Andy Burnham vowed to listen to young people as more than 100 took part in workshops to give their views on Manchester’s poverty and crime.
The Greater Manchester Hope Hack event featured guest speakers including Mr Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Combined Authorities, Deputy Mayor Bev Hughes and former Chelsea FC winger Paul Canoville.
The findings and views of these young people will now be collected in a report, entitled Reimagined, to present to political parties during the next General Election.
“We’re really proud to be hosting a Hope Hack here in Greater Manchester,” said Burnham. “It’s crucial that young people have a voice and that we, as decision-makers, listen to them.
“This event is a great way for us to understand the challenges young people face, and for them to work with us to discover how we can make the changes needed to reduce inequalities and create opportunities for all from an early age.”
The event, held last Friday at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, was co-organised by the Hope Collective and Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit.
It was the latest of the Hope Collective’s series of Hope Hacks held across the country.
The event began with a poll asking participants if they felt safe in their community – with a comfortable majority declaring no.
When prompted for what could be done about this, responses included more youth spaces, more investment and – most commonly – more police.
Burnham spoke first at the event.
“We want to hear this report,” the Mayor told the room. “We will take it back and we will listen.”
Burnham went on to discuss the OurPass bus pass and other social reforms that have taken place in Greater Manchester to help tackle poverty – as well as the importance of devolution in developing targeted and community responses to these challenges.
He also said that whilst more police would be helpful, the solution to youth crime will come from “something more fundamental” which will be a “community-led response”.
Perhaps the most powerful speech of the day, which moved the Deputy Mayor to tears, was by Alisson Cope.
She is the mother of Joshua Ribera, who was stabbed in the heart in Birmingham.
She told her son’s story, both his life and death, using the emotive and powerful story to link in to the realities of youth violence and on how young people can be hopeful for the future.
She received a standing ovation, with Twitter user Kristen McDermott saying: “I was lost for words listening to your and Joshua’s story.”
This was followed by a short Q&A and workshops between the young people present.
For more information on the Hope Collective, find their website here.
“Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground Sign” by gutsgaming is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
