GM Live Well and the role of the VCFSE Sector
The GM Live Well approach has become key in Greater Manchester. It aims to tackle health, social and economic inequalities by changing how public services work and are delivered, and how they work with people and communities.
During the mayoral election, it was set as one of Mayor Andy Burnham’s three major priorities, and is now a focus of GMCA, and the NHS in Greater Manchester.
With the national context of a move to more democratic control following years of privatisation and deregulation, we can see Greater Manchester striving to lead the way. In an article[1] published Sunday 16th March, Andy Burnham pointed out a different approach is needed.
The ambitious vision builds on Live Well as a programme and a movement for community-led health and wellbeing that has been gaining momentum over the last year. The programme is supported by a £1million grant from the National Lottery Community Fund which has been funding ‘accelerator work’ in five areas of Greater Manchester, plus events which have given people across Greater Manchester an opportunity to come together to build the movement and galvanise the whole GM ecosystem around community-driven prevention.
What does GM Live Well mean for the region?
It aims to complement and grow what localities have been already been doing, building on existing work and resources around health creation, social connection and economic inclusion. It’s not designed to be a programme that starts with a blank page, instead it is all about the whole ecosystem working together to broaden and deepen engagement with communities, and crucially changing how public services support people to Live Well.
Is a connected andcoordinated ecosystem of individuals, communities, organisations and sectors,driven by local priorities. Partnersaim to work with local organisations, the public and VCFSE, across GreaterManchester to strengthen communities and make sure local people have equal andlocal access to services and support for better health.
It takes a prevention-ledapproachwhich means stoppinghealth problems from arising in the first place and supporting people to managetheir health problems when they do arise by connecting work, skills and physical infrastructure with health andwellbeing. The idea is that by improving local services and tackling thesocial causes of ill health, alongside clinical interventions, more people willbe able to live better. Live Well centresand spaces will bring together thebest of public services and importantly, communitysupport.
Is a long-term strategy that wants everybody to be connected through local activities, support and information. Power and resources will shift to the people and communities who are best placed to provide support, and everyone will have a voice in changes that affect them.
Our Sector’s Role in supporting GM Live Well
GM Mayor, Andy Burnham, noted that:
“Live Well (is) whole-person support for our residents delivered in partnership with voluntary groups and citizens across Greater Manchester.”
The VCFSE Sector in Greater Manchester has always placed people at the centre of our work and taken a prevention-led approach. By tackling the social and economic determinants of health, such as poverty, housing, education, income, and employment, we work to prevent ill-health and are well placed to deliver Greater Manchester’s Live Well ambitions.
The approach is all about community participation and empowerment – by engaging with the work, there is a clear opportunity for our sector to show our strengths, knowledge and experience in community engagement and organising to provide support where it is most needed.
The GM VCFSE Leadership Group will continue to advocate for and promote the role and involvement of the sector. We want to see power and wealth in the hands of communities, supported by our sector’s infrastructure organisations.
What movementbuilding has happened so far?
A launch event in March 2024brought together people from across public services along with the community,voluntary and faith groups who build health and wellbeing in communities everyday. Together, they showcased impactful community-led action and support, frombike kitchens, choirs and neighbourhood groups to public living rooms and peernetworks.
May’s event was about growing community wealth, opportunity and ownership. In October 2024, we saw Liz Kendal and Andy Burnham joinVCFSE groups and leaders to discuss how to support and grow community power and decision making to tackle inequalities.
The next event, planned for tomorrow, 19th March 2025, has been co-designed with the VCFSE sector and will bring people together to talk about how Greater Manchester can grow great everyday support in every neighbourhood to tackle health, social and economic inequalities. As well as forging connections across the people and places in GM doing this work, sharing stories, practice and learning about great everyday support and communities taking action on the things they care about, attendees will co-design key features and principles of GM Live Well Centres, spaces, and offers, shaping the future of GM Live Well and neighbourhood support models.
The event is currently fully booked but we’re looking forward to hear more at the next stage of GM Live Well, which will be informed by the event.
[1] https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/andy-burnham-manchester-live-well-benefits-q7bw8l9gj
Our sector puts communities at the heart of its work, by working as part of GM Live Well we can help put their needs top of the list of priorities in our city region.
To get involved and find out more head to the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership Live Well website. You can read the GMCA’s plan for Live Well here. To connect with your local CVS and Live Well work going on in the boroughs across Greater Manchester have a look at 10GM’s Live Well page.
