Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester

Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe
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Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester

Welcome to Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester. I’m your host, Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, offering you a warm Mancunian welcome. This season I’m collaborating with the Spirit of Manchester Awards, celebrating the city’s voluntary and community sector. I’ll be featuring interviews with award winners and nominees every Tuesday, shining a light on the incredible work happening across our city. My hope is to inspire you to discover your own purpose through volunteering or working in the social impact sector. Podcast creatives by artist Mahua Roy.

  1. Combating homelessness with Judy Vickers

    DEC 10

    Combating homelessness with Judy Vickers

    A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the season finale of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I speak with Judy Vickers, Executive Officer of Lifeshare and Spirit of Manchester Award nominee. Judy shares her journey from overcoming personal challenges, including domestic violence, to passionately working in the homelessness sector. She discusses her extensive work with Lifeshare, an organisation providing services to the homeless in Manchester, and the critical issues of food and data poverty. The episode highlights Lifeshare's broad range of services and the ongoing challenges amid economic and social shifts. Judy’s dedication to advocating for the voiceless and fostering community collaboration stands out as a beacon of hope. #Homelessness #FoodPoverty #DataPoverty #community #GM #manchester #SocialImpact #NonProfit #podcast   Did you know:   ·     Homelessness is a complex social phenomenon and represents one of the biggest challenges to modern society. ·     Manchester has some of the highest levels of homelessness in the UK –Manchester ranks third-highest in the country for people experiencing homelessness per capita, with around 7,407 people (one in 74 people) experiencing homelessness. ·     3 Million people in the UK experience data poverty. ·     Data poverty is when individuals or households cannot afford data or digital devices to meet their essential devices. ·     Data poverty can have a negative impact on people's lives, affecting their ability to learn, work, connect with others, and access services like banking, benefits and healthcare. Key resources Lifeshare Lifeshare Limited Edition Christmas tees   Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:30) Introduction to Judy Vickers and Her Passion (01:39) Judy's Personal Journey and Inspiration (03:26) Early Involvement with Lifeshare (04:44) Lifeshare's Mission and Services (07:27) Challenges Faced by Lifeshare (10:15) The Issue of Data Poverty (13:27) Impact and Achievements (17:02) Advice for Starting Community Movements (21:21) Signature Questions (23:28) How to Get Involved with Lifeshare Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

    27 min
  2. Empowering Women and Youth through creativity with Beth Powell

    DEC 3

    Empowering Women and Youth through creativity with Beth Powell

    A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the seventh episode of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I interview Beth Powell, Managing Director of Creative City and a nominee for the Spirit of Manchester Award for Social Economy Champion. Beth details her motivations for supporting women and youth, her journey through personal mental health challenges, and the founding of Creative City. The organisation uses arts for empowerment, offering long-term community and youth projects in challenging environments. Beth discusses the hurdles of funding and inclusivity, the importance of community, and the impact they have achieved. She emphasises trust in people, collaboration, and the significance of starting small. Beth also shares how to get involved with Creative City and her pride in being nominated for the Spirit of Manchester Awards. #Women #Youth #CreativeCommunities #community #GM #manchester #SocialImpact #NonProfit #podcast   Did you know:   ·      Creativity can be a powerful tool for empowerment, as it can help people express themselves, challenge societal norms, and inspire change.  ·      Creativity can be a way for people to tell their stories and advocate for gender equality.  ·      Creativity can help people challenge societal norms and promote empowerment.  ·      Creativity can help people inspire change and make the world a more inclusive and equitable place.  ·      Creativity can help people broaden their perspectives and overcome prejudices.  ·     Creativity can help people find solutions and discover new possibilities.    Key resource Creative City Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (02:21) Founding Creative City (02:38) Empowerment Through Arts and Community (04:50) Challenges in Social Work (07:28) Impact and Community Building (09:54) Spirit of Manchester Awards Nomination (10:44) Advice for Aspiring Changemakers (16:23) Personal Reflections and Life Lessons   Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

    23 min
  3. Supporting early years with Shelley Roberts

    NOV 26

    Supporting early years with Shelley Roberts

    A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the sixth episode of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I interview Shelley Roberts, CEO of Home-Start Manchester, an award-winning volunteer involving organisation. Shelley discusses her lifelong passion for supporting children,the impactful work of Home-Start in providing peer support for families with young children, and the challenges and successes they've faced.   Shelley shares inspiring stories of how Home-Start volunteers have made a difference, emphasising the importance of normalising the challenges of parenthood and the critical role of early years support. The episode underscores the tremendous impact Home-Start has on families' lives and offers insights on building successful volunteer-led organisations.   #Families #EarlyYears #Children #community #GM #manchester #SocialImpact #NonProfit #podcast   Did you know:   ·      The brain develops most rapidly before birth and during the first two years of life. Good health, good nutrition, and nurturing are especially important during this time. ·      Eighty per cent of human brain’s structure takes shape between the ages of 0-3 and the 90 percent of the human brain’s structure takes shape until the age of 5. ·      More than 200 million children under 5 years are not fulfilling their developmental potential. ·      Early childhood offers a critical window of opportunity to shape the trajectory of a child’s holistic development and build a foundation for their future. For children to achieve their full potential, as is their human right, they need health care and nutrition, protection from harm and a sense of security, opportunities for early learning, and responsive caregiving with parents and caregivers who love them. All of this is needed to nourish developing brains and fuel growing bodies.  Key resource Home-Start Manchester     Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:09) Interview with Shelley Robert (01:29) Shelley's Journey and Passion (03:01) Home Start Manchester's Mission (04:46) Challenges and Overcoming Them (07:35) Impact Stories and Volunteer Contribution (17:51) Advice for Starting Similar Movements (24:35) Closing Remarks and Next Episode Preview   Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

    26 min
  4. Tackling food poverty with Tracey Torley

    NOV 19

    Tackling food poverty with Tracey Torley

    A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the fifth episode of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I speak to Tracey Torley, director of Cracking Good Food and a Spirit of Manchester award winner for community and business collaboration. Tracy discusses her journey into food advocacy, stemming from her West Indian heritage, and her impactful work with organisations aimed at alleviating food poverty and promoting sustainable cooking practices. Tracy also shares the operational challenges and successes of her initiatives, including kitchen kit redistribution and community cooking workshops. #FoodPoverty #FuelPoverty #community #GM #manchester #SocialImpact #NonProfit #podcast   Did you know:   ·      Food poverty is the inability of individuals and households to secure an adequate and nutritious diet. It can affect those living on low incomes, with limited access to transport and poor cooking skills. ·      Fuel poverty is when a household needs to spend at least 10% of its income on maintaining a satisfactory heating regime. ·      Around 13% of households in England are classed as fuel-poor. ·      In 2022/23 there were 7.2 million people, or 11% of the UK population, in households experiencing food poverty, including 17% of children. ·      In 2022/23, 2.3 million people lived in households which had used a food bank in the last 12 months. ·      An estimated 620,000 people, including over 200,000 children, in Greater Manchester are living in poverty and struggling to put food on the table. This includes many households with people in work, families with children, as well as older and disabled people. Key resource: Cracking Good Food Combating food insecurity   Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:15) Introduction to Tracey Torley and organisations (01:39) Discovering a Passion for Food (02:39) Cultural Influences and Food Stories (04:36) Joining Cracking Good Food (05:29) Roles and Responsibilities at Cracking Good Food (07:43) Community Impact and Services (13:53) Challenges and Overcoming Them (17:32) Spirit of Manchester Award Nomination (20:16) Advice for Starting Similar Movements (26:06) Final Thoughts and Contact Information Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

    30 min
  5. Supporting women's employability with Jan Iceton

    NOV 12

    Supporting women's employability with Jan Iceton

    A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the fourth episode of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I interview Jan Iceton, Board Chair of Smart Works Greater Manchester. Jan discusses Smart Works' mission to support unemployed women aged 16 to 66 in rebuilding confidence and securing employment. Jan shares her journey in the sector, the pivotal role of Smart Works in empowering women, and the significant impact of their services. Featuring job search coaching, styling sessions, and follow-up appointments, Smart Works boasts a 63% success rate in helping women find jobs within a month. #employability #careers #women #community #GM #manchester #SocialImpact #NonProfit #podcast   Did you know:   ·     There are over 75,000 people unemployed in Greater Manchester which is 5.4% of the population. 41,500 of these are women. ·     Women in Greater Manchester reported applying for an average of 30 jobs, and 40% were out of work for over a year. On average, women reported spending 23 hours a week applying for jobs, but only attended 3 interviews, rarely receiving any feedback on why their applications were unsuccessful. ·      Since 2015, Smart Works Greater Manchester has delivered over 5,000 appointments supporting over 4,000 individual appointments, with 69% succeeding at job interviews. Key resource: Smart Works Greater Manchester   Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:36) Jan's Professional Journey and Support for Women (02:50) Getting Involved with Smart Works (04:13) Smart Works' Mission and Services (05:10) The Styling and Coaching Process (08:05) Impact and Success Stories (09:55) Challenges and Outreach Efforts (11:26) Expansion and Future Goals (16:24) Partnerships and Awards (27:11) Final Thoughts and Contact Information   Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

    31 min
  6. Transforming Manchester's green spaces with Claire Biggs

    NOV 5

    Transforming Manchester's green spaces with Claire Biggs

    A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the third episode of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I interview Claire Biggs, Director of Sustainable Northmoor Urban Greening (SNUG) and Spirit of Manchester award nominee for Inspiring Campaign.   Claire discusses her involvement with Longsight Community Artspace and the impact of their projects on the local community. From offering free art workshops and exhibitions to transforming an unused bowling green into a fruitful orchard, Claire highlights the importance of funding, community engagement, and building relationships. The conversation also touches on Claire's personal motivations and the joy of seeing community-driven projects flourish.   #community #sustainability #UrbanGreening #environment #GM #manchester #SocialImpact #NonProfit #podcast   Did you know:   ·      Urban greening involves making our towns and cities greener by adding more trees, hedges, parks, gardens, and ponds. ·      Urban greening lessens the impacts of climate change by cooling our city, benefiting wildlife, reducing flood risk, and decreasing air and noise pollution. ·      Around 26% of Greater Manchester’s urban areas are green spaces (parks, gardens, grass and woodland). ·      Almost 20% of GM's urban tree canopy is over hard surfaces such as paths, carparks, and squares. These trees provide important climate change adaptation functions including shading, cooling, and capturing rainwater. Key resources: SNUG Longsight Community Artspace   Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:10) Episode 9.3- Spotlight on Claire Biggs and SNUG (01:28) Community Engagement and Challenges (06:10) Impact and Achievements of Longsight Community Artspace (07:06) Harvesting the Fruits of Labour (08:07) Community Spirit and Recognition (09:46) Advice for Community Projects (10:54) Signature Questions and Closing Remarks   Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

    15 min
  7. Fostering community wellbeing with Josh Deegan

    OCT 29

    Fostering community wellbeing with Josh Deegan

    A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. In the second episode of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe chats with Josh Deegan, a volunteer at Happy Somedays and Spirit of Manchester Award winner for Community Cohesion. Josh shares his inspiring journey of supporting the Wythenshawe community, discussing the inception and evolution of Happy Some Days from a lockdown initiative into a multifaceted community group offering free fitness sessions, sports, walks, and community events.   Happy Some Days addresses local challenges like high obesity rates, while fostering inclusivity and friendships. Josh highlights their inclusive approach, collaboration with local entities, and plans for a forthcoming festival. He also shares his personal journey of weight loss and fitness, the importance of self-care, and advice on networking to create awareness for similar initiatives across the world.   #community #sports #wellbeing #GM #manchester #SocialImpact #NonProfit   Did you know:   ·      Sports and physical activity can have a positive impact on both mental and physical well-being. ·      Physical activity can improve mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and increase self-esteem and confidence.  ·      Physical activity can reduce the risk of developing a number of medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, dementia, strokes, and heart disease. It can also help to maintain a healthy body weight, improve strength, balance, and movement, and improve sleep quality.  ·      Physical activity can be done at any level of skill and can include sports, cycling, walking, wheeling, active recreation, and play.  Key resource: Happy Somedays   Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript:   (01:06) Episode 2: Meet Josh Deegan (02:30) The Birth of Happy Somedays (04:52) Expanding Beyond Football (11:14) The Spirit of Manchester Award (12:37) Advice for Starting Similar Movements (14:27) Signature Questions (15:44) Life Lessons and Personal Journey (16:48) Connecting with Happy Somedays (17:52) Final Thoughts and Community Impact (19:19) Gratitude and Community (19:58) Inspiring Positive Change   Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

    20 min
  8. Uplifting Ukrainian voices with Maria Romanenko

    OCT 22

    Uplifting Ukrainian voices with Maria Romanenko

    In the Season 9 opener of the 'Meet the Mancunian' podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe highlights award-winning activist Maria Romanenko's journey. Maria was nominated as Volunteer of the Year in the Spirit of Manchester Awards.   Fleeing Ukraine amid war, Maria finds solace and purpose in assisting fellow Ukrainian refugees in Manchester, providing free walking tours among other support initiatives. She addresses the challenges Ukrainian refugees face, the shortcomings of official support systems, and the emotional struggles refugees undergo.   Despite personal challenges, Maria invests thousands of volunteer hours, earning the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award. Her story encourages others to find creative, community-driven solutions and partnerships for social impact.   #volunteering #GM #manchester #community #Ukraine #refugees #SocialImpact #NonProfit   Did you know:  There are over 160,000 Ukraine refugees living in the UK. Many of them are not familiar with English and struggle to find jobs similar to their occupations in Ukraine, in spite of having qualifications and work experience. Key resource: United for Ukraine   Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript:   (01:12) Introduction to Maria Romanenko (01:37) Maria's Journey from Kyiv to the UK (02:45) Settling in the UK and Media Attention (03:40) Finding Purpose in Helping Others (06:38) Challenges Faced by Ukrainian Refugees (09:59) Initiating Free Walking Tours (11:31) Expanding the Walking Tours (12:39) Recognition and Awards (14:43) Ongoing Efforts and Future Plans (25:43) Advice and Reflections   Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

    32 min
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Welcome to Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester. I’m your host, Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, offering you a warm Mancunian welcome. This season I’m collaborating with the Spirit of Manchester Awards, celebrating the city’s voluntary and community sector. I’ll be featuring interviews with award winners and nominees every Tuesday, shining a light on the incredible work happening across our city. My hope is to inspire you to discover your own purpose through volunteering or working in the social impact sector. Podcast creatives by artist Mahua Roy.

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