PRAN NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14: March 2025
Dear PRAN MEMBERS
Welcome to the March edition of the PRAN newsletter. This month, we have exciting updates and ways for you to get involved. Read on to explore our latest news, opportunities and how you can take part.
Members Survey - Have your Say!
We value your input! As we plan for the months ahead, we’d love to hear from you about what you’d like PRAN to focus on, including meeting arrangements, campaigns and future events and research opportunities.
We would be grateful if you could share your thoughts and help shape PRANs future. Your feedback is essential to ensuring we continue to serve our community effectively. You can access the survey here.
Blog Spotlight
Check out our latest blog post What Would the Proposed Basic Income Pilot in Greater Manchester Mean for the UK? This insightful piece by Louis Strappazzon explores the potential impact of the pilot scheme and its implications for economic and social policy in the UK. Louis is Co-Chair of UBI Lab Manchester, a Lead Organiser in the UBI Lab Network and Secretary of the Basic Income Movement in the UK. Read the blog here.
Other Updates
We are very pleased that one of our collaborative events, The Manc Kitchen: A Social Dining Pilot was featured on the BBC Radio 4 Food Programme on ‘Communal Dining’. This recognition highlights the real value of social dining and the importance of bringing people together through food!
Listen to the episode here.
Call for Participants - Sands Film Project
We are excited to share a unique opportunity to be part of an upcoming independent film about social equality. Sands Films is calling for participants to take part in their new feature film, The Man with the Plan, written and directed by Christine Edzard.
The film follows the journey of Flea, a young student inspired by William Beveridge's groundbreaking 1942 report, envisioning a more equitable society. As part of the film’s climax, Sands Films is staging a large protest scene, featuring real activists, campaigners, and organisations fighting for change today.
Would you or your community be interested in participating?
Filming Location: Sands Films Studio, Rotherhithe, London
Filming Dates: Late March – April (exact date TBC)
Who They Need: Individuals and groups willing to speak on behalf of their cause and be part of this powerful moment in the film.
For more details or to get involved, contact Miranda: cast_beveridge@sandsfilms.co.uk or 020 7231 2209
Call for Participants - Theatre Informed Policy Making Project
Collective Encounters Theatre for Social Change and the University of Liverpool School of Law and Social Justice are collaborating on a 'Theatre Informed Policy Making Project' that aims to create an access to free advice strategy for Liverpool City Council, working with communities, people with relevant lived experience and the Liverpool Access to Advice Network. As part of their outreach work, they are currently engaging with people and community groups in 'Purple Bin Areas' (i.e. LCC District) to build the participant group for this project. This group will go on to create a piece of theatre that will be a key part of the process of co-creating the policy.
If you or your organisation would like to host or be involved in an outreach session, please contact Outreach Director, Abi Horsfield on abi@collective-encounters.org.uk No previous experience of drama or creative advocacy is needed to be able to participate.
The #PutChildrenFirst campaign: #DearPrimeMinisterLettersFromChildren
The #PutChildrenFirst campaign is launching its #DearPrimeMinisterLettersFromChildren activation. For this work, the campaign is collaborating with children’s forums across the country to encourage the children to write a letter to the Prime Minister, telling him what the Government needs to do, to help improve children’s health.
All the letters we receive will be collected into a booklet. In mid-April children from the Put Children First campaign will travel to No.10 Downing Street to hand in this booklet to the Prime Minister, so the Government can hear first-hand from children as to what our young people need to live happier and healthier lives.
If your organisation would like to get involved:
Ask the children and young people you work with to handwrite an A4 letter to the Prime Minister outlining how the Government can better support young people.
Take a photograph of the letter and send to the campaign team by 4th April 2025 alderhey@bbpartners.co.uk
These letters can take any structure the children and young people feel is right.
As always, thank you for being part of PRAN and for your continued support in driving positive change.
In Solidarity,
PRAN TEAM
