For children like Zach Grimshaw, there's a place in Harpurhey that's become a second home. Whatever struggles his mum Helen is facing making ends meet, at Rochdale Road there's a hot meal waiting for him, friendly faces, and the chance to learn some skills.
As the cost-of-living crisis shows little sign of easing, Manchester Youth Zone is ray of hope. "I can just about feed my child, to feed my son is my priority but there is often not much left to feed yourself," Helen says.
"I am struggling to top up the meter, to keep the gas and electric going. I can't afford to use the heating in the day and we have showers at night, rather than in the morning. We are just operating one charger that does both our devices."
