Making Manchester Fairer Community Forum: From recruitment to action
Making Manchester Fairer Community Forum: From recruitment to action
In late 2023 Healthy Me Healthy Communities CiC was commissioned by Manchester City Council's Making Manchester Fairer team to facilitate a Community Forum; a space for 16 residents representing the rich diversity of Manchester to engage and contribute to the direction of travel to Making Manchester Fairer - the city council's five-year action plan with a longer-term ambition to address health inequalities. The aim of the forum is to review, question and help develop the Making Manchester Fairer delivery plans, feeding directly into the Programme Board which is co-chaired by Cllr Thomas Robinson and Cllr Joanna Midgley.
The recruitment campaign
The recruitment campaign launched in late spring 2024 and included digital and printed materials. The advert was provided in an easy-read format, British sign language and was translated into 8 community languages. To enable the widest reach, over 60 VCFSE organisations were asked to spread the word and promote the opportunity to clients and participants.
Placing promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of the recruitment campaign led to 161 applications from Manchester residents, reflecting the city's rich tapestry of backgrounds and lived experience; 50% of applications were from people of colour, 32% of applicants had a disability/long term health condition, 45% had caring responsibilities or were care-experienced and 20% had experienced homelessness/had been at risk of homelessness. A shortlisting panel had the challenge of whittling this down to the final 16.
In keeping with the spirit and aim of Making Manchester Fairer, preference was given to applicants with little or no community engagement experience, those from underrepresented backgrounds and those from 'cost of living' priority wards. The final 16 were chosen and invited to the first meeting in September.
Making Manchester Community Forum in action
Community Forum engagement is underpinned by the principles of community development practice; equality, diversity, voice, collaboration and valuing lived experience. Sessions are a lively blend of information sharing, group discussions and activities linking back to the Making Manchester Fairer policy and approach.
Community Forum members also engage with decision making processes more broadly, and the operation of local government, to date members have attended the Making Manchester Fairer Programme Board and Health Scrutiny Committees.
Since January 2025, the Community Forum members have been part of the Making Manchester Fairer process for refreshing the theme objectives focusing on the themes Homes & Housing and Preventing Illness and Early Death, drawing on their lived experience to shape and influence new objectives and delivery.
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