A SCHOOL manager who set up a support group for survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing has been recognised.

Petra Jordan, from Leigh, was at the Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017 with her two children when a suicide bomber detonated a device in the venue’s foyer.

A total of 22 people lost their lives in the blast and dozens of others were injured.

A helpline was set up to support people affected by the tragedy but Petra realised more help was needed, especially for children.

Petra, 43, works as a student support manager at Lowton CE High School and is the school’s safeguarding lead for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

She said: “After the bombing there were children that suffered from ‘survivor’s guilt’.

“That guilt was causing them to self-harm so I decided to write a letter to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham about it.”

After discussions between the former Leigh MP, Jon Rouse and Warren Heppolette from the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and CAMS, the Manchester Resilience Hub was formed.

Petra played a key role in helping 120 families across the UK receive support after the attack.

That number has more than doubled to 255.

She formed a Facebook Group, Manchester Survivors Group, which allows those affected to share their feelings and meet up.

Petra added: “We are like a family and come together as adults and children to socialise.”

Last week, Petra was one of a number of people who were invited on stage at the inaugural Pride of Manchester Awards.

The Spirit of Manchester award was won by the city of Manchester.

It was accepted by figures like Petra who have helped to rebuild and support Manchester after the attack.

Petra is also running the Simplyhealth Great Manchester 10K run on Sunday in aid of a trust set up in memory of one of the victims from the Manchester Arena bombing, 14-year-old Eilidh MacLeod, from the Scottish island of Barra.

To donate to Petra's crowdfunding page for the event click here.