News

The Greater Manchester VCSE Infrastructure Development Programme is funded through the The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and aims to improve the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) locality infrastructure support for community activity, by building on the strengths of locality infrastructure, identifying gaps and best practice to accelerate developments where they are needed. The programme runs until March 2025, and is being delivered by the partnership of Local Infrastructure Organisations (and other organisations with reach) across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Priority areas of activity include Membership Models and Promotion, Website and Information Strategies, Social Enterprise and Social Investment, Voice and Influence, and Training and Development.

This briefing will update you on the impact this has had on the maturity of the VCSE infrastructure offer during 2024/5.

VCSE Local Infrastructure plays a crucial role in delivering against the GM VCSE Accord commitment to “Build the best VCSE Ecosystem in the country.”

This report outlines the vital leadership and delivery role played by the VCSE Local Infrastructure Organisations between April 2024 and March 2025 and the impact seen.

The Greater Manchester VCSE Infrastructure Development Programme is funded through the The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and aims to improve the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) locality infrastructure support for community activity, by building on the strengths of locality infrastructure, identifying gaps and best practice to accelerate developments where they are needed. The programme runs until March 2025, and is being delivered by the partnership of Local Infrastructure Organisations (and other organisations with reach) across al 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Priority areas of activity include Membership Models and Promotion; Website and Information Strategies, Social Enterprise and Social Investment; Voice and Influence; and Training and Development.

This briefing wil update you on the activity that has taken place from January – March 2025.

In Sarah’s blog, she tells us about the VCSE Data Peer Learning Network: Greater Manchester’s VCSE sector’s approach to tackling data challenges through collaboration. Launched in response to sector-wide gaps in data skills and support, the network connects over 140 members to share knowledge, build confidence, and strengthen data use. With events focused on open data and storytelling and support from local organisations and the GMCA, it’s fostering a culture where data becomes a tool for impact, not a barrier.

In this blog, Susie provides a recap on another lively recent VCFSE Commissioning and Investment meeting, which discussed critical issues around unfair funding decisions, systemic barriers, and the gap between words of comfort and action. Discussions focused on disparities in uplift rates, delayed contracts, and the financial instability facing VCFSE organisations. Read on for more.

Almost all of us in the VCSE sector work with data every day. When we manage, analyse and use data better, we are able to target services more effectively, deliver them more efficiently, and influence key partners. The next VCSE Data and Intelligence Peer Learning Network meeting will be focused on how to approach data in smaller and less resourced VCSE organisations. Because we want the Network to be a collective space with shared ownership, we’d like to invite you to our codesign session on 17 April to develop and structure the June peer learning network meeting.

Strong local infrastructure enables communities to influence decision-making, builds partnerships and networks, and encourages volunteering opportunities. When this support is accessible locally, individuals and communities thrive. Check out our case study library to find out about the activities that have been taking place as part of the GM Infrastructure Development Programme.

These slides provide a quick overview of The Procurement Act, the roadmap for its implementation, and actions you should take now.

Read about the impact of the third round of the GMCA Inspire Fund.

We spoke to Anna Hughes on an average day at George House Trust about the work she does, and how George House Trust is playing its part in reducing health inequalities in Greater Manchester.

Funded by the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, four Greater Manchester VCSE organisations have been awarded grants of up to £25,000 for projects which will test practical interventions that may help improve early diagnosis rates as well as continue to learn about the barriers and challenges communities face.

In this blog, Susie provides a recap on the lively recent VCFSE Commissioning and Investment meeting where sector leaders tackled pressing challenges such as contract uncertainty, financial instability, and systemic scrutiny.

We are sad to learn of the decision by GMCVO’s trustees to close the organisation. We know that this will have come at the end of a long period of review, analysis and soul-searching before reaching this conclusion and its painful consequences.

GMCVO has been a pioneer in exploring ways to build resources in communities and we must not lose sight of the opportunity to transform our economy and communities in Greater Manchester. The voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector remains a vital part of this vision and we and our partners across Greater Manchester will continue to support this work.

This announcement comes during a tough economic environment for the sector, which is sustained by the hard work of local people in diverse communities all across Greater Manchester. Many organisations are vulnerable due to rising costs, funding pressures, and the ever-growing demand for services. We know this unexpected news has caused further anxiety for many in our sector.

In the recent press articles, the Administrators’ reference to “historic liabilities” underlines the importance of robust governance in our sector. Being agile whilst managing risks is essential for the work our organisations do, and there has to be good information, systems and oversight to navigate challenges effectively.

Local Infrastructure Organisations like our 10GM partners are here to help the VCFSE sector succeed, even in difficult times. This closure changes the landscape for support organisations, never-the-less, our purpose remains clear. We are working urgently with colleagues across Greater Manchester to take forward the resources and activities from GMCVO that we can, ensuring their value and legacy is not lost for communities.

For today, though, our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues at GMCVO who are directly affected by this sad situation.

In this guest blog, Anne Lythgoe, Director of the Social Audit Network, highlights how Greater Manchester’s VCFSE organisations embody ‘social value’ as their core purpose.

We spoke to Simon Merrills on an average day at Henshaws about the work he does, and how Henshaws is playing its part in reducing health inequalities in Greater Manchester.

The VCFSE Commissioning and Investment Group aims to influence how Social Value is thought of, measured and secured by commissioning and procurement colleagues. These are our key messages and asks to our partners working in these areas.

Explore how the new VCSE Data and Intelligence Peer Learning Network is helping organisations overcome challenges and barriers while advancing their data capabilities in Sarah’s latest blog.

The Procurement Act 2023 comes into force in Autumn 2024, bringing with it changes to how the public sector procures goods and services. This briefing from the VCFSE Commissioning and Investment Group outlines the main changes that we expect to see; provides links to more detailed briefings and training; and highlights actions that VCFSE sector organisations can take now and in the near future, to prepare for the Act coming into effect.

This briefing will update you on the activity that has taken place from April – June 2024, and outline some of the plans for the next 3 months.

Learn about the impact of the first round of our GM Cancer Alliance-funded grants programme and the communities it reached across Greater Manchester.

A huge thank you to everyone who completed our recent Pay and Conditions Survey to gather information about current pay scales, benefit packages, and broader opinions on HR and workforce in VCSE organisations in Greater Manchester. We received a total of 75 responses from organisations across the sector! Here’s a quick snapshot of who responded, and what they said…

This case study describes how Oldham is working collaboratively to connect up private and public sector offers of support with their local community, and the pivotal role that VCSE Local Infrastructure plays in this.

Find out about the recipients of the Cancer and Inequalities Fund Round Two, designed to support VCSE organisations to design and deliver projects that work towards achieving a permanent reduction in the inequalities and inequities faced by communities statistically more likely to present with cancer at later stages.

Take part in our Ongoing Commissioning and Investment Survey, read our case studies about Transparent Commissioning in Rochdale or Thinking Differently About Social Value in Bolton. Plus, get up to speed with recent developments around VCSE Commissioning and Investment by reading the June update.

This briefing will update you on the activity that has taken place from January-March 2024 and outlines some of the plans for the next 3 months.

This is the first of a series of blogs where Sarah, 10GM Project Manager (Population Health,) looks at the role of the VCSE sector as a champion of community-led prevention work in Greater Manchester.

We spoke to Kitty Short from Creative Confidence CIC to learn about her GM Cancer Awards-nominated project, funded by 10GM, and what equality means to her.