The United Estates of Wythenshawe (UEW) is based in Benchill from where they took the most troublesome kids from the estate and worked in partnership with recognised street leaders to develop one of the biggest community enterprises in the North West.
Greg Davis set up ‘United Estates of Wythenshawe’ in 1996 to address the growing influence of youth street gangs and spiralling incidents of anti-social behaviour in their community.
Their overriding aim was to provide a Social Cultural Centre for local people in Wythenshawe. A centre designed, built, driven and managed by those it serves and speaks the cultural language of local people while providing facilities that are wanted, useful, necessary and relevant.
After a seminal street-based conference in 2007 attended by ‘gang’ leaders from across UK and a follow up conference in 2010 attended by families and friends of victims of serious street violence, a decision was made to redefine the word ‘gang’ and further develop the work of UEW towards becoming the UK’s first Inner City Culture Centre.
The focus of UEW is to help local people to create better opportunities for themselves and seek solutions to local issues and problems such as youth nuisance and anti-social behaviour. UEW uses the potentially negative energy of street gang culture to create pockets of positive community enterprise that are owned, led and managed by local people.
UEW now owns and manages a number of community led enterprises including a professional gymnasium and fitness centre, a sound recording studio, a dance and performing arts centre, therapy rooms, a community shop and even a small cinema.
The centre also provides a secure base for a number of locally led enterprises including the world-famous Mums Mart, Manchester Urban Collective, Music for Cities, the Street Peace Un-Conference, a Fresh Food Co-operative and a small Security Company.
As a result of its work, UEW has also helped in the development of window cleaning rounds, hair salons, gardening services, car valeting services, local eateries, market stalls and fitness style boot camps, all in partnership with local people. Ever changing fads, trends and demographics means that UEW is a constant needs-led, community owned and ever evolving ‘work in progress’.
They have always supported individuals and families dealing with poverty, those at risk of homelessness, the long term unemployed, those living with alcohol/drug addictions, people with low skill levels, those with physical difficulties and mental health issues, offenders/ex-offenders and those at risk of lives of crime.
On Friday 10th February 2023 at Forever Manchester’s Birthday Party, we were pleased to announce Greg Davis as the winner of our Lifetime Achievement Award 2023. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a unique individual, in recognition of their long term commitment, passion, energy and compassion supporting local communities in Greater Manchester.
In 2023, we caught up with Greg as part of our Forever Mancuians Podcast series.
It is always worth remembering that, if you support Forever Manchester, you support all this.
The ability of local community groups and organisations to best help people in their community remains dependant on maintaining support for them.
To find out more about how you can get support Forever Manchester please email us at marketing@forevermanchester.com or telephone on 0161 214 0940.
Date added: 20th December 2021
Last updated: 7th August 2023
