April @ PIE

What have we been up to?

L!STEN ACT CHANGE

Engagement sessions - We're recruiting for our new project and have been visiting other local groups to drum up some interest. This month we have been at Groundwork's Women Warriors group and Stockroom. It has been great hearing the views and opinions of young people across Stockport who we don't usually get to meet!

Unity Academy Blackpool

Our Future Ready project has started this month in Blackpool with 2 groups of Year 9. We have worked with these young people every year since their transition day when they were still in Year 6, so it is great to continue our work with them!! This month we have done some team building activities and vision boards to kick start the project.

L!STEN

We're super excited to begin working on our Year 4 priorities this month. The group planned their survey about work experience and employment opportunities, for young people to fill out next month! We also discussed Stockport's public transport and how it felt being a young person navigating this. 

Culture Kitchen

After a short break over Easter, the group are back and working hard on their social action campaign.

Moving On

We’ve had a great month of sessions with the Moving On group. Young people have been developing skills such as making new friends, holding conversations and talking to new people, all of which will support them with their next steps. The group has also been active exploring local parks and spreading acts of kindness in the community.

Step Up Mentors

We’ve had a fabulous start to the Step Up mentor programme. The group has been learning what it means to be a mentor and how they can support the new Year 7 cohort in September. They’ve enjoyed coming together on a trip to the People's History Museum and have been busy planning the Step Up Family Day at Make Good for new recruits joining the programme.

Tameside Tracks

We’re coming towards the end of this project and the FairTracks group has been busy making final arrangements for improvements to Fairfield train station. It’s been great to see their ideas take shape and move closer to becoming a reality.

PIE Active

We’ve been exploring young girls’ experiences of sport, looking at barriers that need knocking down and hearing their ideas about how less active girls can be encouraged to move more and access forms of activity that feel welcoming and less competitive.

Make Good & L!STEN Walking

We’ve had some fab walks with our Make Good and L!STEN Walking Group. We’ve been scoping out the fantastic mural trail created by Plastic Shed, exploring new areas and dabbling in some orienteering as we tracked down murals in parks across Stockport. It’s been a great way to get together, be active and discover more of what’s on our doorstep.

HAF

This Easter holiday , we were back in action with another exciting programme for the children. We kicked things off with a visit to our friends at Marple Cinema, where everyone enjoyed a Zootropolis 2 along with plenty of popcorn.

On day two, we returned to the Guide Hall for a fun-filled session of crafts, games, and the usual holiday madness that everyone loves.

Our third day saw us out and about in Marple, where we introduced the children to the local community bike track, recently expanded. It was a great opportunity to show them a safe space to ride, away from busy roads, and somewhere they can enjoy with their families. We also spent time exploring the park and water, and even attempted to teach stone skimming—much trickier than we expected!

To round off the week, we headed into Manchester for a visit to Mayfield Depot Park. Despite the sunshine, it was certainly cold, but that didn’t stop us enjoying the day. We finished with a well-earned lunch before catching the train home.

We won’t be running sessions over the Whit holidays, but don’t worry—we’ll be back for the summer holidays, bigger and better than ever, with a brand-new venue. Stay tuned!

Coming Up:

L!STEN ACT CHANGE

Our first session is taking place in May half term which is so exciting!! We cannot wait to see what changes young people want to make in their area!

Culture Kitchen

May mark's the end of this project which has probably been our longest running school programme this year, so far! Next month means a campaign event, celebration and reflection - so there's definitely no winding down! 

Next Gen

We're excited to be starting the next phase of our NextGen project! We'll be working together with MakeGood to renovate the 'secret garden' space behind the Cats Cauldron shop in Stockport! We'll be working with the same group of young people but we can accept referrals for young people, just email evie@pieuk.org

The first two sessions are on the 5th and 6th May (11-2pm). NextGen is aimed at young people 16-25 who are out of work and looking for work experience - referrals needed to get involved.

Step Up

We are now recruiting for our Step Up Cohort 2026. This is our annual transition programme designed to support young people as they move from Year 6 to Year 7, helping them build confidence, make new connections and feel more prepared for starting secondary school.

We are still looking for young people across Stockport who will be starting secondary school in September. If you think a young person in your life would benefit from this fully funded programme, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at ciara@pieuk.org.

PIE Active Game Changers

We’re excited to be working closely with a group of girls from Fairfield High School for Girls and other amazing young women across Stockport to take a deep dive into what could be improved when it comes to movement opportunities for girls, and what is needed to help more girls get active. If you would like to become a PIE Active Game Changer, or know a young person who would, please get in touch at ciara@pieuk.org.

Youth Boost

We’re launching our new Youth Boost project with Make Good next week. This programme will provide sessions for young people aged 11–17 who are not currently attending full-time education or who require additional mental health support. Young people will spend time with our experienced team taking part in creative activities designed to build resilience, confidence, new connections and new skills. To find out more, please email ciara@pieuk.org. As part of Youth Boost, young people will also have the opportunity to take part in social action projects alongside local organisations. This will help build valuable skills for the future, strengthen community connections and give young people the chance to make a positive difference through practical action.

GET INVOLVE:

Young People Making Change in Stockport

Get involved with our new youth-led project to change the things that matter to you – including work opportunities, activities and spaces, health & well-being. Fun, friendly and no experience needed! Sessions start in May half term.

Register to find out more here.

If you are a community group in Stockport and would like PIE to run a funded L!STEN ACT CHANGE taster session with your young people (ages 11-16), please email shelley@pieuk.org.