Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) has been working on behalf of the GM VCSE Devolution Reference Group to develop tools that help promote the voluntary and community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector’s role in the Greater Manchester economy. Read more in the newsletter and watch a short film on the website. 
At meetings where people from statutory organisations are extolling the virtues and importance of the VCSE sector, I quite often feel like saying “SHOW ME THE MONEY” over and over again, just like Cuba Gooding Junior says at an increasing volume to a confused Tom Cruise in the film Jerry Maguire. He doesn’t want warm words - he wants cold cash. I can’t remember what happens after that but it all ends happily when he realises that the most important thing is love - “you had me at hello”. I love a happy ending.
Manchester City Council are reviewing the rules they use to decide who gets social housing, to make sure they help those with the greatest need who live in Manchester, and they want your views. 
Greater Manchester’s first Bee Network ‘parklet’ and ‘pocket park’ has launched on Bridgefield Street in Stockport. Dozens of parklets and pocket parks could be delivered throughout Greater Manchester as part of the Bee Network.
A parklet is a mini-park - usually the size of one or two car parking bays - that is typically installed on-street featuring seating, greenery and cycle parking. A pocket park is a small park-like space that enhances a variety of street types and can incorporate seating, planting, play and street gym equipment.
Third Sector Trends in the North 2019 is a 10 year study of the voluntary and community sector which is now running right across the North of England. 
Whether your organisation or group is big or small, flourishing or struggling financially – or just carrying on more or less as normal – your response are needed.
Dear Colleagues
I would like to invite you to consider becoming a formal member of the Manchester VCSE Health and Wellbeing Leaders Group.
The group is a coalition of the willing, leading on behalf of the wider sector and accountable back to the sector.
In the latest GMPA newsletter there is an article by Bury South MP Ivan Lewis, Sustain share their concern about the poor take up of Healthy Start vouchers and Young Manchester have funding for holiday playschemes. Kellogg’s announce doubling the number of grants for Breakfast Clubs, a Good Employment Charter Supporters’ Network is being launched and GMPA have included information about the North West Hardship Hub. There are a number of shorter articles and a list for forthcoming events.
The voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (GMHSCP) are collaborating to establish the GM Inclusion and Wellbeing Partnership (GM IWP). 
NCVO, ACEVO and Lloyds Bank Foundation are working in partnership on a project focusing on competition and collaboration between organisations bidding for public service contracts. The project, Rebalancing the Relationship, was launched in March 2019.
The project partners have launched a call for evidence to better understand the relationship between large and small organisations bidding to deliver public services.
In the latest newsletter there is an article from IPPR North’s Marcus Johns on the need for local government to act to reduce in-work poverty. GMPA share the latest on the Greater Manchester Food Poverty Action Plan – including pledges from the GM Housing Providers and a collection by Cracking Good Food. There is brief information on a successful Salford food project and several events are listed. 