In the last week of June, our former GM mayor and the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, announced No.10 in the North. A lot was changing around us in Greater Manchester. But our communities persisted.
That same week, we gathered 300 residents and neighbours from across Greater Manchester in the Kings House Conference Centre, hidden away just behind Oxford Road. The plan was to throw a typical Living Income style party - food, dancing, music and hope - and move us closer to a Living Income pilot across our city-region, but we got so much more than that!
Since our last party in May last year, times have continued to look bleak for many in Britain. The wealthiest 10% now own half of all UK wealth, and on current trends the top 200 will have more money than the government by 2035. Records continue to tumble as the climate crisis driven heatwaves destroy habitats and kill thousands. As it's clear many within the political establishment are not willing to challenge the business-as-usual approach which drives these changes, radical politics on both left and right have seen a boom. In amongst the different answers to our problems, people are continuing to struggle.
In the midst of all this: food, music, singing, dancing and hope. Our Power Party lived up to it's name. Different organisations and members of communities across GM gathered to flex our collective power, and have a good old time while we did it. As attendees filtered in and found their seats, there were smiles on every face and neighbours in every seat. With a shared commonality of a city-region to call home and a passion to see communities across GM thrive, it was not long before every guest was engrossed in conversation, and the buzz in the room was palpable.
The party wasn't just about celebration though, as everyone in the room knew we had a serious task ahead of us: the need for a Living Income pilot. This was made clear by each speaker. Godswill shared:
‘Living income to me is the idea that every child, parent and human deserves to live a life where they are not just surviving but prospering in every aspect, giving everyone what they need to nurture their talents and helping them to reconstruct their confidence and dignity.’
And Dr Tendayi Madzunzu from GMLI, ZIWO and the Mama Health and Poverty Partnership, shared:
'I never imagined I would be part of a steering group. I thought I would live a quiet life. Instead, it felt like I had joined a revolution.’
Eve Holt, Head of Policy and Implementation at GMCA, spoke to the political moment and commitment:
'Everything we heard on Monday, with the announcement of No.10 North, you’re all living and dreaming and doing right now. [...] `We had a really strong message for here this week that it's time to be bold.’
Rosa Sulley from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation spoke about working with the campaign over the last year:
'I am really proud to see how this campaign has gone from strength to strength in such a short space of time [...] The Living Income campaign reminds us that the people closest to a problem are often closest to the solution. When they're given the resources, trust and power to lead, extraordinary things can happen. For those of us in the room who have the means to do so - it’s our job to help enable this.’
The party ended with an ask of attendees: writing a postcard from 2036 to funders, a future Greater Manchester, what would you say to those who made a Living Income a reality? When we collected these postcards, the same threads came out continuously - love, joy, gratitude, comfort - all fundamentals of life that too many are currently deprived of.
To fill a hall with 300 guests, on a sunny Tuesday morning, as our star guest had left to become Prime Minister, was a testament to how strongly our communities feel about the need for change. In a world where so often we are made to feel isolated, disconnected, and browbeaten by bills, it was inspiring to see a reflection of the power we hold. By coming together from across our diverse city-region, channeling our energy and speaking with one voice we made sure we will be heard from Wythenshawe to Westminster.
Following the Power Party, we held a roundtable meeting with potential funders and allies who had the financial and political power to help make a pilot a reality. This included National Lottery, JRF, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Castlefield, Office for Impact Economy, GMCA and New Economics Foundation.
All attendees at the roundtable raved with feelings of joy for the party, the energy in the room and how well rooted we are in our communities. We faced some challenging questions, most of which our team were able to field with ease, others which have prompted us to pull out further detail from the plans. At the end of the day, we all committed to doing what we can to fund a Living Income pilot, and helping everyone in Greater Manchester be able to thrive, not just survive.
What's next? We're working hard to continue to build power with our communities and with funders and decision makers to make a Living Income pilot a reality.
