Maxine first became interested in the City when she attended Salford University. After graduating she then gained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Maxine has appeared in a number of high profile television and stage productions including Three Girls, Silk, Criminal Justice, Shameless, Little Dorrit, Dinnerladies and Coronation Street.

She has a real passion for the City of Salford and has based her home here.

On becoming a patron of the Trust, Maxine said: "I want to help encourage young people that you should just have a go at whatever aspirations you have, whatever background you come from."

One of Great Britain's most decorated female Paralympians, Dame Sarah Storey (née Bailey) who trained with the City of Salford Swimming Club, joins our team of patrons.

Sarah is the winner of 27 gold medals in swimming and 13 (so far) in cycling, making a total of 40 major championship titles since 1992. She has amassed over 130 national swimming titles and has broken 70 world records during her sporting career. In May 2013, she was made a Dame by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.

Salford born and bred musician Peter Hook of Joy Division, New Order and Hacienda fame, has become a patron of the Trust.

His style of music not only put the name of Salford on the music map but inspired a whole new generation of post punk dance and rave music.

He teamed up with Tony Wilson to run one of the country’s most iconic nightclubs the Hacienda in Manchester which launched bands such as The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.