- December 6th, 2003.

One of Claire's first jobs was to help organise our response to a request for CARISMA to organise a group of community members to meet with Conservative Party Leader Michael Howard on a visit to Moss Side as part of a short national tour.

Though not exactly a Tory area (!) the meeting was positive with lively debate, and those that came expressed a number of views and concerns. These included the widespread feeling among local community groups that current highly complex procedures surrounding funding applications discriminated against local 'non-professionals', even though they were probably the very people best placed and able to deliver workable solutions to local problems.

Mr Howard promised he would take up this and other matters raised with Government. Watch this space!