10GM - A joint venture to support the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Greater Manchester
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What’s Local Infrastructure?

Local Infrastructure Organisations (LIOs) support voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) in their localities.

Strong local infrastructure enables communities to influence decision-making, build partnerships and networks, and encourage volunteering opportunities. When this support is accessible locally, individuals and communities thrive.

LIOs’ work is diverse and varies across local areas and organisations. Through research, NAVCA has identified four broad categories within which local infrastructure organisations work – ‘Four Functions of Local Infrastructure’.

 

Leadership and advocacy
Bringing together our diverse communities and marginalised groups to strengthen our sector’s voice and influence key decision-makers.

 

Partnerships and collaborations
Creating opportunities and joint working by bringing together networks of local organisations and strategic partners.

 

Capacity building
Providing practical support, resources or advice to facilitate community development.

 

Volunteering
Encourage and nurture volunteering opportunities, so that people can build connections and work together on things they care about, driving positive change locally. There are over half a million volunteers in Greater Manchester.

Find out more about Local Infrastructure

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Locality Engagement and Infrastructure: Creating and Sustaining the VCSE Ecosystem

10GM leads the work on the locality ecosystem and infrastructure within the Accord. The aim of this work is to develop the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) ecosystem by growing VCSE infrastructure capacity and ‘scaffolding’ for the involvement of communities of identity, experience and place in each of the ten districts of Greater Manchester by developing communications and collaboration between Local Infrastructure Organisations and system stakeholders at Greater Manchester-level.

A wide photo of the Greater Manchester region

Greater Manchester Infrastructure Development Programme

The UK Shared Prosperity Funded E11 GM Infrastructure Development Programme (GMIDP) is improving the Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) locality infrastructure support for community activity. Key focuses include work on: Membership models; Social enterprise and investment; Training and development, including leadership development; Voice & influence, including dispersed leadership; Website & information strategies.

Content last reviewed on 2 September 2026
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