Manchester hospitals will soon open a new in-hospital cinema for young patients after a fundraising appeal reached its £1.1 million target, backed by Freddie Flintoff and local community support.

The Manchester MediCinema Appeal, launched by Freddie Flintoff and Rachael Flintoff and supported by Manchester Evening News, has reached its £1.1 million fundraising target after a final donation from The Peel Group Foundation, clearing the way for a 50-seat fully accessible cinema to open at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary this summer 2026, offering more than 260 screenings per year for young patients and their families.