Season 13 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester will launch in October 2026.

Youth Episodes

4
Nov. 10, 2025

Empowering women and youth with Tahera Khanam

In this episode of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Tahera Khanam, founder of Better We and nominee for Volunteer of the Year at the Spirit of Manchester Awards. Tahera shares her journey of creating clubs and training programs to support and empower women and youth in the Manchester community. Through personal stories and experiences, she highlights the importance of community work, the challenges faced, and the impact made. Tahera also discusses over...
7
March 31, 2025

Empowering youth through play with Ryan Miemczyk

In the seventh episode of Season 10 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe engages with Ryan Miemczyk, Chair of Trustees at Manchester Young Lives. Ryan shares his journey into social work, driven by his passionfor supporting youth and his love for sports. He discusses the charity's mission to empower young people through play and recreation, providing alternative education, and improving employability skills. Ryan highlights the critical challenges faced by the organi...
Guest: Ryan Miemczyk
3
March 4, 2025

Empowering youth voices with Kieran Innes

In the third episode of Season 10 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Kieran Innes, CEO of Tootoot. Kieran shares his inspiring journey from growing up in a council estate to co-founding Tootoot, apioneering platform that provides children with a safe, anonymous way to report bullying and safeguarding issues. He discusses the development of Tootoot from a university project to a tool used globally in over 500 schools, impacting over half a million chil...
7
Dec. 3, 2024

Empowering Women and Youth through creativity with Beth Powell

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners from your host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. In the seventh episode of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, I interview Beth Powell, Managing Director of Creative City and a nominee for the Spirit of Manchester Award for Social Economy Champion. Beth details her motivations for supporting women and youth, her journey through personal mental health challenges, and the founding of Creative City. The organisation uses arts for empowerment, offering long-term com...
Guest: Beth Powell
14
Sept. 3, 2024

Empowering youth through technology with Hemant Patel

In the 14th episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe interviews Hemant Patel, CEO of Anumana. They discuss Hemant's passion for community support, inspired by his mother and Indian cultural values, and his initiative, the Code Academy. Patel highlights the academy's mission to address challenges in the tech sector, such as lack of diversity, skills gap, and social mobility barriers. The academy offers a free 16-week Python programming course to Manche...
5
July 2, 2024

Empowering youth through music with Steve Goodman

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. In the fifth episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe welcomes Steve Goodman, Chair of Liv's Trust. They discuss Liv's Trust's mission to support young people in Greater Manchester by offering music and dance opportunities. Steve shares inspiring stories on how the Trust provides safe spaces and activities for youth, particularly those affected by the Arena bombing and the COVID pandemic. Listener...
11
March 26, 2024

The power of education with Rahiela Koser

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...
6
Feb. 20, 2024

Young people with John Shiels

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 6 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #YoungPeople #skills #football #employability #SocialImpact #NonProfit. Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the sixth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast interviews John Shiels, CEO, Manchester United Foundation talks about supporting young people with pastoral care, life skills, and career skills. John talks about his...
3
Jan. 30, 2024

Youth mentoring with Victoria Ramsden

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 3 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #Youth #Mentoring #SocialImpact #NonProfit. Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe .(https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the third episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Victoria Ramsden, Mentor, Bolton Lads and Girls Club about mentoring the youth. Victoria also shares how mentors provide a safe space and stability for young people in times of challeng...
1
Jan. 16, 2024

Youth with Nick Buckley

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 7, Episode 1 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #youth #community #SocialImpact #NonProfit Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the season premiere episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Nick Buckley, author and mayoral candidate about his passion for supporting the youth in the charity he founded, Mancunian Way. He talks about the charity’s philosophy of no las...
Oct. 31, 2023

Youth careers with Jane Wells

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 6, Episode 9 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #GM #manchester #careers #youth #socialimpact #nonprofit #employability. I'm Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, your friendly host. In the ninth episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Jane Wells [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjanewells/], Enterprise Coordinator, part of the Youth Employment and Opportunities team at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority [https://www.greatermanchester...
Oct. 17, 2023

Youth mental health with Angeli Sweeney

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 6, Episode 7 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #mancunian #manchester #youth #mentalhealth #socialimpact #nonprofit #blackhistorymonth. I'm Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, your friendly host. In the seventh episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Angeli Sweeney, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeli-sweeney-92505332/] Senior Mental Health Practitioner and Youth Worker, 42nd Street [https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/] about supporting yo...
Oct. 10, 2023

Youth and Black community with Shar Sangster

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...
Sept. 12, 2023

Social value and youth with Matt Richardson

A warm Mancunian welcome to all my listeners. Presenting Season 6, Episode 2 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #mancunian #manchester #sustainability #socialvalue #community #socialimpact #youth #nonprofit Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the second episode, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Matt Richardson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-richardson-9b156183/?originalSubdomain=uk], Social Value Lead, Growth Company [https://www.growthco....
May 2, 2023

Suicide prevention with Mike Palmer

Good morning. Presenting Season 5, Episode 3 of the #MeettheMancunian #podcast #mancunian #manchester #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #community #manchester #mancunian Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe (https://www.instagram.com/meetthemancunian/). In the third episode of Season 5, the Meet the Mancunian podcast talks to Mike Palmer, Co-founder, Three Dads Walking (https://www.3dadswalking.uk/) about raising awareness on suicide prevention in young people. They have partnered with suicide preve...
Feb. 15, 2022

Youth with John Swallow

The seventh episode of Meet the Mancunian podcast features John Swallow, Senior Youth Worker, GroundWork (https://www.groundwork.org.uk/). Groundwork is a federation of charities mobilising practical community action on poverty and the environment across the UK. John started off as a postman and then found his passion in youth work through volunteering. He talks about he works with groups of young people across Greater Manchester helping them to connect with nature and the environment. John's fo...