Xplode Magazine | Issue 17 | Winter 18/19

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OUR GUIDE TO

HOW-TO Mocktails BEAUTY Flawless on a budget

FASHION Feel Fresh

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Credits Team Saeed Atcha Chloe Bennett Ed Jankowski Saimah Malji Khalil Malji Adam Toorawa Lydia German Kasey Smith Mo Jiva Ambreen Memon Aliyah Khan Chloe Wilson Shabih Syed Zahra Khan Sabrina Burton Alisha Zahid Kajol Patel Amaan Memon Sufyaan Mahmood Isabel Brennand Abeer Abdulaziz Jolene Wong Clara Jarvis Kieran Sehmi Owen Povah Paige Latham Tibby Hussain Sophie Howarth

With special thanks to HM Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mr. Warren Smith

Contact Xplode Magazine Xplode Magazine The Bolton Hub, Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

E: info@xplodemag.co.uk T: 01204 546 081 Search ‘Xplode Mag’ on Socials Disclaimer: Xplode Magazine Bolton, Registered Charity 1155789 strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information. If you have seen any mistakes or anything you are not happy with then please e-mail us: info@xplodemag.co.uk All information is correct at the time of print and any unauthorised copying or reproducing of Xplode Magazine’s content will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Xplode Magazine 2018. All Rights Reserved.

Magazine Welcome...

We give you the opportunities, information and guidance to better your chances in life. We have trained young people in media and business skills and have given them the opportunity to showcase their writing, photography and management skills in this magazine.

We’re not just a magazine either - we train young people across the UK in how to get jobs. From searching for a job to smashing the interview, we’re there every step of the way.

Because of this, we’re a registered charity helping thousands of young people aged 14-22 across the UK.

All of our volunteers take pride in what they do and we are so proud to have been recognised

by Her Majesty The Queen who gave us an award for what we do!

To learn more, go to xplode.co.uk Enjoy the magazine!

S. Atcha

Saeed Atcha, Chief Executive

Since issue 16...

Thrive

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Vegan at Uni

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4 Day Trips

A partnership between Bolton CVS and CCG helps young people to Thrive with their mental health.

100 Years Bake these brownies!

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A banner, created by Xplode’s volunteers, celebrates 100 years of women and young men voting.

How-to: Fresh Mocktails

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NCS

Fashion: Made in Bury

We’ve trained over 500 young people on NCS in employability training.

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England Winter Break

Khalid Introducing, 20-year-old American singer and songwriter Khalid. The rising star wrote his debut album ‘American Teen’ at high school and featured a place on the US Top 10. The album features everything relatable to 21st-century teenage life; straining friendships, love and Uber. Talking to NME about creating an album about his youth,

Sigrid Meet the winner of BBC Sound of 2018, Sigrid!

The Norwegian pop star started producing music four years ago for her DJ-brother. Her lack of experience didn’t hold her back, she learnt the craft quickly and found her voice on a series of Scandipop songs that produced a record label war! Her most well-known single ‘Strangers’ made it to Number 1 on the Official Trending Chart after its release.

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Khalid said, “I feel like the album was a time capsule. I’m presenting all the emotions I felt when I was 16 to 18 to the entire world”. The Grammy-nominated R&B singer has already brushed shoulders with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and toured with Lorde earlier this year.

Named 4th on the BBC Sound of 2018, Khalid has already collaborated with one of Xplode’s Issue 16 featured artists, Billie Eilish, on the track ‘Lovely’. The evocative song is powered by cinematic vocals which steer us as listeners through tales of heartbreak which are nothing but relatable and breathtaking. If his future work is anything like his debut album, Khalid is an artist that is destined for greatness.

Despite being on track for huge success, the 21-yearold has the same concerns about the world as most of us; Brexit, climate change and harassment.

In a recent interview with the Guardian, she shared, “When it comes to my age, why shouldn’t I have opinions?

Young people have opinions.

They always have, but because of social media, you see it much more now - I think it’s a good thing”. This incredibly down to earth and talented singer is definitely one to watch in 2018!

BY CHLOE BENNETT

Socialise

Weekend

Where are you going to explore this weekend? Although weekends may be a time for lie-ins and late nights, don’t forget there are plenty of adventurous destinations and activities around you, so here are my top tips of things to do this weekend!

Volunteer Why not give a few hours of your time each week to your local community and be a part of a voluntary group? This will allow you to gain experience, develops skills and will also benefit others more than you think. You can even add the skills you’ve learnt to your CV making you more employable.

To find out the volunteering opportunities in your area check out vInspired or Do-it.

After a hectic week at school, college or university, the weekends can be the perfect time to catch up with friends and family. So get out there and make some plans, even if it’s just a visit to the park or a meal out. You could even invite all your friends around for a movie night!

Plans?

The Great Outdoors So, everyone is doing the same old things this autumn, but you’re not! Be different. You don’t just have to stay in during the weekends; you can head out and explore some of the UK’s best beaches and national parks. Yes, it might not be summer anymore, but as long as you wrap up you’ll be fine! If you want to push yourself, you could always go rock climbing or try out fishing.

Hopefully, these suggestions will be useful when deciding how to spend your weekends!

BY ALISHA ZAHID

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Rainy Day Reading List We live in rainy England, this means plenty of time for binge-watching and binge-reading. So here are some of my favourite books that have also been created into amazing TV series!

The British television crime drama is based on Sir Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective stories.

This modern version of the Victorian books stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. There are now four series, and even though they’re an hour and a half each, you seriously won’t be able to stop pressing the ‘new episode’ button.

another incredible watch The Handmaid’s Tale is It is l by Margaret Atwood. based on the 1985 nove r de un live n where wome set in a dystopian world hts rig ve cti du of low pro a dictatorship. As a result ced to have children for for are n in America, wome nnot conceive. The series wealthy couples that ca lence, but it is actually has excitement and vio rld that we could terrifying to see the wo be heading towards.

Seven series down and I’ve got to say I’m definitely confused, yet in awe. Based on the eight books

by George R.R Martin, the series is full of magic, dragons, adventure and romance.

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BY CLARA JARVIS

Brownies

Ingredients: 175g margarine; 350g caster sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla essence; 3 eggs; 125g plain flour; 1 level teaspoon of baking powder; 50g cocoa Optional: 150g of walnuts or anything else you wish to put in your brownies You will also need a 30 x 35 x 4cm tin, or you can use a different sized tin to get different shaped brownies Instructions: Preheat the oven to 180C / Gas mark 4 and lightly grease your baking tin with margarine.

Makes approximately 15 brownies

Melt the margarine in a heatproof bowl over a pan on a low heat.

Once melted, pour the margarine into a mixing bowl and then add the sugar and vanilla essence.

Break the eggs into a small bowl and beat them.

BY ALIYAH KHAN

Add the eggs to the mixing bowl a bit at a time (beating in between) and beat well.

Sift the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa and baking powder) into the bowl.

Add the optional chopped up walnuts or whichever ingredient you wish to use and stir all the ingredients together so that it is mixed well.

Pour the mixture into the tin and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.

Bake the brownies in the oven for 35-40 minutes.

Leave the brownies to cool in the tin for 5 minutes and then cut into 15 square pieces. Then leave them on a wire rack to cool and store in an airtight container.

You can have them on their own or serve them warm with a scoop of your favourite ice cream!

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My Trip Review Back in January, I visited a place that has been on my bucket list for what seems like forever. I mean I’m pretty sure its everyone’s dream to visit the big apple. A few friends and I visited New York as part of a college trip linking

The Hotel Although I had zero luggage which was a bummer, the Hotel Pennsylvania was chic, classic and had these old-fashioned vault doors which have been there for centuries. It was literally in the centre of Madison Square Gardens, where there are many unique coffee shops and morning walks right on your doorstep.

The rooms were huge; they had four big comfy single beds, lots of light, great views and even a walk-in wardrobe!

NEW YO with A-Level English Language and Literature – it was amazing! Despite not receiving our luggage at New York JFK for the whole trip, we made the most of it. Throughout the four/five day trip, we managed to fit in all the touristy stuff. So I thought I’d give you a little run down of where I stayed, what I did and what I loved - all things New York!

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Shopping

Now, you really can’t visit NY without a little bit of shopping, and although I didn’t go crazy, I still wanted to treat myself, which meant stopping off at Sephora! The trip wouldn’t be right if I didn’t get the typical touristy NYC hoodie.

We also visited Bath and Body Works and picked up a few gifts.

BY CHLOE WILSON

Neighbourhoods and Avenues We didn’t get taxis anywhere, we walked everywhere, and I loved it! Figuring out avenues and streets was a pain, but we figured out after a couple of goes and Apple Maps! We stayed on Madison Square Gardens, on every corner was a cute gift shop and multiple Dunkin’ Donuts. Walking around was a dream - camera worthy shots on every corner #instagrammersDREAM!

ORK CITY “ Places to go

New York made my heart grow warm!

My most favourite place I visited was the beautiful Statue of Liberty. She was such a lovely monument to capture. I would definitely go back and visit again. Also, the NY Deli, what an amazing place for food. We really captured the essence of New York in the food of the locals - the dreamy cheese bagels.

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A year of change...

Gap years and volunteering abroad have become the norm but why not make a change right on your doorstep?

Many people are unsure of what it is they want to do in the future and that really is okay. Don’t ever feel pressured to have all the answers. It was weeks before my university graduation and I was none the wiser of my future plans and then I was introduced to City Year UK and unknown to me, I was about to embark on the most incredible year of my life.

I always had it in my head that I could never work in a secondary school and so ruled it out as a future career but oh how I was wrong. Supporting primary school aged children has always been my comfort zone due to previous work experience but now I’ve taken the leap of faith and proved myself wrong. I know that many people are filled with the same fears but I seriously urge you

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BY KAJOL PATEL

... a lifetime of opportunity

‘Whilst everyone else around me was applying to postgraduate courses, it just didn’t feel like the right path for me.

passion lies within the pastoral side of education, something which my volunteering role has relied heavily on. Although I provide a lot of academic support in lessons and through 1:1 booster sessions, it soon became clear that social and emotional support are my strengths. not to not rule out secondary students if you want to work with young people. As enjoyable as primary is, there is something so much more rewarding guiding teenagers, in particular those at GCSE age. It can’t be denied that there are challenging days but with that brings undeniable reward. No amount of money comes close to the reward of changing lives for the better.

City Year UK is not just for those who want to go into teaching. The wealth of hands-on experience and transferable skills gained from being in a school setting and having access to the leadership development days has increased my knowledge and job prospects in my chosen field. This year has helped me realise that teaching is not for me without having the commitment of a £9,000 course.

I have now realised that my

Being a teenager is tough, not only are you constantly told that your GCSE grades will determine your future but you are also trying to find out exactly who you are as a person - all whilst dealing with external pressures such as family and relationships. A comment from one of the Year 11 pupils is something I will never forget “It’s great to have someone invest so much in me and believe in me when I couldn’t believe in myself’.

This is the exact reason I have given a year to becoming a fulltime volunteer mentor with City Year UK. As a mentor I am there to change their lives, but these kids have truly changed mine.

Every day I have the privilege of being a role model for future generations and so could you - it might just be the best decision you ever make.

If you want to find out more or have any questions visit cityyear. org.uk/join or tweet @CYPatel16

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Izzy, 14 “Volunteering for me is my chance to express things through the magazine. It makes me happy thinking that people have taken time to read my articles and that I might have helped someone. I’ve been proud of everything - it’s nothing like anything else I do.”

Interested in volunteering at Xplode?

Develop your skills, make new friends and create positive change xplodemag.co.uk/join

Taibah, 18

“Volunteering has had a significant impact on my life by enabling me to see how I can personally impact the present and the future. It also allows me to give back to the community whilst also allowing me to benefit from the rewards. Volunteering has also given me a number of valuable life skills as well as allowing me to access opportunities that I was not aware of before I started to volunteer.”

Mo, 17

“I never would have thought I could be a part of a magazine!

I was proud when I took my interview to join Xplode, and after that, every little thing I did as a part of Xplode only made me prouder of myself because I was taking my writing and personal views forward onto a platform I had tried so hard to reach initially. From writing articles and posting them online, to taking part in the fashion shoots and writing for upcoming releases, I have really loved every experience”.

What is life like as a volunteer at Xplode?

Chloe, 17 “Volunteering has had a major impact on my life, it has opened up many opportunities especially at college and university. It has allowed me to gain skills which I’ve been able to put on my CV. My proudest moment at Xplode has to be when I interviewed Ainsley Harriott at Bolton Food and Drink Festival. I felt important and just like a real journalist.”

Lydia, 19 “I have been a volunteer with Xplode for almost three years and in that time have gone from studying media in college to gaining full-time employment in the sector, and I cannot thank Xplode enough for giving me that first seed of inspiration and belief that I can achieve my dream of working in media.”

We’re a Greater Mancunian charity powered by a team of amazing volunteers aged between 14 and 21-years old. Here’s what volunteering means to some of our team!

“Volunteering has allowed me to meet new people and benefit the community. It has helped me become more confident in terms of my writing and socially. My proudest moment as a volunteer was chairing the Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority meeting in April. This allowed me to lead the discussions on important issues such as mental health, history and radicalism, as well as developments in Curriculum for Life.”

Clara, 16

If you’re looking for a cooling fresh drink, this is perfect for you!

It’s quick to make with easy to find ingredients!

Ingredients: 1 can lemonade 1 tbsp sugar Small bunch of mint leaves (Juice from) 2 limes Crushed ice Method: Combine the sugar and mint leaves using a pestle and mortar (or a small bowl and the end of a rolling pin).

Put the crushed ice into a glass.

Put the lime juice into the glass and add the mint and sugar mix.

Top up your glass with the lemonade.

(Optional) Garnish your glass with a lime slice or a mint leaf.

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Rose Lemon Spritzer A subtle, tasty drink, perfect for your Instagram feed!

Ingredients: 2 tbsp rosewater 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice 2 tbsp honey (Optional) 1 tbsp blood orange/pomegranate juice for colour 1 can sparkling water (Optional) fresh roses Method: Combine the rose water, fresh lemon juice, honey and (if using) blood orange/ pomegranate juice.

Pour your new mixture into a glass. Top up with sparkling water.Garnish with your fresh roses.

BY ISABEL BRENNAND

FreshMocktails

Virgin Mojito

Whether it’s because you’re not old enough to drink or because you’re the designated driver, these five mocktails are sure to keep you cool throughout the scorching summer ahead!

Virgin Sangria

A non-alcoholic version of the widely drank sangria, extremely fruity!

Pomegranate and Berry Sparkle A vibrant and colourful drink with intense fruity flavour!

Ingredients: 1 can lemonade Fresh pomegranate juice (Optional) cranberries (Optional) sprig of thyme Method: Mix your lemonade and pomegranate juice into a glass.

Top with 2-3 cranberries.

And 1-2 sprigs of thyme.

Ingredients: (to make a jug) 4 cups white grape juice 1 cup blueberries 1 cup orange juice Juice from 1 lime 2 limes 2 oranges 2 bananas 2 peaches

with 1/4 cup blueberries and put into a jug.

Method:Chop the fruit.

Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Add the orange and lime juice and mix.

Add the ice and chopped fruit and the rest of the blueberries.

Blend the white grape juice

Rosemary Blueberry Smash Healthy, but extremely delicious!

Ingredients: 8 blueberries 1 can/bottle sparkling water 2tbsp honey syrup 2tbsp fresh lemon juice 1 stripped rosemary sprig Crushed ice Method: Combine the blueberries and rosemary leaves using a

XPLODEMAG.CO.UK

pestle and mortar (or a small bowl and the end of a rolling pin).

Add the honey syrup and lemon juice and mix.

Add crushed ice to a glass and strain the mixture into it using a sieve.

Top up with sparkling water.

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Step up for life!

Rathbone Training is a British youth charity that transforms the lives of young people through learning. With centres in England, Scotland, and Wales, we reach over 5,000 people each year.

We provide programs to improve Maths and English whilst gaining qualifications and valuable work experience. We also offer apprenticeships in a range of employment sectors and run specialist provision for young people aged 14+ who are partially or fully excluded from school.

At Rathbone we like to have fun whilst learning and hold events like the Big Music Project and the National Youth Conference where you’ll get to meet like-minded people who are also studying at Rathbone in the UK.

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This summer we are running our exclusive Step Up! Programs in the North West at the following centres, from 10th24th July in Manchester (central), Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Preston, Wigan If you’re 16-18 years old, why not join us to help develop your confidence, learn new skills and meet some local employers?

The programs are all 3 days and you’ll get FREE travel from your home to the centre each day, a FREE breakfast and a FREE lunch.

To register you interest please visit rathboneuk. org/stepup We care about you and your future. We’ve been where you are and know how to get ahead in life, so why not give us a call today and speak to a member of our friendly team!

By Paige Latham

CALL 0330 123 3220 FOR MORE INFORMATION

SWITCHED ON FOR TRAINING

Find out how we can help you reach your goals Traineeships For candidates 16 to 24 year olds

Pre-apprenticeships For candidates aged 16 to 18 (up to 24 with EHCP)

Apprenticeships For candidates from 16 to 24 years

We offer apprenticeships at Level 2 and 3 in the following sectors: ■ Childcare

■ Supported Teaching and Learning in Schools

■ Health and Social Care

■ Vehicle Fitting

■ Residential Childcare

■ Vehicle Maintenance

■ Business Administration

■ Youth Work

GO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION...

Call our contact centre

0330 123 3220

Complete our enquiry form

rathboneuk.org

Simon Mupenda has just completed his Business course at Bury College. Originally from Rochdale, the local, young business-man runs his very own clothing brand ‘Saint Aaspire’.

Who is a part of your brand?

“Our brand consists of myself, Simon (18) and five others; Jonathan, Alende, Beni, Ben and Tresor (16-19). Some of us are family, some friends and some even childhood friends.”

How did you start up the brand?

“I studied GSCE business at High School, and I was asked to come up with a unique project for my course.

Originally, I had an idea of building a music platform for unique talent to be shared, where the name ‘Saint Aaspire’ had come from. ‘Aaspire’ being the inspiring aspect of the brand, spelt with two a’s which adds the unique aspect to it. And the word ‘Saint’ speaks for itself, with its Christian connotations to

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it; my faith is a strong part of my background.”

How did you move forward?

“When I started Bury College in 2016, the idea of clothing became very prominent in my mind and along with this, the inspirational idea of being able to wear what you want without any stigma attached. Our brand represents that you should be able to be free and be yourself, especially with your attire.”

How would you inspire others with your brand?

“I have grown up in Africa, like some of the others who are a part of my brand and it’s another aspect which makes our brand unique; we will never forget our roots, and this will continue to inspire us. We plan to deliver events in the future where we can use our brand to inspire young people and be able to give them a platform where they can find ease in showing their talents; Saint Aaspire can and will help them achieve this. Also, these events will be held to aid Charities with funds,

BY TIBBY HUSSAIN

not specific to certain causes but for the need at the time of the events because Saint Aaspire want to be able to help where we can, by giving when we can. Our brand is for everyone, not gender specific, not ethnicity related, simply for everyone.”

You can get in touch with the Saint Aaspire team through their Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @saintaaspire.

What are Saint Aaspire’s Plans for the Future?

“To take over and be number 1. It’s a big goal, I know but to put the work in now, you’re working for when the time comes to shine. Our clothing brand is different to others, we’re not out here to be a ‘trend’, we are here to make a lifestyle out of what we do, and we want to maintain that. Obviously, we face competition.”

Simon is now going on to further his studies in business at the University of Hull and says “Moving away will not cause any problems for continuing to run the brand as having a team who are dedicated and committed, makes any opportunity possible.”

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With all the excitement at festivals, you need an outfit to match! Add a sequin bag and glitter wellies to give a fun vibe, ready for the weekend! White shorts and a pink wide sleeve off the shoulder top adds the style element, creating the perfect festival look.

Don’t forget your raincoat!

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If you’re not into dresses and want to feel comfortable, this jumpsuit is perfect for you.

In red, it is a simple, yet classy choice for an occasion outfit.

Complement it with a red lip and opt for black accessories to make the red stand out!

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So, before I start, I want to get some definitions out the way.

Vegan means: no animal products in food, clothes, accessories, makeup, anything you own. Plantbased: no animal products in the food you eat.

I became pescatarian (vegetarian but eating fish) when I was 7, I became vegetarian at 16, and now at 20, I am currently plant-based but trying to go more vegan. As a student, throwing out everything that wasn’t vegan was going to be a waste of money. However, before making the decision, I watched GraceFitUK, an influencer who had similar fitness and plantbased goals to me.

I watched lots of her videos and messaged several Instagram pages and tried to do as much research into what vitamins and supplements I’d have to take. The main thing was B12, so I got B12 vitamins and bought some vegan peach tea flavoured BCAAs (branch chain amino acids) from Ideal Fit which contains loads of B vitamins and tastes great.

I went through my cupboards and got rid of any non-vegan foods

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Going Vegan at Uni! and gave them to my flatmates.

I make 99% of my food from scratch, so cooking at home wasn’t that difficult. Shopping took slightly longer the first few times but once I knew what I could and couldn’t have that became less of an issue. I haven’t tried eating out many times but the few places I have tried always had at least one vegan option, and at others, I just asked for a slight change.

One side effect of going vegan is weight loss because the calories in most vegetables aren’t very high so I’ve been trying to find a balance, but it is great to be able to have a load of food, and the calories only come up to around 400.

Whether veganism is right for you is a difficult question. My fitness goal is weight loss and muscle toning, if your goal is building huge amounts of muscle and putting on weight, then I can’t tell you if veganism is right for you.

BY SABRINA BURTON

Everything has a price tag these days, right? Education, food, outings, even the bare necessities to stay alive require quite a hefty sum. How can someone expect the youth of today to be able to enjoy their time whilst they’re young when everything costs so much!

For us girls, one of our MANY requirements is makeup. Now, we all would love to own Kylie Jenner’s $300 brush set. Or every new limited edition rose gold item that hits the shops.

It’s tempting - I get it. But when reality hits, we realise we can’t afford it! Yet we still buy it anyway. Oops?

Every time we apply our makeup, and it goes wrong we would usually either blame the products or our tools. Maybe you’re not buying the best makeup brushes

... on a budget?

Flawless... because you’ve spent your money on expensive ones that are really the cause of the disaster on your face. It’s not about quantity, it’s Ingredients about quality, as all our teachers have told us that at least once. I can guarantee 60% of the expensive makeup brushes are not worth their price tag but sell for a high price simply because of their brand name.

Next time you’re looking to buy new makeup brushes, let me advise you to take a trip to Amazon! Honestly, a lot of their sets such as ‘Anjou’ or ‘Sixplus’ have the quality we need to give our face that flawless look we wish for, but for a much cheaper price. Their sets cost under £20 and include 10+ brushes. Which if you ask me, is a bargain!

So if you’re looking for a money saving alternative, definitely check these brands out.

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BY AMBREEN MEMON

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The introduction of a winter break will do nothing to improve England’s tournament chances.

From the 2019/20 football season, a winter break will be implemented. Managers and pundits alike have been calling for this, for many years. The only opposition to the break was that it could ruin the Premier League’s unique schedule over the Christmas period. But the break will take place after that period and will be staggered so there will be no week without football. All clubs will have 13 days rest and teams in the Football League will not be affected.

day have never been fitter. The amount of science and dietary plans that players use to keep fit is mind-boggling. So do not tell me that by the time a major tournament comes around they are fatigued, especially when you consider the time off between the end of the season and the start of the Euros/World Cup.

England Winter Break

This break would be less than Germany, France, Spain and Italy, so the players in those countries would still be fitter than the English players in the summer tournaments. The argument for implementing a winter break is that England is massively behind every other nation and many feel that without a winter break English players are “exhausted” causing a “significant obstacle” to achieving tournament success.

Arguably, players in the modern

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Some believe English players are playing far more games than their European counterparts.

This is patently not true. The top three English teams in the 2016/17 season had played on average the least amount of games compared with those in Spain, Italy and France. This is no surprise given that English teams tend not to do well in the Champions and Europa League.

Playing more games than the rest of those in Europe didn’t seem to harm Spain’s successes

BY KASEY SMITH

at the start of the decade when they won the World Cup and then the European Championships two years later. Nearly half of the players in the last European Championship final played in the Premier League - they didn’t appear to be too fatigued.

Since 2010, Germany have had the most success as a nation, and they have the longest winter break, so perhaps it does have a positive impact after all. But they also play the least because they have only 18 teams in their league whilst the rest have 20. And there is no concrete evidence showing that a winter break has a positive impact, suggesting it is more down to the quality of the players and coach.

League managers’ failures. So implementing the break will leave them with no excuses.

We are naïve if we think having a winter break will make an ounce of difference. For a start, it is shorter than the ones in the rest of Europe, and we need to resolve the issues of the quality of our manager and players before we blame structural problems.

The reason why England have been so awful is because we have had managers such as Sven-Göran Eriksson, Steve McClaren and Roy Hodgson.

They are hardly renowned for success. It’s because the mentality has been wrong, it’s because the players have not been good enough - it is not because of the lack of a winter break and England will continue to fail long after the break is introduced if we do not resolve those issues.

The reality is, the lack of a winter break has too often become an excuse for England and Premier

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Pilates is taught worldwide and is becoming increasingly popular, and can be practised by all ages. It is good for strengthening and stretching and focuses on mind and body.

But did you know that Joseph Pilates invented it?

The Man Behind Pilates Joseph Pilates struggled with asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever as a child, but he became a skilled gymnast, skier and diver in an attempt to overcome these. In 1912 before the War he was working as a circus performer, boxer and selfdefence instructor.

During the First World War, he interned with German nationals, where he then improved his physical fitness further by teaching the other interns.

During the War, he worked with patients who were unable to

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walk and later invented a piece of equipment called the Cadillac which helped some people to walk again. In the early 1920s, he moved to the USA and started teaching classes in New York with his wife Clara, who together taught what was later named Pilates in a body conditioning gym.

Their classes soon became popular, especially with the dance community as a way to improve skill or recover from injuries. Celebrities soon started to visit. While Joseph Pilates was behind the creation of Pilates, his wife Clara was the teacher in the studio and passed the methods onto apprentices.

Over 12 million people are currently taking part in Pilates, and counting - including me!

If you want to try something different, then Pilates is something for you, so make sure you check out if there are any studios in your area!

BY ISABEL BRENNAND

Chester

day trips to take...

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It’s always a struggle figuring out where to go when you’ve got some time off! Do I stay in? Do I go out? I say go out! And I’ve rounded up 4 of the best day trips you can take and they’re all pretty close by!

A beautiful city that only takes an hour by train. The old city of Chester is lined up with Tudorstyle buildings.

This city will probably take you back in time for just a day. You could get some afternoon tea at Booth Mansion which is a historic building in the centre of Chester.

Liverpool The city where the Beatles we re born and took the picture of their famous album cover! Thi s city is only an hour away from Manchester and contain s lots of historical stuff to explore such as the docks.

Hebden Bridge

Lake District An hour away from Manchester via car and it is worth the hassle because the transition from a city to the countryside is pretty drastic. Also, after a day of hiking or cycling, you could head down to get some gingerbread at Grasmere Gingerbread Shop!

BY JOLENE WONG

Hebden Bridge is an hour drive, but the train takes you to the town in around 30 minutes. It is a small market town known for its quirky cafés and shops. Set at the top of the hills, it provides some fantastic photo opportunities.

These places are great to explore when you’ve got some time off, especially if you are on a budget!

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Voices in power!

The Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority (GMYCA) met for the first time in February 2018.

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young greater Mancunians meet every month to develop real policies that will improve the lives of young people across the area.

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Here’s a summary of what’s been discussed so far from Xplode’s representatives.

At the very first meeting, the reps were introduced to politicians from across Greater Manchester including the Mayor, Andy Burnham and councillor Rishi Shori from Bury Council.

Laura Edwards (the youngest councillor for Walkden South), and Lewis Nelson who were both influential in setting up the group, officially launched the first meeting.

After some icebreakers, we talked about our overall aims. A big part of this was the Greater Manchester Curriculum for Life, which aims to give young people the skills and knowledge we NEED to succeed in the real

BY MO JIVA, CLARA JARVIS, ALIYAH KHAN

world.

At the second meeting, we learnt about ‘Devolution’, which is the power to spend money and make changes where and how greater Mancunians want.

People who actually live in Greater Manchester make the decisions, not those in London or Parliament.

We also learnt about how EVERY young person can be involved in shaping the future.

There were lots of different issues that the GMYCA’s young reps wanted to tackle.

However, we could only pick a few to focus on and address properly across the next two years. To decide this, all members wrote down what they hoped to achieve from the GMYCA. Some people wanted to gain “campaign experience”, and others wanted to “improve support for LGBTQ+”. As a group we decided to focus on four main topics across the two years, which were; Curriculum for Life, Transport, Health and Hate Crime.

At the third meeting, we took part in a focus group about a ‘Life Readiness Questionnaire’

which measures how much you’re ready for adult life.

We gave our feedback which will be used to improve the questionnaire. The final version of the questionnaire will be filled out by young people across Greater Manchester.

Depending on the results, changes can then be made by the Mayor to make sure ALL young people can get quality career advice which means they’re ‘ready for life’ once they leave school.

Finally, we looked at requests from different groups that we could work with. This included the “Preventing Hateful Extremism and Promoting Social Cohesion Commission” which was set up following the Manchester Arena attack last year.

The meetings so far have been a great success, and we’re really beginning to get more young people across Greater Manchester involved.

Follow @youthgreatermcr on Twitter and Instagram to find out more about what the group is doing and to share your views.

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The Truth Ab Summer is over but you might be one of the thousands of young people who turn to sunbeds and unconventional methods to keep that summer glow - but are you aware of the dangers? Hopefully, our guide of myth-busting facts will help you to be safe in the sun!

It’s safer to use sunbeds than to tan naturally in the sun Some young people believe that using sunbeds for a few minutes per week is less damaging than spending hours in the sun trying to get a tan. However, just like tanning outside, sunbeds and sunlamps still expose the skin to ultraviolet (UV) rays, and overexposure to these rays is the most common cause of skin cancer. UV rays can also cause the skin to age prematurely due to the development of wrinkles and dark spots. Research has also shown that those who start to tan regularly during their teenage years are more likely to develop melanoma, the most severe type of skin cancer.

Due to this, it’s actually illegal for those under the age of 18 to use a sunbed in the UK.

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I don’t need sunscreen if I have dark skin

Some young people with darker skin tones assume that they don’t need to wear sunscreen as they’re less likely to burn. Yes, research has shown that those with more pigment in their skin might have a lower risk of developing skin cancer, but this doesn’t mean they’re immune.

Fake tan is better than using sunbeds or tanning in the sun Since the dangers of tanning have been well advertised, many of us are turning to fake tan instead, but is faking it better? The truth surrounding fake tan is yet to be conclusively determined.

However, some argue that spray tans, in particular, can be dangerous to your health. There are concerns with a substance called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which can be found within spray tans. It reacts with the cells on the surface of the skin which causes a colour change. If used properly, DHA is considered to be quite safe.

However, not everyone uses spray tans correctly. You’re advised

BY CHLOE BENNETT

TANNING

bout

to cover your lips, nose and eyes when getting a spray tan as the risk of inhaling the substance is unknown. So, if you prefer to fake it, then make sure you wear the necessary protection!

As long as I have Factor 50 on, I’ll be fully protected There’s lots of confusion about SPF and UV rays. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and measures the amount of protection the sunscreen provides against UVB rays, which are responsible for causing sunburn. PPD stands for Persistent Pigment Darkening and measures the amount of protection against UVA rays, which are responsible for the ageing of the skin. Pluses or stars normally show the level of UVA protection on a bottle of sunscreen. The more stars or pluses, the better. So, to answer the question, you could still wear factor 50, but if the UVA protection is low, you might still get burnt.

Obviously, there’s no point sitting inside all day rather than going out and enjoying the weather whilst on holiday. As long as you apply high factor sunscreen regularly and wear UV protected sunglasses, there’s no reason you can’t make the most of the sun!

SUPPORTED BY BOLTON COUNCIL’S PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM

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Royal Wedding treat for young leaders

Forget the stars who attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding this year, the most important guests were four inspirational young people from Greater Manchester.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle picked four young people who have shown strong leadership and served their communities.

Elicia Curtis, 20, Manchester Elicia works to help child survivors of sexual abuse and she wants to make a difference in society to support young people going through a difficult time.

“I feel so proud. It doesn’t matter where you live, you still have the chance to succeed and be recognised.”

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VOLENTEER SPOTLIGHT XPLODEMAG.CO.UK

Shaneil was the 2017 winner of Manchester’s ‘Be Proud’ award for bringing communities together.

Shaneil is part of ‘Reclaim’ which works to break down barriers and give young, working-class people a voice.

Jack Godfrey, 18, Glossop Jack has been a Royal Marine Cadet in Tameside since he was only 13-years-old and was recently appointed the LordLieutenant of Greater Manchester’s Cadet, which means that Jack attends ceremonial events and represents the Greater Manchester Cadet Force.

“I helped set up a food festival to get young people involved. My mum was my +1!”

Shaneil Hodges, 15, Manchester Xplode Magazine’s CEO, Saeed, said: “When I received the letter, I was so shocked! – I had to read it two or three times to process it and that shock quickly turned into honour. To be recognised and noticed at this level is just phenomenal.”

Saeed Atcha, 22, Bolton

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As it got closer I felt the buzz more and more. I was constantly adding extra touches to my eco dress, even up until the night before when I decided my skirt needed a lining!

The day was approaching and having met most of the girls the night before I was very excited.

As I arrived in the morning I spotted some of the girls I had met the night before and also a few new faces, but soon knew who everyone was! I quickly became very close to some of the girls as we spent the day rehearsing and eating pizza together at the Albert Halls in Bolton.

We all had our routines ready and had practiced until they were absolutely perfect and so with the night approaching, we all sat to do our hair and makeup. Each room was full of girls doing each other’s hair, lending various items like scissors and lash glue and constant excited chatter.

Britain’s Junior Miss I won my title as Junior Miss Bolton and Bury in August 2017 and since then I have done appearances, volunteering and a lot of charity work.

Throughout my time so far with my title Mark, Mary and the other title holders have been very supportive and helped me whenever possible. The Britain’s Junior Miss final was this August and it was an amazing experience.

With less than 15 minutes until the final started we all made last minute touches to our hair and makeup whilst getting changed into our first outfit, the eco outfit, where the theme was ‘where you’re from’ and with girls from all over the country it was very interesting.

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BY ISABEL BRENNAND

Every single one was mind-blowing! As the music started and the lights shone it was magical and the start of a night I will never forget!

I even won the Junior Miss Charity and Junior Miss Eco awards!

Everyone looked gorgeous and everyone was smiling the whole time. As evening wear approached everyone was excited to walk, but also tired and nervous as the night started to come to a close.

Overall if I had the chance I would 100% do it again as it was superb! In the Junior Miss or Miss competitions you meet so many new people and it is open to absolutely everyone! I have made some amazing friends during my experience and hope to meet more in the future!

We were all sat backstage excitedly as the awards were read out and eventually the top 5 including the winner! It was surreal and as we all ran onto the stage to congratulate her we also realised that we may not see each other again and the night came to an emotional end.

The competition is about gaining confidence and making a difference within your community, and the new Britain’s Junior Miss completely deserves her title.

All pictures are

by Third Avenue photography

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Get your free Inspired Card at i.vinspired.com/xplode

Discounts just for young people At vInspired we’re passionate about connecting you with your community.

So we’ve created the Inspired Card – it gives you exclusive discounts and opportunities

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across the UK and Europe.

We’ve been collecting freebies and money off just for young people across high street shops, gig venues and theme parks. Better yet, it’s free for anyone aged 14-30.

Whether you love shopping, culture or travel, the Inspired Card has something for you.

Your free card even unlocks mentoring, shadowing and work experience opportunities, so you can get the skills and contacts you need to find work.

The best thing? We’re adding new offers all the time.

It only takes a few minutes to sign up. But we’ve only got a few thousand free cards left to give away.

GET YOUR FREE CARD I.VINSPIRED.COM/XPLODE

High Fashion at Low Prices We’ve created a charity shop run by young people for young people. Goodstock by vInspired is based in the heart of the Manchester student community. We sell customisable, unique secondhand garments.

We host creative events there too. Head to 6a Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 5QA to check it out.

SUPPORTED BY VINSPIRED

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FUN! FUN! FUN! Brainteasers

1.

Want to test how sharp your brain is? See if you can answer the following brain teasers without peaking at the answers!

3.

4.

People buy me to eat, 2. but never eat me. What

it will Feed me, and ut give B give me life. d I will me a drink, an I? die. What am

The more you take out of it, the bigger it becomes. What is it?

What can be seen once in a minute, tw ice in a moment, and never in a thousand year s?

am I?

Sweat Your Brain What number should replace the question mark in the image?

13

5.

I’m always somewhe re between the ground and the sky, always far in the distance, alw ays moving further away if one attempts to co me closer. What am I?

?

12 7

4

7

1

8

16 9

7 8

5

5 11

Check out the answers next to the word search.

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14

FUN PAGE

FUN! FUN! FUN! 17 - It is the sum of the two digits (9 + 8) in opposite quadrant

Word search

Sweat Your Brain Answer

A Z D M B V P L Y O C Q M K B P W V A R E E C O A V J X U G Y Z C B M F A D O X S Y

I

L

I

J R T U H

L A A P

I

L A T E S S

I M L U Y U O D V L H

P H V H Y N T V J W Y C A A O J I

E E

R S V Y T A E F L A W L E S S N R

R B O E

E E N R F

I N J

Z T C Y G L

E N V G A E N P N E W Y O R K W L O A R R

O H H Q C Q J G

H V

I

A L

C N Y I N O R A T H B O N E N K

Q D

I

O L

K M B G F X V Z P T

S U M M E R D P V X D T Z V

RA TH BO NE

SHE RLO CK

FL AW LE SS

PI LA TE S

CI TY YE AR

VEGAN

TA N N IN G

VO LU N TE ER IN

N EW YO RK

LI VE RP O O L

YC A

G

3. Fire 2. A plate 1. The letter M

SU MM ER

A C

4. A hole

EN GL AN D

J N G L D I

I

5. The horizon

AAS PIR E

B

I

Brainteaser Answers

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FASHION, LIFE HEALTH & CULTURE

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