MYC Lied To Me - The Final
I just received my last email regarding the official corporate complaint against MYC - and it isn't a success.
I complained in November about MYC's conduct to Manchester City Council for a second time after my first complaint was ignored. Since then, I have patiently waited for their investigation to yield results.
To remind you of the three obligations that Neil and Alima agreed to in March 2024:
Public apology for mistreatment of young people, including myself
The Volunteer Pack that stopped me from participating was supposed to be complete in January 2023 - when will it be made?
Updates and involvement on the Phasing Out Policy so other young people would not go through the same
The Council finally replied to me after a two-month delay with their update:
Neil does not recall this being mentioned at all (very convenient as I had a witness there AND it was in my blog published at the time) but remembers apologising for lack of clarity.
Delays are still ongoing "outside of the Council's control" such as unforseen staff absences. I have been told that "the volunteer pack is currently being progressed and is scheduled to be finalised by the end of August 2025, if not sooner. Once the volunteer pack is complete, we will share it with you".
The work with the Phasing Out Policy is still ongoing and they are in the process of organising meetings to finalise. I have been told that I can be involved BUT there is no remuneration as their policy does not allow payment for volunteers.
My complaint was found to be UPHELD meaning it was correct to do so and that I had substantive points to raise. I did receive apologies in the email. But the nerve to go back on the key priorities we agreed on almost a year ago is sickening. The audacity to pretend that such obligations such as publicly apologising to the young people they had mistreated were made up?
This is the sour taste left after 7 years of youth service. My original issue with them occurred over two years ago now and I still did not get what I wanted. But I regret none of it - complaining using procedures, using my blog and social media to highlight what has happened. This is my awful, authentic experience - youth voice can absolutely be soul-destroying, because the very people who brought you up and empowered you can be the same people who drag you down and dismiss you as a nobody. To the end, MYC has shown me who they really are, an organisation who did not give a thought to the young people they were in charge of. There are countless other people who went through this too, whose well-being and safeguarding was not taken seriously. With no appropriate measures in place, how can they say that young people's welfare matters to them?
By speaking out, I hope other youth organisations can see what has happened and implement better practices. And to young people deciding whether they should join somewhere for opportunities - I would advise you to take caution. Organisations like MYC are quick to take advantage of the time and experience you have to offer.
Today's decision reflects poorly on youth empowerment. But if there's one thing that I've learnt, it's that I will be ok. Really, I should thank MYC for everything, because even though they severely mistreated me and made me feel like the smallest person on Earth, the skills and confidence I have today to write these words and advocate on such a platform is because of what they taught me. It's ironic really. I'd laugh if it hadn't made me cry and consumed so much of my time and effort.
So thank you, MYC, for teaching me how to stand up to organisations treating young people badly - just like you. I really did learn the biggest lesson there is. And we know what was agreed upon, even if you want to paint me as the liar.

*Image is owned by Little I
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