2019-2020 Annual Review & 2020 Covid Impact Report

Welcome

Resilience, tenacity, community

and hope is our 2020 story.

Mahdlo has felt the full force of the pandemic, tragically losing our chief executive, Mike Doran, to Covid-19 in April 2020. We may have had to close our doors, but we found a way through these darkest of times to make sure we were able to support our members when they needed it the most. This review will have a different focus. Whilst we celebrate the success of the previous year, we want our story from the pandemic to shine through as well.

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Tribute to Mike Doran

In Loving Memory of Mike Doran


12.09.1953 - 24.04.2020

It is with heavy hearts that in April 2020 we said goodbye to our Chief Executive, Mike Doran after he sadly passed away following a brave three-week battle with Covid-19.

This terrible virus has taken so much from so many, and for us, it took the driving force behind our fantastic organisation.

Mike was a tremendous individual and a fine leader. We will forever remember Mike's humour and infectious personality, and we will not forget how he always advocated for his team, young people and inclusive provision for all.

Mike's insistence for 'excellence' will always inspire us, and we will strive to make sure that every day Mahdlo continues to adopt his values of: Passion, Respect, Innovation, Dependability and Excellence. His dedication to the young people of Oldham was admirable; even after he became ill he was still planning to skydive again to raise money for our charity.

We have lost a dear friend and faithful colleague. Mike mattered in ways we will continue to discover in the future.

Forever in our hearts, rest in peace Mike.

Lucy Lees
Interim CEO

Review 19/20

2019 / 2020 A year in review

Mahdlo is and will always be ambitious for youth work. Our vision for 2019-2020 has been focussed on aspirations, dreams and future goals. We strive to ensure excellence across all our provision for young people, offering them new experiences to help achieve their potential.

Stoller Hall Event

The SPACE Performing Arts

Stoller Hall Performance Event

2020 marked the opening of The SPACE (The Stoller Performing Arts Centre of Excellence) at Mahdlo. Designed to accommodate the charity's growing creative offer, the new extension aims to host showcase events at the Youth Zone, replicating the performances held in the summer of 2019 at Stoller Hall.

In what can only be described as an event to remember, Mahdlo presented the very best in performing arts talent from across Oldham at the renowned Stoller Hall. Youth Zone members supported by various partner organisations including the Royal Northern College of Music, Oldham Theatre Workshop and the Indian Dance Company plus many others, had a rare and unique opportunity to perform to a select audience. Moving forward The SPACE will organise events, open mic nights, theatre performances, dance sessions and gigs for the borough’s young people.

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Royal Albert Hall

OnSide Network Event

Royal Albert Hall OnSide Network Event

Talented young people from Oldham took to the stage in November 2019 and performed alongside world-renowned artists to an audience of thousands and HRH Prince Harry at the OnSide Youth Zones Awards.

The ceremony, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, recognised young people’s exceptional achievements with awards presented to those who have made a real difference in their community, have breakthrough talent, or have overcome the most challenging of circumstances.

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Kane Mousah

Sports Event

Kane Mousah Sports Event

MMA Fighter Kane Mousah visited Mahdlo to share his incredible journey from being a Manchester gang member who served time in prison, to entrepreneur and international fighter in Bellator arenas around the world. At just 33 years old he has an incredible story to tell.

Kane told Youth Zone members of growing up around gangs, making the wrong choices, getting involved in serious violence and the negative impact on his life, including a nine year prison sentence for firearms offences. The event also enabled our Youth Workers to introduce positive activities such as music, enterprise, boxing and gym and connect these routines with issues of respect, personal achievement and healthy relationships.

Winter Ball

Fundraising Event

Winter Ball Fundraising Event

Mahdlo’s annual Winter Ball 2019 raises a phenomenal £31,000 for the charity. Almost 200 people from the Oldham business community and beyond gathered to celebrate Mahdlo and the achievements of its members whilst digging deep and helping to raise vital funds.

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Covid Impact Report

2020 has been a difficult year for many; even before the pandemic hit young people falling through the cracks in society was a very real risk. Young people are more vulnerable now than they have ever been, and Mahdlo has a responsibility to those who rely on us. We have had to adapt quickly to deliver remote support via one-to-one and group video calls, telephone check-ins and a host of other outreach services. Supporting our community through this pandemic has been our priority. Take a read through this snapshot report on how we have responded.

15,365 Meaningful engagements April – December 2020
Resilience

Performing through

painful experiences

With Mahdlo forced to effectively close our doors from March 2020, we knew we had a responsibility to the young people who relied on us. From delivering food parcels to helping parents with housing and health issues, Mahdlo has adapted to deliver remote support quickly. Sometimes we were the first point of call during extraordinary and devastating circumstances.

Read David's Story
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Performing through painful experiences

Performing arts at Mahdlo is more than music, drama, dance and art; it is about expression and emotion through meaningful engagement.

2020 has been a challenging year for many. But for one young person at Mahdlo it has been life-altering. David lost his mother early during the pandemic.

The trauma of being present at such a sudden and heart-breaking incident has been overwhelming.

Navigating bereavement is a very real challenge that sadly many young people have had to deal with during lockdown. For David, he has been struggling to cope with the emotional impact of losing his mother and has bottled up his feelings causing severe anxiety.

Performing arts has been David’s safe haven. It has allowed him to articulate his current emotional state, whilst reducing the risk of triggering a traumatic response. Working hand in hand, creative learning and youth work have provided vital intervention and support to help David deal with these very raw emotions.

David has been taking part in a choir which began during lockdown with the aim of writing a song and has now transformed into what is affectionately known as "2020 The Musical."

Tenacity

Lifeline during

lockdown

Youth workers are part-teacher, part-social worker, part mental health professional and much more. For many young people we are an extension of family. It is our duty to help them achieve the future they deserve. Through grit, determination and positivity we have come through the last 9 months and will be stronger for it.

“I work closely with Michael and his parents. They really feel we listened when no one else would.”

Read Michael's Story

Lifeline during lockdown

Isolation and loneliness have been a reality for many during the pandemic lockdown, but for some young people the effects have had a significant impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

Michael has accessed Mahdlo since 2016. With a passion for football he has thrived in the social environment offered by the Youth Zone, even becoming a Young Leader.

As a young person on the autistic spectrum, consistency and regular support is central to Michael’s development.

Maggie is a youth worker at Mahdlo supporting Michael and she said: “Michael has embraced the remote support offered by Mahdlo; it has been a lifeline for him during this really challenging time. However not being able to go out as he has done in the past, has severely affected his confidence and independence.

Recently Michael has been accessing 1-2-1 support and a regular mentor and is gradually integrating back into the Youth Zone.

“Life after lockdown has been hard, but Michael is embracing getting back to the Youth Zone. It’s gentle steps, and his parents feel Mahdlo really understands this. We are working together to support Michael and get his confidence back.

1,300 lunches
delivered to families across Oldham

Community

'We will not cut corners when

it comes to delivering the very

best for our young people. We

will not give up on supporting

our community.'

With over 15,000 engagements with young people during lockdown Mahdlo continues to provide a vital role within its community. From ensuring young people don’t go hungry to dedicated outreach support, the Youth Zone continues to embed its offer within the fabric of the borough.

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Hope

Ambitious for

young people

Now is the time to stand together. As we welcome the laughter and excitement of young people back into our Youth Zone, we will continue to stand strong and be their biggest advocates regardless of any future lockdown restrictions. We will help prepare our young people for their future challenges.

We’ve asked our young people what Mahdlo means to them and this is what they told us…

What do Mahdlo

staff mean to you?

“They ‘get’ young people”

“I can have a laugh with them”

“They are understanding

and easy to talk to”

What does Mahdlo

mean to you?

“Helps your social skills”

“Support system”

“It’s a fun place of helpful people who

look out for you”

What does Youth

Work mean to you?

“Helping young people”

“Not feeling judged”

“Meeting new friends”

Sir Norman Stoller

CBE KStJ DL – President

The year 2020 has been a year unlike any other. We have had to learn to face and meet all of the challenges, created by the pandemic, that came our way, despite having very little experience to guide us. Team work, confidence and mutual care, have been the essential keys on which we have relied, and our determination to succeed has played a large part in the results that have been achieved. Mahdlo has earned the confidence and respect of those who rely on us, and providing the answer to their ongoing needs remain our priority.

However, an uncertain landscape ahead means that the services that Mahdlo provides, become even more vital, and to that end, nothing must be allowed to prevent the ongoing achievement of the targets that we have set for those whom we serve. Accordingly, it has never been more important to pull together to ensure that our work gains the recognition, support and funding required to continue and to serve our community.

I hope that you will take both pride and pleasure in reading this report and continue to join me in supporting this wonderful organisation.

Chris Wareing

Chairman

Oldham’s young people need our support now more than ever. 2020 has been one of the most challenging years, but I’m so proud of the way the Mahdlo team has pulled together to provide a vital lifeline for young people and their families during these unprecedented times.

The team is continually adapting its offer to be able to support and respond to the changing needs of our young people and our community. With a key priority to ensure young people and staff are safe, the team has done an exceptional job in offering a structured and targeted programme that continues to give young people somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

Thank you to everyone that has supported Mahdlo this year. Your commitment means so much, it is valued and appreciated now more than ever.

Core Founder

Founding Patron

Premier Patron

Frank & Judith Rothwell
David & Janelle Barker

Patron

Peter & Patricia
Casey

Supporter

Youth Aspiration
Fund
iWill
Duncan & Barbara
Arthurs
Rooftop
Properties

Friends

David Bellis
MBE
Ideal
Communications
Peter
Bryant
The Skelton
Charity
Jeanette
Quinn
The Treeside
Trust
Terry & Sue
Flanagan
Michael Josephson
MBE
Mayor’s Appeal
Fund

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Company Number: 6946098, Registered Charity Number: 1134427

Contact Mahdlo
Want to get involved – Contact us | Back to Mahdlo site

I Have to be Patient

“I Have to be Patient” is an inspirational music video, created as part of the project: Positive Oldham Music Cultures, which started in late 2019. Funded by the Heritage Lottery, the aim of the project was to promote cohesion and better understanding of diversity through music.

Young people from a mix of backgrounds across Oldham were given access to practical music and musical heritage activities. Due to COVID the project had to be redesigned with lots of “Mahdlo at Home” elements. A partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) was created, which was originally intended to be vocal lessons became the development of three original songs. These songs were developed by RNCM and a gospel artist, introducing the young people to aspects of song writing and gospel structure composition.

“I Have to be Patient” is one of those tracks! This song in particular cemented the bond between four neurodiverse members through lockdown, developing their skills, their knowledge and their friendships. Enjoy!

Express Yourself

A unique production entitled; ‘As Time Goes By’ has been created by the Mahdlo Ability Productions Group. Shaped by the pandemic and personal loss, this creation has pushed the group to develop their skills in a way that they haven’t encountered before. The focus is about creating a world where no-one wants to touch anyone or go outside. This is a very poignant piece and as it’s been produced, we got the chance to catch up backstage with the Group to talk about the project and their experiences throughout lockdown, which have ultimately shaped the production.

Finding A Way To Cope

Having been bullied at school, Mahdlo member Mike lacked confidence, which often resulted in a struggle to control his anger. Social anxiety is a very real challenge for young people that we connect to our mentoring programme and has become heightened because of the pandemic.

“I found early on that when Mike had been teased or provoked in the past, his first reaction was to become volatile,” says Dan. “Mike needed a positive outlet for venting his anger; we found that activities like the gym, boxing and breathing exercises really helped to alleviate the stress he had always internalised. Working closely with the Mahdlo’s safeguarding officer and Mike’s school, we have been able to give him coping strategies, so that when he faced stressful incidents, he was able to deal with them more maturely.

“Lockdown challenged Mike, like many young people, creating an isolation that he hasn’t been used to before. The activities that he had been taking part in, which had started to work to keep his emotions under control, were no longer available. We needed to redirect Mike’s focus to activities that he could do from home. With encouragement he took part in an arts consultation, and theatre production focussing on mental health; I can honestly say he is flourishing. Mike told me recently he feels a sense of achievement and connection despite having been in lockdown earlier this year and made some really amazing friendships. This is why we do what we do at Mahdlo!”

Making Music That Matters

Last year we were able to secure an internship for a young person on our Get a Job programme with Manchester Camerata – the award-winning orchestra – that delivered amazing results, despite being in lockdown. Being part of this fantastic experience has seen Andrew Campbell’s confidence, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit grow:

“It is not easy to integrate into a new team but to do so whilst in lockdown, and so successfully too, is a credit to Andrew. A huge thank you and here’s to finding another candidate to start in the autumn!” Jake Anchors, Holroyd Foundation (funder of the internship).

“I have been given the support and help I need, and I feel like I have made an impact. Constructive feedback and friendly discussions are massive motivators in this role, everyone is super nice, and I am able to develop my skills every day. I thank Mahdlo and Ali for this amazing opportunity to work within the job sector I wanted to get into.”

“When I first got into contact with Ali, I had lost hope, my confidence was low, and I wasn’t feeling optimistic about where I would be in the future. When I had begun attending Mahdlo at first, I doubted that it would help me, but I was proven wrong. After a few weeks of attending, I began to feel much more positive about my future, my level of confidence had increased, and I actually had faith in myself. I was able to improve my skills for employability, and I felt a lot more prepared than I was.” Andrew Campbell, Mahdlo Member

Essential Packages

Over 495 food parcels containing over 13,500 meals and 600 breakfast and meal pots at the weekends have been shared

“On Friday I received a food parcel from you…. I’d just like to say it’s greatly appreciated. This year I’ve been furloughed and then had my hours cut at work. We’re really struggling at the moment and your food parcel has really raised our spirits. It’s so different this year as every year I donate to food banks and usually a charity, but to be on the receiving end has been hard for me, but from the bottom of our hearts thank you. Now my son has a present to open on Christmas morning and food in the cupboard. Thank you so much to everyone involved for their generosity and kindness.” Parent

Christmas Hampers

397 Christmas hampers were given out locally, benefitting 2,200 people

“Thank you so much for your hamper. It’s just lovely. It’s the little kindnesses that have the biggest impact on people right now.” – Parent of Mahdlo member

Packed Lunches

To date 2,500 packed lunches have been distributed during the school holidays

“We cannot thank you enough for all you have done over the past few weeks. Our families were so grateful, and your impact did not go unnoticed throughout our community.” – Shan Potts, Holy Rosary School.

President’s Cup at home 2020

This year the OnSide Network President’s Cup took place as a virtual competition,encouraging young people to compete in a series of online challenges over a period of 4 weeks in a bid to battle the boredom of lockdown isolation. From celebrity judges to amazing challenges and of course awesome submissions from Mahdlo members, it was great to see the Network come together.

Always in reach

“I’ve made friends because of this project that I never would’ve spoken to before.” – Member age 17

The pandemic created a shift in the way we have been able to deliver youth work. With many community venues shut or at limited building capacity, our District Team put their concentration into delivering outreach. This provided a unique opportunity for regular interaction with families and young people in their communities, giving a more rounded picture of what the daily challenges were.

As a result the Team was able to tailor its offer to deliver:

  • Early intervention – working with Year 6 and 7 pupils at risk of getting involved in crime with a focus on those that are extremely vulnerable due to lack of transition support
  • A 12-week early intervention project aimed at girls (aged 11-13) at risk of criminal offending and/or sexual exploitation
  • Established an LGBTQ drop-in session for young people
  • Trained 23 mentors, with a total of 14 active matches

Double the donation, double the difference

A staggering £51,260 was raised through a unique campaign delivered last year, where a group of loyal friends pledged to match every £1 donated by the local community. From mountains climbed to bake sales and half marathons being completed in gardens, the money raised was put towards helping young people “Get Back in the Zone” and access the activities and support they vitally needed. It also enabled us to replace our much-loved minibus that was stolen last year.

500 Miles For Mahdlo

In July 2020 walkers from across Oldham set out on their own sponsored walks, runs and treks to help raise vital funds for Mahdlo in our special 500 Miles for Mahdlo fundraiser. Between the amazing efforts of humans and dogs alike, over £2,500 was raised as people ‘proclaimed their love’ for the charity.  

Read some of the stories here.