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 

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 

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

In the second episode of Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Seb Linares, Development Manager at Farm Urban, about using sustainable, hydroponic urban farming to improve health and reducebarriers to fresh food access. Seb shares how his early interest in fixing the food system led to joining Farm Urban, a social enterprise transforming towns and cities into greener, healthier, more inclusive places. He describes projects in Greater Manchester—including edible wall vertical farms in Gorton and at the Lowry— as well as work with schools, food banks, and partners in Bury.Seb explains that success means behaviour change and increased food literacy. He reflects on what motivates him, upcoming projects in London and Scotland, and how listeners can help by volunteering their skills. Did you know:  ·     Food poverty is the inability to afford oraccess a nutritious, adequate diet. This may involve skipping meals, reduced food quality or going hungry.·     An estimated 14 million people in the UKfaced food poverty.Key resource:Farm Urban Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript:(00:53) Meet Seb Linares(01:41) Seb’s origin story(02:36) Finding Farm Urban(03:08) Mission in Manchester(03:55) Edible walls explained(05:22) Measuring success(06:26) Impact stories(10:29) Challenges and motivation(13:11) Future Plans and Wrap 🎧Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube orwww.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #CommunityFarms #FoodLiteracy

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 early impact from their first event in Manchester, the need for volunteers and partnerships, her self-care routine, and advice to volunteers.Did you know:  ·     There are 3 million widowed adults in Englandand Wales·     The vast majority of widows are female (2.2million as opposed to 730,000 male widowers)Key resource:The Widowed Collective Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript:(00:55) Meet Nicky Wake(01:40) Community roots(03:48) Life before loss(04:52) Heart attack and aftermath(07:23) Lockdown bereavement(09:39) Why Widowed Collective(12:39) Building the collective(16:06) Motivation and next steps(30:55) How to connect Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or atwww.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #WidowSupport #Community

Host Deepa Thomas- Sutcliffe welcomes listeners to Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester. Across 12 episodes, the series will feature conversations with people shaping the city, from community champions to leaders driving meaningful change, exploring courage, creativity, commitment and the impact individuals can make in their communities. New episodes release every Tuesday starting 24 March 2026, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and at www.meetthemancunian.co.uk. The host thanks artist Mahua Roy for the vibrant podcast artwork. Listeners can listen to 126 episodes from seasons 1 to 11 at any time on the website. Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript:(00:00) Season 12 welcome(00:13) What to expect(00:33) Release schedule(00:38) Where to listen(00:47) Follow on social(00:59) Artwork credits(01:10) Episodes to listen to(01:28) Closing message Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or atwww.meetthemancunian.co.uk 

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 volunteering, the impact of her organisation's work, and how she overcame cultural and financial challenges to create positive change. Wardeh also highlights transformative stories of individuals affected by her work and offers advice for those looking to start volunteering. The episode encapsulates the spirit of community, passion, and inclusivity, making it a moving finale before the podcast takes a break until spring 2026.Did you know: ·      Ethnic minorities can often face challenges including significant disparities in employment, housing and health outcomes.·      These may include higher unemployment, overcrowded and substandard housing and poorer health and access to healthcare. They may suffer from stress, anxiety and depression due to these factors.·      They may also face intolerance, hate crime, and discrimination, which often worsens existing inequalities.Key resource:Community Thriving Together Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript: (01:13) Meet Wardeh Al Nasir(02:43) Wardeh's Volunteering Journey(04:13) Founding Communities Thriving Together(05:33) Impact of Thriving Together(08:15) Challenges and Overcoming Them(16:20) Advice for Aspiring Volunteers(17:39) Signature Questions  Listen to the episode and read the transcript on www.meetthemancunian.co.uk #SocialImpact #Women #Community #Inclusion #Manchester#SpiritOfMcr25 #GM #podcast #NonProfit

In this episode, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe spotlights the inspirational journey of Nathaniel Yates, a train safety access campaigner whose personal experience with inaccessible train stations in Manchester spurred them into action. After a fall in 2013 and subsequent investigation into the city's train station accessibility, Nathaniel started a petition and raised awareness through videos and panels, gaining the support of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Nathaniel highlights the challenges and successes of the GMR Rail Safety Access campaign, including making specific stations accessible. His relentless efforts have not only led to significantimprovements but also inspired public awareness and support. Did you know:  ·      An accessible railway station is a station that removes physical barriers to access.·      These may include providing keys to locked accessible toilets, marked drop off zones for Blue Badge holders, accessible ticket machines, step-free access or induction loops.·      Currently, fewer than Manchester’s train stations are accessible to those with mobility issues or wheelchairs users.Key resource:GMR Rail Accessibility Campaign Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript:(01:02) Meet Nathaniel Yates: Rail Safety Advocate(01:43) Nathaniel's Journey Begins(03:10) Campaign Milestones and Challenges(05:16) Impact and Recognition(06:20) Overcoming Obstacles(09:53) Advice for Aspiring Campaigners(11:25) Signature Questions Listen to the episode and read the transcript on https://www.meetthemancunian.co.uk/#SocialImpact #StationAccessibility#Inclusion #Community #Manchester #SpiritOfMcr25 #GM #podcast #NonProfit 

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 overcoming personal challenges, like her cancer diagnosis, through community service, and underscores the value of building strong support networks. Did you know:  ·      Better We supports the community in Longsight·      The 4 dimensions of deprivation include education, employment, health and disability and housing·      36.2% of all households in Longsight are deprived in one dimension, above the average of Manchester (32.8%).  ·      68% of all households in Longsight are deprived in one or more dimension.  Key resource:Better We Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode & transcript:(01:04) Meet Tahera Khanam(02:04) Tahera's Journey and Community Impact(03:14) The Birth of Better We(04:23) Empowering Women and Youth(05:56) Services Offered by Better We(08:12) Challenges and Triumphs(12:33) Community Support and Volunteerism(18:08) Signature questions Listen to the episode and read the transcript on https://www.meetthemancunian.co.uk/#SocialImpact #Women #Youth #Community#Manchester #SpiritOfMcr25 #GM #podcast #NonProfit

In this episode of the Meet the Mancunian podcast,host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Idowu Morafa, Founder of Across Ummah and nominee for Volunteer of the Year and Social Economy Champion at the Spirit of Manchester Awards. Idowu shares her passion for tackling substance abuse,reducing health disparities, and empowering communities through a variety of life-changing projects. She discusses the challenges faced, including language barriers and funding issues, and emphasises the importance of community support, mental health awareness, and educational programs. The episode concludes with valuable advice for aspiring community leaders and a call to action for volunteers and collaborators to join Across Ummah's mission. Did you know:  ·      Around 3 million people in the UK areimpacted by substance abuse·      Children of parents with an addiction aremore likely to develop a substance use disorder in adulthood.·      Parental substance abuse can lead to aggression, violence, and emotional chaos within the household.Key resource:Across Ummah Time stamps of key moments in the podcastepisode & transcript:(02:15) Inspiration and Community Connection(04:23) Founding Across Ummah(04:33) Day-to-Day Operations and Focus Areas(06:03) Spirit of Manchester Awards(08:29) Challenges and Overcoming Them(11:45) Impact Stories and Community Projects(17:49) Addressing Mental Health and Social Issues(21:21) Advice for Aspiring Community Leaders(24:32) Signature Questions and Conclusion Listen to the episode and read the transcripton https://www.meetthemancunian.co.uk/#SocialImpact #SubstanceAbuse #Community#Manchester #SpiritOfMcr25 #GM #podcast #NonProfit