As part of its role in supporting and advocating for Manchester’s social economy, Adrian Ashton and the Manchester Social Economy Alliance (MSEA) undertook a short research project at the end of 2025 with support from Manchester City Council’s Work & Skills Team.
A mixture of surveys and round table discussions found that social economy groups are usually more supportive of people who are seeking to balance unpaid caring roles with paid work or volunteering. It also identified that in doing so, many social economy groups are subsequently more limited in the reach and impact that they are able to offer to wider communities.
While these findings are of encouragement and concern in equal measure, it is hoped that this research can inform and influence policy and practice that will see both unpaid carers and social economy groups in which they work, able to be better recognised and supported in the future.