The GM VCSE Devolution Reference Group and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership have commissioned a partnership of Bolton CVS, Mind in Greater Manchester, GMCVO and VSNW to ensure that the VCSE sector plays a comprehensive role in commissioning both at a local and Greater Manchester level. As part of this work they are conducting a listening exercise with the VCSE sector about your experiences.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is currently looking proposals for ways of restructuring its services. The main impacts of the proposals for the voluntary sector are: 
• Closure of some local fire stations
• A reduction in home visits, fire risk assessments for vulnerable people and the ability to refer these people into other community-based services
The latest newsletter focuses on the End Child Poverty coalition’s updated local child poverty figures. There is brief information about the GM Food Poverty Alliance survey and a reminder about the vacancy for the GM Living Wage campaign coordinator. There are also a number of events listed. 
The Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) has been commissioned by the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to establish a Disabled People’s Panel drawn from organisations across the Ten Boroughs of the City Region. The Panel will become an independent voice once fully established by the end of the first year. It will advise, consult, and propose to improve policy and the lives of disabled people across Greater Manchester. There is an attached a summary sheet that gives more detail about the Panel.
In addition to the public information campaign on EU Exit, the Office for Civil Society has published a 5-step guide to support civil society organisations to prepare for EU Exit. 
In the latest Greater Manchester Poverty Action newsletter there is an article following up the From Poverty to Prosperity conference held on 2 April and details about their recruitment for a new Greater Manchester Living Wage Campaign co-ordinator. Brief information is shared about forthcoming training courses, there are a couple of other short items and details of future events. 
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is proposing to make changes to the way that the service is managed, how resources are allocated and how they collaborate with partners. The changes are being proposed as part of a major transformation programme “Programme for Change” and details of the proposals can be found in the Outline Business Case. 
The Great Get Together are asking you to pledge to get back together with someone or something in your community you’ve lost touch, argued with or are simply avoiding. And what better time than at The Great Get Together weekend on 21-23rd June. 
The Great Get Together also want to make as much noise on social media, in the news and where we live about the importance of kindness, respect and community.
Are you a women’s organisation wanting to make your voice heard? Rosa’s Voices from the Frontline offers grants of up to £5,000 to women's organisations of all sizes for advocacy, campaigning and activism. 
Voices from the Frontline supports women’s organisations to shine a light on their fight for gender equality in the UK.
In the newsletter Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) encourage you to book onto one of their remaining 2019 training courses; GMPA comment on the latest rise in child poverty figures and share good news about pledges made since the launch of the GM Food Poverty Action Plan last month.