We’re a Leadership Group dedicated to promoting the role and involvement of the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector in Greater Manchester.

We are a partner in the VCFSE Accord, an agreement between us, the GMCA and the GM NHS Integrated Care System, based in a relationship of mutual trust, working together, and sharing responsibility. 

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We’re getting ready to wrap up for 2025 and wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy holiday period!

Greater Manchester has been chosen as England’s first Prevention Demonstrator, an initiative announced in the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan earlier this year. It marks a step toward transforming public services with a more ‘preventative’ approach.

This blog explores what this means for Greater Manchester and for the VCFSE sector.

The VCFSE sector make a unique contribution to society - our work in communities prevents ill-health and improves people's general health and wellbeing.

We believe in an approach that emphasises agency, relationships and community assets, because we know that people are the experts in their own lives.

We also know that preventing ill-health alone doesn’t enable people to live well, which is why we call for quality of life to matter as much as length of life.

Earlier this year, we produced a briefing on our definition of prevention.

Last month, we updated our key principles to including the voice of lived experience. The new versions provide improved clarity and accessibility, better support for practical application and a new section on addressing common barriers.

Click here to read the full version.
Click here to read the summary version.

We are collecting responses to better understand how our key principles have helped you, barriers you have experienced, and what more we can do to ensure their use. Share your thoughts.

This update shares more about investment in new homes, jobs and infrastructure, transport and crime updates, and some recent successes.

People who live, work, travel, visit, or study in Greater Manchester are being asked to help shape the future of travel through to 2050, by giving their views during a public consultation.

The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy and Delivery Plan outlines how our growing city region will deliver a world-class, joined up transport system – better connecting people with places, new jobs, opportunities, homes and services, including healthcare and education. The plans are backed by £2.5 billion funding from government to deliver transport projects through to the early 2030s.

Every voice matters and views are invited from anyone with an interest in transport in Greater Manchester. See a full list of transport schemes, find out more and get involved by filling out the survey before Monday 9 March 2026.

More information is available at gmconsult.org along with details of drop-in sessions being held at public venues in every local authority area of Greater Manchester.

This monthly bulletin is an overview of the work underway across our health and care system; the progress being made and any key developments.

In the introductions, Mayor Andy Burnham highlights a useful resource to help patients, parents, carers, and the wider public to understand how to get the right care when you need it: Get to Know Where to Go campaign.

The State of the Sector survey launches in January, and we’re inviting all VCFSE organisations across Greater Manchester to take part. Everyone who completes it will receive an Individualised Insights Report, benchmarking you with others across Greater Manchester.

This survey underpins the first State of the Sector research in five years, led by Greater Manchester’s Local Infrastructure Organisations with Nottingham Trent University. It will show the size, diversity, and impact of our sector, and inform future policy and funding.

Further details will follow in the new year.

14th January, Online

Join Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW) for the first ever Great North VCFSE Exchange which will explore how VCFSE sector organisations are making relationships with their strategic authorities work.