Community Episodes

In the Season 12 finale of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Mike Whittaker, a BMX volunteer and racer at Bruntwood Park BMX Club in Cheadle. Mike shares how BMX filled the community gap he felt after leaving the police, leading him to volunteer on track repairs and later head up maintenance, while also returning to racing himself. After breaking his T12 vertebrae, he committed to regional and national racing, documenting events on YouTube to encourage ad...

Host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe welcomes listeners to the seventh episode of Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast with Sean Chaplin, co-founder of Rehab Fitness. Sean shares how, after 30 years of addiction and 42 prison sentences, support from Acorn Recovery Services helped him rebuild his life in Manchester, motivating him to give back. He explains how he and his co-founders Kate and Liz created Rehab Fitness as a CIC offering free gym, yoga, boxing, and community activities to help peop...

In the fourth episode of Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Alun Morris, creator of the Red Lane Growing Project in Bolton and a community engagement worker with Bolton at Home. Alun shares how moving from Buckinghamshire led him into outdoor volunteering and conservation, and how a derelict former playground became a secure community growing space. He describes the project’s evolving focus, including a “grow it, cook it, eat it” approach, ...

Host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Nicky Wake, founder of the Widowed Collective in the first episode. Nicky shares her lifelong passion for building community, and recounts the personal tragedy that led to her mission. After finding support through Widowed and Young, she identified a gap for widowed people over 51 and launched the Widowed Collective as a free, inclusive, donation- and grant-funded not-for-profit offering UK-wide resources, forums, groups, and events. Nicky discusses earl...

In the season finale of Season 11 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe engages in a heartfelt conversation with Wardeh Al Nasir, Director of Community Thriving Together and nominee for Volunteer of the Year at the Spirit of Manchester Awards. Wardeh shares her inspiring journey of using her own experiences of isolation and language barriers to build a supportive community for underrepresented individuals in Manchester. She discusses the significance of volunteerin...

In this episode of 'Meet the Mancunian' hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, Francis Duncan, Community Engagement Manager at Irish Community Care, shares insights into how the organisation supports the Irish and Irish travelling communities in Manchester. Francis discusses his journey into community work, the challenges faced by the Irish travelling community, common misconceptions, and the impact of their initiatives. He highlights the importance of culturally appropriate communities, advocacy,...

In the 11th episode of Season 10 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Chris Marsh, an ambassador for Forever Manchester. Chris shares his journey of becoming involved with the charity through his passion for running and discusses the various community initiatives supported by Forever Manchester. From supporting local disability groups to knitting collectives, Chris highlights how the organisation helps various causes within Greater Manchester. He also r...

In the eighth episode of Season 10 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Niki Banks, co-founder of One World Together. Niki shares herjourney from her academic background in global development to launching a social enterprise aimed at providing flexible funding directly to communities. She highlights the challenges faced by small charities and community groups in obtaining long-term funding and highlights the importance of trust and local empowerment in solv...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 11 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #Education #Youth #SocialImpact #NonProfit. Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the eleventh episode, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe engages with Rahiela Koser, Community Organiser for Oldham Parent Power, detailing her journey from a participating parent to her current role, and the positive impact the initiative has had in...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 9 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #community #SocialImpact #NonProfit. Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the ninth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast interviews Tahera Khanam, Founder, Better We. Tahera talks about improving the mental health of the community by promoting social inclusion, health awareness, and engaging in physical activities. ...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 8 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #women #children #SocialImpact #NonProfit. Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the eighth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast interviews Fiona Spencer, Vice President, Soroptomist International Manchester Club, about how they support women and girls in UK and in India to reach their full potential. Fiona introduces how...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 5 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #Cycling #Fundrasing #Community #SocialImpact #NonProfit. Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the fifth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast interviews Wes Hamnett, a dedicated fundraiser for local charities including Wythenshawe Hospital, the Christie Charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, and the British Heart Foundation....

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 6, Episode 10 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #community #architecture #socialimpact. I'm Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, your friendly host. In the tenth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Charlie Butterwick [https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliebutterwick/], Director, Architecture Unknown [https://www.architectureunknown.co.uk/] about his passion for community-led architecture. He shares his passion for work...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 6, Episode 8 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #mancunian #manchester #women #coaching #socialimpact #nonprofit #WomenEd. I'm Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, your friendly host. In the eighth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Yasmin Ariff [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmin-a-6492b113b/], Career and Leadership Coach and Volunteer, Women Ed [https://womened.com/home] about supporting women to help them thrive in their careers...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 6, Episode 6 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #mancunian #manchester #youth #community #socialimpact #nonprofit #blackhistorymonth. I'm Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, your friendly host. In the sixth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Shar Sangster, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shar-sangster-422028214/] CEO, MGT Youth [https://mgty.co.uk/mgt-youth/] shares her passion for supporting the youth and the people of colour commun...

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 6, Episode 4 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #mancunian #manchester #homelessness #community #socialimpact #nonprofit #socialenterprise #worldhabitatday. I'm Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, your friendly host. In the fourth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Fran Darlington-Pollock [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-darlington-pollock-744ab124], CEO, Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity [https://gmmayorscharity.org.uk/] about ...