In honour of coproduction week this week (30th June to 4th July), we wanted to highlight a great example of where we do it well. 

Data showed that Miles Platting and Newton Heath had the highest level of digital exclusion* and the most deprived ward in Manchester, with some of worst health outcomes. Manchester Local Care Organisation’s (MLCO) integrated neighbourhood team (INT) wanted to take a strengths-based approach to these findings by celebrating the people and places that promote health, wellbeing and connection in those wards. 

Inspired by the newspaper in Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall, the INT invited local partners and organisations to work together on creating something in paper format. Together we agreed the look, feel, format, regularity, content, quantity and distribution and the Miles Platting, and Newton Heath magazine launched in February 2024. By issue 2, the magazine expanded to cover Collyhurst in response to feedback from the community who wanted their area to be included too. 

All are welcome to join the editorial team and contribute articles. Current membership includes people from MLCO, Manchester Council, Winning Hearts and Minds, Children’s Centres and local charities and community groups. Everyone on the editorial board has equal say about funding, content and themes. Articles cover range of topics and help to promote key health messaging, access to services, cost of living support and good news. We are preparing our fourth issue to go out in September 2025.  

How it’s going… 

• There is zero cost to MFT as funding is from other sources, including private companies and grants. The only cost is time of the MLCO comms team who put it together and facilitation by staff. 
• 2,000 copies of each edition are printed and distributed around health centres and range of community venues. 
• More than 900 people accessed the latest magazine online via primary school apps such as Class Dojo. 
• Children’s centres have experienced a rise in attendance following articles in the magazine. 

Tom Bassford, INT Lead for the wards said, “We were inspired by the success of the magazine in Cheetham Hill & Crumpsall and thought we’d give it a go in our area. There have been so many benefits of working together on this magazine. It has helped us to forge new relationships within the community and it’s making a tangible difference to people’s lives. More people are engaging in local activities, and we have been running out of copies in some venues due to the level of demand.” 

If you want to find out more, suggest an article idea or get involved in either of the magazines, please contact communications@manchesterlco.org 

Copies of the paper can be downloaded from our here. 

*Digital Exclusion is at the highest level in Manchester, according to DERI (Digital Exclusion Risk Index).