10GM
10GM - A joint venture to support the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Greater Manchester

The VCSE Sector in Greater Manchester

The VCSE sector’s role in distributing The Household Support Fund

 

There are strong partnerships between Local Authorities and the local Centre for Voluntary Services

 

30+ grants per Local Authority area have been distributed to groups and organisations to enable cash to be available to people at crisis points

 

Particularly effective at ensuring equity of access for people that often face marginalisation

 

There’s been significant success in outcomes and delivery

 

Most areas are on their second round of support and have established mechanisms where there is more government support

Resources provided by the VCSE sector

 

Food banks and food pantries, increase culturally appropriate food offers. For example, Food Solutions Networks and coordinated activities across food provision.

 

Winter warmth packs.

 

Community warehouses, logistical support, bulk purchasing, and home delivery services.

 

Prepare warm spaces and public living rooms.

 

Increasing access to welfare advice and funds and partnering up to extend our reach.

 

Providing multi-lingual welfare advice.

 

Digital tech and data libraries/banks.

 

Energy efficiency schemes and support – Groundwork.

 

Winter volunteering campaigns are active now recruiting additional support.


VCSE managed hardship funds and items available

Migrant Destitution Fund GM
People with no recourse to public funds – Grants are for up to £80 once a month and are typically spent on food, winter clothing, phone credit, travel costs (e.g. to appointments), and dental treatment.

Real Change
Real Change pays for practical items – Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Wigan and Leigh.


Information and signposting

 

Most CVS’ have Cost of Living signposting resources on their website about local help

 

Organisations are working with Greater Manchester Poverty Action in many areas to develop, spread and update the signposting referral tool

 

There are Poverty Truth Commissions, and Lived experience commissioners’ voices in system change in Oldham, Tameside, Manchester, Trafford, Salford

 

Established and growing social action networks in every area of poverty, which tackle the root causes, and symptoms

Case studies

Macc’s Spirit of Manchester Story week on cost of living a collection of 11 case studies. You can view them here:

Our priorities

 

A significant amount of VCSE provision is delivered on short-term funding

 

The scale of demand is too great for current VCSE provision, workforce capacity is stretched and access to money to meet the demand for food etc. We need both small grants and sustainable funding for critical organisations

 

Inflation costs are affecting what groups can buy and provide for the money they have

 

Pay reviews for the workforce are squeezing budgets and are not reflected in contract uplifts. NHS pay awards are not passed on to non-NHS providers

 

Implementing campaigns to increase Real Living Wage across VCFSE

Get Involved

If you’d like to support the VCSE response to the cost of living crisis, please get in touch.

Find out more about the work of the Greater Manchester Local Infrastructure Network

This briefing outlines the vital leadership and delivery role played by the VCSE Local Infrastructure Organisations, the shared challenges in delivering this work, and key messages for the wider system.

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