January 2026

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. Visit our website.

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

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The grants, for geographically dispersed and intersectional groups, offered up to £1,000 for small, community-led activities that help people connect, create, and improve wellbeing. Find out what has been funded at the link below.

If you're a member of your local VCFSE infrastructure organisation (LIO), look out for the survey in your inbox from gmstateofthesector@qualtrics-research.com - subject: Take Part in Greater Manchester’s State of the Sector Survey

If your organisation is not a member of an LIO, you can still take part in the survey. Visit the link below to find out how.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 aims to rebalance power between employers and employees, and address structural weaknesses in the modern labour market. It supports the shift towards a more inclusive economy, in a move towards fairness, stability and dignity at work.

Read our full blog to find out more about the Act, its key features, and the implications for Greater Manchester communities.

After two years of co-designing and growing the GM Live Well movement together,, there will be a two-week celebration from 9 - 23 March across Greater Manchester showcasing the people, places, and partnerships bringing Live Well to life.

The festival will pop up across neighbourhoods, parks, community halls, and digital spaces, hosted by organisations, groups and partners, with each pop-up reflecting the creativity, energy, and identity of local communities.

If you are interested in hosting a pop-up, please share your idea via this link. To be included in the festival programme, all ideas must be shared by Friday 30 January.

Now in its 8th year, Greater Manchester’s Green Summit will take place in person at The Co-op Live on 3 March, hosted by Mayor Andy Burnham.

The summit brings together businesses, community groups, policymakers, industry, local government and academia to highlight actions from Greater Manchester’s 5-year Environment Plan, showing how the region is reducing its climate impact, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting the Greater Manchester Strategy.

You’re invited to join the faith communities of Greater Manchester on 4 February, 10am - 4pm, at Methodist Central Hall, Manchester (M1 1JQ). A buffet lunch will be provided. 

The Greater Manchester Faith and Belief Summit will bring faith communities together to discuss faith spaces, leadership, and support, while exploring trust, migration, cohesion, and community resilience through interactive workshops.

GMCA is seeking a research agency to work with to gather insight from residents from lower-income households across Greater Manchester on their thoughts and behaviours towards risk communication and emergency preparedness.

This will be used by the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency services, local authorities and other agencies, to inform future campaigns encouraging the public to prepare for emergencies such as flooding and severe weather events.

Deadline to apply: 9am, Monday 16 February

The deadline for the completion of this research is 31 March 2026, with interim/ headline findings to be shared by 20 March 2026.

Download the full quotation request.

Read the full response guidance.

At least one in 15 people in Greater Manchester experience gambling-related harm, which is often hidden and felt most strongly in communities facing inequality.

Manchester Community Central is launching a new phase of the Communities Against Gambling Harms programme, offering VCFSE organisations the opportunity to apply for a one-off grant of £2,500 to develop community-led initiatives that prevent and reduce gambling harm.

The fund is open until 2 March.

You are invited to take part in the consultation for the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2050 and Delivery Plan (2027–2037).

This is a key opportunity to help shape a connected, people-focused transport system that supports communities, improves everyday journeys, and drives economic growth.

Your feedback will help ensure the plans meet the needs of residents, businesses, and communities. The consultation is open until 9 March. 

NHS Greater Manchester has reached a significant milestone in its improvement journey. Following a formal review, NHS England has now discontinued the undertakings’ it set out in 2024 relating to governance arrangements, performance, quality of care and outcomes, leadership capability, and programme management.

The decision reflects the considerable progress made by NHS GM and its partners across the NHS, local authorities, primary care, and the VCFSE sector over the past year to stabilise and strengthen the foundations of the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership.

Join Manchester Community Central and Voluntary Sector North West on 10th February, online, for clear, up-to-date information about the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer in Greater Manchester.

The session will cover:

• what the Trailblazer is;
• why it matters;
• and what it means for the VCFSE sector

This is a free online event, open to anyone who would like to learn more.

The Charter outlines key principles that VCFSE organisations and researchers identified as essential for respectful, equitable and sustainable partnerships. This webinar focuses in the fifth pillar: Mutually Beneficial relationships for all.

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We’d love to hear your thoughts on this ebulletin, what’s useful, what could be improved, and how we can make it more relevant to you and your work. Share your feedback with us at lucy.north@vsnw.org.uk

Thank you for your continued support and engagement.