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We were also one of the early hubs to develop a digital offer to encourage schools to explore new ways of making music.”
Together, MyHub and One Education have led a diverse programme of annual events for Manchester’s young people, including the Schools Irish Festival, Singarounds, rock and jazz events at Band on the Wall, and the much anticipated Big Sing at the Bridgewater Hall. Alongside this, regular projects giving local pupils access to the city’s highest profile venues and organisations, as well as national arts organisations, have been at the heart of MyHub’s offer.”
Adam Cooke, Head of Service at One Education Music, adds that it is the collaborative and inclusive approach of the hub that has proven to be the key to the hub’s success:
“I’m delighted that this award recognises the profound impact MyHub has had over 12 years, ensuring that Manchester pupils have had access to a progressive and inclusive music education offer in every corner of the city. As a result of the hub board and partners’ collaboration alongside our service, tens of thousands of young people have accessed opportunities and developed a life-long passion for music. That’s in no small part down to the expertise, dedication and passion of MyHub’s chair and board members, who have worked tirelessly to champion every child’s right to music education. This ethos continues to be the guiding principle for our service.”
“The past decade has been an astonishing journey of growth and development for both teachers and students. I’m so proud that MyHub has created so many exciting opportunities to engage young people, reflect their passions, and spark a lifelong love of music. This award is a tribute to the dedication of staff, the passion of our young people, and the incredible support of our communities.”
Sue Harrison, Chair of MyHub
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