Pioneers Post

In the latest episode of our podcast series, co-hosts Bob Thust and Maff Potts are joined by Thomas Waring of Macc, which supports the voluntary sector in Manchester, and Amardeep Dhillon, London bar tender, journalist and self-confessed ‘rabble rouser’. The debate is centred around informal groups engaging with formal institutions, delving into the good, bad and ugly of informal and formal mutual aid. “Mutuality is this thing that’s fuelled by connection, by opportunities to connect, and that can be supported in the right ways and with the understanding of power, through some formalised groups and through informal connections as well,” says Bob.  After the recent publication of a report by Danny Kruger MP, discussion in this episode is politically charged. With general agreement the report gives a lot of hope, the group believes its limitations are clear. Tom comments: “It’s basically saying we’re going to accept mutual aid as long as it’s not challenging the normal order of things.”