The story of Ramila Patel, Bolton raised trade union and anti-racist activist who was recruited to work undercover for the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa in the 1980s.
Woman arrested 10 times by police, after splitting up with her GMP officer partner
Internal misconduct investigation proved her ex-partner, while reporting harassment, had twice failed to tell the police that she was contacting him because he had not let her speak to their child.
Curious kakapos and violin plots: my data expedition discoveries
Maddy McCormack took a first dive into a data expedition organised by Open Data Manchester.
She discovered that violin plots are not generally created by scheming orchestra members and that you should always question the data, be very thoughtful about power dynamics and keep in mind who the information can hurt and why.
Black Lives Matter: Greater Manchester is not innocent
Today the trial hearing of the four ex-police officers charged with the murder of George Floyd begins in the US, whilst Mancunians demonstrate this evening as part of a national day of anti-racist solidarity. But incidents of institutional racism that have taken place in Greater Manchester in recent years remind us that there is still much work to be done here.
Masks for Life scheme brings artists together to help local community
Islington Mill in Salford have launched a scheme to provide community groups with free masks and help keep local artists making and serving their communities. Covid-19 has decimated many industries and changed how we keep ourselves and others safe in public spaces. Islington Mill has launched Masks for Life, a Covid response project that aims […]
Does the Mayfield proposal offer the radical change Manchester desperately needs or will the city be left unsatisfied?
Plans to rejuvenate the derelict Mayfield Depot offers a glimpse of hope for the city centre with promises of new homes, offices and a park to boot. But there are fears that the average resident could be priced out of the space and the green measures promised do not go far enough to protect the […]
Manchester housing campaigners join forces to fight predicted Covid-19 evictions ‘tsunami’
Tens of thousands of tenants across Greater Manchester at risk of losing their homes during the Covid-19 crisis, once the ban on evictions is raised on 23 August. Tenants Union UK, ACORN Manchester and the Greater Manchester Law Centre are joining forces to offer training and information to help renters resist eviction. Full details below. […]
We need ‘pop-up’ cycle lanes – Manchester should reconsider decision
On Friday, Manchester City Council announced on Twitter it will not be bidding for pop-up cycle provision as part of a GMCA bid for £16 million from government. City centre resident, Sarah Mann, explains why she’s disappointed about the decision and what we stand to lose if we don’t have a regionally joined-up ‘pop-up’ cycle […]
Manchester pub still serving its community
It is a dark time for the hospitality industry but The Old Abbey Taphouse community pub is not letting lockdown get in the way of them serving their locals, by partnering with a number of community organisations to provide Hulme residents with ‘pay-as-you-feel’ meal deliveries. Hulme’s residents are receiving pay-as-you-feel meals and support from their […]
ACORN will fight to ensure there are no Covid-19 evictions
ACORN tenants union in Manchester are fighting against the threatened ejection of homeless people housed in hotels and the growing threat of eviction for private renters burdened with growing rent arrears due to lockdown. They have put together six key demands to create a healthier housing system nationally and are petitioning Greater Manchester councils to […]









