Sunu Community CIC is a grassroots-led organisation based in Manchester, dedicated to supporting boys and young men from diverse cultural and migrant backgrounds. Many of the young people we work with face risks such as knife crime, school exclusion, and social isolation. We help them live safe, empowered, and fulfilled lives.
We’re more than a project, we’re a trusted community hub, born from lived experience, community tragedy, and deep-rooted family connections. When crisis strikes, we are often the first call.
Sunu Community began in 2014 as a grassroots social enterprise supporting local migrant families through informal mentoring, emotional support, translation, and culturally sensitive guidance. We were driven by a simple goal: to create a safe and trusted space for boys and their families, particularly those who struggled to access mainstream services.
Over the years, our work became increasingly vital. After four tragic knife crime incidents shook our community including the devastating loss of a 14-year-old boy from a migrant background, we decided to formalise our work. In 2025, we registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC), deepening our commitment to long-term change.
Our name, Sunu meaning "Our" in Wolof, reflects our collective responsibility and shared vision. We are proud to be a bridge between communities and services, offering support grounded in trust, cultural understanding, and lived experience.
To empower boys and men from culturally diverse backgrounds in Manchester by preventing knife crime, building life and employment skills, and supporting integration through English language and cultural education..
A safe, united Manchester where young men feel proud of their identity, confident in their future, and supported by a strong, inclusive community.
We deliver culturally relevant workshops, youth mentoring, and family support sessions to raise awareness of violence and promote safer choices.
We equip boys and young men with practical and personal development skills to boost confidence and unlock pathways to employment or training.
We run weekly English and British culture orientation classes to help newcomers build language skills and understand how to navigate life in the UK.
We support families with school engagement, safeguarding referrals, translation, and system navigation — building trusted bridges between institutions and communities.
We organise regular outdoor sessions, including football and other team- building activities, to help boys develop physical wellbeing, teamwork, and positive peer relationships in a safe environment.
We are based in Manchester and work across Greater Manchester, focusing on West African, Francophone, and other migrant communities who are often underrepresented in mainstream services.
We held community awareness sessions during local events to speak directly with young people about the dangers of violence. These sessions gave boys a safe space to ask questions, share concerns, and hear real-life experiences from trusted mentors, inspiring many to choose more peaceful paths.
Before we registered as a CIC, we organised informal gatherings for newly arrived migrants who struggled with language and cultural adaptation. These sessions improved English skills, explained key aspects of British life, and encouraged migrant fathers to take active roles in their children’s development. They helped reduce isolation and built trust within the community.
In response to urgent needs across our community, we are launching new initiatives to empower boys, young men, and their families.
A youth-led initiative to raise awareness of knife crime and promote positive peer advocacy. Through workshops, school visits, and storytelling sessions, young people will be encouraged to speak up and lead change.
A 6-week hands-on training programme for school leavers and young men. This includes CV writing, interview preparation, soft skills training, and vocational tasters, with introductions to local employers and apprenticeship opportunities.
A weekly club offering English language lessons and British cultural orientation in a safe, informal setting. Sessions will help participants improve communication, understand everyday life, and build confidence.
We will provide culturally sensitive support for families facing school exclusions, youth violence, or other challenges. Our team will offer educational advocacy, mental health signposting, and legal guidance — all delivered by trusted, community-rooted mentors.
Sunu Community is powered by collective action. Whether you're a parent, teacher, youth worker, volunteer, or funder — if you believe in what we do, we’d love to connect.
JOIN US NOWAt Sunu Community, our work is grounded in the lived realities of the people we serve. This gallery captures the powerful moments when our community came together in grief, in healing, in unity, and in hope.
These photos reflect our active presence during difficult times, including vigils and gatherings following tragic incidents involving local youths. They also showcase our grassroots work: supporting families, guiding young people, hosting language and culture sessions, and creating a welcoming environment for those who are often overlooked.
Each image is a testimony to the role we have played as a trusted community hub , a centre where people turn not only for support, but for connection, conversation, and collective strength. Whether through street outreach, or quiet moments of care behind closed doors, Sunu Community has been there with and for the community.
