Public engagement activities win top marks for University of Manchester

The University of Manchester’s success in actively engaging local communities and the wider public in its work has been recognised with the award of the highest achievable rating by the body which oversees university research and knowledge transfer in England.

The Knowledge Exchange Framework is an annual assessment by Research England of the ways universities connect with society and the economy - locally, nationally and internationally.

In the latest scores, just released, The University of Manchester reached the top rating for public and community engagement, a feat also achieved for its work with intellectual property and commercialisation, and research partnerships.

The University’s accolade for public engagement reflects its diverse range of activities over the past year such as volunteering, festivals, mutual partnerships, citizen science, policy engagement, patient involvement in research, and interaction with communities through its cultural institutions including Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, John Rylands Library, Manchester Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery. 

Professor Arpana Verma, Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology, The University of Manchester

Its policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester, plays an important part in this work by connecting researchers with policymakers and influencers, nurturing long-term policy engagement relationships, and enhancing stakeholder understanding of pressing public policy challenges. 

Policy@Manchester organised 15 fringe events at the Conservative and Labour Party conferences over the past two weeks, and recently hosted a roundtable discussion at Manchester Art Gallery to launch its new publication, Power in Place, which sets out an assortment of evidence-based solutions from the University’s world-leading academics to tackle regional inequalities and boost the levelling up agenda.  

Professor Arpana Verma, and Clinical Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology and Co-Director of Policy@Manchester, said: “It is a proud achievement for the University to be awarded the top score by Research England for public and community engagement.

“The Policy@Manchester team is integral to our engagement activities in the city and far beyond including at conferences, events and meetings with prominent individuals and organisations with real influence on policy outcomes.

“I am thrilled that their outstanding and dedicated efforts have been recognised in this way.”

Time for Open Minds on World Mental Health Day

The University of Manchester has marked World Mental Health Day today (10 October) with the launch of a new publication offering insight on the causes and challenges of poor mental health, together with a suite of recommendations to help policymakers improve the lives of millions.

Open Minds, produced by Policy@Manchester, is a collection of 10 evidence-based articles from the University’s academics examining everything from the factors affecting the wellbeing of young people, to the challenges in providing mental health care to the most vulnerable, and the breakthrough treatments and therapies to help alleviate the national and global burden of mental ill-health.

The online document begins with a foreword by Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, who argues that “as a country, we are looking through the wrong end of the telescope” on the issue of dealing with mental health.

He writes: “The evidence base for preventing mental health problems is steadily growing. There are a good number of interventions like workplace support initiatives, anti-bullying programmes, and better perinatal mental health support, where the evidence is very clear.

“Governments and health systems should urgently invest in these solutions. And we know that the toxic impacts of poverty and discrimination are two of the most important drivers of mental ill-health; any cross-government plan must ensure that these are priorities.”

Mr Rowland stresses the need to “keep pushing the evidence further, harness new technologies and re-engineer our health systems to prioritise tackling the rising number of mental health problems in our society.  We need new tools and new thinking.  And we need to leave no inequality unaddressed in both the prevention and treatment of mental health problems.”

He continues: “That’s why the work of Policy@Manchester is so vital. There are some brilliant ideas in this report.”

Mr Rowland adds: “We need to follow the evidence, rigorously interrogating ideas and adopting them where they can be shown to be useful.  In keeping with the title of this collection: let’s keep open minds.”

Professor Cecilia Wong, Academic Co-Director of Policy@Manchester, said: This is an excellent and timely publication.

Professor Cecilia Wong, Academic Co-Director of Policy@Manchester

“Poor mental health has a terribly debilitating impact on our society.  Practical policy solutions are urgently required.

“Open Minds combines leading research expertise on mental health and wellbeing with evidence-led policy analysis from across The University of Manchester.  

“I hope it will be read widely and its recommendations taken onboard by those with the power to tackle the mental health crisis.”    

Open Minds is available to read free of charge on the Policy@Manchester website.

Policy on the agenda as Manchester goes to Liverpool

After a busy programme of fringe events at this week’s Conservative Party conference, a top-flight team of University of Manchester academics will travel the short distance to Liverpool for an equally hectic schedule of debates with politicians and subject experts on Monday and Tuesday (9 and 10 October).

Policy@Manchester, the University’s policy engagement unit, will host seven gatherings with five taking place outside the secure zone where free entry can be gained without a conference pass.  

Monday’s four events include a timely discussion on how to save the nation’s rivers from the ever-growing problem of pollution from untreated wastewater and sewage.  Chaired by Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust CEO Sarah Fowler, the panel features Shadow Minister for Nature and Rural Affairs Toby Perkins MP, Keep Britain Tidy CEO Allison Ogden-Newton and University of Manchester Professor of Physical Geography Jamie Woodward.

Other policy challenges up for debate on Monday include how to rebuild regional economies through innovation, and how to address UK economic inactivity.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, addressing a fringe event organised by Policy@Manchester at Conservative Party conference earlier this week  

Tuesday’s line-up features a discussion on levelling up education chaired by former Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield, with a panel of Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Baroness Chapman, Leader of Bury Council Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, University of Manchester Lecturer and Presidential Fellow Dr Eric Lybeck, Right to Succeed CEO Paul O’Neill, and Head of Policy at The Centre for Education and Youth and The Cultural Learning Alliance Baz Ramaiah.

The Policy@Manchester conference programme will be completed with an examination of ethnic inequalities in mental healthcare, and a high-level debate on how Labour can build strong local institutions to reduce regional inequalities with speakers including Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness and University of Manchester Professor of Government Practice Andy Westwood.      

Professor Cecilia Wong, Academic Co-Director of Policy@Manchester, said: “We were delighted with how well attended our fringe events were at the Conservative conference in Manchester and now look forward to another successful programme at the Labour conference in Liverpool.

“The gatherings are all about exchanging views, sharing ideas and putting forward solutions to some of the biggest policy conundrums the country faces.

“The University of Manchester is the proud home of some of the best and brightest academic minds anywhere in the world.

“Our Policy@Manchester events provide an ideal opportunity to showcase a sample of the evidence-based policy work going on in the University in the run-up to the next General Election.” 

 More information on the fringe programme is available on the Policy@Manchester website.

Ever-changing institutions curb productivity and fuel regional inequalities

Constant changes to national and local institutions, policies and ministers are damaging productivity and deepening regional inequalities, two prominent academics have warned.

In a joint article, Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice at The University of Manchester, and Adrian Pabst, Deputy Director of National Institute of Economic and Social Research, argue that “the UK’s economic woes are linked to a high level of political instability and policy churn, which has contributed to low business confidence.”

This volatility, they highlight in their piece, has been particularly pronounced since the 2016 EU Referendum, with five Prime Ministers and seven Chancellors of the Exchequer since the vote took place – including three Prime Ministers and four Chancellors in 2022 alone.

But they add: “It’s not only ministerial churn that characterises this current period in government” with changes to “policies and key economic institutions” also playing their part, together with “a series of ever-changing growth strategies and the constant reconfiguration of departments associated with delivering them.”

Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice, The University of Manchester, addressing a fringe meeting at this week’s Conservative Party conference 

Professors Westwood and Pabst contend that the establishment of “institutions at the national, local and sectoral levels” which are then “abolished at will” has underpinned the uncertainly.  This includes Local Enterprise Partnerships which were “established in 2010, reviewed repeatedly and then abolished in 2023.”

The academics remind readers that the last Labour Government had “also been cautious on both devolution and the configuration of national and local institutions.”

This included the creation of the sprawling Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, later replaced by the Department for Communities and Local Government, and the introduction of Regional Assemblies which were then abolished in favour of Leaders’ Boards and then Local and Multi Area Agreements.

Professors Westwood and Pabst conclude that “this long-term attitude to our institutions comes at a considerable cost.”

They write: “Longstanding policy and organisational churn contributes to spatial inequality and to poor productivity by exacerbating uncertainty when policymaking is supposed to absorb shocks and provide some more stability. It is every bit as damaging as abandoning major infrastructure projects such as HS2 or HS3 or U-turns on net zero targets and many other industrial strategies.”

And they call on ministers – current and future – to “resist doing such damage and instead look to build long term capacity and effectiveness into both national and local institutions.”

Professors Westwood and Pabst add: “They should also learn to work with, and trust, institutions including city-region mayors – even if not from the same political parties and even narrower networks and like-minded cliques.  This must be the politics – and economics – of long-term stability, increased capacity and sufficient resources that are required if we are to improve and grow the economy throughout the country.”

‘Control. Alt. Delete: Governments and their problem with institutions’ by Andy Westwood and Adrian Pabst is available to read on The University of Manchester website.  

Professor Westwood will join a panel, including Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, at Labour Party conference on Tuesday 10 October to discuss ‘How can a Labour government build strong institutions to reduce regional inequalities?’

Full details on the Policy@Manchester website.

UK should recognise Taiwan independence - peer tells international conference

Senior peer Lord Rogan has told a major global conference that the United Kingdon must stand with Taiwan against “acts of scaremongering and intimidation” by China which claims the self-governing democratic island as part of its territory.

The UK Government does not currently recognise Taiwan as an independent country and all diplomatic relations between the two countries take place on an unofficial basis.

Addressing a meeting of the World League for Freedom and Democracy in Taipei earlier today, Lord Rogan said 103 Chinese warplanes had recently been detected close to Taiwan over a single 24-hour period.

Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh (courtesy of UK Parliament) 

But he added: “Having lived in Northern Ireland all my life, I know what it is like to face down bullies.  I have no doubt that the great nation of Taiwan will not wilt under pressure from Beijing.”

Lord Rogan, Co-Chairman of the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group for Taiwan, told the gathering that last month the Chinese Government had summoned the German ambassador for a telling off after the German Foreign Minister had described President Xi Jinping as a “dictator.”

He said: “Rather than a telling off, I would to have given her a large Bushmills whiskey and a pat on the back.”

The former Ulster Unionist Party President praised a report from the cross-party House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee which called on the UK government to strengthen political and cultural ties with Taiwan, negotiate free trade agreements with it and champion Taiwan’s membership of international bodies.

He said: “If the United Kingdom truly is the mother of democracies, it is our duty to stand strong against the bullying of independent states by oppressive regimes.  

“His Majesty’s Government, under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, should be putting much greater effort into deepening cooperation and partnership working with our freedom-loving friends here in Taiwan. 

“As a first step, he should grant Mr Kelly W. Hsieh, the Representative for Taiwan in the United Kingdom, full diplomatic status – giving him equivalence with the Chinese Ambassador.

“This should have happened long ago but, as we like to say in Belfast, it is better late than never.” 

New Chair appointed at Manningham Housing Association

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has appointed Rupert Pometsey as Chair of the Board. 

He will replace Barrington Billings who steps down in December after more than six years in the role.  

Mr Pometsey, a chartered architect, is currently Vice-Chair and has more than two decades of senior level experience as a housing development and asset management professional.

He has delivered homes at a capital cost of over £1 billion and is a former Board member and Chair of the development company at Ongo Homes in North Lincolnshire.

Rupert Pometsey

Mr Pometsey is currently working for the London Borough of Haringey on the delivery of an ambitious new generation of council homes.

He said: “I am thrilled to be appointed as MHA Chair. 

“The association continues to go from strength to strength and has developed a really positive reputation locally, regionally and nationally.

“It is especially admired for its community investment activities and its work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

“I feel privileged to receive the baton from Barrington who is a totemic figure in the housing sector and who it has been an honour to serve alongside as Vice-Chair.”   

Lee Bloomfield, MHA Chief Executive, said: “Rupert’s deep knowledge of housing, his familiarity with MHA and his range of professional skills made him the outstanding candidate for the position.

“I know he will do a fantastic job in the years ahead.

“On behalf of the senior management team, I wish to pay tribute to Barrington who has led the Board so impressively – particularly during the dark days of the pandemic when morale could have dipped, but never did.

Barrington Billings

“His contribution to MHA’s achievements over the most successful period in our history, including numerous award wins, will never be forgotten.”        

Barrington Billings, Chair of the MHA, said: “I am so pleased to welcome Rupert to the role, which I regard as one of the best in the country.

“Manningham Housing Association has become such an integral part of my life over the past number of years.

“The dedication and commitment of my Board colleagues and staff is second to none.  They do what they do to make lives better and succeed in that task every single day.

“I wish them and Rupert the very best of fortunes for the future.”         

Science policy is ‘anti-regional’ - innovation professor tells Conservative conference

A University of Manchester innovation expert has told a fringe meeting at Conservative Party conference that there is a “mismatch” between public and private sector spending on research and development.

Professor Richard Jones, Vice President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement at The University of Manchester (second left), at the innovation fringe event at Conservative Party conference  

Taking part in a panel discussion on how to grow a dynamic and competitive economy through innovation, Professor Richard Jones, Vice President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement, argued that science “is a great strength of the UK, it is one of the things we do well.”

But he warned: “We have to face facts, we’re not yet delivering, there are still things we have problems with.  We’ve got a productivity slowdown which basically underlies everything which is wrong with the economy.  

“Productivity stopped growing in 2005, growth still hasn’t recovered. If we had continued on that trend, we would be about 25% better off.  We’ve got regional inequality.  Cities like Manchester are not driving the UK economy in the way that they should."

Professor Jones said he believed that national science policy has been run “as an anti-regional policy.”

He continued: “Science spending has been concentrated on those parts of the country which already are the most affluent.  And there’s a mismatch between where the private sector spends money on R&D and where the public sector spends it.

“We’ve got very large amounts of public money spent in London, but not so much private sector R&D.   We’ve got places like the Midlands and places like the North West where the private sector is actually spending a lot of money on R&D but we’re not following that up with public sector money.”

The packed innovation fringe meeting at Conservative Party Conference

Professor Jones told the gathering, organised by The University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit Policy@Manchester in partnership with Total Politics, that action was needed “to use innovation to build up local economies” in places like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands “which aren’t performing as well as they could.”

He said that Greater Manchester has “great self-confidence, it’s got a fantastic, burgeoning AI digital sector, it has very strong life-sciences, it’s got material science – that’s growing.”

But he added: “Greater Manchester still underperforms the UK economy.  That’s extraordinary by the standards of any normal country.  In a normal country, big cities drive the economy.  In the UK, they don’t.  If Manchester performed like Lyons or Munich, we’d be adding £40 billion or so to the UK economy.”   

National Inclusion Week bar raised by trailblazing housing association

Staff at Manningham Housing Association (MHA) have celebrated National Inclusion Week by taking part in a packed series of activities at their Bradford head office on the theme of ‘Take Action, Make Impact.’

The programme, organised in partnership with the Housing Diversity Network, included a daily communal lunch with everyone invited to wear traditional dress.

Yoga sessions, quizzes and bingo formed core elements of the week alongside group discussions and training sessions focussed on inclusivity.

These were complemented by more vigorous pursuits such as a table football tournament and a skipping rope challenge with prizes up for grabs.

This is the third year that MHA has participated in National Inclusion Week which seeks to bring people together, celebrate difference and create a more inclusive workplace.

MHA is the first housing association in the country to be officially accredited for its work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and last year received the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Equality Trailblazer Award for its achievements.

MHA staff celebrating National Inclusion Week in Bradford

The team tasked with coordinating MHA’s National Inclusion Week activities was led by its Corporate Project Manager, Carolina Padovezi de Oliveira.

She said: “I could not be prouder of the collective effort that made the week such a resounding success.

“We set out to create a more inclusive workplace and, through active participation, we made significant strides towards achieving that objective.

“It was heartening to see so many of my MHA colleagues enthusiastically take part in insightful training sessions, engaging games and challenging quizzes - there was something for everyone.

“The skipping rope competition, table football final and yoga sessions were not only fun but also emphasised the importance of physical wellbeing and inclusivity.”

Ulfat Hussain, MHA Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations, said: “National Inclusion Week has become one of the absolute highlights in our calendar with this year’s event line-up the biggest, best and most diverse yet.

“The group discussions included topics such as body language, disability awareness, mental health, faith and culture.  These conversations are crucial in breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive workplace environment.

“The communal lunches, traditional dress days and many other activities helped to create an even greater sense of togetherness that will extend far beyond National Inclusion Week.

“It is an ongoing journey and the active involvement of everyone at MHA is instrumental in sustaining this momentum.  I am proud of them all.”

Barrington Billings, MHA Chair, said: “Promoting inclusion is at the heart of everything Manningham Housing Association does, it is in our DNA.

“On behalf of the Board, I congratulate Carolina and her team for delivering an outstanding and innovative National Inclusion Week programme.

“Their tireless efforts set the inclusivity bar higher year after year.”

Policy unit to host packed fringe programme at Conservative Party conference

Policy experts from The University of Manchester will be prominent across the city over the next few days as the Conservative Party conference gets underway.

The University’s policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester, will host a series of eight fringe events next Monday and Tuesday (2 and 3 October) with six taking place outside the secure zone where a conference pass is not required and entry is free.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Arguably, the most highly anticipated gathering will be at 10am on Tuesday when the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, joins University of Manchester Lecturer and Presidential Fellow Dr Eric Lybeck, former Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield, Conservative MP for Cheadle Mary Robinson, and Chief Executive of Local Trust Matt Leach, to discuss levelling up education.   

Other topics tackled by politicians, academics and subject specialists at Policy@Manchester events on Tuesday include the role transport can play in delivering economic growth, and how the government can help build strong local institutions to deliver levelling up.

Monday’s programme features a discussion at 11.15am on initiatives to support young people in neighbourhoods with low levels of wellbeing. Chaired by Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive Mark Rowland, the impressive panel of speakers comprises University of Manchester Professor of Psychology of Education Neil Humphrey, Barnardo's Director of Health Rukshana Kapasi, and NHS Confederation Director of Policy Dr Layla McCay.

The day’s schedule also includes debates on accelerating growth through innovation, tackling UK economic inactivity and addressing ethnic inequalities in mental healthcare.

Professor Cecilia Wong, Academic Co-Director of Policy@Manchester, The University of Manchester 

Professor Cecilia Wong, Academic Co-Director of Policy@Manchester, said: “We are excited to be hosting the first round of fringe events at the Conservative Party conference in our home city, with an equally busy programme to follow at Labour Party conference in Liverpool the following week.

“These gatherings provide the opportunity to really dig down into some of the most critical and topical policy challenges facing decision-makers.

“They also enable The University of Manchester to showcase the world class research our academic experts are leading which informs national and international debates across a whole swathe of different fields.

“With the General Election expected to take place in 2024, these high-profile discussions can make a truly meaningful impact on policy development as the political parties step up their work in formulating their manifestos.”

The full list of Policy@Manchester fringe events at the Conservative and Labour Party conferences is available on the Policy@Manchester website.

Regional disparities can be tackled by more devolution and local decision-making

Policy experts have joined University of Manchester (UoM) academics and guests at Manchester Art Gallery for the launch of a new publication crammed with evidence-based solutions to tackle regional inequalities and boost the levelling up agenda.

Power in Place – published by the University's policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester – brings together research and recommendations across nine public policy areas including strengthening participation in devolved policymaking, closing the attainment gap in schools for children living in poverty and addressing health inequalities in so-called ‘left behind neighbourhoods.’

Speaking at a special panel discussion chaired by Tom Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, Professor Francesca Gains, Professor of Public Policy at UoM, said she believed that in the wake of austerity, Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, major regional disparities had been revealed with significant consequences for economic growth.   

She continued: “But most of all, inequalities severely constrain the life chances and outcomes for people.  Underlying those regional geographic communities are inequalities that turbo-charge that uneven geography.”

Professor Gains, who co-authored an article in Power in Place on strengthening participation in devolved policymaking with her UoM colleague Professor Liz Richardson, said:

“The inequalities of outcomes that we face require radically better national policies, but regional devolution does offer a marvellous opportunity to support regional growth, innovation and joining up health and social care.”

She continued: “The realisation of real improvement to create sustainable and thriving communities will come through the levers of local place-based leaders working with their communities.  The real key for the next government will be to join up national policy levers with these communities.”      

Joining Professor Gains on the panel were Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority Lead for Equalities and Communities, Edna Robinson, Chair of the People’s Powerhouse, and Dr Luke Munford, Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at UoM.

Professor Francesca Gains, Professor of Public Policy at UoM (right), addressing a packed gathering at the launch of Power in Place in Manchester Art Gallery   

Dr Munford, who contributed a piece to Power in Place on addressing health inequalities in left behind neighbourhoods, told the gathering there was ample evidence that investment in social infrastructure in deprived areas – including support for recreational activities such as dancing classes – can lead to community empowerment and improvements in people’s health.

He said: “But it needs to be funded in a long-term and systematic way.  We need to think beyond the short-term two, three years.  We need to think 10, 15, 20 years.  Because if you in invest in social capital and social infrastructure today, you’re not going to change health tomorrow, you need to stick with this in the long-term. It needs to be community-led, a national one-size fits all policy doesn’t work.”

Dr Munford said UoM research showed that devolution in Greater Manchester, particularly in relation to health and social care, had enabled the region to “buck the trend in the stagnation of life expectancy compared to similar parts of the country that didn’t have devolution.”  He added: “That localised strategy can work, but I think we need to go a bit further with devolution than we’ve gone in the past to get even bigger rewards.”

Dr Munford told the meeting that access to local funding should be “community-led and community-driven so people aren’t just left on their own to get pots of money from nowhere.”  

He argued: “There needs to be some national coordination of the pot of money that is spread – but we need to target areas with high needs first.”                 

Power in Place is now available to read on the Policy@Manchester website. 

Mission accomplished as refurnished Leeds Media Centre opens its doors

The leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr James Lewis, and the chair of Unity Enterprise, Sharon Jandu OBE, have jointly unveiled a plaque to celebrate the opening of a fully refurbished Leeds Media Centre as a prime location for aspiring entrepreneurs to achieve their business dreams.  

Cllr James Lewis (centre left), Sharon Jandu OBE (third from left) and Cedric Boston (centre right) with key partners at the opening of the newly refurbished Leeds Media Centre   

Internal and external works on the building in Chapeltown got underway last autumn to install a new roof and windows, and remodel two floors to create 12 new business units together with a specially designed business hub equipped with hi-tech virtual facilities.

The £1.8 million scheme, delivered by Unity Enterprise – a not-for-profit subsidiary of housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise – in partnership with Leeds City Council, was part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.  

Leeds Media Centre is owned by the Council and managed by Unity Enterprise on a long-term lease. 

Leeds Media Centre which has just reopened after an extensive refurbishment programme

Addressing a large gathering of guests at the unveiling ceremony, Cllr Lewis said he was delighted to see the project delivered on time and on budget.

He said: “This is something we are really proud to be part of, to see a building we own as a Council being renovated into a new phase of its life as part of our work in developing an inclusive and stronger economy in Leeds.   I firmly believe that only happens when everyone in the city can fully engage. 

“We are clear that entrepreneurialism and innovation are not just things that involve a small number of people with high qualifications.

“It’s actually about letting people in the city use their graft and talents to grow businesses and make a good living for themselves.

“I really look forward to hearing about the success and growth of the project in the years ahead.”     

Sharon Jandu OBE, Unity enterprise chair, said: “I’ve seen how tirelessly my Unity colleagues have worked to pull this together. The Council has really understood the purpose and values of exactly what Unity Enterprise is all about. 

“I lived in Chapeltown for eight years and a lot of my family is still here.  This centre is exactly what we need - really creating those business opportunities and helping local communities.

“I am so pleased that Leeds City Council has had that vision. Rather than putting something like this somewhere else, putting it into the heart of Chapeltown so that communities can engage is so important.

“They feel that it belongs to them – those values, that purpose, building that trust with local communities on their doorstep. That is really powerful.”

Inside the refurbished Leeds Media Centre

Welcoming guests to the centre, Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise chief executive, thanked the Council and Unity staff for completing “one of the most difficult and complicated projects” he had been involved with, adding, “they have done a fantastic job.”

He said: “At Unity, we believe that ingenuity is everywhere. 

“What we’re trying to do with this project is to give people in the surrounding community an opportunity to realise their ambition to start their own business.

“So many people in communities spend their whole lives without being able to showcase their talent and what they can offer.  This project, in a small way, is trying to offer some people an opportunity to showcase their talent to the world.     

“We have got a great group of people behind it and some really fantastic partners.  Hopefully we will be here meeting the needs of generations for quite some time to come.”

Policy@Manchester launches party conference fringe programme as General Election approaches

The University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit has unveiled a packed series of fringe events at next month’s Conservative and Labour Party conferences.

For several years, Policy@Manchester has brought together panels of politicians and subject specialists to discuss a broad range of pressing policy issues at the showpiece political gatherings.

Andy Burnham

This year’s programme will kick-off with eight events at the Conservative conference in Manchester on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 October, including an appearance from Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.

Monday morning includes a discussion on what initiatives should be introduced to support young people in neighbourhoods with low levels of wellbeing. Chaired by Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive Mark Rowland, the line-up will feature Professor Neil Humphrey, Professor of Psychology of Education at The University of Manchester, Rukshana Kapasi, Barnardo's Director of Health, and Dr Layla McCay, NHS Confederation Director of Policy.

Amongst other issues due to be tackled by different panels on day one are growing the economy through innovation, fixing the UK’s economic inactivity problem and addressing ethnic inequalities in mental healthcare.

Day two will begin with Mayor Burnham and former Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield taking to the platform to debate how to level up education, alongside Matt Leach, Chief Executive of Local Trust, Dr Eric Lybeck, Lecturer and Presidential Fellow at The University of Manchester, and Mary Robinson, the Conservative MP for Cheadle and a member of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee.

This will be followed by two further gatherings of politicians and policy experts to discuss the role that transport might play in delivering economic growth, and how government can help to build strong local institutions to boost levelling up.  

Professor Cecilia Wong, academic co-director of Policy@Manchester, said: “We are excited to be hosting the first round of fringe events at the Conservative Party conference in our home city, with an equally busy programme to follow at Labour Party conference in Liverpool the following week.

Professor Cecilia Wong

“These gatherings provide the opportunity to really dig down into some of the most critical and topical policy challenges facing decision-makers.

“They also enable The University of Manchester to showcase some the world class research our academic experts are leading which informs national and international debates across a whole swathe of different fields.

“With the General Election expected to take place in 2024, these high-profile discussions can make a truly meaningful impact on policy development as the political parties step up their work in formulating their manifestos.”

Six of the eight Policy@Manchester events at Conservative Party conference will take place outside the secure zone so a conference pass is not required to gain entry.

Details of the full programme of Policy@Manchester fringe meetings at the Conservative and Labour Party conferences are available on the Policy@Manchester website.

Leeds mum set to scale England’s highest peak in war against non-smoking lung cancer

More than 50 people from across the UK aged from 11 to 78 - including eight with stage 4 EGFR positive lung cancer - will join Leeds mum Natasha Loveridge on Saturday (23 September) to trek up Scafell Pike to boost awareness of non-smoking lung cancer and raise funds to support patients affected by it.

Natasha, a primary school teacher from Guiseley, was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2022 and, shortly afterwards, was told that it was incurable.

She has since devoted her time to increasing knowledge of the EGFR positive mutation - most often found in non-smoking young women such as Natasha - and to raise money for charities devoted to combatting the disease.

All funds received from Saturday’s walk to the top of England’s highest peak will go to EGFR Positive UK, of which Natasha recently became a trustee, and the Roy Castle Foundation 

Alongside her family and friends, she will be joined in taking on the challenge by supporters travelling from places as far apart as Scotland and Devon, with numbers growing all the time.  

Several participants will also lay decorated pebbles along the route to remember loved ones lost to EGFR positive lung cancer.  

Natasha Loveridge (second from right) with family and friends who will be joining her on the trek up Scafell Pike, supported by team mascot Olive the Dog   

Natasha said: “I am amazed by the backing we have received, with more than £4,000 already raised for the two charities. 

“I hope people will continue to help by visiting my JustGiving page and making a donation if they can.

“However, raising awareness of non-smoking lung cancer and encouraging people to see their doctor if they feel they may have early symptoms – I had a squeakiness in my chest and a strange cough - is the other critically important reason we are doing this.  

“I am proud that eight of us with stage 4 EGFR positive lung cancer will be there on Saturday, determined to do our very best to get to the top.”   

As well as supporting Natasha by logging on to JustGiving and entering Natasha Loveridge, you can follow her story on Instagram at tasha.vs.thebigc  

Tackling poor air quality in town and cities: the value of ‘citizen sensors’

The use of data from ‘citizen sensors’ - people providing regular feedback on their daily experiences – could help to define and deliver more effective clean air strategies in towns and cities, a University of Manchester expert has argued.

A recent study conducted at the University using a citizen science mobile phone app called Britain Breathing and involving over 700 UK residents found that more individuals living in towns and cities reported significantly worse hay fever symptoms than those living in the countryside.

The research was based on 36,145 symptom reports submitted in the five-year period from 2016 to 2020.

In an article published by published by the University's policy engagement unit Policy@Manchester, Professor Caroline Jay makes the case that the ‘citizen sensors’ approach, which can be as simple as asking people to respond to a regular prompt on their phone, could be utilised by policymakers to put everyday experiences at the heart of decisions on air quality schemes.  

“This includes identifying the locations where the measures may deliver a significant impact,” she writes.  “This could also help to build support for these schemes and initiatives where there may not have been a consensus amongst the communities impacted, such as the expansion of ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) in London and the reviewing of CAZ (Clean Air Zone) in Greater Manchester, by offering a more holistic evidence-based account of why a measure should be used.”

People rated the extent to which their eyes, nose and breathing were affected as either 0 (not at all), 1 (mildly) or 2 (seriously). Analysis found that the three symptoms captured by the app were roughly twice as severe in urban areas as in rural ones. Symptoms also endured for significantly longer periods of time for people in towns and cities.

Professor Caroline Jay, The University of Manchester    

Professor Jay writes: “Whilst previous research had looked at hospital admission and prescription data, this was the first study to capture people’s real experience of hay fever symptoms as they lived their daily lives, which is important, as most people do not go to the doctor about this.”

She continues: “The study provides evidence that urban surroundings may exacerbate hay fever and asthma symptoms.  It is also interesting from a public health perspective because it provides a broader picture of chronic health issues experienced by people in their daily lives.”

The University of Manchester academic adds: “Most research looking at the impacts of the environment on health only considers clinical data, which documents people having acute and/or serious reactions.  From this study, we can see that pollution may be affecting the health of many people who are not visible to the health service, but whose well-being is nevertheless impacted.”

“Determining the impact of poor air quality in cities on daily life: the value of using ‘citizen sensors’ and agile platforms” by Professor Caroline Jay is available to read on the Policy@Manchester website.

Action needed to support BAME housing association residents into smaller homes

The chief executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has told a Westminster inquiry there needs to be better choices for older people from BAME communities to downsize their properties and receive a better offer of accommodation - in terms of both quality and location.   

Giving evidence in the House of Lords to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Older People investigation into the regeneration of outdated sheltered housing, Lee Bloomfield also called for more research into the challenges faced in local authority areas with a high percentage of BAME residents.   

He said MHA - which owns just over 1400 properties in Bradford and Keighley but has more than 2,000 people on waiting lists - has adopted a “patch and mend approach to try and keep older people in their current homes” including adaptations where appropriate.

Mr Bloomfield continued: “Intergenerational living - the old assumption that people from BAME groups look after their older parents and grandparents at home - is an oversimplification.  It can no longer be expected that extended families will take on the sole responsibility for their relatives as they themselves grapple with the demands of contemporary modern life.”

MHA chief executive Lee Bloomfield (centre) giving evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Older People inquiry in the House of Lords

The MHA chief executive told the inquiry that “one size fits all does not work for all groups and places,” adding, “we need better choices for older people from BAME communities and we need different solutions.”

And he cited Leeds Jewish Housing Association as “a great example of integrated housing, housing support and on-site care framed around a community centre providing culturally sensitive services such as a synagogue on site, a café and restaurant, and arts and culture activities.”

This approach, he argued, has played a positive role in tacking isolation in the Leeds Jewish community and “is a model that can be adapted to wider BAME communities.”

Mr Bloomfield said that a balance needs to be struck between repurposing existing housing stock and building new affordable properties.  But he warned: “Opportunities under Homes England’s new strategy around regeneration of existing stock is welcome, yet older people do not feature in the new Strategic Plan.”  

He told the inquiry that, since its establishment in 1986, MHA’s mission has always been to provide larger family homes predominantly for the South Asian community, “but it cannot be ignored that older people from BAME communities have an increasing housing and care need yet lack the choice to culturally downsize into smaller and more manageable homes.”

The MHA chief executive said: “We recognise that the majority of mainstream providers of older people’s accommodation are not meeting the cultural needs of all BAME communities.  There needs to be a financial incentive to move forward by way of grants from Homes England that reflect the scale of what is needed and offers solutions to address the growing problem of outdated older persons stock.”

He added: "We are grateful to Abdul A Ravat from The Abbeyfield Society for having the courage to sponsor this important subject matter.  It is also very appreciated that as part of the panel session, looking at the service model and customers that the issue of Ageing Well for All has been centre stage and not sidelines.  We hope that our evidence will help the APPG and the sector to respond to the growing need for ensuring that the retention of existing stock and recommend meaningul changes."

Leeds mum launches Scafell Pike Challenge to raise awareness of non-smoking lung cancer

A Leeds mum with stage 4 EGFR positive lung cancer will join more than 40 people – including eight with the same prognosis – up Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak, on 23 September to increase awareness of non-smoking lung cancer and raise funds to support patients affected by the disease.

Natasha Loveridge

49-year-old Natasha Loveridge, from Guiseley, was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2022 and within weeks received the news that it was incurable.

Since then, she has committed herself to improving understanding of the EGFR positive mutation - most commonly seen in young women who, like Natasha, are non-smokers - and to raise money for EGFR Positive UK, a registered charity dedicated to improving the overall survival and quality of life of EGFR positive lung cancer patients across the country. 

Amongst other events, Natasha – married to Matthew and a mother of two teenage girls - has hosted a 90s disco and a garden party with future activities planned.   

Natasha Loveridge (right) with her husband Matthew and their daughters

She said: “I am a fit, healthy non-smoker who is desperately trying to raise awareness of the early signs of lung cancer.

“My cancer was caused by a gene mutation - there was nothing I did to cause it, and nothing I could have done to prevent it.

“The fact that nine of us with stage 4 EGFR positive lung cancer will by walking up Scafell Pike together – supported by our friends and family – may well be unprecedented and demonstrates our shared commitment to raising awareness of this disease.

“We are also determined to make the most of every day. Whatever the weather, we believe that Saturday 23 September will be a day like no other.

“I recently became a trustee of EGFR Positive UK, a wonderful charity established by patients and their families and friends, which shares useful information on social media and works with a range of bodies on the status of EGFR mutation positive lung cancer.

“I hope as many people as possible will support their efforts by visiting my JustGiving page and donating whatever they can.” 

New corporate strategy for housing association ‘at the top of its game’

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has published a new streamlined corporate strategy and action plan with the theme of ‘Investing and Developing in Diverse Neighbourhoods where People Want to Live and Thrive.’  

The three-year strategy centres on four overarching objectives: Providing More Affordable Homes, Looking After Our Existing Homes and Tenants, Community Investment and Partnership, and Tackling Inequalities in the BAME Community.

It also includes a restatement of MHA Values – Customer First, Passionate About Our Work, Accountability and Embrace Diversity – which have enabled the association to establish a strong reputation in the sector regionally and nationally, including winning several recent awards.   

MHA Chief Executive Lee Bloomfield (fourth from left) with staff at the association’s Bradford head office

Lee Bloomfield, MHA Chief Executive, explained that the new document is focussed on delivery with defined policy outcomes and clear methods for achieving them to the fore.

He said: “It was important to have a strategy that was meaningful and easy to read and understand, whilst being ambitious in its aims.

“It is important that our customers, project partners and communities we serve can see what we are striving to do in our everyday activities and how we intend to meet our objectives.

“As well as providing more affordable homes by expanding stock numbers, we will maintain services for current tenants at the highest possible levels.

“Delivering our prized Community Investment and Partnership Strategy will remain a top priority as we seek to create new life opportunities for people of all ages in Bradford district.

“And we will continue to speak up for those whose voices are often unheard or ignored by those in authority, particularly when resources are allocated.”  

Barrington Billings, MHA Chair 

Barrington Billings, MHA Chair, said: “As a Board, we were pleased to sign off the corporate strategy which will chart the association’s course until 2026.

“I have been involved in the production of numerous strategies over many years, and the simplicity of this document is what makes it stand out.

“One of MHA’s greatest strengths is that everyone knows their role in enabling the association to succeed.

“The new strategy and accompanying action plan – which is an effective roadmap for delivery – will further enhance our standing as a community-based BAME organisation at the top of its game.”     

Founded in 1986, MHA manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley. 

It is the first housing association in the country to be officially accredited for its work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

The MHA Corporate Strategy 2023 – 2026 is available to read on the association’s website.

Building sector must play its part in reducing CO2 emissions

Much more serious consideration must be given to cutting whole-life CO2 emissions of buildings - from the production and transport of materials to the disposal of old properties - if the construction industry’s carbon footprint is to be substantially reduced, University of Manchester academics have warned.   

Judy Too, The University of Manchester    

In an article based on research conducted in partnership with the University of Melbourne, Judy Too and Obuks Ejohwomu reveal that the building sector is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 40% of global emissions, with the UK building sector responsible for approximately 25% of domestic emissions.

They write: “At a tipping point for global action on climate change, this is truly building a house on sand.”

In their piece, published by the University's policy engagement unit Policy@Manchester, Ms Too and Dr Ejohwomu propose three areas where policymakers can take positive action to reduce emissions in buildings.

First, they argue that manufacturers should be mandated to produce Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all materials, adding: “This will build the necessary knowledge infrastructure, while increasing awareness of the embodied carbon content of building materials.”  Acknowledging that the market may not yet be properly prepared to meet the necessary requirements “due to significant gaps in primary data,” they suggest a series of graduated steps including the short-term use of industry wide EPDs with product specific EPDs becoming mandatory within two years.     

Second, based on their research, the University of Manchester academics believe that end-of-life treatment of materials and buildings is often overlooked.  They advocate the update of building code regulations to include considerations for whole-life carbon impacts.  Ms Too and Dr Ejohwomu write: “This update will mandate whole-building Life Cycle Assessment, shifting the focus from prescriptive emission limits to evaluating and optimising the overall performance of the building in terms of its environmental impact.”

Dr Obuks Ejohwomu, The University of Manchester

Third, they argue for the introduction of “project-level carbon budgets based on predefined boundaries and benchmarks aligned with sectoral carbon limits” with a target time of three to five years.  They explain: “These limits establish precise emission targets that building projects must meet, with enforcement mechanisms such as audits and monitoring systems in place to ensure compliance. By implementing such limits, projects are held accountable for their emission levels over the building’s lifecycle, thereby driving carbon reduction within the building sector.”

Summing up how their research can enable the building sector to reduce CO2 emissions, Ms Too and Dr Ejohwomu conclude: “By acting on these recommendations, policymakers can lead a combined effort to balance environmental goals with economic considerations.  To not do so and continue to ignore the whole-life emissions of buildings risks locking-in unsustainable buildings for decades.” 

Built on sand: the need for new environmental standards in the construction industry is available to read on the Policy@Manchester website.

Sun shines at Unity Business Centre as Leeds travel specialist continues to grow

A Leeds travel agency specialising in tailored group trips to the Caribbean has celebrated five years in business by moving into larger premises at Unity Business Centre in Chapeltown. 

Phun in the Sun was set up by its chief executive Jackie Walker in 2018 from a desk in the centre’s newly established incubator for start-ups and home-based enterprises seeking to expand.

Since then, the business has gone from strength and now has a staff of four.

Next month, Phun in the Sun and the St Kitts and Nevis Association will co-host a meet and greet reception at Unity Business Centre for Her Excellency Dr Christine Walwyn, the Diaspora Ambassador for St Kitts and Nevis, following her recent appointment by the dual-island nation’s Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew.

Unity Business Centre is one of three facilities managed by Unity Enterprise - the not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise - which currently provides 142 affordable business units for more than 80 diverse businesses close to Leeds city centre.  

Jackie Walker with Unity Enterprise Manager Adrian Green

Adrian Green, Unity Enterprise Manager, said he was delighted to see Phun in the Sun flourish over the past five years.  

He said: “It feels like just yesterday when Jackie started her adventure with us, taking up a hot desk in our building. From the very beginning, her positive spirit and passion for creating unforgettable experiences for her customers and her unwavering commitment to achieve her dreams were clear.

“As her company expanded, so did her needs, and it did not take long for her to move from that hot desk to her own small office space within our premises.  Jackie has continued to chase her dreams one step at a time.

“She has now expanded even further, moving into a larger office space to accommodate her ever-growing team and clientele.  We could not be prouder of her accomplishments.”

Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “Jackie's journey demonstrates the spirit of entrepreneurship – the willingness to take risks, the courage to dream big and the tenacity to overcome obstacles.

“She has shown us all that with a sharp vision and unwavering determination, no goal is unachievable.

“We are incredibly proud to have supported her business aspirations and look forward to working with her even more closely in the years ahead.”

 Jackie Walker said: “I am excited to be expanding and to be able to do so at Unity Business Centre where Phun in the Sun has its roots.

“Adrian and his team have supported me in every possible way right from the beginning.   

“It is wonderful that our shared success story will continue - bigger and better than ever before.”

The reception for Her Excellency Dr Christine Walwyn will take place on Wednesday 13 September at 6.30pm. 

Further information is available by emailing jackie@phuninthesun.co.uk