2023: A Year of Transformation and WoW!
Today we launch our Community Savers/CLASS 2023 Impact Evaluation!
Community Savers and CLASS are a cross-class alliance between a majority women-led poverty action network and a tailored professional support agency. We follow a learning-by-doing methodology (inspired by www.sdinet.org), where regular reflection and evaluation is critical. We conduct an annual impact evaluation between January and March each year; and this report captures our outcomes and learning during January to December 2023.
Here, we share some highlights.
VIEW OR DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
2023 IN NUMBERS
FINANCIAL RESILIENCE AND WELLBEING
The building blocks of the Community Savers movement are majority women-led and community-based savings clubs. Weekly savings collections create a space for our members to save small amounts while also accessing a range of other activities and information and discussing the issues facing their local community.
Here’s a snapshot of progress in 2023.
STRONGER COMMUNITIES
Leadership development and community-building is at the heart of the Community Savers methodology starting with the financial resilience and wellbeing of our individual members, moving up to confidence and skills development among group committees leading to stronger community associations, and networking community associations together for a stronger collective voice on the issues affecting their neighbourhood and beyond. We are proud of the solidarity and collective purpose and voice that emerged at local levels and across the whole network in 2023!
Women of Wythenshawe = WoW!
Women of Wythenshawe brought together 37 local women leaders from ten different community and service user groups across in 2023. The women are representing a broad range of interests and identities including Carers; SEND parents; women with autism and learning disabilities; women seeking asylum or recently granted leave to remain;survivors of domestic abuse; and women from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Over the first 18 months, leaders have invested significant time in building trust and confidence and skills development, including through bi-lateral exchange visits between the groups, extensive storytelling and listening work, and the development of shared values. Women have coalesced around four priority areas for community action on gendered poverty in Wythenshawe (and Manchester more widely). These are:
- improving the way that public sector workers identify and respond to domestic abuse;
- achieving a higher ratio of ecologically sustainable social homes;
- building the capacity of Wythenshawe schools to provide good quality SEND support; and
- supporting the development of women-led social enterprise
“CLASS’s inclusive approach to convening the WoW network has been commendable. By actively involving women leaders from diverse backgrounds and communities, CLASS has created a platform where all voices are heard and valued.” WoW Support Worker
Miles Platting Community & Age-friendly Network (MPCAN)
MPCAN first formed in 2019 with support from CLASS following discussions with community groups about how residents did not fully understand the local developments taking place under a PFI initiative and how they were anxious about the future.
“MPCAN at the beginning had a formal purpose to facilitate and promote community action. The meshing of older and newer populations, lack of facilities, swimming pool and library- there was a sense that this was a bit bleak, so we needed to cooperate.” MPCAN Leader
MPCAN currently has three action groups and we share some of their brilliant achievements in 2023 below.
Climate Action: Members organised “Our Green and Pleasant Land” Climate Resilience Pageant in July and were delighted to then be one of the grantees for the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund. Funding was awarded to develop a wildlife corridor in Miles Platting with support from Dr Jenna Ashton, University of Manchester. Plans for the wildlife corridor are well underway. Project lead Suzanne Walton from Groundwork is carrying out ongoing consultations with residents around the four key sites to determine what kinds of additions they would like to see, from trees to wildflowers to hedging.
St. Cuthberts Communities Together: MPCAN have developed a partnership with the Parochial Church Council of St Cuthberts to re-imagine the church site working with Locality and Participate! as project managers. A community consultation has been carried out and initial concept designs developed, the Bishop of Manchester has put his support behind the project, and MPCAN and PCC have now applied to register a new charity to manage the project called St Cuthberts Communities Together. The vision includes a worship space, NHS joint services centre and a multipurpose social centre with a small amount of social housing. These were some of the infrastructure and services that were supposed to be delivered under the original PFI neighbourhood plan.
“The enthusiasm, the skill set that is being brought to meetings, the funding that has been attracted to the wildlife project and now for St Cuthbert’s. We have built up now into being a serious project that people are willing to fund.” MPCAN Leader
Social Homes for Miles Platting: MPCAN launched this new campaign in October, with a focus on claiming plots of public land that were earmarked for facilities and services for community benefit under the PFI. The current focus is a plot of land that was supposed to host a joint services centre and community hub. Over 200 people attended their consultation day which was followed by a march to the site and a demonstration on 28 October 2023. The Executive Member for Housing will meet residents to discuss the plot in June 2024.
“We look out for each other - if someone is poorly or down, we make sure they are ok. I like to have a sense of achievement – but that we’ve achieved together. It feels good when we get these small wins, and now we are going for much bigger ones! Twenty years ago, we wouldn’t have dared, we just fought for people to get their repairs done. Now, we are aiming high. And it’s good and it feels good. And to be honest, sometimes it goes over my head, but if I don’t understand stuff I say so, and I can also look on the internet now.” MPCAN Leader
Community design & build
A tenant-led community space in Hulme: Following two years of advocacy and partnership working driven by tenant leaders with Aquarius Community Savers, One Manchester Ltd have agreed to renovate a ground floor three-bedroom apartment into a community space. The space aims to combat social isolation and mental health challenges experienced by older and vulnerable people at Hopton Court tower block in Hulme, Manchester. The renovation is set to commence in summer 2024. Cornbrook Medical Practice evidenced during our research in 2021 that one third of Hopton Court’s tenants were suffering from anxiety and depression and the neighbourhood has some of the worst health inequality statistics for Older People living in Deprivation in England.
Beyond the St Cuthberts redevelopment, Community Savers & CLASS have continued to support two further community design and build projects in 2023. Leaders across the network have learned a lot from these processes including a large dose of patience as each initiative has experienced significant delays!
A women-led community space in Wythenshawe: Participatory design work to renovate a derelict Caretakers flat into a women-led social space began in 2019. Progress was slow due to COVID and long delays within the internal processes
of acquiring a lease from the Methodist Church. After agreeing the Head Terms for the lease in July 2022, Mums Mart and CLASS have learned a great deal from two years of further negotiation! We are delighted to have recently signed the lease and work is due to commence in June 2024.
The completed project will create a free to use community space for women’s groups across the Wythenshawe area for at least ten years. Our thanks go to the National Lottery Community Fund without whose support and patience this project would not have made it to the finish line! We would also like to
thank the Smallwood Trust and the Women of Wythenshawe assessment panel who
approved a small uplift grant to cover recent cost inflations.
MAKING MANCHESTER FAIRER
According to data collated by Shelter, there were 15,268 households on the waiting list for social housing, 3,926 children in temporary accommodation, and 7,773 people recorded as homeless in the City of Manchester in 2023. Yet, between 2012 and 2022 only 506 out of 23,364 new build homes were for social rent. Together with partners, we have formed a coalition of ten VCSE and activist/residents’ groups called Social Homes for Manchester which is making the following six requests of Manchester City Council as they prepare the new Local Plan for the city:
- At least 30% social homes included in all new developments of over 10 units to be enacted in local policy and enforced through the setting and enforcement of section 106 obligations.
- Stronger public accountability and scrutiny for the setting and enforcement of developer obligations to build new social housing.
- Establish a Commission on Social Housing for the City of Manchester.
- Develop a practical strategy for the promotion of Community Led Housing.
- Develop a practical strategy for the renovation/transfer of empty homes into homes for social rent.
- Ensure all new developments are climate and nature friendly.
ASK YOUR COUNCILLOR TO PLEDGE THEIR SUPPORT
Bishop of Manchester David Walker has agreed to chair the new Manchester Social Housing Commission. Our asks and the Commission itself are supported by the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Housing at Manchester City Council; and we are in the process of recruiting Commissioners. The Commission will remain rooted in local campaigns and the process itself is aimed at mobilising resident/community coalitions across the city to hold local, regional and central government administrations to account for the recommendations that are developed. The other members of the coalition include: GM Community Led Homes Hub; GM Tenants Union, Greater Together Manchester, Shelter GM, Mustard Tree, and Steady State Manchester. We are excited to have also recently joined the national Homes 4 Us alliance.
FUTURE DIRECTION
In the main report you can also read reflections from the Community Savers leadership and our partners on progress, co-governance, and what we have learned about community action, as well as our plans for the year ahead, so don’t forget to:
VIEW OR DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
Excerpts from 'What have we learned?'
“Community action is easier with the support of a whole network.”
“Community action brings people together, it can result in real change that is actually needed. Its powerful as it comes from within our communities as we are the experts we know what will work and what is needed. It feels really good when change happens from within our communities - it can bring pride and improve wellbeing and confidence. Community action can also be really uplifting and fun.”
“I’ve learned about the way the council operates… both the politicians and the officers.”
“The importance of bringing the groups together so we have a bigger, louder, voice. The more of us, the more voice we have, the more the decision makers have to listen.”
“I have also learnt a lot from some mistakes we have made e.g. don’t go to planning meetings and trust that the council is going to work with us with the openness that
we offer them.”
“Bringing together a knowledge of who to go to: that kind of intelligence is important... we’re getting a checklist of where is useful to go to.”
Excerpts from 'Reflections on co-governance'
“I think it’s really good the way we co-govern and share the decision making. We feel like we
are listened to and more involved. We get to make them choices… We get all the reports and everything we need. If we can’t attend a meeting, we get all the updates.”
“It’s working well: everyone is happy with the decisions because it is equal - we have lots of
opportunity to talk about what’s going on and if we agree. Everyone’s voice is heard.”
“I have really loved representing Savers at the trustee meetings. I have learnt a lot about all the groups that CLASS supports and how the charity is developing. The leadership team is a great way of making shared decisions.”
“We work well with CLASS…You’ve taken time to get to know us all individually and you give us the support we need. Like me, people telling me I lack confidence. But I can do it. I’m good at what I do. I say it as it is and not everyone can cope with that, but CLASS has never had a problem with this. They take a personal approach they make sure you are ok that is all part of it as well. It’s like we are a big family.”
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MPCAN reviews a year of achievement and transformation
Miles Platting Community & Age-friendly Network launched their annual report this week at an Annual General Meeting full of exciting progress and growth.
Click here to download the full report.
The current committee presented their Annual Reports and Accounts before standing down for the election. The Annual Report presentation highlighted an amazing year for the network, with lots of fantastic community action and achievements well worth celebrating.
Miles Platting Wildlife Corridor
The Climate Action group were delighted to be one of the Round 3 grantees for the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund. Leaders thanked Dr Jenna Ashton, University of Manchester, for her tireless support without which this award would never have been possible. The funds will be used to enhance and improve biodiversity around four key green spaces across Miles Platting. Plans are well underway, with Suzanne Walton from Groundwork leading on this to support the development of a Miles Platting Wildlife Corridor. The group has also received funding through City of Trees to pay for 30 new trees along Ridgway Street which were planted just last month. Well done to all members for your great work in making Miles Platting greener!
St Cuthbert’s Communities Together
The St Cuthbert’s Action group have also had an exciting year taking forward plans for the community-led redevelopment of St Cuthberts Church on Oldham Road. Supported by partners from Participate Projects and Locality, a new charitable incorporated organisation is being registered called St Cuthbert’s Communities Together with board members nominated by the Parochial Church Council and MPCAN. This initiative aims to bring together residents from across Miles Platting, Collyhurst and Ancoats behind a shared vision for the area. Following extensive community consultation in 2023, this will include a worship space; a multi-purpose social space for these three communities to gather together and socialise; and a range of possible services from health to housing. There is much work still to be done and consultation will be ongoing as the plans develop.
Social Homes for Miles Platting
2023 additionally saw the formation of a new campaign called Social Homes for Miles Platting. Launched at MPCAN’s brilliant family funday and consultation event in October, this has also triggered a city-wide campaign called Social Homes for Manchester. After a day filled with fun, music and free pizza, residents marched over to the plot of land behind Jigsaw Homes where a joint service centre was supposed to be provided under the original Miles Platting PFI, to call for social homes to be constructed on the site. MPCAN leaders will meet with the Executive Member for Housing in June to hear the city council’s response to this proposal.
Local resident Eric Keeble presenting the climate action group’s achievements
Wider impacts
The evaluation that underpinned this year’s annual report highlighted a series of outcomes achieved throughout 2023 illustrated by reflections from local people involved in running member groups or from the MPCAN Committee.
Increased funding: Leaders recognised that organising through the MPCAN network had resulted in attracting increased funding for local health and wellbeing or age-friendly groups, and for households in need of support.
“We are part of a new fundraising movement called One World Together who are going to channel unrestricted funding to grassroots initiatives and movements – and this is going to be really helpful because it gives us flexibility to address crisis or urgent challenges.”
MPCAN Leader
Social interaction and community-building: Leaders feel that participating in MPCAN has allowed them to build connections with other local residents and establish a sense of community over their shared values and aims.
“I’ve benefitted by getting to meet nice and interesting people and being involved in something that is worthwhile, feels exciting, and has the potential to do some good. I’d be staying at home watching TV if I wasn’t doing something like this.”
MPCAN Leader
Stronger collective voice: MPCAN leaders additionally feel as though there is a collective voice for residents in the local area and they have gained the confidence to use this voice to communicate with public agencies, the local authority, residents, and community groups about issues that are important to them. As a result, new partnerships have been built between members of MPCAN and professionals allowing for increased funding for neighbourhood initiatives.
“The biggest change that I have seen is the can-do attitude and confidence that MPCAN members have now, a feeling that together we can actually influence the decision makers and fight for what our community needs, a community that has lost so much. The narrative is changing. There is hope of a better future, a sense of healing.”
MPCAN Leader
Achieving change isn’t easy, with disconnection from public authorities and the limited time and capacity of members often posing challenges, but there is a strong culture of encouragement in the network that enables leaders to support each other. Members have learnt that there is power in numbers and having a clear, collaborative vision is key to organising around issues affecting the community.
“I feel like we have got more of a voice now than we ever have become. We’ve grown, more people means more power. No matter how many times we get knocked down we get back up and carry on.”
MPCAN Leader
“Members of MPCAN have a stronger voice by working together which is resulting in change. We have a clear vision and have organised around that.”
MPCAN Leader
Future aspirations
Looking forward to 2024 and beyond, MPCAN’s aspirations are focused particularly on three main areas:
- The growth and sustainability of MPCAN as an umbrella for community groups in the area
- The achievement of key objectives for climate change mitigation, social homes; and the creation of a new social centre for the area
- The importance of the social centre having a democratic structure.
Congratulations MPCAN on all your incredible work over the past year! We are excited to see what the future has in store and to achieving more amazing community action in Miles Platting.
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Spotlight on Dandelion Savers
Read our interview with Lina, Committee Member at Dandelion Savers, find out about one of the newest groups in the Savers Network who are already achieving great things!
Can you tell us a bit about Dandelion Savers? When did you start, where and how often do you meet? How many members do you have?
Dandelion Savers is part of the Dandelion Community, this is an established Community, where workers and volunteers have been serving the Woodhouse Park area and other parts of Wythenshawe areas for as long as the United Reform Church Building has been standing, and is under the leadership of (Rev) Kate who works there.
Dandelion Savers are a newly established Savers Group that started in January 2023, the Committee Members are made up women who are existing volunteers or service users of the Dandelion Community. Initially a group of 7 women came together with a view to establishing a Savers Group and joining the Community Savers network. This was following a visit to an existing network member in Miles Platting.
Dandelion Savers are a small team, it was initially created and run by two committee members, the number has now increased to three committee members. Who are Fathima- Committee Treasurer of the Dandelion Savers, Lina- Committee Leader of the Dandelion Savers, Zoe,- Committee Leader of the Dandelion Savers. I feel that the group exist, remains in existence, due to the amazing technical support it receives through the support agency CLASS.
Who meet at the Dandelion Community - Oakland Road M22 1AH from 10am – 1pm on Wednesday
We have 23 members active members.
Dandelion Savers members where invited and some attend the Christmas Party/End of Year Party in December 2023 hosted by the support agency CLASS, a fun time was had by all who attended, for the committee members, it was great to meet and get to know some of the other Savers in an informal Christmas/End of Year setting.
Savers at the weekly Dandelion Savers group
As a group, what would you say are the main benefits for the individuals who save with you?
Dandelion Savers, benefits the Dandelion Community, its workers and volunteers and seeks to provide an opportunity to bring people/residents in the Woodhouse Park area together.
The Savers Group seeks to help existing Savers and encourage residents :-
- To be more in control of their own money.
- To think about saving money for a special occasion or holiday.
- To think about saving money for repairs or to buy an item that costs a lot.
- Encourage saving thereby reducing the chance of needing a loan, using loan sharks or credit cards
- Encouraging resident to save so that they feel less stressed about money and debt, during the cost of Living crisis.
How long has Dandelion been working with the Community Savers network? Has working with the other groups helped Dandelion to develop, learn, expand or do things differently?
The Dandelion has been working with the Community Savers network for 1 year now, receiving technical support from the Support Agency, Community Led Action & Savings Support (CLASS). We are a brand new group of committee members, working together for the first time.
Throughout 2023 we attend quarterly Community Leaders Network Meetings, where we met with other Community Saver Leaders. The agenda were set by the Leadership Team and we planned, learned and developed together.
Throughout 2023, we had the option to attend training on mental health, neurodiversity and safeguarding in community groups.
Extra Training was provided for SEN System and schools
We had the option a learning network events to connect with Birmingham & Coventry organisations also funded by Renaisi/Smallwood.
We have had an option to attend a CLASS Trustee meeting to introduce ourselves, as a new Savers Group
Last but not least, we had the option to attend, the annual Community Savers Retreat: in Llandudno 10-13 July 2023
All these training opportunities, and technical support from CLASS (the Support Agency) have allowed us Committee Leaders to develop in our role as Leaders, allowed us to set up really good systems, as well as undertake our weekly Savers Group meetings on Wednesdays. All the committee members are volunteers, they also volunteering for other groups and are involved in other community groups.
As well as the savings group, are Dandelion Savers involved in any other community projects and what are the impact of these?
As leader for our Saving group, it quickly became evident that this was a role that was encouraging us to get involved in community action, we initially went to visit another Savers Group in Miles Platting that was organising a local housing campaign.
We have been encouraged to join a network of other women led groups in Wythenshawe, called Women of Wythenshawe, we have been meeting quarterly and seeking to focus on community actions that affect Gender Justice. The group have voted to focus on three Topics, Special Education Need (SEN), Domestic Violence (DV) and Housing.
The community action within the Housing Group has really taken off, due to a number of local issues, with the focus of the campaign on promoting Social Housing and Social Rent in the Woodhouse area. This is because the Places for Everyone consultation, took out the wording social rent and secondly in the local area Manchester City Council (MCC) have bought the Civic Centre and there is a drive of community action to influence the MCC to include social rent housing in their plans and not "affordable housing" as it has quickly become apparent that the term “affordable housing” is not covered by the Local Housing Allowance rate and is unaffordable.
What can we expect to see next from Dandelion Savers next - does the group have any plans for the future?
The Committee Leaders recently attended a Network Meeting in January and made plans for 2024, which included feedback from the Learning Exchange in Nairobi Kenya, a display on the Community Savers Board in the Dandelion Community, Committee Leaders want to increase membership by going out into the community to recruit members, Committee leaders would like to arrange an a day out for its members, and prepare for an AGM.
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Community Savers Leaders visit Kenya
In January 2024 some of our Community Savers members visited the first One World Together summit in Nairobi and took part in a learning exchange.
SDI Kenya hosted One World Together and four community partners – Muungano wa wanavijiji, Community Savers, Raising Futures Kenya, Play It Forward – at their headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
Community Savers, Helina and Zoe from Dandelion Savers and Dot from Miles Platting Savers attended and these are some of their reflections on the experiences they had whilst they were there.
Dot
You recently went on the learning exchange to Nairobi...
Can you tell us a bit about who was there, where you visited and the connections you made?
We were there with One World Together and visited the SDI Kenya offices and Play It Forward plus 4 informal settlements, Kibera and Foundation of Hope. We went to a school, it was brilliant. They have just come off the street and may have been involved with crime and violence and have a 7 week course, waking them up to what they can do to turn their lives around.
We spoke to a woman called Christine about their savings group, that was brilliant, she was so great. it's different there, savings groups are different for them even though there are similarities theirs are so much more powerful because they are working on sanitation and water and healthcare and these are the kind of things we’ve already got and take for granted.
Why do you think community exchanges are important?
We can learn from each other I think that’s really important and it gives you a fire really, you’d see and meet different people and have a different look on stuff that you don’t even think about really because you’ve got everything it wakes you up to realise that we need to start kicking arse to get stuff done. We’ve really got to start kicking arse, in a nice way.
We went to the Raising Futures Kenya training centre
Was there anything you learnt / saw that you want to bring back to your community?
Yes a bit more fight, and because they live in tin shacks and can hear everything that goes on. We have to knock on more doors to get in to find out what is going on in people's lives. They were horrified to learn that there are people who died in their places in the UK and could be there for weeks or even months and nobody knows. Whereas they live that close together that they know everything and they know everybody's business.
Did you identify any common challenges between the groups?
Yes it’s about getting people together really you know they have their own ways and they do say if you don’t come to the meetings you won’t be involved in what they are achieving. You can’t expect that if you don’t put anything in to get anything back. What you give you get back, I’ve always said that.
In three words, can you describe the overall experience?
Emotional, exciting and inspiring
Zoe
You recently went on the learning exchange to Nairobi...
Can you tell us a bit about who was there, where you visited and the connections you made?
What stuck with me was the Foundation of Hope and Florence’s Raising Futures Kenya and the Community Savers itself at Muungano wa wanavijiji. I loved everybody and I connected with the women that were there. There was a lady called Emily. She stuck in my heart and she fights for everything her community needs.
Why do you think community exchanges are important?
Mostly it’s the experience, we all have different life experiences and sometimes we look at other peoples problems as not a problem. We were talking and one of the ladies said ‘but you don’t have poverty’ and it was important that I was then able to share my story of my poverty and I said that our poverty isn’t the same but the way we deal with it is the same, we want the same outcome. She then realised you do have poverty over there (in the UK) and I learnt from her ways to deal with poverty. I learned how important that community is and how important it is to never give up. It is really important so we can learn from each other and watch each other grow. Now I’m looking forward to seeing what all the other organisations are going to do and I get to share in that even though I am on the other side of the world. I get to share in the wonderful things they do. I get to see it.
Was there anything you learnt / saw that you want to bring back to your community?
Yes I want to bring back the actual meaning of community. I want to help and include more people and encourage more people. The data collecting was really important for me. I think that’s great because we can do that here in our local community where we are, we can ask people, we can do interviews and find out what people actually do want, not what we think they want and help out in that area.
Did you identify any common challenges between the groups?
Red tape was big one when we want to do so many things but we are having to jump through hoops, all of us felt our governments aren’t working for us and the fact that a lot of us are women so that’s a challenge in itself but they (the Kenyans) are not letting that be a challenge they moving forwards they just don't stop. I think essentially we all want the same thing. We all want our communities to be better, happier and healthier.
Did you share anything about your group / community / approach that you think was of particular interest to the other communities?
They were fascinated by the food bank side of it, they wanted to learn more about that. I told them about our poverty side of it so that made them feel like it’s not just us. I hope they feel inspired the way I feel inspired.
In three words, can you describe the overall experience?
Educational, inspiring and life-changing.
I feel like my whole perspective on life has changed. I was getting complacent. I was like I can’t change these things so why bother and now I’m like actually it starts with me and it starts with us. We can just sit around waiting for people to do it. I feel like I want to change the world and go to Zambia and Uganda! Talking to Play It Forward they had an example of a young boy who was hitting his Mum and the whole table started crying as that was what I was going through. It was great to know that when mum’s are going through this they are getting support and I feel grateful that Play It Forward were there to help her. It’s so difficult to get the right support to know that it is going on and to know that these mum’s are being helped is amazing. I love everybody.
Helina
You recently went on the learning exchange to Nairobi...
Can you tell us a bit about who was there, where you visited and the connections you made?
This was a fantastic two day conference when One World Together got to know their partner organisations and vice versa, sharing stories of their successes and knowledge gained from running their local community groups.
We visited Muungano wa wanavijiji in Nairobi and Muungano’s Foundation of Hope in Kibera a meeting was organised with the Community Group of women and Leaders, who willing and lively shared their experiences of running a Community group on their Slum Dwellers Settlements and the highs and lows of growing their membership and the 3 years training involved in being an effective community leader.
We visited another Muungano wa Wanavijiji, Nairobi, Kenya. Shack/Slum Dwellers Settlement (Nancy Njoki Wairimu local area/home town), a meeting was organised with the leaders of a Community Groups, both men and women. Again another informative learning exchange took place and the highlight was being informed about the bottom up planning programme called Mukuru Special Planning Area.
Then we also went to Huruma and were shown around the homes that the community are building for each other. We were shown around one of the Muungano members homes. In all purposes it was a modest home, filled with modest equipment, yet amazing to see in all in glory, as this was a home build by the Muungano community members , (through community savings) including the making of building blocks from cement to build the walls, in partnership with Nairobi County Government and Muungano. With planning permission the people/community avoid eviction.
We also learnt about the importance of collecting community data. They shared with us the importance of how they have been collecting data on structure and households within the settlements. They create a data profile of problems faced by the people in the settlements, all of which are collected, collated and presented to government officials, to evidence that they exist, (the slum dwellers are ignored by government official, as they are told they do not live in areas with planning permission) and the problems they are facing and the support to solve the problems they need as citizens of Kenya.
Why do you think community exchanges are important?
The community exchanges, including overseas learning exchanges, are a good idea for a leader to visit at least once, if able, as they create solidarity with other women leaders. SDI have been around for 30 years, and are made up of these women-led saving schemes, which is a global network. It's good to learn from them and to see what women-led saving schemes at neighbourhood/community level can achieve. Sometimes you just need to hear it and see it from the horse's mouth to believe it.
Did you identify any common challenges between the groups?
Yes, in discussion we identified common challenges between the groups. It was important to create volunteering opportunities for the community. Everyone has some talent to bring to the community.
- Committee leaders can be overcommitted.
- Members of community groups and Savers groups can find it difficult to engage them/mobilise them in other ongoing campaigns.
- Growing a membership is difficult and requires effort by committee leaders. Everyone tries to save something in Kenya (there is no welfare state system).
-Mainstream media and the local media do not turn up for local events.
-Media do not show the true story/images of the urban poor/Shack/Slum Dweller, only show evictions and negative images.
They use Twitter, Instagram and have created their own YouTube Channel called Know Your City TV (KYC- TV) to tell their own story.
Did you share anything about your group / community / approach that you think was of particular interest to the other communities?
We emphasised that there is poverty in the UK, we emphasised that there is isolation in the UK and that people may not talk to anyone for weeks, months and can die from loneliness. So Savers groups are a tool to bring people together, to bring about volunteering opportunities.
We reminded our partners that people do sometimes have to make tough decisions in their household, due to poverty some household do not turn on the central heating in winter or just warm one room, many household do not eat fruit and vegetables as they are expensive to buy - yet the government guidelines is to eat 5 fruit or vegetables a day. Households where someone is working still do not always have enough money to eat three meals a day, parents go hungry, their children go hungry, people are poor and suffering due to the Cost of Living Crisis in the UK.
In three words, can you describe the overall experience?
Together!, inspired and motivated
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Wythenshawe Women take action for systems change!
In 2022, Community Savers and CLASS brought women’s groups and their support agencies together across the Wythenshawe area to think about the many ways in which poverty is gendered and explore ideas for systems change.
Out of that work (and with support from Smallwood Trust) Women of Wythenshawe was born: a women-led poverty action network comprising ten member groups which regularly brings together approximately 30 women leaders to take action together for systems change.
The intersecting issues they identified on their visioning journey were many but in autumn 2023 they prioritised three critical issues that are holding women back in fundamental and systemic ways in Wythenshawe (and across the UK) that require urgent action:
- Domestic Abuse
- Access to social housing
- The crisis in Special Educational Needs provision
WoW leaders have formed three campaign groups to take action for systems change on these issues, and with support from Renaisi on systems mapping and On Our Radar on community reporter training, they are taking the city by storm.
“Someone once said that unity is strength and that is certainly true of the Women of Wythenshawe project. Having the opportunity to be part of a hugely varied and diverse group of women, sharing experiences from different perspectives and experiences only makes this incredible group of women stronger in their pursuit of systems and policy change and in support and understanding of each other.” Kate Maggs, Better Things
WoW Housing Action
WoW leaders joined forces with community leaders in Hulme and Miles Platting in October to catalyse a new campaign coalition called Social Homes for Manchester Now! They have produced a series of video shorts highlighting the urgent need for more new build homes for social rent for women and families and demanded that Places for Everyone – the new spatial framework for Greater Manchester retains clear wording and commitment on social housing. Together with a coalition of organisations that includes Community Savers/CLASS, Greater Manchester Tenants Union, Greater Together Manchester, Shelter, Mustard Tree, and Steady State Manchester they are now seeking a commitment to 30% homes for social rent in all new developments under the Local Plan and closer to home, within the redevelopment of Wythenshawe Civic Centre.
“I would like to say a massive thanks to Wow for giving us the opportunity to learn new skills that will help us grow and helping us believe that we can make a difference, and to empower us to encourage and inspire others to do the same. WoW is the best thing that has happened to Wythenshawe. Together we are stronger” Shelley Wallis, Wythenshawe Women’s Welfare Association
The WoW Action on SEND group are working on three key areas:
- a campaign for all schools in Wythenshawe to gain Inclusion Quality Mark accreditation by International Women's Day 2026
- establishing a mums-led training collective that can run workshops and training in local schools with governors, teaching staff and parents
- developing an evidence base and a set of recommendations about the needs of young people as they move out of the SEND system and into adult social care support after turning 25
The Domestic Abuse team are excited to be developing a new partnership with Safespots to co-create specialist training for statutory workers across the Wythenshawe area on how to support the full diversity of WoW women in situations of domestic abuse including women with learning disabilities and autism, women with no recourse to public funds, and women from diverse cultural backgrounds.
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MPCAN visits Homebaked CLT and Kitty’s Launderette in Liverpool
In November last year, members of the Miles Platting Community and Age-Friendly network (MPCAN) had a day out in Liverpool to visit and learn more about Homebaked Community Land Trust https://homebaked.org.uk/ and Kitty’s Launderette https://kittyslaunderette.org.uk/. Moving forward with a community-led development of the St Cuthbert’s church site, the St Cuthbert’s action group are becoming inspired by other community hubs, gaining ideas they hope to bring to developing a new social space for local residents in Miles Platting. Previously, MPCAN have visited Gorton Hub, Moston Miners and the Carlton Club in Whalley Range- these are great projects we have already learnt lots from!
Homebaked Community Land Trust
Our first stop of the day was Homebaked, where Tom Murphy (local resident, coordinator and secretary) gave us insight into the journey they took to becoming a community- land trust (CLT). This is a not for profit, incorporated organisation established for furthering community benefit. They are run by volunteers to deliver housing and other community assets at permanent, genuinely affordable levels for local people. CLTs allow communities to own, take control of, and develop their own land.
Tom talked to MPCAN members about the challenges that Homebaked have faced, not only from initially choosing a governance model that didn’t work for them, but also being situated just opposite Liverpool Football Club, on the boundary of Everton and Anfield. We learnt more about pros and cons of different legal structures and how they eventually became a community land trust. This discussion was especially useful for the St Cuthbert’s action group as we think about potential governance models to move the project forward into 2024.
Homebaked is currently working with URBED to refurbish the terraced homes on Oakfield Road using a retrofit approach. This aligns with their belief that residents all deserve to live well and have access to warm, affordable homes, alongside good quality jobs, and welcoming spaces for the community to meet, learn, and celebrate.
After an informative tour and chat, MPCAN members made a pit stop to the next door sister organisation, Homebaked bakery, to try their famous pies. Thank you to Tom and Homebaked CLT for sharing your wisdom and knowledge with us! We learnt so much from hearing all about your journey.
Kitty’s Launderette
Next up we went around the corner to Grasmere Street, where project lead Anthony Scott welcomed us into Kitty’s Laundrette. This is a community launderette and social space offering affordable, ecological laundry and dry-cleaning services, as well as a space for local residents to gather. Named after Kitty Wilkinson, an Irish migrant who managed the first washhouse during the cholera epidemic in 1832, Kitty’s Launderette’s main mission is to combat hygiene poverty in the local area.
The laundrette is a workers community cooperative meaning both the workers and the community own and control the space. It is democratically run with regular board meetings involving workers, volunteers and members of the community. They are also a not-for-profit social enterprise, where all profits made are invested back into the local community. Their key areas of social impact include reducing hygiene poverty, providing a sense of community, jobs and inclusive growth, and health & wellbeing.
As Tom also described, Anthony spoke about the local loss of social housing alongside key community-based services such as youth centres and parish halls. Living in the shadow of economic prosperity from the football stadium has had its drawbacks, and the tourist economy has affected the local community. Kitty’s Launderette work to combat this as the space is also host to history talks, weekly knitting and craft groups, film screenings and tie-dye workshops. Last year, they held a total of 48 activities and events!
Anthony also talked us through how the laundrette works- users have the option to do their laundry themselves or leave it up to the workers, with the cheapest wash option being £4. They also take on commercial contracts and often do work for local Airbnbs. People can bring in their own detergent but Kitty’s also sells an environmentally friendly brand called Ecoleaf, which users can refill at the launderette.
Overall, MPCAN members had a great day in Liverpool and brought back tonnes of amazing ideas for the St Cuthbert’s redevelopment project. Thank you so much to Homebaked CLT and Kitty’s Launderette for an enjoyable and informative day. We learnt loads from your brilliant projects and are excited to take this inspiration forward with our plans for Miles Platting!
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Social Homes for Miles Platting Now!
Miles Platting, Ancoats, and Collyhurst residents were out in force on Saturday to call for social homes to be built on a plot of land that has long been earmarked for community benefit.
Over 180 people attended the MPCAN family fun day where members also launched a city-wide campaign for more social homes to be built or brought into use across Manchester amidst a housing crisis in which more than 15,000 households are now on the waiting list for social housing in the city[1].
The Miles Platting PFI regeneration was justified to residents on the basis that there would be a Joint Services Centre providing a suite of NHS services and a Community Hub built at the intersection of Oldham Road and Varley Street behind the current location of Jigsaw Homes offices. This is the site where MPCAN leaders are calling for social homes to be constructed.
The Joint Services Centre was to include three GP practices; a pharmacy; chronic disease management, maternity and children’s health services; drugs misuse and sexual health services; counselling and therapy services; and breast screening and minor surgery. The Community Hub was supposed to incorporate: a new library; new sports facilities; advice and information; services for young people; spaces for community, recreation; and leisure use; and community outreach services.
There was also supposed to be retail facilities and a replacement swimming pool.
These facilities were never developed, and the community have experienced a net loss of 502 social homes following the regeneration (with 240 homes lost to demolition and others through right to buy). Meanwhile, the neighbourhood has been transformed into a landscape of private housing for sale and rent, with no shops or infrastructure to support this new population, creating a food desert, where residents must take two buses to access a supermarket or swimming pool.
Social Homes for Manchester Now!
As well as calling for social homes in Miles Platting, residents launched the Social Homes for Manchester Now! campaign by a coalition of social and climate justice organisations including Friends of the Earth Manchester, GM Tenants Union, Greater Together Manchester, Mustard Tree, Shelter, and Steady State Manchester.
The new spatial framework for Greater Manchester, Places for Everyone, is in the final stage of consultation on modifications which include the removal of specific reference to building social housing (in MM7.5). The new Local Plan for Manchester is being drafted and is expected to be published for consultation in Spring/Summer 2024. Together these policies will decide Manchester’s planning strategy and housing targets for the next 5-10 years.
Social Homes for Manchester Now! are calling on Manchester City Council to take on six key proposals in the context of these new strategic developments which were launched for the first time by Anne Worthington, MPCAN leader and local activist, on Saturday:
Social Homes for Manchester Now! - Six key proposals:
- At least 30% social homes to be included in all new developments of over 10 units to be enacted in local policy and enforced through the setting and enforcement of section 106 obligations.
- Stronger public accountability and scrutiny for the setting and enforcement of developer obligations to build new social housing.
- Establish a Commission on Social Housing for the City of Manchester.
- Create a specific policy for the promotion of Community Led Housing.
- Develop a practical strategy for the renovation/transfer of empty homes into homes for social rent.
- Ensure all new developments are climate and nature friendly.
Download the Social Homes For Manchester Now! briefing to find out how you can Get Involved in this campaign!
Respond to the Places for Everyone Modifications consultation to object to the removal of specific reference to Social Housing in modification MM7.5 here.
MPCAN leaders are now working with other Community Savers affiliates across the city to bring residents together around this campaign and the plots of land in their own neighbourhoods that require Social Homes Now!
[1] There were 14,912 households on the social housing waiting list in Manchester in 2022 and this figure is now likely to be significantly higher. Live tables on rents, lettings and tenancies, Table 600: numbers of households on local authorities' housing waiting lists, found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-rents-lettings-and-tenancies. We would like to thank Dr Richard Goulding, University of Sheffield, for his support to MPCAN in accessing statistics, research, and information.
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Introducing…
CLASS is delighted to have been able to develop our staff team throughout 2023! We welcomed Kate Parsons, our new Operations Manager, in March, and Fathima Naseer the new Women of Wythenshawe Admin Assistant in July; while our brilliant intern Ieva Pojuner was promoted to Neighbourhood Networks Coordinator in September. We asked Fathima, who is also Treasurer at Dandelion Savers (header image), and Kate (below), to share a few words about themselves, and their experience of joining the CLASS team and working with Community Savers and WoW…
Fathima:
Getting a job with CLASS and Women of Wythenshawe has been very emotional for me!
I came to the UK from Sri Lanka in 2011 with my family, and for a long time I was just at home being a housewife and mum. I had never worked in my life and I was always at home, but during COVID I saw a message from The Dandelion Community saying they needed volunteers. I texted them and Rev. Kate Gray from Dandelion asked me to come in the same day. So that’s when I started volunteering for 3 years at Dandelion foodbank.
Over time, I was able to take on more responsibility with the Foodbank, and I started managing the food bank vouchers and paperwork. Kate asked me, 'what kind of job would you like if you could have a job?' I said ‘paperwork - that’s what I like doing', and she said ‘that’s called admin work’, – so that’s when I knew what it was called!
Then at Dandelion in January, we started up a new group called Dandelion Savers and this was really helpful for me because I didn’t ever use money before, my husband managed all the finances and looked after everything very well.
Since I became Treasurer at Dandelion Savers it was so good for me because I learned how to use money, how to manage money, going to the post office and using an ATM - I had never used those things, or even at the shops, or going on the bus, I had never used money. I never travelled on my own!
So, I have learned so much, and then this year, I was so pleased to get a job as Admin Assistant supporting the Women of Wythenshawe network!
The first two months have been really interesting: I have learned many new things and I am learning more every day. I had a bit of anxiety about some things like making bookings and sending emails but then I do it and that gets easier because I am just doing it. And I am talking to people on the phone all the time. I am still worried about doing meeting minutes but the other staff at CLASS are helping me learn this new skill.
It's unbelievable to me, I thought I was never going to work in my life I thought I would be a housewife for ever! But my children started asking me questions like “mum, why do you not go to college; why are you not working?” They see their friends’ mums working so they wonder. And now, I give them £10 from my salary as pocket money and it makes me so happy! And they are already good savers – they save £5 for savings, £5 for snacks!
Kate:
After seven years of working at a mental health charity in an operations role I was looking for a
new challenge. A colleague recommended that I look at the role at CLASS and I read with
interest about the background of how the organisation had begun. The idea that these
groups are formed and driven from the ground up really appealed to me. Co-production is a
much talked of activity but few organisations achieve it. CLASS and Community Savers are doing an excellent job of working together to collaboratively create and strengthen groups and networks
that are representing community priorities and needs and with mutual respect are delivering
successful outcomes.
Since starting in my role as Operations Manager at the beginning of March 2023, I have met all the affiliated Community Savers groups and networks and have been impressed with their commitment to improving their communities and raising awareness of issues they have identified as important for their areas. Reflecting on my first six months in post, I have learned a lot from an amazing team of leaders who are addressing an impressive range of issues including housing, climate change, the cost of living and surviving on a low income. Their projects include the development of community hubs, green spaces, food banks and crisis funds. Women-led groups come together to share their knowledge and skills to make improvements that have an important impact in their local communities.
I have attended meetings where people have spoken passionately about wanting to help others and bring about the change that they want to see. After attending the annual retreat in July this year, I can really see the power that comes from bringing people together with similar aims to support and uplift each other. The network is stronger together and the support and skills offered are impressive. The wide range of activities is exciting and I am looking forward to the opportunity of supporting the leadership with their aims and objectives in the months ahead.
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GM Green Spaces Fund invests in Miles Platting Climate Action!
Over £400,000 has been awarded to 16 community-led projects in the latest round of the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund. Successful projects are providing access to better green space where it is needed most.
Miles Platting Community and Age Friendly Network (a Community Savers affiliate) are delighted to be one of the Round 3 grantees for their work to develop a wildlife corridor with support from Dr Jenna Ashton at the University of Manchester and a range of other partners:
“The Miles Platting Wildlife Corridor for people and nature will enhance identified spaces and create new habitats in the neighbourhoods of Miles Platting, Manchester. The aim is to improve biodiversity and the local ecosystem, increase interaction and connection between residents and their natural environment, mitigate impacts of climate change, and encourage physical activity between sites and along the Rochdale Canal.” (GMEF, 1Sept 2023)
Community groups who haven’t previously received funding can still apply for support from the Green Spaces Fund, with Round 4 now open.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“Everyone should have access to quality green space and the benefits that it offers our physical and mental health, but the reality is that some areas of Greater Manchester are worse off than others at present.
“That’s why I’m so pleased to welcome the latest intake of Green Spaces Fund projects, all of which seek to redress the balance. I continue to be amazed by the imagination and endeavour shown by community groups applying for support from fund – from green-fingered growers to champions of biodiversity, the projects that we have been able to back so far are really making a difference to their local areas.
“There’s still time to get backing from the fund, so if you have an idea for how to turn your local area green please do apply and help us make Greater Manchester a greener, fairer place.”
Read the full press release here.
Miles Platting Community and Age-friendly Network (MPCAN) established their Climate Action Group after community leaders came together with support from CLASS and URBED to map public and disused sites across their neighbourhood that was not yet earmarked for development and to create a shared vision for the future of the area in consultation with local residents.
Since then, leaders have identified a series of priorities including:
- the protection and improvement of green spaces and habitat creation for increased biodiversity;
- a community-led redevelopment of the St Cuthberts church site into a worship space and community hub in partnership with the Parochial Church Council.
- increasing the number of social homes available in the area after successive developments and a PFI regeneration programme left the community with a net loss of approximately 500 social homes.
Visit www.mpcan.org.uk to find out more and get involved!
Header image: "Swallows" by A Bird in the Hand Theatre at MPCAN's climate resilience pageant in July 2023.
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Ageing Well in Place at Hopton Court: Achievements and challenges
Tina Cribbin and Gill Edwards from Aquarius Community Savers reflect together on the rollercoaster ride of developing a pilot Naturally Occurring Retirement Community at Hopton Court tower block in Hulme, a video clip of Roy Bennett sharing achievements to date in April 2023 is also included.
Tina Cribbin:
"Cycles of HOPE, confusion, frustration, and anger, HOPE. Repeat. That’s been my experience of developing the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) model in Hulme. Never in my life have I ever heard so many professionals play dumb, “I don’t know! “I will take that away”, “I was never made aware of that”. Or just tell lies: “there was never any agreement on that”, “we had to turn it around quickly so there was no time to consult”.
The NORC model improves the quality of life and wellbeing of older people in tower blocks reducing the need for older people to be moved into different accommodation in later life. This has been an issue I have campaigned on for years but got no joy. It originated in New York and has also been done in other parts of the US and Canada. New York has undergone gentrification on a huge scale for many years and the NORC model has proved successful in older people maintaining their homes and ageing well in place. This is the first time anyone has adapted it in the UK.
In 2019, we joined Community Savers and started working with CLASS. CLASS is a small charity which supports groups affiliated to the Community Savers network. CLASS is led by, for and with women leaders of the network. They worked with us to recognise how important our voices are and what we contribute to our community. They supported us in ensuring local people were not only privy to information but also that we were instrumental in decision making. CLASS is our ally and we have learned that it is near impossible to make change without working collectively. No matter how hard it is. It’s the only way forward.
We established a partnership called Ageing Well in Place in Hulme looking at the needs of older tower block tenants in our neighbourhood. We have undertaken community research, door knocking, BBQs, drop ins, workshops, taught at universities. We have undertaken community exchanges and some of us have been lucky enough to travel to Africa! Endless meetings, meetings, and more meetings…!
In March 2021, One Manchester agreed to work with us to adapt the NORC model for our tower block, Hopton Court. Think of the “batteries not included” film. Hopton is a bit like that.
My understanding of NORC is a way of working with older tenants living in tower blocks. Tower block living is quite isolating and tenants have a set of very unique issues which needs a flexible and responsive approach which is inclusive towards the community it sits in.
Bringing this concept to us and other professionals is difficult. Many were unsure exactly what the NORC is. Rightly so, it is complex because it is about co-production and not always pre-determining the outcomes – letting them come out of the partnership work. The NORC model is adaptable, flexible, with constantly shifting priorities that ebb and flow depending on need. Its messy but that reflects the real lives of the people and the community.
Working with partners at the two universities, One Manchester, CLASS, and tenants, the first urgent need that was agreed was for an Independent Living Advisor. Manchester Local Care Organisation and One Manchester provided the funding for her role as a pilot for a year. Katie had a huge impact on the Hopton community people were getting the right benefits (pension credits is one of the most underclaimed), aids and adaptations, repairs in the block were now being delivered promptly, health and care workers were able to access their patients. Older people’s lives were being transformed. Unfortunately, a major restructure at One Manchester meant there was no-one leading on the project for six months and they missed the opportunity to apply for further funding for her role. She had her contract terminated after a year. What a bitter blow – the tenants were devastated.
We are still negotiating for One Manchester to fundraise through our partnership to finance a new Independent Living Adviser role but we have lost Katie now and all the relationships of trust she built up over a whole year of working with the tenants.
We have learned that no matter what they throw at us WE FIGHT BACK. We are a community under siege (on the edge of Manchester city centre and two constantly expanding universities) and understand how difficult it is to live with constant pressure. We’ve learned that pressure works both ways.
We now have a NORC development worker and community researcher who work at the block ensuring that the project is rolled out in partnership with tenants and ensuring decisions are informed by tenants. They have already undertaken research with tenants to determine the design and uses of our new community space. They are improving the lives of older people by holding weekly activities and providing support. Since they became employed, there is definitely a renewed energy about the place.
At times I got so lost in meetings, workshops, partnership agreements, I lost sight of why I was doing it.
I returned to Hopton every day and seeing the changes big and small keeps me grounded.
For anyone thinking about working in tower blocks: Just do it! All of this sounds so huge. But we started with a cup of tea. And that still remains one of the most important things we do. Being beside people combating isolation a brew at a time.
People think that you have to start at the top getting written agreements and permission: you don’t! Its why it’s worked in Hopton - as it comes from the ground up. We didn’t ask permission to start. We just did. The biggest thing I have learned is that PEOPLE DON’T GIVE YOU POWER, YOU TAKE IT.
My amazing sister Activist Gillian Edwards will share her thoughts on the community space.”
Gill Edwards:
"Yay we got the community space!"
“We have been through so many ups and downs with regards to the community space. We started out doing some research looking at what was happening to tenants at the block. There was so much isolation and people falling through the gaps in services. A new community building was one of our first priorities when CLASS supported us to get a ta dialogue going with our housing provider One Manchester.
Over the last three years there have been many obstacles to overcome. The first being to come to the agreement for the need for a community space and what form it should take. In 2021, we agreed to co-design a new purpose-built community building which would be installed in a corner of our shared gardens at Hopton Court. We agreed that tenants and the Ageing Well partnership would use the designs to raise money for the construction as long as there were no problems with feasibility.
We worked together with Manchester School of Architecture to get some ideas about what the community space could look like and we also undertook a survey of Hopton Court to find out what the residents wanted. We had over 50% of tenants complete the survey which was presented to One Manchester.
They agreed for us to go ahead and contract an architectural practice to work with us to get the design phase through to planning permission or “ready to construct” stage – we invested £16,000 of our own Lottery resources that we had through Community Savers to do this. The architects worked with all the tenants to co-design the new building and get all the ground surveys done ready to submit proposals to planning.
Everyone was so excited. Then a bombshell dropped when some of the staff we were working with left through a big restructure and One Manchester suddenly said they would not support the new building!
The heart had been ripped out of the residents of Hopton Court, but we kept up the fight and they have agreed to renovate a 3-bedroom ground floor flat into an alternative community space.
We have had to do all the surveys and consultations over again to get tenants views on what they would like to see in the space, but it is finally due to open in November of this year.
We have achieved a great deal but we have won the battle not won the war: the future is still uncertain. We have many obstacles to overcome as One Manchester have still not agreed a clear investment plan or project plan for the NORC pilot and our Community Development Worker started in post nearly a year ago. But we will keep up the fight because are a community that has a right to be here, a right to services, and a right to be heard. Our community has lost so much due to university expansion and ‘regeneration’ but we are not going to be forgotten or swallowed up. We will not give in or give up! We are Hulme!
Watch Roy Bennett sharing some of Hopton's achievements in April 2023:
"Our achievements include:
- Hopton Court being designated an Over-50s block.
- An Independent Living Adviser supporting elderly and vulnerable tenants through one-to-one case work for 12 months.
- Replacement of our lifts and ensuring lifts stop on every floor (work to commence this year).
- A new ground floor tenant-managed community space.
- A new Community Development Worker in post who is working in partnership with us to make Ageing Well in Place at Hopton Court a reality including social events, gardening, and developing connections and partnerships with local services.
- Successfully opposing proposals for an 11-storey purpose built student accommodation block that a developer wants to construct right opposite our gardens which would block all our sunlight and put huge pressure on our local services which are already on their knees.
That struggle is not over but by working together through the Block the Block campaign and with all our supporters we will keep up the fight. We are still here with the strength of will and courage of a unified voice to stand up and say no. Our community is what has made us and what we will stand up for. We will not be beaten into submission by big corporations.
Do not underestimate the power of your communities and the voice you have as a collective. Anyone can achieve great things as a community so use what was given to you to improve yours!"
"You have the power!"
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