The Manchester Evening News (MEN) has once again proven the vital role of regional news brands in making a tangible difference to their communities.

Salford Lads and Girls Club has been saved from closure following a Manchester Evening News appeal. The 121-year-old institution – a lifeline for young people from deprived communities – announced in October it needed to raise £250,000 by the end of November or would shut. More than 1,400 people have made donations after the M.E.N. launched a GoFundMe campaign.

The auction of a Noel Gallagher guitar, and £10,000 given by Salford-born rock and pop star Graham Nash of 1960s pop group The Hollies and American band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young also helped.

Facing financial struggles earlier this year, the club, renowned for its connection to The Smiths and generations of Salford youth, was at risk of shutting its doors for good. Through powerful storytelling and unwavering dedication, the MEN brought attention to the club’s plight, inspiring a wave of public and corporate generosity.

Club president Anthony Groves – great great grandson of one of the founders, James Grimble Groves – said today: “Our club opened its doors in 1903 – a product of Manchester’s Industrial Age. The club was built by industrialists to support families and disadvantaged youth, striving for survival in an increasingly industrial world.

“Today 121 years later, to the rallying call of the Manchester Evening News, many other industries and thousands of people from across the country have come to the rescue of that same club.”

“The media industry, the music industry, the sports industry, the brewing industry, Utilities, Government, Local Council, some brilliant minds from the creative industry, members of the local community and of course the Club’s volunteers and management team – to name but a few – have all played their part.”

Leslie Holmes, projects manager at the club for 22 years, said: “It’s incredible that so many people have helped us to reach our total in such a short period of time. I don’t think James and Williams Groves, who built the club in 1903, could ever have imagined a time when Salford Lads Club would be valued by people from almost every country in the world.

The club is now secure for the next 12 months, giving it a lifeline to continue its essential work for the community. This triumph highlights the influence of trusted local news, which not only informs but galvanizes action.

As part of Greater Manchester’s story for over 150 years, the MEN remains at the heart of local life, advocating for the causes that matter most to the people it serves. Salford Lads Club is saved, and the MEN has once again demonstrated why regional news matters.

Read the full article from the Manchester Evening News here.