Macc What we stand for poverty statement launched!

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Macc what we stand for statements. We care passionately about Manchester. Our new statements will set out our stance on a range of issues that affect our city. However, these are more than just written statements. They are our commitment to sharing what we believe and collaborating with others to challenge the very real social issues facing our city.
 

Today, Macc has launched our first ‘What we stand for’ statement. Our new policy statements set out our stance on a range of issues that affect our city. However, these are more than just written statements. They are our commitment to sharing what we believe and collaborating with others to challenge the very real social issues facing our city.  

We believe that Manchester is a great city but one that faces challenges such as poverty, homelessness, climate change and ill health. In fact, the impact of some of these issues such as poverty and ill health are felt more in this city than elsewhere in the country. We want to see real change in Manchester and so we are inviting you to join with us to discuss, campaign and take action on these issues. 
 
In launching our first statement today, Macc Chief Executive Mike Wild said:

 
Our first statement focuses on poverty and following this, we will be launching statements later this year on anti-racism, the VCSE sector and homelessness.  

If you support what we are saying, please share our statements and add your own comments. There will be also future opportunities to join us on camera to show your agreement to our statements as they are launched.  

Poverty is not inevitable. Macc will keep highlighting the effects of poverty, championing the work of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in tackling poverty, and challenging the social, economic and political decisions that lead to poverty, until it is eradicated in Manchester. We’ve adopted the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s definition of poverty, “When a person’s resources (mainly their material resources) are not sufficient to meet their minimum needs (including social participation).” Manchester has long faced higher than average levels of poverty which are linked to unemployment, lower household incomes from low paid work and benefits, and the increased cost of everyday life including rent, mortgages, utility bills and food. Behind the statistics are stories of lives blighted and potential wasted by the effects of poverty on people’s lives, health and life chances. This leads to, and is made worse by, health inequalities. People living in poverty in Manchester are more likely to be ill for longer and to die earlier. However, there are also disparities within the city with a life expectancy gap of eight years for men and six years for women between those living in the most affluent and disadvantaged areas. All people in Manchester should have an income that is enough to live a happy, healthy life and not just survive. Many jobs in Manchester are still underpaid and insecure. This directly leads to poverty as people are not paid enough to live and cannot save money as a protection from any financial shocks. A low income also means some people in Manchester are forced to make impossible decisions, such as going without food or heating, turning to sex work, or borrowing money on unfavourable terms or by illegal means just to get by. Added to this, the safety net of our social security system no longer does enough to protect people from poverty. It is consistently shown that people receiving benefits are still falling into poverty and are having to make really tough financial decisions. Manchester charities, community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and the community work of faith groups plays an essential role in supporting those dealing with the day to day challenges of living in poverty. The sector is at the frontline, providing a range of debt and other advice services, crisis support and homelessness services. We also recognise that the impact of poverty falls harder on some communities than others in Manchester, which reflects historical structural inequalities, and we believe that the solutions will need to be driven with people in all communities. Voice should not belong only to those in power or without need.
 

Topics
Poverty