- Last week, Wednesday 8th July 2026, 120 leaders and staff from across Greater Manchester’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector, local and combined authority, NHS, transport, and research, came together to mark a renewed nine-year collaboration agreement that sets out how they will work together to improve things for residents, communities, places and the environment
- The Greater Manchester VCFSE Accord, officially signed by Greater Manchester leaders on 27th March 2026, sets a national standard for collaboration between public services and civil society. It is Greater Manchester’s version of the UK Government’s Civil Society Covenant.
Last week’s event at the People’s History Museum in Manchester celebrated the previous decade of cross-sector collaboration and explored shared values and ambitions for the future.
The original and groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2017 marked the first formal commitment to ensuring the VCFSE sector could contribute fully to Greater Manchester’s devolution journey. It set a framework for the health service and civil society to work together as equal partners to address health inequalities. It enabled Greater Manchester to have the first VCFSE health alliance in the UK, paving the way for this successful model to be rolled out across the country.
Building on these foundations, the Greater Manchester VCFSE Accord continues to strengthen relationships between the two sectors. It will embed shared values into everyday practice and provide a framework for collaboration to help build a Greater Manchester where community voice is central, civil society organisations are empowered, and their vital contributions to society are recognised and valued.
The event highlighted the impact of cross-sector collaboration, with examples ranging from violence reduction and mental health provision, to support for underrepresented groups, local collaboration agreements, and a collaborative of social business providers of NHS services in Greater Manchester.
One key example is the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (GMVRU), whose work puts communities at the heart of decision-making. Local people and organisations help shape priorities, influence funding decisions, and lead delivery of projects that support children, young people and families, contributing to violence prevention.
The Greater Manchester Equality Alliance (GM=EqAl) are delivering on the Accord, tackling systems that sustain inequality in our city-region. They provide a voice for communities who are often not represented, typically because of a lack of local or specialised support. GM=EqAl recently awarded 22 grants as part of GM Live Well. One project delivered community breakfast gatherings for Arabic-speaking refugees and migrants from across Greater Manchester to improve their wellbeing and grow their social connections through structured activities.
At a local level, the renewed Accord is already being embedded and making a positive change in places like Bury. Bury VCFA has worked closely with Bury Council and health and care partners to develop a shared culture that reflects the Accord’s principles in practice. Together, they have established a Memorandum of Understanding that is strengthening joint strategy and planning, while recognising and valuing the vital role of the VCFSE sector in the borough.
A shared vision for the future
Throughout the day, the Accord’s underpinning values of honesty, ambition, accountability and trust, were brought to life through shared stories and discussions, with attendees demonstrating how these principles are shaping practice across sectors.
Participants were invited to look ahead, reflecting on the Accord’s shared priorities for the next nine years. These include increasing VCFSE involvement and devolving decision-making to communities, resourcing and enabling more effective collaboration, and recognising and valuing the full contribution of the VCFSE sector to society.
As Greater Manchester continues to respond to social and economic challenges – as well as significant political changes - the renewed Accord provides a strong foundation for the next phase of partnership working - one that puts communities at the centre and focuses on delivering meaningful, lasting change.
Read more about the GM VCFSE Accord: https://www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/work/the-accord