Team Spotlight – Meet Ellie Rose McManus

Ellie Rose balances youth research, community work and creative practice in a way that brings real depth to Rekindle’s storytelling.

In her interview, she talks about the moments that have shaped her approach, the care behind her comms work, and why community and curiosity guide everything she does. 

1. You wear a lot of hats – from your comms and engagement work at Rekindle Foundation to social media at Trans Mutual Aid Manchester, and even supervising (and cooking!) at a jazz club. How do those different environments influence one another?

I’ve found that each role teaches me something different: the variety and critical thinking at Rekindle, the efficiency and precision at Matt and Phreds, and the creativity and community-building at Trans Mutual Aid all feed into one another in different ways. Across all my roles, I’m always learning and experimenting, which I love. If something needs doing, whether that’s digital, physical, or practical, I’m always willing to give it a try.

2. You’ve worked closely on Rekindle’s youth researcher cohorts and the Fireside Chats this summer and a recent residential with our new cohort. What moments from those experiences have stayed with you most, and why?

I love working with the researchers. It’s often the small moments in our discussions which combine critical and cultural theory alongside lived experience that stay with me the most. Academia can sometimes shy away from emotion and personal perspective, which risks losing real-world relevance. But the conversations we have, combined with the researchers’ creative and accessible outputs, make real change feel genuinely possible.

3. In your comms role, you help shape how Rekindle’s ideas and actions reach the world. What matters most to you when deciding how a message should sound or feel?

Posting online about something as personal as educational lived experience, especially when working with young people, is a fragile and sensitive area. What matters to me most is that young people feel empowered and in control, particularly when they are such a significant part of the message Rekindle is sharing. I’m always thinking about (and discussing with the young people and staff we work with) questions around representation, care, and responsibility. When that groundwork is in place, authenticity follows naturally. It isn’t easy to get right, but it’s worth taking the time to do it well.

4. Your art has a strong, experimental visual language. Do you see a connection between that creative practice and the way you approach communication or storytelling?

I always have a clear conceptual framework when making art, but the narrative itself is often non-linear and fluid. Because it feels so abstract, packaging it up into something that can be shown to others is something that I find really difficult. There’s something both uncomfortable and enticing about that. In my storytelling approach at Rekindle, I really like that the narrative is very clear, and so the process can be a lot more satisfying. It often involves other people too, and I really enjoy the collaborative process. The two approaches differ in many ways, but I’d like to work towards integrating elements of storytelling from both, allowing them to inform each other more.

5. Rekindle is about community, curiosity and care – qualities that seem to run through everything you do. What do those words mean to you personally, and how do they show up in your day-to-day work?

I agree! Community is a really big one for me. I grew up in a big family but am actually very introverted, so having a sense of belonging through community is crucial. The conversations and shared experiences make the times when I’m indulging in my personal interests so rich. I firmly believe that care is essential, from others, towards others, and towards yourself. It’s a vital ingredient in all relationships. Curiosity comes very naturally to me. It keeps me on my toes, and it can be a lot of fun too! I think all three qualities: community, curiosity, and care, require real acceptance, both of yourself and of others, and together they make for a much healthier society.