February 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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We recently shared a post on LinkedIn that breaks down what we do. Take a look here.

The new Accord sets out three key ‘areas of change’:

1. Devolve & Involve
2. Resource & Enable
3. Recognise & Value

We look forward to sharing the full agreement next month.

VCFSE representation ensures that the voices of our sector are actively involved in shaping decisions across Greater Manchester. We support rep recruitment and provide support to reps to create a more connected and unified VCFSE sector. 

Complete the survey to help us paint a picture of the significant and far-reaching impact of our diverse sector.

Take part here.

Find out more on 10GM's website.

Greater Manchester has outlined £3 billion in integrated spending plans to advance the Bee Network, policing, fire and rescue services, waste and recycling, and wider strategic objectives for the region. The GMCA is progressing with new Mayoral Development Corporations, expanding youth employment initiatives, and more.

As part of Live Well’s commitment to community-led, system-enabled ways of working, the Live Well team will be holding a Live Well Assembly from 23-25 March.

It will be exploring how they can embed the principles of shifting decision-making and resources closer to communities through Live Well decision-making structures, and what this means in practice for how Live Well is governed. 

The Assembly will have 22 places for community leaders, with leadership defined in the broadest terms. Remuneration is available. If you care about stronger community voice, meaningful citizen participation and transformative governance, apply now!

Applications close 28th February 2026. 

As part of the national reforms, NHS GM are required to make a £42 million (39%) reduction in costs, achievable only through organisational structural redesign and workforce reductions.

As they move through this period of change, there will be a short interim phase where some colleagues have left through voluntary redundancy, but new teams and structures are not yet fully in place. 

NHS GM will continue to keep stakeholders updated as the programme progresses and they thank you for ongoing support, patience and partnership during this period of transition.

This month's edition includes details of:

• Major organisational change for NHS Greater Manchester.
• The launch of two new portals supporting service improvement and digital innovation across Greater Manchester.
• Opportunities to have your say, get involved and take part in upcoming events and consultations. 

Greater Manchester Primary Care Provider Board (PCB) is England’s first primary care collaborative, bringing together all four primary care disciplines across community pharmacy, dentistry, general practice and optometry.

The PCB work with the VCFSE sector to co-produce strategy and improve the health of local people. Visit here to read more about a series of roundtables that are taking place to support collaboration. 

Find out more about who the PCB are and what they do in this new booklet.

Leader Cllr Bev Craig speaks to Manchester's Muslim communities in a statement following an incident at a Manchester mosque on Tuesday 24th February 2026. 

A new ‘Community Cohesion’ tag has been added to the GM VCFSE Leadership Group website's resources page, making it easier for organisations, leaders, and partners to find materials that support stronger, more connected communities.

It forms part of continued efforts to ensure our website remains useful, up‑to‑date and aligned with the needs of the wider VCFSE sector across Greater Manchester.

To see the full range of resources, visit our resources page and filter the theme by ‘Community Cohesion’ or click the link below.

GM VCFSE Leadership Group member, Groundwork GM, have shared the second in a series of blogs that look at what a Live Well offer rooted in a green space looks like. 

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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.