MIC media and GM Moving win ‘Best Podcast’ for ‘Right to The Streets’ at the MPA Inspiration Awards, a celebration of the very best creative, media and digital talent in Manchester.

The safety and empowerment of women and girls in public spaces is a pressing issue. To address this challenge, MIC media and GM Moving, Manchester’s movement for movement, collaborated to create ‘Right to the Streets’, a groundbreaking podcast that explores the experiences and challenges faced by women and girls.

The series has now won ‘Best Podcast’ at the MPA Inspiration Awards. We’re also thrilled to bits that this is the second year running that MIC has scooped the Best Podcast accolade at the annual celebration of inspiring talent, innovation, and creativity. 

Right To The Streets

This ambitious 2-series ‘Right To The Streets’ podcast explores the issue of women and girls feeling safe on our streets, parks and public spaces. 

Right to the Streets (RTTS) is an initiative led by GM Moving working alongside a wide range of local partners, including Trafford Council,  with investment via the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund. 

Piloted in North Trafford, the trailblazing RTTS movement tests a whole system, place-based solution to tackle women’s safety. It recognises the importance of public spaces for health and well-being and how women’s experiences and fear of harassment restricts their freedom. 

GM Moving commissioned MIC media to produce 17 episodes across two series. 

The ‘Right to the Streets’ podcast series, features over 125 different, local voices, including policy makers, strategic leaders and community member. They all help to capture the vision and passion of the initiative and importantly grow the learning and this important movement. 

The podcast shares stories and best practices to address the root causes of violence against women and girls. By inspiring individuals, communities, and policymakers, Right to the Streets seeks to create a culture where women and girls feel safe, belong and are invited to be active. Shifting the dial from fear to freedom.

Listen to the Podcast

The Awards

The MPA Inspiration Awards, hosted by broadcaster, Mark Radcliffe celebrates and spotlights the best creative, digital, and media from across Greater Manchester.

First staged in 2013, the awards inspire future innovation and creativity and cover a variety of sectors and consist of people-focused awards and specialist categories including The Martyn Hett Inspiring Manchester award and Freelance Hero.

The awards are delivered by the Manchester Publicity Association (MPA), a membership organisation that supports, develops and nurtures Manchester’s creative, digital and media industry.

The Judges Comments

This recognition is a testament to the hard work, vision, dedication, and creativity of GM Moving and the MIC team, as well as the powerful impact of this important project.

The MPA Award judges chaired by Sam Walker, Marketing and Creative Director from N Brown Group PLC, and including the leaders from BBC, Factory International, McCann Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said of Right To The Streets,

“This entry was part of a big and important movement. The creators of Right To The Streets really put their heart and soul into it. It was very clear on the challenges and the execution was wonderful.” 

Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, founder of MIC media says of the recognition,

“The MPA ‘Best Podcast’ award for Right to the Streets for GM Moving and MIC media is a testament to the power of storytelling, collaboration, and a shared commitment to creating a safer world for all. By listening, sharing, and getting involved, we can continue to drive positive change and ensure that every woman and girl feels safe and empowered in public spaces. This recognition validates our commitment to creating meaningful and impactful content that drives positive change.”

Imogen Hall, Project Support Lead at GM Moving adds,

“As a charity dedicated to positively changing the lives of people across Greater Manchester through movement and physical activity, GM Moving was thrilled to collaborate with MIC media on ‘Right to the Streets.’ Their expertise in podcast production was instrumental in bringing the narrative to life and amplifying the voices of women and girls who have the right to be active outdoors and feel safe in their own communities.”

Thank-you

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to GM Moving for their trust and support in this project. We are also deeply grateful to the over 150 contributors who shared their stories and helped make ‘Right to the Streets’ a reality.

A special thanks to Eve Holt, Imogen Halls, Louise Robbins, Andrew Lawton and the whole of the  incredible team at GM Moving for their tireless dedication. To the MIC team, Series Editor Charles Commins and Producers Jamie Green, Danielle Porter, Sarah Leech, and Assistant Producer Kate Mardon, for their exceptional work in recording and editing the series.

Finally, we would like to express our appreciation to the judges and team at the MPA Inspiration Awards for recognising the importance of ‘Right to the Streets’ and awarding us the ‘Best Podcast’ accolade.

By listening to ‘Right to the Streets‘, you can become part of a growing movement to create safer and more inclusive public spaces for all. We encourage you to share the podcast with your friends and family, and to get involved in local initiatives that promote women’s safety. Together, we can make a difference.