Greater Manchester Living Income

The campaign

The Greater Manchester Living Income campaign is fighting to transform the social security system so that it works for all of us, whenever we need it.

A Living Income in Greater Manchester would mean people are guaranteed enough money to afford life’s essentials, and have access to genuine and compassionate employment support.
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This will provide the foundation for people to build towards a better future, where life is about thriving, not just surviving.

We’re campaigning for a Living Income pilot for 200 households for 2 years in Greater Manchester. We want to show that this works and learn how we can expand this to everyone who needs it in Greater Manchester.

For us living in Greater Manchester, we know what we need so that we can have fulfilled lives.

Why is this important?

Right now, the inadequate social security system sets people up to fail. For us in Greater Manchester, we know what we need so that we can have fulfilled lives.

Whoever you are - whether you’re a single parent trying to look after your family, or a family new to the country, struggling to find work or just trying to make ends meet - we need a system that looks after us all. A Living Income would ensure that we all have the opportunity to thrive.

A speaker from the coalition at the GMLI launch event

Our Proposal

We want 200 households in Middleton, Tameside, Oldham and Manchester to receive a Living Income for two years. This pilot would monitor the impact this financial security has on the health, wellbeing, education, employment and community participation of those involved.

All the households involved would currently either be receiving Universal Credit or living without access to any financial support as they have 'no recourse to public funds'. Their incomes would be topped up to a level that guarantees they can meet their basic needs.

Alongside this financial support, they would be offered voluntary and personalised support around training, careers and opportunities, as well as other barriers they may be facing. Our aim would be to demonstrate that a more adequate and less conditional social security system would help more people to flourish.

Our progress

Our vision for a Living Income in Greater Manchester has been developed with over 100 community members from a range of backgrounds, with a wide range of life experiences. Together we decided on the levels of payment, the type of support and the approach needed to ensure people can fulfill their potential.

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We met Mayor Andy Burnham who signed up to all our asks, and committed to attend our launch event, publicly backing the campaign. He said:

"That's been the best thing I could have had on a Monday lunchtime. A tour de force from you all and it's been a real tonic to help remind me why I do this."

"If a Living Income is to happen, it will first happen in Greater Manchester."‍
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Next we held local parties in Middleton, Tameside and Oldham to speak to community members and understand what a Living Income means for all of us.

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We officially launched the campaign at Friends Meeting House with Andy Burnham and over 300 local people.

Our next steps

We are now building power, relationships and developing leaders in our local communities to make Living Income a reality in Greater Manchester. We’re calling on Mayor Andy Burnham to help establish a Living Income pilot for 200 households in Middleton, Tameside, Oldham and Manchester.

We have local community organising teams in Middleton, Tameside, Oldham and Manchester.

Get in touch if you’re interested in finding out more.

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