Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester

By Deepa Thomas-SutcliffeBusiness Non-Profit

Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester episodes

October 22, 2024 Uplifting Ukrainian voices with Maria Romanenko
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 systems, and the emotional struggles refugees undergo.

Despite personal challenges, Maria invests thousands of volunteer hours, earning the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award. Her story encourages others to find creative, community-driven solutions and partnerships for social impact.

#volunteering #GM #manchester #community #Ukraine #refugees #SocialImpact #NonProfit

Did you know: There are over 160,000 Ukraine refugees living in the UK. Many of them are not familiar with English and struggle to find jobs similar to their occupations in Ukraine, in spite of having qualifications and work experience.

Key resource:
United for Ukraine

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:

(01:12) Introduction to Maria Romanenko
(01:37) Maria's Journey from Kyiv to the UK
(02:45) Settling in the UK and Media Attention
(03:40) Finding Purpose in Helping Others
(06:38) Challenges Faced by Ukrainian Refugees
(09:59) Initiating Free Walking Tours
(11:31) Expanding the Walking Tours
(12:39) Recognition and Awards
(14:43) Ongoing Efforts and Future Plans
(25:43) Advice and Reflections

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk
33 min
October 15, 2024 Meet the Mancunian Season 9 Trailer
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 spread positivity. Listeners can tune in on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast's website www.meetthemancunian.co.uk.

The podcast cover art is designed by Mahua Roy from Purple Art Studio.

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:

(00:00) Welcome to Season 9: Meet the Mancunian Podcast
(00:31) Celebrating Community Champions
(01:01) Upcoming Episodes and Listening Options
(01:21) Join the Mancunian Community

#SocialImpact #SpiritofMcr24 #Community #Manchester #GM #podcast #NonProfit #volunteer

2 min
September 17, 2024 Supporting community radio and mental health with Matthew Carroll
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 broadcasters. The episode reflects on the importance of staying goal-focused, the impact of community radio, and plans for future
programming.

This episode also marks the celebration of the Meet the Mancunian podcast’s 100th guest. The podcast will return with Season 9 in October 2024 in partnership
with the Spirit of Manchester Awards.
#Community #Radio #MentalHealth #Manchester #GM #SocialImpact #NonProfit #Podcast
Did you know:
·      Community radio stations are low-power, not-for-profit radio stations that are operated and influenced by the communities they serve. They are different from commercial and public service radio stations.
·     They are usually run by volunteers and activists, rather than paid staff.
·      They provide a platform for people to learn new skills and contribute their own.
·     They provide access to the airwaves for under-represented voices.

Key resource:
Evolve Radio

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:
(01:32) Introduction to Matthew Carroll and Evolve Radio
(02:17) Matthew's Journey into Community Radio
(02:40) Commitment to Community Radio
(04:24) The Birth of Evolve Radio
(06:25) Challenges in Community Radio
(06:32) Overcoming Mental Health Struggles
(10:29) Supporting New Talent in Radio
(15:05) Advice for Aspiring Community Radio Enthusiasts
(21:42) Signature Questions and Personal Reflections

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

29 min
September 10, 2024 Supporting community safety with Tanny Rowland
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 community involvement, overcoming challenges, and the power of positivity in making a difference. The episode concludes with heartwarming stories of lives
transformed through their work and Tanny's gratitude for the support they receive.

#Community #Safety #Allotment #Homelessness #Manchester #GM #SocialImpact
#NonProfit #Podcast

Did you know:
·     Community safety is all about the issues that
make people feel safe or unsafe in their communities
·     This is often a shared responsibility between
the community, the public sector (Council, Police), the private sector (local businesses), the faith sector, voluntary organisations
·     More than three-quarters of people (78%) feel
safe in the area where they live, compared with 11% who do not (Public polling on community safety in the UK
in 2023)

Key resource:
The Real Wythenshawe Safety Patrol

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:
(01:48) Introduction and Welcome
(01:57) Tanny's Journey: From Homelessness to Helping Others
(02:50) Joining Wythenshawe Safety Patrol
(03:56) Community Patrol Activities and Impact
(05:54) Challenges Faced by the Organisation
(07:26) Success Stories and Positive Outcomes
(09:06) The Power of Social Media and Community Support
(10:57) Advice for Starting Community Movements
(13:45) Signature Questions: Manchester and Personal Insights
(19:22) Heartwarming Stories and Conclusion

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

24 min
September 03, 2024 Empowering youth through technology with Hemant Patel
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 Manchester schools delivered by University students, targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Hemant also shares the struggles and successes of establishing this program simultaneously with his business, Anumana, and emphasises the importance of relatable role models in inspiring young talent. The episode concludes with insights into the program's impact and Hemant's advice for creating similar initiatives.

In Hemant’s own words:
“I think the biggest common myth is that you have to have a specific skill set and I guess the biggest common myth is that you have to come from a computer science background to be able to program, or you have had to have previous
program experience to program. I think certainly there are a lot of programs out there where people are retraining from completely different vocations into programming.”
#Youth #Coding #students #community #Manchester #GM #SocialImpact #NonProfit #Podcast

Did you know:
·     In 2024, the House of Commons Library reported that 18% of UK adults lack the digital skills needed for the workplace.
·     The Government's 2022 Digital Strategy states that over 80% of UK job advertisements require digital skills, and the skills gap could cost the economy up to £120 billion a year by 2035.
·     Young people face several barriers to entering digital training and careers, including a lack of encouragement, limited awareness of options, and low teaching quality. Many also hold negative perceptions of the tech sector,
seeing it as difficult, with long hours and high discrimination. Additionally, retraining is hindered by financial costs and a lack of junior-level roles

Key resource:
Anumana Code Academy

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:
(00:55) Introduction to Hemant Patel and Anumana
(01:42) Finding Passion for Community Support
(02:46) The Birth of Code Academy
(06:33) Challenges in Building Code Academy
(07:50) Scaling and Sustainability of Code Academy
(09:20) Impact and Success Stories
(12:31) Debunking Myths in Coding and IT
(13:36) Advice for Starting Similar Movements
(18:25) Personal Reflections and Life Lessons
(19:49) Signature Questions and Closing Remarks

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

27 min
August 27, 2024 Inspiring self-development with Daniel Firea
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 to
self-improvement. The episode emphasises the importance of continuous learning, honesty, and having a higher power to rely on.

In Daniel’ own words:
“I’m trying to promote working out, sport because when I was in that bad period, I stopped sport, I was eating bad, I was smoking, I was doing all these bad things that I'm saying. But after I managed to stop them, I start seeing an
improvement in my mental health immediately just by stopping devices, starting sport again, working out. regularly dieting, so eating better, stopping the bad friendships.”
#Selfdevelopment #Physicalhealth #community #Manchester #GM #SocialImpact #NonProfit #Podcast

Did you know:
·     Self-development is the capacity and action to grow one's self-awareness, abilities, talents, and skills in order to improve one's quality of life. This personal development may be done at any time and in any
place, with or without the help of others.
·      It is the process of learning new things and building new skills that help people achieve their goals and manifest their dreams.
·     It is often a lifelong process.

Key resources:
Daniel’s YouTube channel
Future Learn courses on self-development

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:
(01:02) Introduction to Daniel Firea
(01:43) Daniel's Journey to Self-Development
(03:06) Finding Passion in Photography
(04:43) Broad Focus on Self-Development
(06:15) Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle
(07:21) Overcoming Physical Challenges
(08:40) Debunking Myths About Self-Development
(11:12) The Long Game of YouTube Success
(14:03) Signature Questions
(18:58) Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk
24 min
August 20, 2024 Creating joy and unity with Jazzy J.
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 activities that celebrate South Asian culture.
The episode covers the importance of patience, kindness, and a forward-thinking approach. The conversation underscores the significance of fostering inclusion
and giving people opportunities to showcase their talents. The episode concludes with Jazzy J offering advice for those looking to start similar movements in their communities.
In J’s own words:
“I think I have made an impact by making people believe that if they have a talent that they can come forward
and present it. Age does not matter. Form does not matter. Style does not matter. As far as you have it in you, you go ahead and you share it with the world and you enrich it in the way that you feel that is fit for you.’
#Community #SouthAsian #culture #Manchester #GM #SocialImpact #NonProfit #Podcast

Did you know:
·     South Asian culture is a blend of many cultures in and
around the Indian subcontinent. It has a rich history of kingdoms, empires, spiritual and artistic movements, and cultural, religious, economic, and political connections to other regions.
·     South Asian culture has made a significant impact on Britain in various aspects, such as food, clothing, music, words, and the overall ambiance of our towns and cities.
·      South Asia has a rich legacy of music and dance, including classical music traditions like Hindustani and Carnatic music in India, Ghazals in Pakistan, and Baul music in Bangladesh. Dance forms like Bharatanatyam,
Kathak, and Bhangra are art forms that also express emotions and cultural narratives.

Key resources:
This is Jazzy J.
Indian Association of Manchester

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:
(00:52) Introduction and Finding Passion
(02:45) Involvement with the Indian Association of Manchester
(03:52) Role and Objectives of the Indian Association
(04:51) Supporting the Indian Community
(07:46) Challenges Faced in the Journey
(10:47) Impact and Encouragement
(13:00) Advice for Starting a Community Movement
(13:41) Additional Cultural Involvements
(14:30) Signature Questions: Mancunian Spirit
(20:12) Heartwarming Conclusion

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk
24 min
August 13, 2024 Supporting shared spaces in the community with Claire Hines
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 emphasises the importance of tenacity, community collaboration, and supporting local enterprises. The episode wraps up with heartfelt anecdotes that illustrate the profound impact of community ties and mutual support.

In Claire’s own words:
“It is tough for us to match some of the prices that you can find, on the high street, but I think we're constantly trying to improve that and trying to basically give the customers the best experience.

So whether that's that you maybe pay slightly more than you would one of the big supermarkets or whatever, but you might get lovely gift wrap, or you get a little handwritten note with your gift, or, just like a little something extra
that you wouldn't expect. “

#Community #SharedSpace #Manchester #GM #SocialImpact #NonProfit #Podcast

Did you know:
·      Shared spaces in communities can include urban design
approaches, residential facilities or communal areas.
·     Co-location is an example of shared spaces
where a number of organisations may share a space
·     Community Hubs are shared spaces that provide
direct services to the geographic community in which they are located.
·     Coworking spaces provide work space and
community to people who are often working on their own.

Key resources:
Emporium M33
Shine

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:
(01:04) Introduction to Claire Hines and Shine
(01:47) Discovering a Passion for Community
(02:38) Life in the Cayman Islands and Moving to Sale
(03:46) Starting a Small Business: The Journey to Shine
(04:53) Emporium M33: A Community Hub for Entrepreneurs
(08:13) Challenges of Running a Small Business
(10:23) Impact and Success Stories
(14:14) Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
(16:59) Signature Questions: Manchester and Beyond
(23:54) Heartwarming Stories and Conclusion

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk

28 min
August 06, 2024 The power of volunteering with David McLenachan
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 Manchester
Cancer. The episode also touches on David's significant impact, his advice for aspiring volunteers, and heartwarming stories from his volunteering experiences.

In David’s own words:
“I really think that's for any individual, that's the most important thing is to go out and make it happen. Now, it's really difficult to know in more specific detail
how to do that. And people I've
mentioned like Mac, M A C, is one route so that you can just identify the vast number of opportunities that they collate.
But there's many other ways as well. So it might be in a more local environment. So what do you have in your local community, your local town or area of Manchester that you might want to get engaged in? Go and see them, find out if there's any need for any volunteers and see where that takes you.”
#volunteering #GM #manchester #SocialImpact #community #NonProfit

Did you know:
·     Volunteering can be a great way to learn and develop new skills
·     Volunteering improves your mental health and
sense of wellbeing
·     Volunteering can help people feel less isolated
in their surroundings and form meaningful connections with the people around them
·     Volunteering can help you ‘pay it forward’

Key resources:
Macc volunteer centre
David McLenachan Instagram

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:

(02:30) Volunteering at The Met
(04:12) Expanding Volunteering Horizons
(05:37) From Volunteering to Photography
(07:03) Challenges and Rewards of Volunteering
(11:18) Impact and Serious Roles
(15:13) Advice for Aspiring Volunteers
(20:59) Personal Reflections and Life Lessons
(28:45) Heartwarming Volunteering Stories

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk
35 min
July 30, 2024 Championing diversity and inclusion with Advita Patel
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 discusses 'A
Leader Like Me,' her initiative for underrepresented speakers, and the significance of micro steps in achieving social change. The conversation highlights Advita's challenges with identity and confidence, the impact of her work, and her upcoming role as president-elect for the CIPR, illustrating the profound effects of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the UK and beyond.

In Advita’s own words:
“And I thought, you know what? We need a list of people who can put themselves out there, who want to speak and want to have conversations. So I messaged a few of my friends, asked them to put their names on the list and then spread the word. And that's how the Underrepresented
Speaker list started.”
#Diversity #Inclusion #GM #manchester #SocialImpact
#community #NonProfit

Did you know:
· The public relations profession faces a diversity challenge.CIPR data shows that 9 in 10 UK practitioners are White and 25% are privately educated – around four times higher than the UK national average.
· In a recent CIPR report, over 73% of professional surveyed experienced barriers to progression while 72% faced discriminatory behaviour in the workplace.

Key resources:
Comms Rebel
Underrepresented Speakers List

Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &
transcript:

(00:54)
Meet Advita Patel: Champion of Diversity and Inclusion
(01:37)
Advita's Journey to Inclusion
(05:46)
Founding Comms Rebel
(08:31)
A Leader Like Me: Underrepresented Speaker's List
(13:44)
Overcoming Personal Challenges
(18:20)
Impact and Volunteering with CIPR
(24:48)
Advice for Starting a Movement
(29:28)
Signature Questions and Reflections

Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk
38 min

About Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester

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Welcome to Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe.

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Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester

Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester episodes

About Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester