Growing a Shared Vision for Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection

The Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection programme is one of the largest investments in community-led development in England, made possible by money raised by National Lottery players. Over the next four years, it will bring investment into community spaces, organisations and networks across Greater Manchester.

We’ve recently reached an important milestone in the journey of Spaces of Hope and Connection. Over the past few months, we’ve brought together partners, communities and local leaders through 13 Theory of Change workshops: one in each of Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs, a dedicated equity-focused workshop, and two GM-wide sessions exploring our shared ambitions and how the different strands of the programme connect. Together, these conversations have helped us begin shaping a shared vision for how change happens and what we hope this programme will achieve.

A Theory of Change is our shared understanding of how change happens. It’s not simply a planning tool, a diagram or a requirement for funders. It’s a way of bringing people together to develop a common vision, explore what needs to change and agree how we will learn together as the programme grows.

For Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection, that means working alongside a wide range of partners. This includes communities, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, local infrastructure organisations, public sector partners, and people with lived experience. Together, we’re answering some big questions:

• What helps people and communities live well?
• What role do community spaces play in growing hope, connection and belonging?
• How do trust, relationships, and community leadership contribute to meaningful, lasting change?
• What needs to change for people, communities, organisations and systems?
• How will we know whether our investment is helping create the future we want to see in Greater Manchester and beyond?

Starting from strengths

While many people continue to experience loneliness, exclusion, poverty and widening inequalities, every neighbourhood also holds extraordinary assets. There are trusted relationships, local leaders, community organisations, faith groups, grassroots networks and shared spaces that bring people together and support one another.

Spaces of Hope and Connection is rooted in these strengths. Rather than asking what communities lack, we have asked what already exists, what helps people thrive, and how we can nurture the conditions for communities to shape their own futures.

Across our workshops, we have seen time and again that lasting change grows from connection, trust and collective action. Our Theory of Change is helping us understand how these pillars can be strengthened and sustained across Greater Manchester.

Hope and connection at the centre

The programme is built on the belief that hope and connection are essential for communities to thrive and live well. Hope gives people confidence that things can change, and that they can be part of making it happen. Connection builds the relationships and trust that help people support each other and take action together.

Community spaces, whether that’s a community centre, a faith venue, a neighbourhood hub or an online network, are often where this starts. Our workshops have helped us understand how these spaces can build both hope and connection, and that understanding will shape the programme for years to come.

Together, we’ve grown something more than plans on paper. We’ve nurtured a shared vision for a Greater Manchester where every community has spaces that foster hope, connection, belonging and support people to live well.

What has emerged reflects the care, experience and ambition of the people and communities involved. These ideas are already beginning to take root, and we’re excited to see how they continue to grow in the months and years ahead.

We’ll be sharing more about our plans soon; we can’t wait to share them with you so you can come along on the journey.