If we want to own the post-pandemic future we need to concentrate on community wealth building, and embrace the “new Leviathan” state released by the coronavirus crisis, say timely reports released by Manchester based think-do tank the Centre for Local Economic Strategies. The key to creating stronger post-pandemic local economies is ‘community wealth building’ say […]
Four international journalists, who graduated in Manchester, report on their Covid-19 lockdown experiences
Four International Students who graduated at Manchester Metropolitan University discuss the impact of Covid-19 around the world, finding many similarities and a shocking tendency for misinformation and conspiracy theories to spread faster than Covid-19. Four friends from four different countries all graduated as Journalists in Manchester. We may now be living worlds apart, but we […]
Cross-party calls for Manchester planning committee to be reinstated
In response to the coronavirus crisis and lockdown, Manchester City Council suspended the planning committee and delegated planning powers to the Chief Executive. Thanks to new legislation, planning committees can now legally make decisions virtually. With other councils moving to online decision-making – and controversial schemes being decided this week – councillors, the Opposition, and […]
Locked down in Peru: social media mobilisation brings back Manchester student
The journey of a lifetime for Sophie was brought to a grinding halt by the pandemic. She credits a social media campaign for spurring the UK government into action, who had initially failed to offer any support to her and the hundreds of other Britons stranded in Peru. Just three weeks into a six month […]
Supporting vulnerable communities in Manchester during the coronavirus crisis
Four organisations supporting vulnerable communities in Manchester speak of the difficulties they are facing in carrying out their work due to the coronavirus crisis Disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Manchester face hardships at the best of times. Organisations offering help to these communities usually top up government support with charitable contributions from the public. With […]
Manchester’s self-employed react to Chancellor’s aid package
Self-employed people in Manchester voice their concerns on the aid package announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. The coronavirus pandemic lockdown in the UK has brought economic hardships to many, but the self-employed were ignored in the earlier government aid packages. Over the last 20 years, self-employment has been a growing area of the workforce. In […]
Far right mobilise in Manchester following damning child sex abuse report
Far right protesters gathered in St. Peter’s Square brandishing banners with racially charged slogans, following the publication of a report into Operation Augusta – an investigation of child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester. Katy Preen reports on who we really need to hold accountable for the failures to properly investigate and prosecute child sex abuse. […]
Sustainable development or mini America – which will Manchester choose?
Andrea Sandor argues why we should use the Netherlands as a sustainable development model for integrated housing and transport, and not the USA. Attending a talk by Transport for New Homes (TfNH) recently I was delighted to discover their strapline is “Sustainable development or mini America”. As someone who grew up in America, I fully […]
‘I really thought there were no Jews left in the whole world’: the story of a Holocaust survivor in Manchester
Sara survived the Holocaust thanks to the kindness of a stranger in the Netherlands. Others from her family and wider community were not so lucky and were murdered in concentration camps such as Auschwitz. Nazi Germany and its collaborators killed six million Jews during the Holocaust. Joseph Draper traveled to Manchester, as an ambassador of […]
Yellow and Blue divide of Hong Kong reaches Manchester
Ex-resident of Hong Kong Dale Anne McAulay talks to migrants from Hong Kong, living in Manchester, about the current political struggles in the region. As the pro-democracy protest movement in Hong Kong continues its struggle for a more inclusive politics, a divide has formed in the region. Yellow is the colour adopted by the pro-democracy […]