About 30 women and one man are line dancing to her hit Man! I Feel Like a Woman!
asserted
I → dance → Woman
The class is so popular that the centre has recently introduced an extra session to meet demand.
asserted
centre → introduce → demand
The community centre is in the heart of Andy Burnham's constituency, Makerfield, and they know all about budgeting here.
asserted
they → know → budgeting
It is run entirely by volunteers and has recently had to raise thousands of pounds for a new roof.
asserted
It → run → roof
He says running the centre comes with tremendous financial challenges.
asserted
running → say → challenges
It's a very old building, and sometimes the trustees feel like they're trying to keep all the plates spinning, it's very hard at times."
As well as line dancing, the centre is home to Wigan table tennis club.
asserted
centre → feel → club
It also offers a food bank and a warm space.
asserted
It → offer → bank
Smith says the centre is an essential part of the Platt Bridge community.
asserted
centre → say → community
"No one gets paid for working here.
asserted
one → pay → ?
We have around 500 people using the centre.
asserted
people → have → centre
Financially it couldn't run without the volunteers."
asserted
it → run → volunteers
When Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election, he said the constituency would not be a "stepping stone" to No 10, although he went on to become prime minister.
asserted
he → win → No
Instead, he said he wanted it to be a "touchstone", with every government policy or announcement having to meet a "Makerfield test".
asserted
policy → say → test
If it works there, it will work for other communities like it.
asserted
it → work → it
In his victory speech in June, Burnham said: "A Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will make sure that the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness."
asserted
Westminster → say → fairness
Will people in Ashton feel they have more or less money when they do their weekly shop?
asserted
they → feel → shop
Will a small business in Abram have more confidence to expand and take on more staff?
asserted
business → have → staff
Zoe Billingham, from the think tank IPPR North, says the Budget will be a "balancing act" between the pressures people are facing from the rising cost of living and the economic headwinds caused by events such as the war in Iran.
She says it will be a "really important budget to show who they [the government] stand for".
asserted
they → say → who
She wants to know who will be asked to shoulder those economic pressures and who will receive support?
asserted
who → want → support
"The Makerfield test is a really valuable way of making sure that the economy works in service of ordinary people," she says.
asserted
she → make → people
Back at the community centre, Sue Hughes, chair of the trustees, thinks the government is already recognising the area's needs.
asserted
government → think → needs
Platt Bridge and nearby Spring View have been awarded £20m over the next 10 years through Pride in Place funding.
asserted
Bridge → award → funding
"I can't complain about the support this area is being given, but more support is always welcome," she says.
asserted
she → complain → support
So the community itself deserves that support."
asserted
community → deserve → support
Burnham's government has made several announcements aimed at tackling the cost of living, including a £2 bus fare cap, removing VAT on domestic electricity bills and business rates relief for pubs and live music venues.
asserted
government → make → pubs
But the prime minister recently admitted it was not enough and hinted that there could be further support in the Budget.
uncertain
it → admit → Budget
Sophie Lowe, 29, from Abram, has a two-year-old daughter.
asserted
Lowe → have → daughter
She says she has not yet felt the benefit of any of Burnham's policies.
asserted
she → say → policies
"I found it hard going back to work, but we needed the two incomes just to cover the bills."
asserted
we → find → bills
She says she had to leave her job in Merseyside and find one closer to home because the cost of petrol was too high.
asserted
cost → say → petrol
The price at the pumps is also an issue for one of the line dancers, Joanne Ainscow, who says she now spends at least £20 more every time she fills up.
asserted
she → say → dancers
But the 57-year-old foster carer also thinks the government can do more to help workers like her by exempting them from council tax.
asserted
government → think → tax
Some local authorities offer a 100% discount or full exemption for foster carers in the UK, while many others do not.
asserted
others → offer → UK
"We are all doing the same job, so it should be the same across the board.
asserted
it → do → board
It should be equal," she says.
asserted
she → say → ?
Nicha Rowson, 35, says she believes the Platt Bridge community is "being heard" under Burnham's stewardship.
asserted
community → say → stewardship
She says that when residents speak to their local MP and councillors, they are "taking in our voices".
asserted
they → say → voices
She believes that if politicians listen to what residents are saying, Makerfield could become "this amazing place".
uncertain
Makerfield → believe → place
Taking a rest from line dancing, Karen Jones, 67, from Ashton-in-Makerfield, says she will be watching the Budget on Wednesday with interest.
asserted
she → take → interest
"I want to see what they can do for people," she says.
asserted
she → want → people
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
