As you may be aware, earlier this year Manchester City Council and Manchester Health and Care Commissioning launched a competitive tendering process for the contract to provide support to the city's voluntary and community sector for the next three years. We are delighted to announce that Macc has been awarded this contract.
The new contract combines all the elements of support which Macc has been developing over the last decade: capacity building support for local voluntary and community groups, support for the engagement and influence of the local sector and the Volunteer Centre. These services are delivered under the banner of “Manchester Community Central” which is the platform established by Macc in 2009. For the first time, this is now combined with Macc’s long-standing health and care work funded by the local NHS under a single contract.
Alongside these key areas, Macc will also be developing work around leadership, diversity (in particular support for BME organisations and leaders) and building relationships with local businesses. We will also be looking at how our membership scheme can change to help bring the sector together and build a network of mutual support.
All of these services and a host of additional resources such as a funding search facility, factsheets, training opportunities, jobs, news and our weekly ebulletin are available through www.manchestercommunitycentral.org or via 0333 321 3021.
Mike Wild, Chief Executive of Macc said:
“I’m so thrilled Macc has been awarded this contract – the third time we’ve done so! In the week when we’re celebrating the work of Manchester’s amazing charities, community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, this is a wonderful recognition of the role which Macc plays and will continue to play.
When we launched our Manchester Community Central service in 2009 I said that it was “version 1” and promised it would develop. We then made further changes at Macc over the years setting up the Volunteer Centre, regular State of the Sector reports, our Spirit of Manchester Programme and developing grants opportunities for the sector. For me, having been successful in winning this new version of the contract is a massive endorsement of the work we’ve put in over the last ten years to build an organisation which supports, nurtures and celebrates our local voluntary and community sector and plays a major role in the life of Manchester.
There are challenges in this for us: like the rest of our sector, we have to do more and more with decreasing resources but I am also aware that this gives Macc some stability over the next three years. That’s very precious in the current climate and, just as I did in 2013, I promise we’ll put it to good use. For Macc, this contract is not an end in itself but a platform on which we can build. We recognise there is always more needed from us and we will continue to support, collaborate and influence where we can and, as I never tire of saying, help make more good things happen in Manchester.
All of us at Macc would like to applaud the City Council and Manchester Health and Care Commissioning - for maintaining investment in support for the voluntary and community sector with so many other pressures on public sector budgets. This acknowledges the role of Manchester’s three-and-a-half thousand strong voluntary community and social enterprise sector in the city and that a thriving sector is vital to Manchester’s future.”
Cllr Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council
“The voluntary sector in Manchester contributes to this city massively. Having a diverse, thriving, resilient, effective and sustainable sector is a key priority within the Our Manchester Strategy that helps us to deliver the vision and desired outcomes for the city. This supports our vision to create a healthier Manchester, working with the voluntary sector to improve the health and wellbeing of our citizens. The role of the infrastructure service is an important enabler to achieving these ambitions, as it provides services, support and advice and promotes local charities, community groups and social enterprises that deliver social action.’
Ruth Bromley, Chair of Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, said:
‘We are delighted Macc has been awarded this contract. The voluntary sector already plays a huge role in supporting local people to live healthy and happy lives. We look forward to working with Macc to build on this and ensure that local charities, community groups and social enterprises have the support they need to flourish and grow across the whole of Manchester’
If you have work that you think Macc could help you with, or if you have any questions about this contract, please contact us.
Web: www.manchestercommunitycentral.org
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0333 321 3021
Commissioners:
Programme Team, Manchester City Council
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0161 234 – 3316 / 4557