A renewed Greater Manchester VCFSE Accord for 2026 - 2035 has been signed by leaders across Greater Manchester’s public sector, including the health and care system, and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector (VCFSE).
Greater Manchester stands on a proud legacy of partnership-working between the public sector and our diverse VCFSE sector.
As many of Greater Manchester’s communities navigate hardship, the role of the VCFSE sector has never been more important. It is with this in mind that the Accord has been refreshed, renewing our commitment to each other across three priority areas for change.
The renewed Greater Manchester VCFSE Accord 2026 - 2035 builds on a decade of formal collaboration, succeeding the first Accord (2021–2026) and, before that, our groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (2017–2021) which marked the first formal commitment to ensuring the VCFSE sector could contribute fully to Greater Manchester’s devolution journey.
The Accord has played a pivotal role in raising the profile of Greater Manchester’s VCFSE sector among public sector partners, strengthening recognition of its vital contribution to society, and the health and wellbeing of our communities. Our shared vision for collaboration ensures that lived experience and meaningful representation remain central to the decisions that impact communities.
By supporting inclusive decision-making, the Accord has enabled VCFSE organisations to be better represented in strategic spaces, helping to ensure that the needs of communities are considered in planning and delivery. This collaborative approach directly enhances outcomes for citizens by making public services more responsive and equitable.
The Accord’s role as an enabler has led to a significant range of community-driven solutions. Examples include improved funding and commissioning practices to support VCFSE sustainability (e.g. the development of the Fair Funding Protocol), the establishment of the Alternative Provider Collaborative (now a CIC), increased support for the VCFSE workforce, including volunteers, through the GM Workforce Hub, and the development of the Inclusion and Wellbeing Partnership Fund by GM=EqAl as part of GM Live Well.
The Accord has also seen national recognition- its pioneering approach was included in the UK Government’s Civil Society Covenant, as an example of best practice to working with civil society to deliver lasting change.