Policy and Influence

The Procurement Act 2023: What is it and how to prepare

The Procurement Act 2023 comes into force in Autumn 2024, bringing with it changes to how the public sector procures goods and services. This briefing from the VCFSE  Commissioning and Investment Group outlines the main changes that we expect to see; provides links to more detailed briefings and training; and highlights actions that VCFSE sector organisations can take now and in the near future, to prepare for the Act coming into effect.

Mayor of Greater Manchester announces new portfolios for GMCA leaders

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has announced changes to some key policy portfolios for Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Each of the city-region’s local authority Leaders and the Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities is given a policy brief by the Mayor, which they lead on for the whole of Greater Manchester.

Improving Journeys – Manchester

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is working with Manchester City Council (MCC) to improve journeys for people around Manchester, including to and from the city centre, with a focus on catching the bus, walking, wheeling and cycling.

The aim is to make journeys better and easier by making them more reliable, safer and more sustainable and to do this changes and improvements need to be made to streets in Manchester.

Through funding from the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) TfGM are looking at a range of options to do this, including:

Your rights at work: Pregnancy and Maternity Rights

In Greater Manchester Law Centre’s latest free legal workshop ACAS and Maternity Action will detail your Pregnancy and Maternity Rights at work and how to enforce them.

Greater Manchester Law Centre has run a series of free workshops on your and your clients'/service users' employment rights. The workshops are aimed at front line workers supporting individuals and communities to overcome poverty and structural injustice.

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Media Trust: Charity's Guide to the Theory of Change

Are you looking to better explain the vital work your charity does and why? Join our (Media Trust) interactive workshop on the Theory of Change to find out how!

The Theory of Change is a transformative model that clarifies how your charity’s activities lead to meaningful outcomes. But what is the Theory of Change, and how can it help your charity? Whether you’re a micro or national sized charity, this powerful tool will support you in clarifying and focusing your charity’s goals and impact.

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Shared Topic Areas

A conversation about implementing the real living wage rates

Ahead of this year's rates announcement in October the Greater Manchester Combined Authority are hosting this webinar on how to implement the Living Wage rates which will go over the rules and guidelines for implementation.

You’ll hear from employers in the Living Wage network who will share some of the challenges they have faced and how they've overcome them.

There'll be an opportunity to meet other organisations in the network and to put your questions and concerns to the Living Wage Foundation team.

Love Will Always Win

I originally started writing this over the weekend, wanting to capture my rising sense of anger and anxiety at what we’ve been seeing. I've gone back to it a few times, feeling a need not to just roll out some fairly obvious words at a time like this. This isn’t meant to be a ‘briefing’ or a ‘statement’ - it’s a reflection and some thoughts I would encourage you to consider.

Police and Crime Plan VCFSE / Equalities Panels Engagement Event

The Deputy Mayor would like to invite you to a Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise and Equality Panel Partners Event.

This is a unique opportunity to get the VCFSE and Equality Panels together to shape how we can continue to ‘stand together’ to keep people safe in Greater Manchester and reset the Police, Crime and Community Safety Plan for the new electoral term that will run until 2029.