Manchester United Foundation has been supporting children in Greater Manchester over the Easter break by delivering free holiday camps across the region.

Camps have included free activities and meals for local young people, ensuring they remain active and engaged outside of school term-time. For youngsters at two of our camps, there was also the opportunity to meet some of Manchester United’s Academy players – who also signed autographs and posed for photos with our excited participants.

Maxi Oyedele, Ashton Missin and Elyh Harrison joined the fun at Dean Trust Broadoak School, where children received free meals alongside the physical activity element of our delivery.

Midfielder Maxi Oyedele said: “Elyh, Ashton and I can see that the children are so excited, they want to ask us questions – it’s brilliant and it’s been really fun.

“I remember I did this type of thing when I was a kid and I loved it – I’m sure these guys are enjoying it too – it gets them off the street, playing with other kids, through football, so it’s great.”

Meanwhile, Tom Wooster and Ethan Ennis supported young people attending our holiday camp at Loreto High School – where Year 6 pupils from the area’s surrounding primary schools attended the camp ahead of making the transition to high school in September.

Tom Wooster said: “We’ve interacted with the kids and made them feel included in some small-sided games and little skill-games and team bonding stuff. It’s a great feeling to brighten some children’s days, there’s a couple of characters in there so it’s been good fun.”

Kyle, a participant at the Loreto camp and a United fan, loved the chance to come face-to-face with our Academy players.

He said: “It was amazing to meet the Man United players, they gave me and all my friends signatures and gave out a Man United t-shirt, they’re amazing people.

“There have been have a lot of activities and sport and football to do here, and the staff are really amazing people.”

Jasmine Patel, a primary delivery officer supporting the holiday camp at Broadoak, said: “All three of the Academy players have been amazing – they’ve joined in, the kids were buzzing, and to see some future stars is a really big deal. The kids were just so engaged, the players got involved and it’s just been a positive vibe all round. Hopefully the kids will go home with some great memories.

“We’ve had primary and high school kids come down every day this week, get active and have some food; most importantly it’s getting them out of the house. For us it’s vital to get involved in the community and do something positive for these young people during the holidays.”

More than 60 children were in attendance across camps at Loreto and Broadoak, with several other clubs running across other parts of the region – extending our impact further across Greater Manchester during the Easter holidays.