Year 9 and 10 students from five Manchester United Foundation partner schools descended on Old Trafford to enjoy a morning with healthcare professionals, who presented the chance to try their hand at a number of different activities.

First up was pathology, where students used microscopes to identify bacteria and viruses to get a feel for life in a laboratory, before moving on to the sonography station where the youngsters studied scans that are used by doctors to determine a diagnosis.

The participants also enjoyed the opportunity to see how medical notes are transferred to clinical codes that form databases, learn about financial roles in the NHS and also listen to real-life 999 phone recordings – learning about how handlers navigate calls and remain calm in difficult situations.

During the activities, pupils were able to chat to the professionals leading the sessions to learn more and, for those considering pursuing a career in this area, gain valuable advice.

Tom Fitton, Hub Development Coordinator, said: “The students who have attended this event have gained an amazing insight into life in the NHS, how it is funded, and how there are so many different elements to the operation.

“For this particular event, we ensured that most of the students have an interest in health and social care so that we know they stand to gain a lot from today, and it once again highlights the variety of opportunities that we can offer at Manchester United Foundation that go so far beyond football.”

A sentiment shared by participants Amani and Tyra, who attend Co-op Academy Swinton and Buile Hill Academy, respectively, both commented on how much fun the educational session had been.

“The pathology session was so good,” Amani enthused. “They let us get really hands on with it and showed us how they monitor bacteria in substances to measure how healthy or unhealthy someone is – I found it fascinating.

“We also got to look at the bacteria through a microscope,” he added. “It was mad because I’ve never seen anything like that before – it looked like a cartoon!”

“It’s been so good to see all these amazing opportunities in health and social,” Tyra said. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot and, above all, it’s given me a chance to see these jobs in action – some that I had no idea about before coming here today.

“It’s certainly left me with an interest in learning more as I continue my education.”