Explore how growing community wealth, opportunities and ownership moves us from fixing problems to preventing them — together.

What happens when communities have ownership of ideas, spaces, decisions and local enterprise?

This episode explores how health and wealth are deeply connected and why thriving communities need control of resources.

We’ll hear how communities are reclaiming spaces, reshaping local economies and creating fairer futures.

From cooperatives to community run spaces, we'll discover what happens when ownership and opportunity are local. Shaping the future of Greater Manchester from the ground up, creating real change that is long term, sustainable and rooted in local pride.

This series shares honest, lived experiences. Some content may feel sensitive or challenging. Please listen in a way that feels right for you.

Talking Points:

00:00 - Welcome to the Greater Manchester Live Well Podcast

01:27 - Introduction to Episode Four

01:42 - Exploring Community Wealth

02:57 - Insights from Cormack Russell

05:00 - Community Wealth in Action: Bolton's Perspective

06:37 - Andy Burnham on Community Wealth

08:01 - Tom Lloyd Goodwin on Community Wealth Building

13:52 - Real-World Examples of Community Wealth

0:31 - Historical Context: The Birth of Cooperatives

26:16 - Community Projects: Skate Parks, Kitchens, and Football Clubs

31:48 - Final Reflections and Closing Remarks

Organisations & groups featured:

GMCA - Tabz O’Brien and Annette Cloherty, Will Clarke

DeButterfly Mama Health and Poverty Partnership and GM Shapers - Folashade Alonge

All Souls Bolton and We’re Right Here Campaign - Inayat Omarji

Nurture Development - Cormac Russell

Mayor of Greater Manchester - Andy Burnham

CLES - Tom Lloyd Goodwin

Funding Futures - Billy Darroch

New Pioneers - Nicola McCormack, Daisy de Silva

Your B Credit Union - Martiza

Elephants Trail – Andy, Shannon

Manchester Project Skate Park – via Elephants Trail

Open Kitchen – via Elephants Trail

FC United - via Elephants Trail

Some watching:

Ours, Elephants Trail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mVuRLZ-AVg

Further Reading:

Read the transcript for this episode here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NjNbLNWAw9NWbsjvHb5tjCoJlkBTtcHC?usp=drive_linkre

Growing GM Live Well: Evidence for Community Power - https://goodlivesgm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/UK-evidence-for-community-power.pdf

GM Live Well is Greater Manchester’s commitment to ensuring great everyday support is available in every neighbourhood.

It will tackle health, social and economic inequalities by changing how public services work with people and communities to grow opportunities for everyone to Live Well. GM Live Well will ensure everyone has the support, control, connections and resources to lead a healthy and happy life.

Find out more: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/live-well/

This podcast brings together over 100 voices from across Greater Manchester, add yours to conversations on social media using #GMLiveWell.

Funders:

GM Live Well is a partnership between GMCA, NHS GM 10 GM and partners across the city-region. Movement building and learning, and accelerator work in five boroughs has been funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Credits:

A MIC media Production