📰 #News | We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred yesterday on Water Street. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. ⬇️See our full statement via the image or link below⬇️ 🔗 tinyurl.com/LCVS0219

Where did all the voters go? 📺 IPPR's Dr Parth Patel tells the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee that we are getting awfully close to the tipping point where elections lose legitimacy because the majority did not take part.

Check out our initial thoughts on the NHS 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance and what opportunities/challenges it might present the #VCFSE sector in the North West. #thirdsector #civilsociety

Looks like I should've fixed for more than 2 years after all....

4.3 million children are in poverty UK govt won’t see progress on child poverty by 2029 even with high economic growth 📢 Our analysis shows under our central scenario only Scotland will see child poverty rates fall by 2029 in part due to social security policies 1/5

Honestly this is such fantastic, uplifting news! The world feels very hostile and dangerous lately, but this is an amazing reminder of people power & how, when we come together collectively, we can manifest the change we need for all our communities. Huge congrats to the team and the planet! 🌍

Perhaps the newts and bats are safe after all...

Really enjoyed the series of panels at @instituteforgov.bsky.social conference. Great to see they're available for viewing - I can now catch up with one's I missed!

📣VCFSE organisations in Greater Manchester, check out the compilation of resources for the sector on the GM VCFSE Leadership Group website!

Myself and @vsnw.bsky.social colleagues have signed up to attend the #ConventionoftheNorth in Preston in Feb. Looking forward to seeing what's on the agenda, the line-up and to represent and advocate for the #VCFSE sector in the North West 💪 @vsnwescadale.bsky.social @emlounewman.bsky.social

If companies want people to come back to the office, they must provide employees with reasons why they should - beyond it being "good for the economy". Banish sad office culture with grey lifeless cubicles, promote choice, embed flexibility. Ask us what we, as employees, need to tempt us back.

nteresting webinar on "how to fix local government" as part of @instituteforgov.bsky.social annual conference. Totally agree hilarycottam.bsky.social on the need for LA's to build better and more collabroative relationships with community and civil society.

The Foreign Secretary once called Trump a racist, a tyrant in a toupee with a team is made-up of KKK members...now this week he's head over heels for Trump saying he has "incredible grace, generosity...very funny and friendly" How will this fickleness impact our international & UK policy?!

“Progressives have failed to grasp what could unite people across diverse working class communities — turning a profound sense of powerlessness into a feeling of power.”

💼 Reforms like merging JobCentre Plus & National Careers Service could transform employment support – but where’s the VCFSE voice? Read about the sector's role in shaping change: www.vsnw.org.uk/news/2025/1/... #EmploymentSupport #VCFSE

When you have a supposedly left-wing Government who aren't really implementing policies that truly benefit the working class people of this country & who continue to stoke culture wars (e.g., anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ+) the far-right and facism will fill that void. History tells us all.

🚨 Last chance! Applications close soon for our Communications & Policy Officer role. Join us to ensure the sector plays an integral role in the development of the Greater Manchester. 📝 Apply now: vsnw.org.uk/jobs 💡 Know someone perfect for the role? Share this!

Six in ten Brits (61%) want Elon Musk to intervene less in UK politics and current affairs, including 67% of Labour voters and 63% of Conservatives

Came to Blue Sky to get away from you-know-who 🥲 Seriously though, it is an extremely concerning time for British Politics. The next few months will be interesting to say the least.

Check out our latest briefing for the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise #VCFSEsector in the North West, in collaboration with Network for Europe. What is devolution, what does the White Paper change, and what are the challenges and opportunities for #civilsociety #thirdsector?

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...

Really amazing work here embedding the role of the voluntary sector within health research and supporting communities to partake in and lead on research that is important for them. This is just the beginning, I'm sure! Well done @francescalily.bsky.social 👏 @nihrarcs.bsky.social

We welcome the Labour government’s commitment to devolution but want to emphasise the importance of integrating the VCFSE sector into delivery models to address local needs, particularly in rural areas, and ensure no community is left behind. @vsnwescadale.bsky.social gives his thoughts ⬇️

UKSPF allocations for 25/26 launched last week. With allocations aligned to local need & deprivation rather than just population size, there's an opportunity for this to actually begin to level up communities. Hopefully this is the Gov's future direction of travel alongside the devolution paper.

This will be really important to ensure devolution really impacts communities and the from bottom up. May's Liverpool City Region election had a turnout of only 24% and Greater Manchester 32%

There is a lot to read and digest in the new Devolution white paper which the Deputy PM describes as the biggest transfer of power to communities with devolution now the default. Initial reception seems quite positive overall but as always, the devil will be in the detail. Exciting times ahead!

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 👇

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...

"Taking on debt to pay for essentials has not been enough to prevent hardship, with 9 in 10 of these families going without essentials in October 2024 and 7 in 10 behind on their bills" It feels like the cost of living crisis has been normalised. We musn't leave these families behind.

In November @homelesslink.bsky.social warned how increases to employer NIC will take £60m away from frontline homeless services. Not to mention the wider voluntary sector that provide wraparound care needed to support people into and maintain tenancies. What will the figures look like next year?

Dread to think what the retirement age will be in 30 years time...

Civil Society led they way in tackling loneliness and isolation during the pandemic, and we are still leading the way now. The lessons and evidence are there. They need understanding and applying alongside recognition of the voluntary sector as leaders by expertise in this area.

"Whilst we clearly welcome this devolved partnership approach, there are questions as to how the VCFSE sector fits in with the plan, and how some of the recent controversial policy announcements align with these milestones"

Meet our #WomanOfTheNorth report authors - part of the 70+ authors who contributed to the report published earlier this year go.bsky.app/NA3X2zS

Interesting to hear about the pilots announced as part of the "civil service shakeup" inc. improving the delivery of temp accommodation in Liverpool. Hope this will include partnership working with the VCFSE sector. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This government needs to take immediate action to raise people's living standards through policies like scrapping the two-child limit, lowering bus fares, and introducing a national energy guarantee to keep bills down. Read NEF's response here: neweconomics.org/2024/12/star... 4/4

#ARCadvent day 6️⃣: Coastal, rural & areas in the North of England are less able to withstand/recover from adverse events, according to research led by academics @healthequitynorth.bsky.social, The University of Manchester, @hope-uom.bsky.social & @arc-gm.bsky.social arc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/news/NE...

Fab webinar this morning from the Health Creation Alliance on the relationship between health creation and economic prosperity, with discussion on health devolution, community agency, meaningful power dynamic shift, data and social vs wellbeing mobility. "No healthy economy without healthy people"

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. 👍

Positive to hear that Scotland have voted to scrap the 2 child benefit cap. LIfting people out of poverty is vital for a healthy economy!

Can't blame this on millennial's buying too many avocado's on toast, iced coffees and streaming subscriptions!

What was good in the 'Get Britain Working' white paper and what are still needs to be addressed? ✅Trying to tackle the root causes of ill health and improving employment support ❌£3bn of unspecified benefit savings hanging over people @iainkporter.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The north south poverty divide is as persistent as ever. People living in the North West can expect to live 3yrs less compared to the South East according to latest ONS stats. National and local governments must get serious about tackling health inequalities through prevention and health creation.

We've had a busy and productive year at VSNW, supporting the VCFSE sector across the North West. Check out our 2024 Impact Review here! We're excited for the next 12 months, with many opportunities and challenges facing the sector, we remain focused on advocating for and enabling the sectors voice.

I don't mind a Bounty, it's not my favourite but I'll eat it, however this is the third day in the row it's appeared in my Celebrations advent calendar. And it's only 3rd December! Extremely concerned about door number 4 tomorrow.

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

Hello Bluesky! I'm part of @vsnw.bsky.social Policy and Influencing team along with my colleagues @vsnwescadale.bsky.social @emlounewman.bsky.social As the North West regional voice for the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector, we're looking forward to connecting with you all!

Hi everyone! We are excited to be here and look forward to connecting with the #VCFSE sector on Blue Sky 👋