Our Reach: Manchester

Why volunteer as a tutor in Manchester?

Our decision to work in Manchester stems from our commitment to addressing educational inequality where the need is greatest. Many pupils face significant challenges that impact their learning.

Recent figures highlight the pressing need for additional support across the region:

• 45.7% of children educated in Manchester schools are eligible for Free School Meals: this is in contrast to the rest of England, where 23.8% of children are eligible.
• Around 44% of children were living in poverty in 2023, 3rd highest percentage in the UK.

These statistics underscore the significant challenges faced by many young people in Manchester. Growing up in poverty can result in challenges that lead to lower academic attainment and, once they finish school, reduced opportunities for further education, training or employment.

By providing targeted, high-quality tutoring, Action Tutoring aims to mitigate these effects, helping to build academic confidence and unlock pupils’ potential.

Action Tutoring‘s impact in Manchester

Action Tutoring launched in Manchester in 2025 and has since expanded its reach, working with multiple schools across the city to provide high-quality tutoring in maths and English. Our volunteers play a crucial role in closing the attainment gap and boosting the confidence of disadvantaged pupils.

Our national impact, reflecting the work done across all our regions including Manchester, demonstrates the effectiveness of our programmes:

• In 2023-24, our Year 6 and Year 11 pupils significantly outperformed national benchmarks for disadvantaged pupils.
• Primary age pupils tutored in maths were 20% more likely to meet the expected standard compared to other disadvantaged children nationally.

Take part in our fundraising events in Manchester

• AJ Bell Manchester (31st May) – donation amount: £30 (goes towards race fee and running t-shirt), fundraising target: £300 minimum
• Manchester 10k (31st May) – donation amount: £20 (goes towards race fee and running t-shirt), fundraising target: £200 minimum

Some of our current volunteering opportunities in Manchester take place with pupils from the following partner schools:

Find out more information about becoming a volunteer or partnering as a school in Manchester.

Manchester Programme Team

• Gabi Cumming (Programme Manager)
• Elsie Holmes (Manchester Programme Coordinator)
• Iwan Phillips (Manchester Programme Coordinator)