Wythenshawe Central Network – Summer 2025 update

Wythenshawe Central Network (WCN) is a women-led neighbourhood forum, constituted in July 2024 to bring together residents and groups to develop a stronger, collective voice on local issues in Wythenshawe. WCN recently affiliated with Community Savers, and includes Dandelion Savers and Mums Mart amongst its membership. 

WCN is a legacy of Women of Wythenshawe (WOW) – a three year women-led community action initiative focused on achieving place-based systems change on gendered poverty, funded by the Smallwood Trust. Diverse women’s groups from across the Wythenshawe area joined together to identify the most pervasive issues holding women in poverty locally. Leaders achieved impressive impacts on a range of issues including addressing the crisis in housing, special educational needs, and domestic abuse provision. Women’s groups identified the redevelopment of Wythenshawe Town Centre as a critical moment to ensure that the priorities of women, families and young people, including those with learning disabilities, are put at the heart of local decision-making.

From September to November 2024, WCN held three community workshops inviting residents to have open discussions and share their views. These were some of the top priorities:  

• Maximise the percentage of social rent homes with provision for a diverse range of tenants,  including people with disabilities, older people, overcrowded families requiring larger 3- and 4-bed homes, and women & children fleeing domestic abuse.
• Increase the availability and maintenance of better quality & accessible green spaces
• Affordable retail and leisure facilities & capped rental prices for local businesses
• Training, apprenticeships and job opportunities for young people
• A community transport system and increased parking spaces
• Increased health, welfare and social care provision to match the increased population

Manchester City Council and the appointed developer MUSE have agreed to meet with WCN leaders in August to listen to their priorities, including for a more inclusive and participatory development process.  WCN members are working with urban design consultants to better understand how the development process works and advocate for meaningful community influence.

Wythenshawe Central Network now represents over 20 resident-led and user-led community groups and more than 100 local residents. And they are also working in alliance with Churches Together Wythenshawe who have 15 churches in their membership. WCN are committed to ensuring women, families and young people are at the heart of local plans, and people of all gender-identities and backgrounds are encouraged to get involved. Membership is open to all residents, groups and projects living, working or running activities in the Wythenshawe Central area – please email wythenshawecentral@gmail.com to find out more or if you wish to become a member. You can also sign up to the mailing list to keep informed about upcoming workshops and events.