About UEW

• Our aim is to provide a Social Cultural Centre for local people in Wythenshawe.
• One that is designed, built, driven and managed by local people.
• One that speaks the cultural language of local people.
• One that provides facilities that are wanted, useful, necessary and relevant for local people.
• One that will help local people to create better opportunities for themselves.
• One that will help to seek solutions to local problems such as anti-social behaviour, youth nuisance etc.
• One that adds to the theory of Social Capital.

The United Estates is UK’s first Inner City Culture Centre, established in Benchill, Wythenshawe in 1996 when local families came together in an attempt to address the growing influence of youth street gangs and the increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour on the estate.

After a seminal street based conference in 2007 attended by ‘gang’ leaders from across UK and a follow up conference in 2010, (Community Leaders response to street crime, JRF) attended by families and friends of victims of serious street violence, the decision was made to redefine the word ‘gang’ and develop the work of United Estates into a cultural centre for inner city young people offering full creative freedom to build and develop a new style of youth and community centre for local people, by local people.

United Estates uses the potentially negative energy of street gang culture and creates pockets of positive community enterprise, owned, led and managed by local people.By uncovering cultural comfort zones to create and develop relevant reference points, the United Estates 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.

We also provide a secure base for a number of locally led enterprises including the world famous Mums Mart, Manchester Urban Collective, Music for Cities, Street Peace Un-Conference, a Fresh Food Co-operative, even a small security company. We have helped develop window cleaning rounds, hair salons, gardening services, car valeter’s, local eateries; market stalls and fitness style Boot Camps in partnership with local people.

As with ever changing fads, trends and demographics the United Estates is constantly evolving. A ‘work in progress’. What was our community hair salon yesterday is today being developed into part of the outdoor Gymnasium. Needs led, community owned.
The United Estates has successfully developed and grown using the ‘Hacienda Principle’, exploiting the idea of ‘Creative Vandalism’.

If you want to know more, then step inside.