Guest article from The Salford Star: Bolton Royal Hospital workers are celebrating a massive victory after taking two days of strike action over pay parity in the NHS earlier this month, supported by Salford UNISON and many other trade unionists. The workers, who include cleaners, catering staff, porters and security staff, are employed by Bolton […]
Play shares a message of HIV positivity
A new play tours Greater Manchester this month, spreading a message of HIV positivity and helping to break down the stigma surrounding the now controllable virus. ‘I Am Because We Are‘ will bring theatre out into the community, using churches, community centres and drop-in centres for refugees and asylum seekers. Seven of the ten boroughs […]
Greater Manchester’s social and solidarity economy revealed
Transform GM – an action research project looking to understand, map and promote ‘alternative’ economic activity in Greater Manchester (GM) – have just launched a new website mapping the social and solidarity economy (SSE). The SSE is made up of initiatives which prioritise other values over the economic bottom line and, unlike many charities, are […]
Community union publish Universal Credit survival guide
Increasing numbers of people across Greater Manchester are being signed up or switched over to the controversial and heavily criticised Universal Credit system. To help those struggling to cope with the change to the new welfare system, Greater Manchester Unite Community Branch (GMUCB) have published a Universal Credit survival guide. Universal Credit, the Tory and […]
The hidden shame of period poverty
Half the population of the world are women. It is, therefore, safe to say that a large proportion of that population have periods. So, why is the issue of menstrual care still so taboo? Why do people still feel awkward and embarrassed by their period and feel that it should be something that should be […]
Disabled People Against Cuts are calling for an end to the ‘conscious cruelty’ of Universal Credit
Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) are calling for Universal Credit (UC) to be stopped and scrapped due to its multiple flaws, and old welfare payments to be reinstated. This report covers DPAC’s talk at this years Lush Summit where they explained the devastating effect UC is having on people claiming it. DPAC’s #StopAndScrap Universal Credit […]
Damning report reveals over a third of Wythenshawe’s children are living in poverty
Guest Article from The Wythenshawe Reporter: Figures revealed by the End Child Poverty coalition, on the 24 January, show that in the five local authority wards in Wythenshawe around 34 per cent of youngsters are in poverty after housing costs are taken into account. The campaign blames the shockingly high levels of poverty in the […]
We can afford world-leading NHS healthcare, and here’s why
Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, recently asked the government for some of the extra £350m per week funding pledged on the side of the Brexit bus, to alleviate the crisis in the NHS due to chronic under funding. In reply the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget fell far short of Steven’s request, allocating just £350 […]
Research reveals 89% of homeless experience worsening mental health
Research has uncovered the shocking toll being homeless has on the health of this most vulnerable and growing community. The results, which included responses from those living in temporary accommodation or sleeping rough, revealed 89% of homeless people completing the survey experienced worsening mental health due to their lack of secure good quality housing. The […]
Save our NHS street party sees samba, DJs and ‘Tories Out!’ message
Guest article from The Salford Star: Manchester city centre shoppers, yesterday, got down to the beat of the PCS Samba Band and a host of DJs giving out the message that the Tories must be kicked out on Thursday to Save Our NHS… “Surely no-one believes that the NHS is safe in the Tories’ hands” […]