Three Manchester Heroes Get Special Awards for Helping Young People

Michael Phipps works to stop knife crime and help young people in Manchester. He has done this work for more than 20 years. Phipps started as a volunteer while working as an electrician. When he was 25, he went to college to study how to help youth and communities.

Now Phipps works with a group that tries to reduce violence. He helps young people who have been caught with knives or hurt by violence. His programs help them make better choices. One person he helped now coaches football around the world and still sends him messages.

Anjum Malik came to England from Pakistan when she was 12 years old. She became the first British Pakistani woman police officer in West Yorkshire in 1975. Later, she helped women in Asian communities who faced violence or forced marriages. She used her language skills and legal knowledge to help them.

Malik is also a poet and writer who has worked for over 30 years. She has written more than 80 scripts for TV shows. Her work focuses on people who don't usually get attention in mainstream media. During lockdown, she helped South Asian women in Rochdale tell their own stories.

Tony Whelan has coached young football players for many years in Manchester. He worked with Manchester City and later Manchester United's academy. At United, he became assistant academy director and was like a father to many young players. He helped develop famous players like Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.