Meet the Mancunian Podcast: social impact stories from Manchester

Hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe

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Episodes

160

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

Welcome to Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, hosted by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. Over the season, we meet the people shaping Manchester today and inspiring its future. Through thoughtful conversations with community leaders, volunteers and changemakers, I explore the passion and purpose driving positive change across our city. Each episode shares honest stories, lived experience, and insight into the people shaping Manchester today and strengthening its communities for tomorrow. Thank you for listening — and for being part of this community. Podcast creatives by Mahua Roy.

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60 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 1235 min

Supporting the BMX Racing community with Mike Whittaker

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 adults to start (or return to) the sport and build connection, including a growing dads’ community. He discusses launching Resilient Team Racing to promote positivity and mental health, fundraising through photography for homelessness charity Coffee4Craig, and preparing to represent Great Britain at the 2026 World Championships in Brisbane.Did you know: · BMX stands for Bicycle Moto-X and began as the bicycle equivalent of motocross.· BMX is an Olympic medal sport since 2008· There are over 5,000 active BMX racers in the UK and over 60 active BMX clubs.Key resource: You Tube channel Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (00:57) Meet Mike Whittaker(01:16) From police to purpose(01:49) Joining BMX volunteering(03:45) Injury and racing comeback(05:36) Building Adult BMX community(08:30) Resilient team racing(10:32) Photography fundraising impact(25:56) Signature questions(32:33) Life lessons🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or https://www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #BMX #Community

June 2, 2026Episode 1126 min

Encouraging the Sewing Community with Luke-Matthew Iveson

In episode eleven of Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Luke-Matthew Iveson, a community sewing teacher and Season 10 winner of the BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee. Luke shares how learning to sew from their grandma and working as a corporate diversity and inclusion consultant led to a shift into community-based workshops after the show gave him a platform and visibility as the first non-binary winner. Luke explains how sewing supports self-expression, creativity, and confidence—especially for LGBTQ+ people while also addressing barriers like cost, lack of access to sewing machines, and the loneliness of the hobby. Luke reflects on the impact of representation, shares a powerful story involving a trans young person, and their plans for inclusive classes, patterns, and outreach with groups including the Proud Trust and Stonewall.Did you know: · About 4% of the UK population identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or binary· Sewing, quilting, and textile arts hold deep roots in the queer community. · Modern queer sewing spaces prioritise inclusivity, with thriving communities focusing on gender-affirming clothing alterations and creative self-expression. Key resource:website Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript: (01:47) From Hobby to Community(02:56) Winning Sewing Bee(04:44) Workshops and access(06:44) Defining success (10:03) A class that mattered(11:24) Handling criticism(14:10) Staying motivated(15:51) What’s next(16:48) How you can help(18:45) Myths about sewing(20:22) Signature questions🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #Sewing #Community #LGBTQ+

May 26, 2026Episode 1023 min

Transporting Sick Children with Marie-Anne Eckersall

In the tenth episode of Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Marie-Anne Eckersall, Fundraising and Communications Co-ordinator at Transport for Sick Children, a small charity founded in 1977 that provides volunteer-led transport to children’s hospital appointments. Marie-Anne shares how volunteering on her children’s school PTA sparked her move from a corporate career into the VCSE sector, and how she grew her part-time role after joining in 2019. She explains that success means supporting as many children as possible by recruiting volunteer drivers (about 35 currently), especially in areas including North Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Bolton, and Bury. The conversation covers the charity’s impact on families facing financial hardship or new to the UK, post-COVID rebuilding, 2026 plans, and ways individuals and businesses can help through driving, donations, trustee expertise, and skills-based volunteering.Did you know: · Across the UK, 8-10% of children have a long term health condition.· In Greater Manchester, approximately 65,000-75,000 children and young people are estimated to have a long-term health condition.· Specialist facilities like the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital manage over 160,000 children’s outpatient appointments annually.Key resource: Transport for Sick Children Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:52) PTA spark story(03:06) Joining the charity(04:19) Success and drivers(05:31) Family impact stories(07:55) Challenges and motivation(09:54) Future plans (12:38) How you can help(17:58) Signature questions 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #Transport #SickChildren

May 18, 2026Episode 939 min

Designing a Healing-Centred Work World with Kerry Tottingham

Host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe introduces the ninth episode of Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast and speaks with Kerry Tottingham, co-director of A Brilliant Thing, about supporting healthier, more sustainable work cultures in charities and purpose-led organisations. Kerry shares her route into Manchester’s social impact space through volunteering, arts work, charity management, and collaboration across the NHS and local authorities, and explains how health challenges and pandemic-era pressure led her to freelance and later build the social enterprise with her sisters. She outlines A Brilliant Thing’s healing-centred design approach combining trauma-informed practice, systems thinking, and creative coaching—delivered through placemaking, the Brilliant Club, the Brilliant Workplace, and facilitation school. Kerry describes impact in Bolton, defines success as mindset and systems change that creates ripple effects, discusses burnout, funding insecurity, and the need for fair pay, and shares plans for annual events and national expansion. Did you know: · Charities are facing challenges of declining donations, a difficult funding landscape, increasing service demand and staffing recruitment and retention challenges.· As many as 66% of organisations in the voluntary sector are concerned about employee exhaustion, burn out and mental strain.· Reports estimates 940,000 charity workers have felt stressed, overwhelmed or burn out in the last year.Key resource:A Brilliant Thing Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (00:56) Meet Kerry Tottingham(01:46) Early roots in Manchester(03:16) Founding A Brilliant Thing(06:35) Healing centred services(10:34) Defining success and ripples(18:53) Challenges, hope and design it in(24:34) Future plans🎧Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #SocialChange #Charity

May 12, 2026Episode 834 min

Supporting Adults with Neurodiversity with Isobel Lepist

Host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe introduces the eighth episode of Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast featuring Isobel Lepist, a neurodiversity coach and ADHD advocate. Isobel shares her shift from 25+ years in corporate HR to founding At The Millpond after a late diagnosis, including creating a workplace neurodivergent employee support group and training as an ADHD coach. She explains how coaching helps adults—often overwhelmed and vulnerable—move from crisis and dysregulation to balance, improved relationships, and thriving at work, and argues organisational success requires attitudinal change, inclusion, and retention-focused practices. Isabel recounts a 12-week coaching case that improved a client’s work belonging and personal life, discusses challenges of entrepreneurship with ADHD and outlines a “stocktake” motivation exercise.Did you know: · About 15% of adults in the UK (1 in 7) is neurodiverse· There are an estimated 2.5 million undiagnosed neurodivergent adults in the UK.Key resource:At the Millpond Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:45) Roots in Stockport(02:37) From HR to ADHD Coaching(05:05) Defining success and impact(11:02) A life changing client story(14:54) Challenges of going solo(16:49) Staying motivated with ADHD(20:32) What’s next for At The Millpond(27:28) Signature questions🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #Neurodiversity #ADHD

May 5, 2026Episode 724 min

Supporting prison leavers in recovery with Sean Chaplin

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 people stay connected after therapy, build structure, and regain self-worth. Sean describes impact through testimonies, volunteer-led community work, and opportunities like PT courses and skydiving. He calls for kindness, reduced stigma, and greater empathy, and outlines plans to expand through partnerships and wider referrals.Did you know: · Prison leavers in the UK face significant challenges with housing, employment, and rehabilitation, with approximately 50,000 individuals released annually.· Around 35% of prison leavers require support for substance misuse according to a 2026 report. Key resource: Rehab Fitness Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript: (01:32) From addiction to recovery(02:05) Starting Rehab Fitness(03:13) Defining success and hope(04:40) Real world impact stories(07:33) Challenges and funding(09:06) Motivation and staying well(10:34) Growth plans and how to help(13:32) Stigma and kindness 🎧Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube orwww.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast#AddictionRecovery #PrisonLeavers

April 28, 2026Episode 637 min

Helping mothers recover from addiction with Chrissy Carr

Host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe introduces the sixth episode of Season 12 of Meet the Mancunian and speaks with Chrissy Carr, co-founder of Mums in Recovery, about supporting mothers recovering from addiction and rebuilding family life. Chrissy shares how her lived experience and NA fellowship inspired her to help women who feel stuck, and how the group began after supporting a mother whose baby was taken at birth. Mums in Recovery offers connection and understanding through weekly free Zoom wellbeing check-ins, WhatsApp community, workshops, events, advocacy, and a behavioural change programme focused on boundaries, relationships and wellbeing. Chrissy highlights tackling stigma and the impact of peer support. She discusses using 12-step principles like acceptance, plans to accredit and scale training nationally, and encourages listeners to make a difference by simply listening to people who are going through a hard time. Did you know: · An estimated 3 million people in the UK have successfully overcome alcohol or drug addiction.· 329,646 adults are in treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in the 2024-2025 period. Key resource:Mums in Recovery Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript: (00:51) Meet Chrissy Carr(01:45) Passion from lived experience(03:08) Founding Mums in Recovery(04:50) What the group offers(09:32) Defining success and fighting stigma(12:18) Impact stories (17:52) Hardest parts and staying motivated(23:33) What’s next and how to help(30:15) Signature questions 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #AddictionRecovery#Mothers

April 21, 2026Episode 534 min

Making homes greener and warmer with Charlie Baker

In episode five of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Charlie Baker, founder of Your Home Better, about making existing homes greener, warmer and healthier through retrofit. Charlie shares how becoming aparent and a belief in creating a future shaped his purpose,and explains why improving current housing can avoid major construction emissions. He outlines retrofit measures such as insulating floors, walls and roofs, upgrading ventilation and windows, adding solar PV and using heat pumps to reach zero-carbon operation, while tackling mould, damp and fuel poverty. Charlie discusses impact through award-winning home tours, challenges of recruiting diverse construction workforce, myths about cost and heat pumps, and future plans including low-cost finance, neighbourhood-scale solar and a mobile retrofit demonstrator for schools. Did you know: · Retrofit refers to any improvement work on an existing building to improve its energy efficiency, making them easier to heat, able to retain that heat for longer, and replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy.· Many UK homes are not purpose-built, heat leaks out of windows, doors and uninsulated walls, making the heating system work harder and costing more.· The greenest building is one that already exists Key resource: Your Home Better Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript:(01:00) Meet Charlie Baker(03:45) Why retrofit matters(10:26) Impact and challenges(15:17) Scaling the mission(19:30) Passive cooling lessons(21:22) Retrofit myths busted(25:14) Manchester values (28:51) Heroes wisdom 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #Retrofit #WarmHomes #sustainability

April 14, 2026Episode 429 min

Talking community gardens with Alun Morris

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. Alunshares 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, family activities drawing around 2,000 visits a year, plant giveaways, and plans to expand beekeeping classes. The conversation covers impact on community connection and mental health, challenges, the value of flexible “drop-in” volunteering, and Alun’s view of Greater Manchester’s superpower as community, alongside a call for greater patience and tolerance. Did you know: · Community gardens are shared plots of land, often managed by local volunteers, where people grow fresh produce, herbs, and flowers. · Found in urban or suburban areas, thesespaces—ranging from allotments to rooftop gardens—foster social connection, promote environmental sustainability, and provide access to nutritious food while revitalising unused spaces.Key resource:The Red Lane Growing Project Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript:(01:37) Alan’s volunteering roots(02:42) Red Lane origins(03:44) Grow Cook Eat together(05:17) Measuring community impact(07:55) Safe space and wellbeing(11:05) Funding, volunteers, motivation(14:34) Beekeeping and how to help(21:07) Signature Questions 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube orwww.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #CommunityGardens #Volunteering

April 7, 2026Episode 324 min

Turning waste into community meals with Norton Robinson

Host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Norton Robinson, director of Fungall CIC, about tackling food insecurity sustainably through community mushroom farming. Nortonshares how his interest began at university and through exploring “speculative futures,” leading to a bedroom mushroom lab and then community-based projects. Fungall builds local mushroom farms that transform waste—especially brewing and coffee waste—into mushrooms that become community meals, supporting people facing food insecurity and loneliness. Norton outlines a vision for a scalable, ethical, franchisable network of community-owned farms across city wards. He discusses the challenges of having no blueprint, managing burnout by setting boundaries, plans for a research master’s on brewing-waste scalability, and ways people can support orvolunteer.Did you know: · Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain access to adequate, nutritious food needed for a healthy life, often due to lack of money or resources. · Brewing waste in Manchester is being increasingly managed through sustainability initiatives, including converting wasted beer into green energy, reusing spent grains for livestock feed, and researching ways to extract chemical compounds from byproducts. Major efforts involve onsite composting, packaging reduction, and using waste for biogas. Key resource:Fungall Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript:(00:50) Meet Norton Robinson(01:35) Origins and inspiration(03:16) How Fungall works(03:46) Scaling the vision(05:29) Impact stories and meals(09:06) Founder challenges(10:31) Staying motivated(13:05) Future plans and mushrooms🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #CommunityFarms #FoodInsecurity