The number of empty homes increases across Greater Manchester, with eight out of ten boroughs recording an increase between 2019 and 2020. National online rally to highlight the issues calls on housing campaigners to join forces and put the issue ‘on the national agenda and make the politicians listen’.
Burmese in Manchester give three fingered salute and call for justice for pro-democracy protestors killed by the military junta
Tribute to victims of Myanmar military oppression takes place in Piccadilly Gardens as supporters raise awareness to the killing of Burmese pro-democracy protestors opposing the military coup.
Kindling Farm’s Community Share Offer is about ‘growing hope’ in fair and sustainable food production
Using ‘pioneering’ farming techniques the Kindling Farm initiative aims to ‘challenge the dominant industrialised’ agricultural model. The Community Share Offer aims to raise money to buy a farm, with a potential return for investors.
Manchester council pledges to protect children in care from Brexit immigration changes
Manchester councillors and human rights advocates warn of ‘a new Windrush generation’, unless councils across Greater Manchester follow suit in identifying young people in care affected by the immigration changes and provide the necessary support to apply for settlement status.
Council approves new Climate and Environment Scrutiny Committee
In response to Climate Emergency Manchester’s 1760-signature petition, Manchester City Council has voted to approve a new scrutiny committee devoted to tackling the climate emergency.
Burnham brings GM bus network back under public control
The metro mayor said the “deregulated” bus network had “not been driven by the needs of our communities, but by bus operators’ responsibilities to their shareholders to make a profit… We can only change that and hold the decline if we bring the buses back under the control of the public.”
Deliveroo is paying less than minimum wage on nearly half its courier deliveries
Data collected by an innovative online tool, from invoices uploaded by Deliveroo couriers, shows that nearly half of Deliveroo couriers were paid less than the minimum wage. Deliveroo claims it pays its couriers above the minimum wage.
Greater Manchester leaders back bringing buses under public control
“On balance, it is in the public interest to make the proposed franchising scheme,” TfGM chief executive Eamonn Boylan told GM council leaders, as they gave the green light on re-franchising the city region’s buses.
Andy Burnham will now make the final decision on introducing a London-style franchise system.
‘Kill The Bill’: Manchester protests against contentious government policing bill
Hundreds of people came together in solidarity in Manchester to peacefully protest the government’s controversial and now allegedly delayed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. A number of speakers rallied the crowd with chants of “Our Streets” and “Kill The Bill”.
‘Unique’ Manchester-led study of deaf young people calls for more participants
Researchers at the University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh are reporting on the lives of deaf young people in England, Scotland and Wales through the READY study, and are looking for more participants. Noora Mykkanen spoke to the academics and co-inquirers leading the project to find out more.