We are extremely sorry to say that Anne Simmons, the manager of our Youth Education Projects, died on October 30th following a brief illness.

Chris Duncan, Chair of the Manchester Young Lives Board said: "Anne had a passion, a vision and a commitment to the all round education of young people who struggle with the school system that was second to none. She was the heart and spirit of the Youth Education Project and gave the young people so much. All of us at Manchester Young Lives will miss her immensely - young people, staff and board members alike. She was unique, and is irreplaceable."

Anne joined MYL in 1999 to work on the establishment of our first alternative education project, School Otherwise. She became project manager and developed the work into the Youth Education Project, which now offers alternative education to over 60 young people from secondary schools across Manchester.

All at Manchester Young Lives would like to offer our sympathy to Anne’s family, friends, to the young people she worked with and to her colleagues and contacts, who have been shocked and saddened by the news of her death.