Health and Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing in Manchester is one of the Policy and Influence Team’s policy priorities. Below you can find the work we are doing in this area, where you can find out more, and how to get involved.

Community Explorers 

Community Explorers meetings are a platform for VCSE groups and public sector colleagues across Manchester to communicate and connect with each other. It is a space to discuss work and collaboration opportunities, voice concerns, and publicise offers and events. It is an opportunity to have your voice heard in your community and learn from others about what is happening in your area.

Our 45-minute meetings are held monthly and online. They are split into three sub groups focused on North, Central and South Manchester.

We also have themed, quarterly, in-person meetings, where all three sub groups come together to hear from speakers, discuss topics important to our communities, and network with organisations from across Manchester.

Previous in-person meetings have explored themes such as mental health in the VCSE sector, the Real Living Wage, and Manchester's journey to becoming a Health Determinants Research Collaborative. We are looking forward to our next event in January 2025, where we will be exploring how to build safer communities through collaboration.

We are also planning the rest of our events for 2025 - please do send us your suggestions for themes you would like to explore!

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Each group also has its own mailing list, which members can use to share and receive information and updates with the wider network in their area.

Macc facilitates the Community Explorers meetings in partnership with the MICP. It is an informal and valued opportunity to collaborate with others whilst sharing information about services and activities and directly influencing some of the key strategies across the city.  

To find out more or how you can get involved, please email [email protected] from our Policy & Influence Team.

VCSE Health and Wellbeing Leaders 

The VCSE Health and Wellbeing Leaders group is a meeting of people leading work on Health and Wellbeing in Manchester on behalf of the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector. 

The group is facillitated by Macc and meets every month. The ultimate aim is to provide Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector organisations with the opportunity to consider and engage with the work of key public sector bodies in Manchester. This work also involves acting as a critical friend to the wider health and care system across the city. 

Speakers from the NHS and local authorities are regularly asked to attend to update the group and to explore ways of collaborating on programmes of work. The Manchester VCSE Health and Wellbeing Leaders Group has formal responsibilities, and focuses on:  

  • Progressing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Manchester Local Care Organisation and the local VCSE sector;  
  • Facilitating representation on key boards, steering groups and committees and ensuring there is regular feedback to and from the wider VCSE sector;  
  • Upholding good practice in sector representation and participation of the sector.  

To find out more, or how you can get involved please email [email protected].