People’s Powerhouse welcomes two new additions onto Steering Group

The People’s Powerhouse, a movement to influence the Northern Powerhouse debate and plans to encourage more focus on people and communities, is welcoming two members to its influential steering group, which includes think tanks, charities, social enterprises and public sector and business representatives.

Nazir Afzal is a British Senior Lawyer, renowned for his campaigning on child sexual exploitation and violence against women. Hewas Chief Crown Prosecutor for NW England and formerly Director in London. Most recently, he was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners. During a 24 year career, he has prosecuted some of the most high profile cases in the country and advised on many others and led nationally on several legal topics including Violence against Women & Girls, child sexual abuse, and honour-based violence. He had responsibility for more than 100,000 other prosecutions each year. His prosecution of the so-called Rochdale grooming gang was groundbreaking and helped drive the work that has changed the landscape of child protection.

Also joining the steering group is Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) Chief Executive Neil McInroy. CLES are the UK’s leading ‘think-do’ organization dedicated to progressive economics for people and place. A leading commentator and instigator of new economic development and public policy, Neil has featured in Local Government Chronicle’s annual top 50 most influential people in local government. He has been involved in public sector policy and delivery for over 25 years. Neil has collaborated with a broad range of local, regional and national governments and agencies across the UK and in Europe, Asia, US and Australasia. He has recently led the CLES work on Local wealth building, which has seen the rise of application of a more democratic and inclusive approach to the economy and place development.

Commenting on his appointment, Neil says: “Across the world, there are growing movements of citizens all advocating for more voice. This is essential for a better politics and a fairer economy. I am delighted to now be a part of the People’s Powerhouse, and I hope by collaborating with many others, that we can amplify the growing voice of peoples and communities throughout Northern England. This is an exciting opportunity to challenge the sometimes narrow ‘business as usual approach’ within some political and economic thinking and in turn, change things for the better.”

The People’s Powerhouse was founded in February 2017, following criticism of a Manchester Northern Powerhouse conference and the lack of women represented on its panels. Other members of the steering group include Tracy Fishwick, Managing Director of Liverpool-based social enterprise Transform Lives Company, IPPR North Director Sarah Longlands, Jo Miller, Chief Executive of Doncaster Council and Ed Cox, Director of Public Services and Communities at the RSA.

Welcoming the two new appointments, Chairman Edna Robinson who is also Chairman of the Big Life Group and Trafford Housing Trust said: “We are delighted to welcome Neil and Nazir to the steering group and working with them to help shape a North that works for everyone. We intend to bring the voice of people and communities from right across the North to Powerhouse conversations and debates, giving the people of the North an influence and voice in Powerhouse plans that they’ve not had up to now.”

Adds Edna: “People prosperity is not the same as economic prosperity, and the growth of our big cities alone is not enough to make sure everyone has a good life. We will be shining a spotlight on other places across the North, and celebrating the creativity, innovation and talent of all our different regions. We’re here to support the Powerhouse discussions by talking about people regeneration as well as place regeneration – and we are saying we definitely need both. They’re not mutually exclusive.”

Nazir and Neil will be among the keynote speakers at the next People’s Powerhouse conference, taking place on November 20 in Bradford, a city with a rich industrial history and cultural heritage. The aim of the event and wider movement is to open a dialogue about inclusive and good growth and its potential to transform communities and lives across the North of England. It will be attended by grassroots groups and organisers, charities, social enterprises and think tanks, public sector and arts organisations and more.

The Northern Commercials Stadium will provide the setting. Hosting the event in Bradford is a deliberate way of widening the debate to encompass views from across the North of England, and to value places that can be overshadowed by neighbouring cities. It will provide a space where people across the north can showcase their work, they are invited to suggest topics that matter to them and will be encouraged to include art, heritage, sport through to health, housing, education and more.

The aim is for it to be a cross-party, unifying event helping shape the Powerhouse debate, bringing people together and helping create a North which works for everybody. By including as many different voices in the conversation as possible, the aim is to represent the true diversity of the North and have this reflected in policy and practice.

The People’s Powerhouse event takes place on 20 November 2018 from 10am- 4pm at the Northern Commercials Stadium in Bradford.

Subsidised places will be available for local people and community groups. For more information, to register to attend or to register interest in hosting a workshop at the event visit www.peoplespowerhouse.org.uk

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