Parliamentarians praise policy focus on mental health crisis

A bumper collection of articles from academics at The University of Manchester examining the intricacies of poor mental health and offering policy suggestions to ease the plight of sufferers has received cross-party praise from politicians in both Houses of Parliament.

Published by Policy@Manchester, Open Minds draws together 10 evidence-based pieces which explore distinct aspects of mental illness, including how it affects the young, veterans, ex-prisoners, and members of the LGBT+ community.  It also places a valuable spotlight on remedies for those in need of help.

Open Minds from Policy@Manchester 

Conservative MP Dean Russell, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health, was impressed by the publication.  He said: “Tackling the stigma around mental health has been a priority in my role as a Member of Parliament.  Open Minds brings together a wealth of expertise and insight, giving policymakers valuable tools to understand further the challenges of poor mental health. I look forward to reading further publications and receiving briefings on their detailed work supporting mental health.”

Liz Twist, the Labour MP for Blaydon, was equally welcoming.  She said: “As parliamentarians, the more we know, the more we can change.  This report not only outlines causes of rising mental health, but it shares with us practical solutions that we vitally need. I’m grateful for its publication and look forward to discussing its contents more with colleagues to better support so many across our society on issues with their mental health.” 

Former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, another Conservative MP, has praised the major contribution to practical policymaking offered by The University of Manchester academics.  She said: “All the data, information, and research gathered on mental health, such as the work by Open Minds, is essential material for politicians shaping policy and guidance.  Evidence-based policymaking delivers more efficient and effective outcomes for millions of people and will help combat poor mental health in the long term.”

From Northern Ireland, Democratic Unionist Party Health Spokesperson Jim Shannon MP, welcomed the focus on ex-service personnel featured in the document.  He said: “It is vital that we find solutions that are underpinned by robust research evidence, and this is what the Open Minds authors have provided.  I am particularly pleased to see the new publication highlighting the need to understand and address the mental health needs of veterans and those currently serving in the UK Armed Forces. This is something I have long campaigned for.”

And in the Upper House, Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Tyler of Enfield hailed the contribution she believes the research can make to improving younger lives.  She said: “So many of the articles in this important and thought-provoking report underline the need for early action to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people. That’s why I support the calls being made for a national rollout of early support hubs in every local area so that children and young people can access the support they need for their mental health to stop problems escalating.”

Professor Cecilia Wong, Academic Co-Director of Policy@Manchester, was delighted by the responses of the parliamentarians.

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

She said: “Our purpose, as The University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit, is to connect our world-class researchers with policymakers and influencers to help address the key public policy challenges of our time.

“Poor mental health is one of the most concerning issues our country faces.  I welcome the positive responses we have received from MPs and peers to Open Minds and look forward to continuing to engage with them on this and other pressing policy areas.”   

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

Yorkshire acoustic duo set for a happy new year with album release

York based original contemporary folk duo Pen and Stu are putting the finishing touches to their new album, ‘Ravenswood’, which has been confirmed for release in January 2024.

Pen and Stu got together in September 2014 and are well known on the Yorkshire music scene and beyond for their signature blend of big whistles, tenor guitars and accompanying original lyrics. They released their first album, “So Far…Songs of Love, Loss and Pirates” in 2017, following it up a year later with a five-track live studio EP, “New Horizon.”

Boosted by nationwide radio plays and live on-air session performances, the duo were soon in demand at numerous festivals and venues including Filey Folk Festival, Alston Live Festival, City of York Folk Weekend York, Whitby Pirate Festival, Gary Stewart's Folk Club at The Mill, Tramlines Fringe Festival, Great North Folk Festival, Greenside Festival, Derby Folk Festival Weekender Fringe and Hutton Rudby Folkfest.

By 2019, they were playing more than 50 gigs a year, which they managed to fit in around their full-time day jobs.

But the arrival of Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 brought about a change. And, after working at their demanding day jobs, throughout lockdown, Pen as a keyworker, it was time for a rethink.

Pen, who writes all the duo’s songs, and started songwriting ten years ago, began songwriting full-time in January 2022 and they both decided to commit to becoming full-time musicians when normality finally returned. 

Their new album, recorded at 6dB studios in York and produced by Dave Boothroyd, is the product of that commitment.

‘Ravenswood’ includes ten tracks which deftly couple Pen’s rich, soulful, strong, lead vocals with tenor guitar, haunting low whistles and Stu’s rhythm guitar and melodious bass lines. 

Pen and Stu at the Otley Folk Festival 2023 

Pen revealed that one particular song, previewed at selected gigs over the summer months, has gone down especially well with live audiences.

Pen said: “We are proud of the album as a whole, but ‘Pretty Bird’, one of a number of up-tempo tracks on the album, has received a really positive response, so we decided to release it as a single and it’s getting radio airplay and is available on all streaming platforms.

“‘Pretty bird’ inspired by ‘The Mabinogion’ book of Welsh folk tales, includes two kings, a magic cauldron, a fierce battle, with soldiers coming back to life and ends with a broken heart.

“It was great to record and is fun to play live. I look forward to many more people hearing it.”

 Stu said: “We post a weekly ‘Tuesday Teaser’ on our YouTube and Facebook pages. This is usually a snippet of a song that we’ll be playing at a forthcoming gig, or a whistle tune, composed by Pen.

“As we build up to the album launch, we will be playing extracts of the new songs which will offer a flavour of what we have been up to.”

They both agree that 2024 promises to be an incredibly exciting time, as they look forward to more festivals and gigs to promote their new album ‘Ravenswood.’

Driving change in UK housing construction: what the government can do to help

A trio of academics have published a joint article highlighting the obstacles hindering housing construction in the UK and advocating greater support for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to increase the supply of new homes whilst meeting the nation’s net zero targets and boosting productivity.

It is particularly timely given the ongoing housing crisis and the Government’s decision to step back from a target to build 300,000 homes every year.

In the piece - published by The University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester - Dr Suzanne Peters, Professor Jonatan Pinkse and Professor Graham Winch reveal that their research has identified three areas which have restricted the expansion of MMC, headed by a lack of specialist construction skills.

They write: “To deliver at pace and meet quality standards, both offsite and onsite aspects of MMC require skills and understanding that differ from traditional methods – with offsite work requiring more factory-specific skills and onsite skilled labour requiring more precise methods than required by traditional construction. Until both aspects are properly skilled, the deployment of MCC will be marred by delays and quality issues.”

A second difficulty is securing local authority approval for the construction of new properties, a procedure they describe as “consistently the most unpredictable and time-intensive part of the building process and this is especially challenging for MMC.”  They continue: “Issues naturally result from under-staffed departments for planning and land-use regulators, and the highly political nature of regulations and approvals means that the process is often burdened by constant change, uncertainty and delays.”

And third, in the collective view of the academics, “the construction industry is notoriously slow to change, risk averse and extremely cautious of trying new methods and materials.”  

Peters, Pinkse and Winch offer the government advice on how to simultaneously address all three challenges their research has pinpointed.

First, they suggest the roll-out of “an MMC-oriented skills agenda.” They explain: “Bringing MMC to a site requires specialised skills to ensure projects are successfully completed.  More skilled and semi-skilled labour and construction management teams need to better understand and deliver on the unique requirements of MMC, including more precise tolerances to incorporate MMC into the completed house.”

On gaining regulatory approval for new developments, they call for the transformation of existing planning and land-use processes to speed up decision-making.  The authors say: “The current system is onerous, inflexible and unpredictable for all players and is particularly challenging for MMC-driven projects.  Months to years of delays in planning and approvals result in excessive delays for construction projects that could otherwise be delivered in a matter of weeks.”

And on expanding the use of MMC, Peters, Pinkse and Winch advise Ministers to incentivise builders “through beneficial taxation schemes and grants, land access, regulation, and mandates that encourage greater adoption of these methods.”  They add: “As a significant owner of housing and construction projects, government bodies can drive change as a major client in the sector.”

Driving change in UK housing construction by Dr Suzanne Peters, Professor Jonatan Pinkse and Professor Graham Winch is available to read on the Policy@Manchester website.

Unity reflects on year of achievements in annual report

Unity Homes and Enterprise has celebrated another successful year with the publication of its annual report.  

The 24-page document, titled Values Matter, details some of the Leeds-based BME housing association’s biggest achievements over the past 12 months.

Values Matter, Unity’s annual report 2023

They include the completion of 30 one and two bedroomed homes for people aged 55 and over at Leopold Street in Chapeltown, part of a larger £9.3 million development of 63 homes in collaboration with Chapeltown Cohousing.  Unity’s element of the scheme - which was shortlisted for Best Affordable Housing Development at the Inside Housing Development Awards - includes Gertrude Paul Court, named in honour of the first black teacher in Leeds and officially opened by her daughter Heather Paul.

2023 also saw the delivery of a £1.8 million refurbishment project at Leeds Media Centre in partnership with Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.  Leeds Media Centre is one of three business locations operated by Unity Enterprise, Unity’s not-for-profit subsidiary company, which collectively provide 142 affordable business units for over 80 diverse businesses employing more than 900 people.  The refurbished building has created 12 new units and a bespoke business hub.

Unity Enterprise has been particularly active throughout the year in encouraging more women and girls to become their own bosses.  Its ‘Be Unstoppable’ programme offered expert guidance on developing a business idea, identifying a target audience, devising a marketing strategy and achieving maximum impact from the use of social media.  In partnership with Fund Her North and the Yorkshire Asian Business Association with support from Leeds City Council’s Innovation@Leeds programme, ‘Fund Her Leeds’ provided focussed support for selected female entrepreneurs - particularly those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds - in key areas including access to finance, readiness for growth and pitch deck preparation.  

Unity Employment Services, which helps Unity tenants and surrounding communities to access employment and training opportunities, also enjoyed a first-class year.  The small team found full-time and part-time work for 198 local people and delivered training for more than 250 others.  In addition, they created pathways for 15 people to do unpaid volunteering work, which is often a route into employment.  Remarkably, the team achieved a 100% satisfaction rate from customer surveys.  

Cedric Boston

Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely proud of our achievements over the past 12 months, which have also seen changes at board and senior management levels.

“We said goodbye to Shruti Bhargava, who stepped down after eight years as Chair of Unity Homes and Enterprise, and were thrilled when she was deservedly named Board/Committee Member of the Year at the Women in Housing Awards.  The process to appoint her replacement begins shortly and I know there will be considerable competition for the role.

“We were excited to welcome Sharon Jandu as Chair of Unity Enterprise and Katherine Proctor as Director of Housing Operations.  Both have already made really positive contributions and will ensure we are well set for continued success in these areas of our work.”      

Ann Marie Matson

Ann Marie Matson, Unity Homes and Enterprise Resources Director, said: “The cost-of-living crisis has been a challenge for many housing associations and Unity is no exception.  However, I am pleased to report that we have again put in a robust financial performance which has allowed us to invest more than £800,000 in our property portfolio.  

“Despite increasing prices, difficulties in sourcing materials and a shortage of suitably skilled labour, tenants in 170 Unity properties benefitted from new energy efficient heating systems, kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors.  We expect many more tenants to see upgrades to their homes in the year ahead.”    

King’s Speech lacks commitment to build more affordable homes – housing association CEO

The chief executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association has criticised the government for failing to include a firm commitment in the King’s Speech to build more new affordable homes.  

In a statement, Lee Bloomfield said the speech - which is written by Ministers but delivered by King Charles – highlighted that taking homeless people off the streets was not a priority for Ministers after Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s description of homelessness as a “lifestyle choice.”  

Lee Bloomfield, Manningham Housing Association chief executive

He said: “The tone for the King’s Speech was set over the weekend when the Home Secretary defined homelessness as a ‘lifestyle choice’ and stated her desire to ban homeless people from sheltering in tents. 

“As such, no one should be shocked that taking more homeless people off the streets by building more affordable homes would be at the top of government’s policy agenda between now and the General Election.   

“Community-based organisations such as Manningham Housing Associations simply wish to do the right thing for our tenants and, indeed, prospective tenants by expanding the number of properties we have available.

“But we cannot do this alone, the government must take the lead.

“The present administration stopped any pretense that building new homes was a priority when it ditched its target of building 300,000 homes every year, essentially casting housing associations and deprived neighbourhoods in places like Bradford and Keighley adrift.

“By doing so, it chose to snatch away opportunities for better lives that people of all ages living there deserve.

“The absence of any renewed commitment in the King’s Speech to build more new affordable homes is desperately disappointing but, in the wake of Suella Braverman’s crass and heartless comments, not in the least bit surprising.”

Shadow Minister meets academics and tours pioneering hub at University of Manchester

The Shadow Minister for Exports, Afzal Khan, has visited The University of Manchester to meet academics and tour the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub (SMI Hub) at the Henry Royce Institute, the UK’s National Centre for research and innovation of advanced materials.

Mr Khan, the Member of Parliament for Manchester Gorton, discussed the contents of Policy@Manchester’s publication Power in Place with contributors to the collection of articles designed to inform regional decision-making.

(From left to right): The University of Manchester’s Dr Carl Emery, Louisa Dawes and Professor Sherilyn MacGregor presenting the headline recommendations from Power in Place to Afzal Khan MP, Shadow Minister for Exports

Louisa Dawes, Senior Lecturer in Education, and Dr Carl Emery, Lecturer in Education, presented their research on local approaches to tackling child poverty, and Professor Sherilyn MacGregor, Professor of Environmental Politics, outlined ways to work towards inclusive environmental sustainability based on her work with Pakistani and Somali communities in Moss Side.

The Shadow Minister was met at the Henry Royce Institute by Dr Chloe Loveless, Senior Experimental Officer at the SMI Hub, before inspecting the pioneering facility which has supported businesses in Greater Manchester on plastics use since 2020.

Afzal Khan MP said: “It is always a delight to visit The University of Manchester.

“The evidence-based research it produces across so many subject areas is greatly valued and has real influence on policymakers in Westminster, Whitehall and beyond. 

“Power in Place is another thoroughly impressive piece of work and it was helpful to discuss some of its key recommendations with academic staff.

“I was equally impressed by the SMI Hub which was created by the Henry Royce Institute in response to the growing need to combat plastics pollution now increasingly associated with major world cities.

“It is using world-class research to develop sustainable solutions for plastics and to advise businesses on how they can better protect the environment. 

“It is excellent to know that this important work is going on in the heart of Manchester.”    

Afzal Khan MP, Shadow Minister for Exports, is briefed on the work of the SMI Hub by Dr Chloe Loveless, Senior Experimental Officer

Professor Sherilyn MacGregor said: “We welcomed the opportunity to brief Mr Khan on some of the headline policy recommendations in Power in Place and expand on our individual research projects.

“Supported by our policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester, feeding into the policymaking process is an essential element of our research.  It is particularly useful to hear directly from politicians and decision-makers about how we can continue to inform and assist them.”

Three new appointments to Unity Enterprise board

Mohammed Hussain, Amina Shann and John Jagger have joined the board of Unity Enterprise.

Mohammed Hussain is the founder and Managing Director of Pink Elephant Sales and Lettings Ltd.  He also holds board-level positions with the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, the Northern Asian Power Think Tank Group and Shipley College.

Amina Shann is Wholesale Account Manager Bulk Purchase & Export at Morrisons Head Office.  She has over eight years of experience with the Bradford-based supermarket chain, including two years as BAME Adviser alongside her day to day role.

John Jagger has accrued decades of private and public sector experience in the UK and abroad.  He has particular expertise in finance, strategic development and business growth, and has overseen the turnaround of a range of small and medium sized enterprises. 

Established in 200, Unity Enterprise - the not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise - provides more than 140 affordable units for over 80 diverse businesses in three locations close to Leeds city centre. 

They include Leeds Media Centre, which recently completed a £1.8 million refurbishment scheme in partnership with Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund. 

The newly refurbished Leeds Media Centre, one of three business locations operated by Unity Enterprise

Sharon Jandu OBE, Chair of Unity Enterprise, said: “It is exciting to have Mohammed, Amina and John join the Unity Enterprise board.

“They bring a fantastic blend of differing experiences which will greatly benefit our work and complement the wide range of existing skills and perspectives offered by current board colleagues.

“The new facilities at the revamped and revitalised Leeds Media Centre have opened the door to a whole host of additional opportunities for local entrepreneurs to step forward and achieve their business dreams.

“Our new board members will each play a proactive part in enabling them to make that journey.”     

Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “I pay warm tribute to Abdul Ravat and Will Jennings for their years of service on the Unity Enterprise board, and welcome Mohammed, Amina and John to their new roles.  

“Unity stands out amongst housing associations in our commitment to providing employment, training and entrepreneurial services to directly transform the life chances of local people.

“Empowering individuals to set up their own sustainable business is central to this work with the guidance and support of Unity Enterprise.

“Our new board members will add real entrepreneurial weight to this crusade.”        

Working Futures: Evidence and ideas to shape the future of work in the UK

The changing nature of work - as the country continues its recovery from the COVID–19 pandemic against a backdrop of an ageing workforce and increasing automation - is explored in a new online report from University of Manchester experts.

Working Futures from Policy@Manchester 

Working Futures, produced by the University’s policy engagement unit Policy@Manchester, is a collection of seven articles providing research-based evidence and ideas to shape the future of work in the UK.

The need to balance productivity, innovation and economic growth with access to fair employment and working conditions are just some of the areas examined by academics, alongside the drive for equity, opportunity and decent working conditions.

The publication includes a foreword from Naomi Clayton, Deputy Director at Learning and Work Institute, who shines a light on growing labour market inequalities that have contributed to concerns about the quality of work for many, coupled with limited progression from low pay. 

Naomi Clayton, Deputy Director at Learning and Work Institute

“Ensuring labour market inequalities don’t widen further and more ‘good jobs’ are available to more people means developing a comprehensive, cross-government strategy for good work with employers and trade unions,” she writes.

“A strategy that creates good jobs – jobs that pay at least enough to meet everyday needs, provide stability and security, with opportunities for development and progression – requires looking beyond the minimum wage to the reform of employment laws, sick pay and the role of sectoral collective bargaining.

“Policymakers should also explore how innovation and technological developments can be shaped, in part through regulation, to ensure as many workers benefit as possible.” 

M Clayton adds: “The contributions in this Policy@Manchester publication consider the policy implications of a range of these issues.  The articles consider the impact of changes in the labour market from a range of different perspectives – and, crucially, present evidence-led ideas about how we might address challenges and tackle inequalities.”

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

Professor Cecilia Wong, Academic Co-Director of Policy@Manchester, said: “Working Futures is the product of many months of collaborative effort from our magnificent authors supported by the dedicated Policy@Manchester team.

“It is brimming with robust research, expert analysis and clear recommendations across a broad and shifting employment policy landscape, which arguably does not receive the due attention it merits from policymakers and political decision-makers.

“As its title indicates, Working Futures has a deliberate emphasis on suggested future pathways for policy in this field.  But it begins with a forthright piece from my colleagues Mat Johnson and Eva Herman on the ‘now of work’ with a call for tangible improvements to the working lives of those in frontline roles that keep our communities fed, educated, safe, connected and cared for.

“It is an excellent compendium of academic thought worthy of serious consideration from those with the power to effect positive change.”  

Working Futures can be read free of charge on the Policy@Manchester website. 

Sustainable fashion and sportswear must be high on the political agenda

Three University of Manchester academics who specialise in fashion and textiles have criticised the Government for failing to take action to boost sustainability in the UK fashion and sportswear industries.

In an article published by the University’s policy engagement unit Policy@Manchester to coincide with the 20th annual Recycle Week, Lindsay Pressdee, Dr Amy Benstead and Dr Jo Conlon highlight that, of the one million tonnes of textiles disposed of every year in this country, 300,000 tonnes end up in landfill or incineration with figures suggesting 10 per cent of global CO2 emissions may come from the fashion industry. 

And they warn that the damage inflicted by discarded sportswear is often overlooked, “despite an over-reliance on polyester garments, which are harmful to the environment as the fabric releases microfibres and takes hundreds of years to fully biodegrade.”

Pressdee, Benstead and Conlon stress the importance of establishing “sustainable behaviour throughout the supply chain” and praise the European Commission for proposing an “extended producer responsibility (EPR)” for textiles in the EU which “aims to create appropriate incentives to encourage producers to design products that have a reduced environmental impact at the end of their life.”

This contrasts with the UK where, they argue, “tackling sustainability in the fashion industry has lost its place on the political agenda.”

The University of Manchester academics contend that there has been “disappointing lack of progress from the UK Government” following the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee’s Fixing Fashion report in 2019.

They continue: “This report included a call for the use of EPR as well as other important recommendations such as a ban on incinerating or landfilling unsold stock that can be reused or recycled and a tax system that shifts the balance of incentives in favour of reuse, repair and recycling to support responsible companies. We urge the Government to think again and drive forward the Committee’s recommendations in order to put sustainable fashion back on the political agenda.”

Pressdee, Benstead and Conlon also criticise Ministers for abolishing the standalone GCSE in textiles which provided many young people with the ability to mend clothing such as football kits instead of throwing them away.

They write: “We are therefore calling on the Government to reintroduce textiles as part of the school curriculum to engage young people in sustainable materials and equip them with the basic skills required to repair clothes.”

The University of Manchester has launched a new project dedicated to tackling the impact of textile waste in the football industry through the provision of workshops tasked with transforming surplus football shirts into unique reusable tote bags, whilst educating local communities on the environmental impacts of textile waste and how to extend the life of garments. The initiative aims to provide a fun, responsible way to keep kits in circulation while shining a light on the problem.

‘Game changers, a new approach to tackling sportswear garment waste’ by Lindsay Pressdee, Dr Amy Benstead and Dr Jo Conlon is available to read on the Policy@Manchester website. 

Unity announces appointment of Interim Chair

Abdul Hamied has been appointed Interim Chair of Leeds-based housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise.

He succeeds Shruti Bhargava, who has stepped down as Chair after nine years, and will be in post for up to 12 months before handing over to a new Chair for a six-year term.   

Abdul Hamied, Interim Chair, Unity Homes and Enterprise

Mr Hamied, Deputy Director of the Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England, has served on the Unity board since 2018. 

He previously spent six years on the board of Manningham Housing Association in Bradford.

A graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Sheffield, Mr Hamied has held a series of senior positions in the NHS and local government supporting, facilitating and stimulating transformational change and service improvement. 

Established in 1987, Unity Home and Enterprise manages 1,386 properties for tenants from all communities and ethnic backgrounds in Leeds, Huddersfield and Cleckheaton.

Abdul Hamied said: “It is a great privilege to become Interim Chair of such a highly respected and valued organisation with its roots firmly in the local communities it serves.

“I recently attended an away day with Unity’s senior management and fellow board members.  As one of the country’s leading BME housing associations, there was a real sense of shared purpose to continue being ambitious, resilient, adaptive and willing to embrace new initiatives whilst ensuring we remain in touch with our customers and committed to the tackling inequalities in housing.  That is the mantra with which I will approach the year ahead.

“One of my priorities will be to help attract the best possible candidates to lead Unity through the following six years of our development.  That process will begin shortly, and I encourage anyone who believes they have what it takes to succeed in the role to get in touch.”    

Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Abdul as Interim Chair.

“He brings a wealth of experience and, having worked closely with him since I joined Unity almost three years ago, I am a huge admirer of his talents.

“Abdul’s familiarity with what we do is also incredibly helpful and will enable him to have a swift and positive impact on the many exciting ventures with which we are involved.”

Exciting new platform for Baul music as Bradford prepares for UK City of Culture 2025

A collection of more than 100 original songs of South Asian heritage by Bradford and Keighley writers has been launched at a celebratory event with support from Manningham Housing Association (MHA), Bradford Council and The Leap.    

The project was the brainchild of Sadar Uddin, MHA Community Partnership and Investment Manager, as a vehicle to revive, preserve and promote the writing of Baul music in Bradford which will be UK City of Culture in 2025.

MHA Deputy Chief Executive Ulfat Hussain present writers with special recognition certificates at the launch of ‘Baul & Mystic Songs of South Asian Heritage Volumes 1 & 2’  

The district is home to numerous writers of Baul music - which originated in Bangladesh and West Bengal - but most of their work has never been published.

However, thanks to financial backing from the Bradford Council Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund, and the Leap Pioneer Programme, MHA has published two volumes of lyrics in both English and Bengali together with sheet music for local communities to access and enjoy.    

The launch of ‘Baul & Mystic Songs of South Asian Heritage Volumes 1 & 2’ was the focus of a unique community gathering at Prestige Hall in Bradford attended by many of the contributing writers.

A selection of their songs was performed by professional musicians and a stunning cake closely resembling one of the books was cut by MHA Vice Chair, Rupert Pometsey.

‘Baul & Mystic Songs of South Asian Heritage Volumes 1 & 2’ 

The writers were also presented with certificates in recognition of their achievements by MHA Deputy Chief Executive Ulfat Hussain, who wrote the foreword for both volumes.   

He said: “Among our pioneering initiatives, the Baul Heritage Project stands as a testament to our commitment to tenant and resident empowerment.  As the first project of its kind by a social housing provider, this unique endeavour unites tenants and residents, fostering a collective of talented individuals eager to contribute to the broader community’s enrichment.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Bradford Council and The Leap for their generous support which enabled us to showcase the remarkable talents of our songwriters, poets and artists. 

“We sincerely hope to see their exceptional work form a significant part of Bradford’s tenure as UK City of Culture 2025 where it can rightfully receive the recognition and appreciation it deserves.”                 

Sadar Uddin, MHA Community Partnership and Investment Manager, said: “Congratulations to all the writers and artists who contributed to this initiative. 

“This is the first ever project where Baul heritage music has been translated into English and into musical scores so that anyone from any musical background can play these songs.

“We are keen to promote this music to as wide a community as possible - not just in Bradford and Keighley, but beyond Bradford district.”

MHA Vice Chair, Rupert Pometsey (centre left) and writer Novin Siddek inspect the specially commissioned cake at the launch of ‘Baul & Mystic Songs of South Asian Heritage Volumes 1 & 2’ 

Sabir Musaji, Community Development Manager at The Leap, said: "I want to thank Sadar and his team for stepping up. They have a wonderful mindset which makes projects like this happen. 

“Most of all, I want to thank them for a project that demonstrates full inclusiveness.

“We have a piece of work which is beautiful and made for generations of musicians to perform today, tomorrow and for years to come.”   

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.”