A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the fifth episode of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I speak to Tracey Torley, director of Cracking Good Food and a Spirit of Manchester award winner for community and business collaboration. Tracy discusses her journey into food advocacy, stemming from her West Indian heritage, and her impactful work with organisations aimed at alleviating food poverty and promoting sustainable cooking...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the fourth episode of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I interview Jan Iceton, Board Chair of Smart Works Greater Manchester. Jan discusses Smart Works' mission to support unemployed women aged 16 to 66 in rebuilding confidence and securing employment. Jan shares her journey in the sector, the pivotal role of Smart Works in empowering women, and the significant impact of their services....

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the third episode of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I interview Claire Biggs, Director of Sustainable Northmoor Urban Greening (SNUG) and Spirit of Manchester award nominee for Inspiring Campaign.   Claire discusses her involvement with Longsight Community Artspace and the impact of their projects on the local community. From offering free art workshops and exhibitions to transforming an...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. In the second episode of Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe chats with Josh Deegan, a volunteer at Happy Somedays and Spirit of Manchester Award winner for Community Cohesion. Josh shares his inspiring journey of supporting the Wythenshawe community, discussing the inception and evolution of Happy Some Days from a lockdown initiative into a multifaceted community group offering free fitness sessions, sports,...

In the Season 9 opener of the 'Meet the Mancunian' podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe highlights award-winning activist Maria Romanenko's journey. Maria was nominated as Volunteer of the Year in the Spirit of Manchester Awards.   Fleeing Ukraine amid war, Maria finds solace and purpose in assisting fellow Ukrainian refugees in Manchester, providing free walking tours among other support initiatives. She addresses the challenges Ukrainian refugees face, the shortcomings of official support...

Celebrating Social Impact: Season 9 of Meet the Mancunian Podcast In Season 9 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe collaborates with the Spirit of Manchester Awards to feature interviews with award winners and nominees from the city's voluntary and community sector.   Each episode, released weekly on Tuesdays, showcases Manchester's community champions dedicated to various causes. The season aims to inspire listeners to engage with the social impact sector and...

In the 16th and final episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe welcomes Matthew Carroll, Station Manager of Evolve Radio. Carroll shares his 25-year journey in community and hospital radio, discussing the personal and professional challenges he has faced, including struggles with mental health. He introduces his latest venture, Evolve Radio, aimed at bringing community radio to Stockport and providing training opportunities for aspiring...

In the 15th episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Tanny Rowland, Secretary of Wythenshawe Safety Patrol. Tanny shares her journey from experiencing homelessness at 17 to co-leading a non-profit organization dedicated to community safety and support in Wythenshawe. They discuss various initiatives like street patrols, a community café, a garden project, and safe places for vulnerable individuals. Tanny emphasises the importance of...

In the 14th episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Hemant Patel, CEO of Anumana. They discuss Hemant's passion for community support, inspired by his mother and Indian cultural values, and his initiative, the Code Academy. Patel highlights the academy's mission to address challenges in the tech sector, such as lack of diversity, skills gap, and social mobility barriers. The academy offers a free 16-week Python programming course to...

In the 13th episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Daniel Firea, a self-development YouTuber and photographer. Daniel shares his journey from a life filled with vices and bad mental health to one focused on positive self-development. He discusses the impact of stopping vices, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and finding faith. Daniel explains his motivation to help others through his YouTube channel, promoting a holistic approach...

In the twelfth episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Jazzy J, an Artist and Executive Committee Member of the Indian Association of Manchester. Jazzy J shares his passion for community support, rooted in his upbringing in Mumbai, and discusses his role in the Indian Association of Manchester. He highlights the organisation's efforts to bring together people from various backgrounds, provide platforms for local talent, and support...

In the 11th episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Claire Hines, owner of Shine and a passionate advocate for shared community spaces. Claire shares her journey from volunteering at her children's school to starting her own eco-friendly business Shine within Emporium M33, a community-centric retail hub in Sale.   The discussion covers the challenges and rewards of running a small business and the significance of local support. Claire...

In the tenth episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews volunteer and photographer, David McLenachan. David shares his journey from retirement to discovering a passion for volunteering, starting with The Met Theatre in Bury and expanding through various music festivals in Manchester. He discusses the challenges and rewards of volunteering, his photography career progression, and his role as a patient representative for Greater...

In the ninth episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe welcomes Advita Patel, founder of Comms Rebel. Advita shares her passionate journey towards fostering diversity and inclusion, recounting personal experiences of feeling excluded and how witnessing a colleague's poor treatment ignited her advocacy. Advita explains the inception of Comms Rebel, emphasising the importance of being a 'positive disruptor' in driving inclusive communication. She also...

In the eighth episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe welcomes Danny Ryder, actor and creative producer of Reload Theatre. They discuss Danny's passion for theatre, his diverse acting career, and the formation of Reload Theatre. Danny highlights the 'One Play One Day' initiative, an innovative theatre concept that challenges actors, directors, and writers to create and perform plays within 24 hours while supporting various charities. The episode...

In the seventh episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe talks with Mark Sproston, Founder of Project 23. Mark shares his personal journey, dealing with the mental health crisis following his brother's suicide, and the formation of Project 23, an award-winning, self-funding mental health group aimed at preventing suicides and providing support. They discuss the impact of physical fitness on mental health, the challenges of mental health services, and...

In the sixth episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Shanaz Hussain, Network Leader for WomenEd Northwest. Shanaz shares her passion for supporting women and battling inequality, tracing it back to her early community work. She discusses her involvement with WomenEd, a global network supporting women leaders in education, and her role as a headteacher in Blackburn, empowering young girls and addressing challenges such as digital...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners.   In the fifth episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe welcomes Steve Goodman, Chair of Liv's Trust. They discuss Liv's Trust's mission to support young people in Greater Manchester by offering music and dance opportunities. Steve shares inspiring stories on how the Trust provides safe spaces and activities for youth, particularly those affected by the Arena bombing and the COVID pandemic....

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners.   In the fourth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Andrew Alan Matthews, artist and poet about his inspiring story of transforming the negative portrayal of Moss Side into a positive one through his Moss Side Nostalgia art collection. Andrew discusses his lifelong passion for art, the challenges he faced, including mental health struggles, and his efforts in aiding the community through his uplifting work. He also touches on his...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners.   It's Autistic Pride Day on 18th June.  The purpose of Autistic Pride Day is a uniquely autistic led initiative celebrating neurodiversity and the strengths of autistic individuals. It empowers the autistic community, promotes self-advocacy, and fosters a sense of pride and unity, challenging stereotypes and inspiring change.   In the third episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Charlie Michael Baker, author about supporting autism...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. In the second episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Katie Geelan, Choir Director, Bolton Cancer Voices, Bury Fire Choir and Encore Youth Fire Choir. Katie expands on her passion for supporting community choirs in Bolton. Katie discusses the challenges and triumphs faced, including the recruitment of male singers and the impact of choir participation on community well-being. Katie also offers practical advice for anyone wishing to...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. In the season premiere episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Vicky McKinlay, Volunteer, Blackburn Harriers Athletics Club about her passion for supporting sports in the community. As a volunteer, Vicky is a coach, an official and a joint welfare official working with children in the age group 8-11 years in sports hall and competitions. She shares her journey into supporting sports in the community, challenges, and the impact she has...

Welcome to Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester. A warm Mancunian welcome from your host, Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. Thank you for joining me today. I am a new Mancunian who enjoys meeting inspiring people who are helping to support the Manchester community and creating social impact. Over the last 2.5 years, I have been hosting the Meet the Mancunian podcast and have interviewed over 84 guests so far.   Every Tuesday, I bring you the stories of...

In the season finale of Season 7 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe talks with Susie Hughes, Head of RSPCA Manchester and Salford, about the significant impact the organisation has on improving animal welfare in the UK. The episode covers Susie's personal journey to becoming passionate about animal welfare, influenced by David Attenborough. It explores the mission of the RSPCA Manchester and Salford, highlighting their efforts in rescuing animals from neglect and...