The cost of living crisis continues to have a detrimental effect on disadvanteged neighborhoods in Manchester, many of which had barely had the chance to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. In this Spirit of Manchester story, we hear from Len Grant, a local artist who has been documenting the cost of living crisis and telling the stories of the people turning to food banks and community grocers to survive.
How Bad is That?
Len Grant, Manchester artist creates a pop-up exhibition to highlight the city’s poverty.
“There are two sides to Manchester,” says sketcher and writer, Len Grant. “On the one hand it’s now considered the trendiest city to live in. On the other, we still have plenty of neighbourhoods with some of the highest levels of disadvantage in the country.” And while the up-and-coming, hip and trendy side of the city gets lots of media attention; the voices of those at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis are rarely heard. For several months, Grant has visited an inner-city foodbank, drawing and listening to the regulars who rely on the bags of weekly groceries as well as to the local volunteers who run the place.
He’s now produced a touring exhibition of artworks that he hopes will help raise much needed funds for the Coverdale and Newbank Community Grocers in Ardwick. The charity’s chairperson, Elaine Lovesey told Grant: “We have a nurse come in. She has four kids and works full time on the Covid wards. By the third week in the month she’s got no food left and no means to buy any. How bad is that?”
One of Grant’s artworks includes 75-year-old Tommy who told him: “I never put the heating on, ever. By half six I’m in bed, watching telly. I have three hot water bottles and I’m as warm as toast.”
Another regular user of the community grocers – where locals pay £2.50 for £20 worth of fresh and chilled food – described how she had to pawn the family’s only laptop so she could afford enough food that week.“My kids used it for college. So now there’s no laptop. I got £70 at ‘Cash Gen’ for it. I’ll need about £90 to get it out again.”
Grant has worked as a photographer in the city, documenting much of Manchester’s regeneration over the last 30 years. As well as photographing key projects like the rebuilding of the city centre and the construction of The Bridgewater Hall, The Lowry and the Imperial War Museum North, he’s also produced projects about social issues. “I’ve worked with the homeless, those with addiction issues and with undocumented migrants,” he says. “So I guess I’m used to hearing stories from those on the edges of our society. But I continue to be shocked at the hardship that so many suffer day by day. Just getting through the week is a struggle. “In the coming months more and more people will have to rely on places like the Coverdale and Newbank Community Grocers. And, frankly, in 2022, it should not be like this. It’s as if we are going backwards.
“Those on the lowest incomes are least likely to have their voices heard and, however depressing these stories are, I believe it’s up to the rest of us to at least take time to listen and then help if we can.”
The charity’s Justgving page is at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/coverdaleandnewbankcharity
Grant’s pop-up exhibition will tour locations across Manchester in the coming weeks and is available to come to you at your place of work, place of worship, community group or event. Just get in touch with Len at [email protected].
Len Grant
[email protected]
www.lengrant.co.uk
07973 842 873
Social: len_grant