Connect with others tackling similar data challenges at the VCSE Data & Intelligence Peer Learning Network. 📅 Wed 27 Aug, 1.30pm–3.30pm, Central Manchester 🎟️ Free tickets: buff.ly/qZI0OBB

Healthwatch and Integrated Care Partnerships will close by April: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Great opportunity… apply.greater.jobs/gmca/Job/Job...

We are excited to invite you to our online workshop on 10th June to hear more about including the voice of lived experience in policy making – why it’s important and hear about how you can adopt the practice. www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/news-and-eve...

For a deeper dive into the question of 'medicalisation' of mental health & the implications of this for benefits & employment support policy, I'd really recommend this recent blog post from @benbgeiger.bsky.social inequalities.substack.com/p/progressiv...

Spot on! Interesting that you wouldn’t take the old DWP approach if you were running other types of public services - the moral judgement was baked in.

Last chance to sign up for The Alliance For Dignified Food Support free webinar forms.office.com/e/ram2acxw6k 📅 Tuesday 22 April 10am - 12pm This free webinar will include a presentation on hunger trauma by community psychologist Carl Walker

The Answer Cancer fund is offering grants of up to £4,000 to GM based VCSE organisations to deliver projects that will grow communities’ knowledge of cancer and increase the uptake of cancer screening across Greater Manchester Find out more:

I've written about health inequalities & how overcoming them can unleash communities & fuel our nation's potential. Physical activity is fundamental to healthy lives & economy; government can help create the right conditions as part of the Spending Review. Link: www.gmmoving.co.uk/news/tacklin...

💷 | NEW BLOG: The government is facing stark fiscal choices in 2025. Cuts to public services would be risky, but so would breaking fiscal rules. That leaves tax. Our latest blog explores the options for Rachel Reeves 👇

Today is #SocialPrescribingDay! Social prescribing is making a huge difference in Salford and turning people's lives around. Read and watch some of the moving, honest stories from the people we have worked with through the #WellbeingMatters programme. www.salfordcvs.co.uk/social-presc...

For mental health and wellbeing support tailored to you, visit the new kindtoyourmind.org website. Built exclusively to support people living and working in Cheshire & Merseyside with a range of services and resources on offer #KindToYourMind #Mentalhealth #Wellbeing

Our NHS colleagues are facing huge challenges with the latest cuts to ICBs. We stand with them and offer our full support to navigate these changes together. We remain committed to strengthening community-focused care 💙 Read more 👇 www.vsnw.org.uk/news/2025/3/...

📢 A new volunteering website has been launched for #Cheshire & #Warrington, making it easier than ever to find volunteering opportunities in the area. Whether you want to gain skills, give back, or connect with your community, it starts here 👇 www.vsnw.org.uk/news/2025/3/...

We have five funds currently open for applications! Funds and deadlines: Food Response Fund - 17th March Healthy Holidays Fund - 10th March Active East Salford Fund - 24th March Together We Create Fund - 4th April Elevate Salford Fund - 7th April www.salfordcvs.co.uk/funding-oppo...

Comedy is tragedy plus timing…

Hi @neilgchurchill.bsky.social - there’s a lot happening! Be good to catch up.

Thanks to the Carers Partnership, here is a practical new resource to help improve the identification and support of unpaid carers in NHS, drawn from tried and tested methods www.carersuk.org/media/q1klni...

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new self-assessment and improvement framework for ICSs 🎉 This framework has been developed in partnership with CQC and @pointofcarefdn.bsky.social, with funding from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund. To read the framework👇 www.cqc.org.uk/local-system...

Great stuff! (Also makes me realise how much I would like to say this more often...)

The Civil Society Group has called on the government to prioritise long-term financial support for charities and their local commissioners as part of its ongoing spending review.

In my latest @dsc-charity.bsky.social piece I summarise some policy issues for #Charities as we start 2025, including #Devolution White Paper, Civil Society #Covenant and #Community Wealth Fund. With links throughout where you can find out more info on each topic: www.dsc.org.uk/content/look...

Guidance for commissioners and public sector partners on supporting VCFSE sector at this time - 1/2 mental health www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/news-and-eve...

The Procurement Act, scheduled to come into force on 24th Feb, provides greater flexibility, replacing existing procedures with one more competitive and flexible. We have produced a summary of the Act for the VCFSE sector. Read it here: www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/resources/th...

It’s a critical year for the government to shift from sentiment to real action. Here are four things we should look out for - @thisismatthyde.bsky.social

It’s been a while but I’ve been prompted to do some #StarterPack admin! If you work in or around UK charities and you’d like to be added, just let me know! #Charity folks Part 1 go.bsky.app/7dPWqWQ #Charities folk Part 2: go.bsky.app/QWpFmRe Charity folks Part 3: go.bsky.app/U9Thoeg

If you're based in Greater Manchester and looking for a new opportunity for the new year, our team is looking for a Communications and Policy Officer to support the Greater Manchester VCFSE Leadership Group. Find out more: www.vsnw.org.uk/jobs/communi...

@fionasheil.bsky.social hello! Duncan Craig and Gail Heath are leading on this piece of work for the sector in greater Manchester if ever useful for what you are doing: www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/work/victims...

“Lighter touch and more local decision-making” says expert Andy Churchill. Initial thoughts on UK SPF allocations which are positive for our city regions and not so good for lancashire, cheshire and cumbria.: www.vsnw.org.uk/news/2024/12...

Why does the VCFSE sector often feel like the "silent partner" in national conversations? Despite driving real change locally, we're sidelined too often. It’s time to demand recognition! 💪 Read more in our new blog from @vsnwescadale.bsky.social 👇

Fantastic piece of work with the sector! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

"At this point, still in the foothills of a five-year parliament, there is an important opportunity to combine short-term, pragmatic necessity with longer term vision and ambition." @jesstud.bsky.social on the strategy that's needed for public service reform 🔗

Very busy few weeks ahead with the recent launch of the Get Britain Working white paper, announcement of 2025/26 UKSPF allocations and the upcoming devolution white paper. All of this right before Xmas! Lots to "unwrap" here 🎁

Some changes to the guidance as well with UKSPF priority areas now having Labour Milestones mapped onto them, twelve sub-themes replacing the 53 interventions and no ring-fenced funding for Multiply: www.gov.uk/government/p...

UK SPF allocations now available: www.gov.uk/government/p... Some significant changes need understanding.

Inaugural meeting of the Social, Cooperative & Community Economy APPG this morning! With Chair @patrickhurley.bsky.social @joshbabarinde.bsky.social Baroness Thornton & The Lord Balfe + a growing list of members inc Martin Rhodes MP, Catherine Atkinson MP & Sarah Russell MP #SocEnt #Coops #FutureBiz

Here is a quick visual summary of how to submit evidence and ideas on how the UK higher education sector can 'get our own house in order' to support co-produced and participatory research Visit www.linkedin.com/groups/14550... to download the full report

We have created a #NorthWest #voluntary sector starter pack! Please let us know if you would like to be added 👍 #VCFSE go.bsky.app/TEQ8mgU

Hello! Salford CVS is happy to join Bluesky. We support the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector in Salford, with everything from training, information and guidance to funding. See more on our work and our impact at: www.salfordcvs.co.uk

Do your reports tell the full story of the difference your work makes? If you're struggling to move beyond reporting on what you did and how many people you reached to tell a strong story of impact, join @sasmort.bsky.social for our webinar in the new year. www.matter-of-focus.com/make-your-re...

Good to see this list of ICB duties in one place. On the ‘Duty as to promoting integration’ is that the closest mention of VCSE sector: “health-related services or social care services” ? www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/u...

Hope you all got your organisational NHS Change submissions in yesterday! NHSE’s letter is ramping up local discussions about the shift to healthy neighbourhoods. 👍

As we may have a few new faces here, we thought we would reintroduce ourselves... 🤔 Ever heard of VSNW? We’re Voluntary Sector North West—championing the incredible work of charities, non-profits, and community groups across the North West. Here’s what we’re all about 🧵👇

A useful introduction for those wanting to learn how devolution works in England in an easy to understand way.

Reflecting on the past nine months since joining VSNW. Very proud to be part of the new Policy and Influencing Team—or the PIT, as @vsnwescadale.bsky.social likes to call us. What does the next year hold? Who knows... but you can read all about the last one in our Impact Review 2024... ☕

The DWP today published their plans to #GetBritianWorking, driving down unemployment & economic inactivity, of which a significant proportion of effort is focussed on young people. You can read it here: bit.ly/3ZmwQQB If you are interested in #YouthEmployment, the 4 most relevant plans include: