• vote on the constitution
• hear some good news about funding
• hold one-to-one conversations with new people
• launch our recruitment campaign
• launch our pilot listening campaign

The constitution can be viewed online here. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please register your vote before Monday 23 June and RSVP to lorraines@church-poverty.org.uk or call 0161 236 9321.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting as we put Changemakers on a formal footing and launch two significant campaigns.

Revd Daniel Burton, Vicar of Cheetham LEP
Temporary Chair of Changemakers

Changemakers is rapidly moving towards its formal establishment: the Constitution will be approved at the next meeting, and we call on all those who have been connected with Changemakers to attend this significant event which will pave the way for membership, trustees and action. Responding to key issues identified at the last meeting, we heard excellent presentations on two deep-rooted problems that affect many different communties across Manchester – gun crime and refugees – and heard how Changemakers can be part of the changes that must happen. As we look towards the future actions we will take in the public realm, the Listening Campaign sets out to hear the true voice of Manchester’s citizens in 2008.

Progress at meeting

Constitution
After a meeting of the Constitution Committee, Bill Harrop presented the completed document and explained the reasoning behind it. The document puts Changemakers on a solid footing and opens the way for organisations and individuals to become members. It can be downloaded on the Changemakers blog and a period of open consultation has begun. If you have any comments on the constitution or amendments, they must be submitted to Church Action on Poverty by 20th June (contact details below). The Committee have done a very thorough job and it is unlikely there will be any major changes.
The full Changemakers Constitution will be approved at the next meeting on 25th June: please attend this meeting to show your support for Changemakers as it comes into formal existence.

Manchester Refugee Support Network
Addisu Tewolde from the management committee of MRSN outlined an exciting pilot project in Moss Side to bring a focused and effective solution to some of the community tensions related to refugees and migrants. If successful over the coming months, the pilot could be rolled out across Manchester. He called for Changemakers to work with MRSN and support these local, community-rooted projects.

Mothers Against Violence
Angela Lawrence gave an inspiring and heartfelt speech about the birth of Mothers Against Violence out of the experiences of pain and violence in Manchester’s communities devastated by guns and killings. She called on everybody present to reject apathy and powerlessness, and to make a difference where they can. Angela also reminded us of the importance of being respected in communities and being prepared to work long-term for a better future. She applauded the ambitious and all-encompassing vision of Changemakers to work for the common good of Manchester and all its residents.

Listening Campaign
Initial preparations for the first Listening Campaign are underway. This will be the foundation for the first public actions Changemakers will take later in the year. We will have many hundreds of focused conversations across the diverse communities in our city, with every member committing to listening to its own network and going out to those who are not reached by those in power: we are calling for everybody interested in Changemakers to volunteer what time they can. The campaign will be launched at the next meeting on 25 June and will begin with a free half-day Training for all volunteers, and the formation of a Coordinating Team to oversee the project. It will run over the summer and will culminate in a exciting meeting in early September to bring together all the evidence and hammer out the agenda for when Changemakers bursts onto the public scene.
Marie Trubic and Tom Viita are heading up this campaign. If you would like to be involved in the planning of this first key action in Changemakers, contact Church Action on Poverty.

Other Committee Reports
Paul Keeble and Carol Connell presented short reports on the progress of the Funding and Training Committees.

Ben Gibbs explained the important function of the Recruitment Group at this vital stage in the growth of Changemakers: to support each organisation in going through their own processes for declaring membership. Every interested organisation will receive all possible assistance, including presentations by the group, question-and-answer sessions, and whatever else is needed. The Recruitment Group will be meeting in the coming weeks to prepare its strategy for ensuring that we can begin our public life with as many members as want to join. The Group is open for more volunteers to bring their expertise and time to this vital role.

Changemakers Blog
All the documents relating to Changemakers can be accessed online at our excellent website set up by Ben Gibbs: Changemakers blog

Please note: most Changemakers communication is by telephone and email. Hard copies of documents can be provided on request, but only in exceptional circumstances are we able to provide regular communication by post.

The next meeting will be Wednesday 25 June, beginning 7pm prompt at Cross Street Chapel. This will be a crucial meeting for Changemakers. I urge you to attend to vote on the constitution and demonstrate your support.

Revd Daniel Burton, Vicar of Cheetham LEP

Temporary Chair of Changemakers

The next Changemakers meeting will be on Wednesday 21 May, once again at Cross Street Chapel – see map here.

This meeting will start sharp at 7.00pm. Refreshments will be available from 6.30pm. The meeting will close at 8.30pm.

We have started to explore some of the issues raised in the last meeting and will talk about which issues to further research. We will also talk about membership of Changemakers and what it involves.

We very much hope to see you or representatives of your organisation at the next meeting as we work together to make Manchester greater.