Poverty

Cost of Living GM Mayoral Hustings

Food, rent, and other basics of life continue to be a huge burden for millions of people across Greater Manchester. The cost of living is too high, and wages have failed to keep up.

Three organisations that work on the cost of living across our city-region have put this hustings together to give you the chance to put your questions directly to the candidates who are standing to be the next mayor of Greater Manchester.

ACORN Manchester – GM branch of a national community union, which campaigns on renter's rights, bailiff use and a range of other working-class issues.

Online and in-person Ascension Church, 282 Stretford Road, Manchester, M15 5TQ

Step Forward Fund – grants for grassroots organisations from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities

The Step Forward Fund is a fund designed to provide funding and support to grassroots organisations from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities and help them move from smaller project-based funding to larger grants and investment.

The Step Forward Fund has £4 million to award. The fund plans to give £50,000 to £75,000 per year for between 2 to 3 years. This means you can apply for:

Caritas Big Sleep Out 2026

Sleep under the stars to raise money for local families and individuals experiencing homelessness.

This event has always been a popular part of the Caritas Salford calendar, and after a rest year or two, we are pleased to be running an in-person event once again.

So, dust off your sleeping bag, and get ready to wrap up warm, whilst we spend the night in the great outdoors for a great cause.

Did you know?

Old Bedians Sports Centre, Millgate Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 5QX

NRPF Network: Support options for people with no recourse to public funds

An introductory course to develop your knowledge to identify correct signposting options and referral routes for a person who is at risk of homelessness when they are unable to access benefits and housing due to their immigration status.

Course Objectives

Online

New research from Resolve Poverty maps local strategic action on poverty

Resolve Poverty has published new research mapping strategic local anti-poverty action across England in 2026. Based on FOI responses from 260 councils, the findings show that 16% of councils currently have an anti-poverty strategy in place, while 10% have formally adopted the socio-economic duty.

The report highlights the importance of coordinated local action to tackle poverty and calls on government to strengthen support for councils, introduce a statutory requirement for anti-poverty strategies and progress enactment of the socio-economic duty.

Topics

The Fuel Crisis and the GM VCFSE sector: Key messages and activity

The GM VCFSE Leadership Group have shared a briefing on the ongoing fuel and energy crisis for use in planning and strategic conversations. It brings together intelligence on what is happening in Greater Manchester and seeks to highlight key gaps and reinforce the critical role of the VCFSE sector in this crisis.

The purpose of this briefing is to support a coordinated Greater Manchester-wide response to the ongoing fuel crisis by bringing together current intelligence on what is happening in Greater Manchester.

Lives Cut Short: Speak up about health inequalities – free online training programme

Do you work with people whose health or well-being has been shaped by where they live, work or grew up? Media Trust are looking for individuals interested in taking part in a free online training programme, which will equip them to become confident spokespeople on health inequalities.