The OSBAs

Carisma (Community Alliance for Renewal, Inner South Manchester Area) was set up in late 2002 as a grassroots community response to gun and gang problems in the area. Through networking all existing projects and activities, advocacy for our communtiy and its young people and mobilising local people to take action, our aim is to 'create life-chances for young people in the community.'
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PeaceWeek began in 2003. It is a concentrated week of events and activities to generate good news in an area known for other types of news. The more people, groups and organisations get involved, the better it works.
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Introduced as a feature event of PeaceWeek in 2008 as Manchester Peace Awards, the OSBAs (the name is a deliberate play on ‘ASBO’) as they quickly came to be known, caught the imagination of the local communities and the wider city and media.

The award ceremonies are opened by the Lord Mayor and awards have been presented by, among others, Members of Parliament and senior officers of the Council and Greater Manchester Police.

Many value the opportunity to be there to meet and honour the award nominees and winners, local people receiving recognition for their positive and often unseen work in the community. It is also a chance for businesses in the city to express their support of local communities by sponsoring awards and being present at the ceremony and dinner.

It is our hope in Carisma to build relationships with business and commerce in Manchester as a means of encouraging further support of our young people through provision of employment and training opportunities.