VCSE Policy and Research Library

As a sector, we cover a range of thematic work areas and topics and we know trying to keep onto of the latest information and insight can be incredibly time-consuming.

This section of our website is designed to support our VOCAL work by creating a starting point for the various policy papers and insight that is relevant to the VCSE sector in Salford. 

GM Policy and Strategy

• Greater Manchester Strategy -  Our People, Our Place has been written by all 10 councils, the Mayor, the NHS, transport, the police and the fire service, with help from businesses, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, and members of the public. The plan explains our ambitions for the future of our city-region and the 2.8 million of us who live in the towns, cities, communities and neighbourhoods that make up Greater Manchester. It covers health, wellbeing, work and jobs, housing, transport, skills, training and economic growth.
• GM VCSE Leadership Group -  The GM VCSE Leadership Group is not a representative structure, but in most cases, individuals are nominated by their own networks and are held accountable to their network and/or the Leadership Group by a signed protocol agreement. The Leadership Group meets monthly and meetings are often used to invite guest speakers on a range of topics relevant to the Sector and GM devolution.
• GM VCSE Policy Paper - The Leadership Group with support from colleagues at the GMCA have developed a VCSE Policy Position Paper which sets out a long term ambition for the VCSE sector in Greater Manchester. The paper builds on the Accord with Mayor of Greater Manchester and GM Combined Authority (GMCA), and the Memorandum of Understanding with the GM Health and Social Care Partnership. It describes a future role equal to those of the state and business and sets out what our sector could bring to Greater Manchester people and communities, and what would need to be done to enable it, including investment. Work to implement the plan is ongoing.
• GM Health and Social Care VCSE Engagement - An overview of the work done at a GM level including details of the MoU signed in 2017. You can read an evaluation of the programme here.
• GM VCSE Accord - In 2017 the Mayor signed a formal Accord with the 16,000 voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Greater Manchester. The Accord sets out the framework for a new relationship between the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the Combined Authority and the VCSE sector. It includes building and sustaining the VCSE sector’s strategic capacity to deliver the shared vision as set out in the Greater Manchester Strategy.
• VCSE Representative with GM Health and Social Care meetings and boards 
• Building Back Better in Greater Manchester: together with the VCSE sector and the wider social economy - A Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group inclusive economy discussion paper (published August 2020)
• Greater Manchester Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Commissioning Framework and Delivery Plan 
• GM Culture Strategy: Grown in Greater Manchester. Known Around The World
• GM Local Industrial Strategy
• GMHSC Partnership report: Mental Health Transformation
• Greater Manchester - Age Friendly Strategy
• GM Armed Forces Covenant
• GM Digital Blueprint - Digital Strategy and Priorities
• GM Information Strategy (under development at present)
• GM 5 year Environmental Plan
• GM Moving Plan 17-21

Broader GM Devolution Papers

• By Us, For Us - a cooperative party agenda for enhanced city and county regions - Published in 2016 This report outlines a series of co‑operative policy ideas for Labour and co‑operative councillors, Party members and policymakers working in the areas covered by the devolution deals. The ideas are both practical, reflecting the terms of the devolution deals already agreed, and aspirational in exploring ways in which existing and future deals can further place power in the hands of communities.
• VSNW: Developing Devolution within our Communities - Published in 2016 this paper outlines VSNW approach to developing devolution and the role of the VCSE sector.
• Devolution and Beyond: essays on the voluntary sector's role in an inclusive devolution agenda

Key Salford Strategies, Papers and Policy

• Salford's Locality Plan was refreshed in 2020 but you can still also read the original Salford Locality Plan published in 2016
• Salford Employment and Skills Strategy 2017-20
• Salford Community Safety Strategy 20-23
• Salford Homelessness Strategy 2018-2023
• Salford SWEP protocol 2017-18 - Salford's Severe Weather Emergency Protocol to support rough sleepers
• Salford Equality Strategy (currently being reviewed)

COVID Related Reports and Insight

• Social Enterprise and COVID-19 - This research is based on the responses of social enterprises to a survey looking in depth at the impact of COVID-19 on social enterprises; how social enterprises are adapting to the crisis and how they can be better supported through it.
• Impact on the charity sector during coronavirus - research report June 2020
• ACVEO Charity Health Checker 
• Directory of Social Change COVID Research Findings
• Pro Bono Economics Covid-19 Charity Tracker Survey
• Small Charities Coalition Survey Results
• NSPCC The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on child welfare: sexual abuse
• GMHSCP Covid Cases Dashboard
• Third Sector Trends Survey 2020: Covid-19 and its potential impact on the third sector in the North

Brexit

• GMCVO: Brexit Advice for VCSE Organisations in GM
• Brexit Civil Society Alliance Campaign Toolkit
• NCVO: Brexit and the Voluntary Sector - Preparing for Change
• Brexit and Greater Manchester Report
• CLES: Opportunities for Public Procurement Post Brexit

VCSE Sector-Specific Insight (Generic)

• State of the Sector 2017 - Sector led research to provide a comprehensive overview of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE*) Sector both within the city of Salford and Greater Manchester as a whole.
• Third Sector Trends in the North
• UK Civil Society Almanac 
• Navigating Change: an analysis of financial trends for small and medium-sized charities - 
• IVAR - Small charities and social investment report - a report looking at the ‘social investment journey’ of 25 small charities.
• Lloyds Bank Foundation - Small But Vital Report
• Civil Society Futures - final reports - Civil Society Futures was a two-year independent inquiry into the future of civil society in England, the first major inquiry of its kind for over two decades.
• Charities Taking Charge: Transforming to Face a Changing World
• NAVCA Chief Executive Survey Results - 2017 report exploring the state of local infrastructure.
• Crowdfunding Good Causes - 2016 paper exploring opportunities and challenges for charities, community groups and social entrepreneurs
• How to work effectively with the third sector - paper - A 2018 discussion paper for public sector organisations
• IVAR Briefing One: Points from the literature & IVAR Briefing Two: Early research considerations - exploring learnings from charities experiences with social investment.
• The Value of Small - full report - Research into the contribution, value and experiences of small and medium charities. There is also a summary report and a Salford report 

Social Enterprises / Community Benefit Societies

• Rebuilding business for society - How a more diverse corporate landscape can work better for everyone
• Trading for Good - report on Social Enterprises published - Trading for Good was commissioned by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales to provide greater depth of understanding into the work of social enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized social enterprises. 
• Social Enterprise in Health Care - This report from the health and care think tank The King’s Fund, examines the different types of innovation social enterprises bring to the delivery of health and social care services.
• The Hidden Revolution - The Hidden Revolution, supported by Nationwide and Co-op Group, presents fresh analysis of the size and scale of the social enterprise sector
• The role of community businesses in providing health and wellbeing services: Challenges, opportunities and support needs - examines community businesses that deliver health and wellbeing services to address the needs of individuals and communities – the challenges they face and how they can be supported.
• Start Your Social Enterprise Guide
• The Future of Business - State of Social Enterprise Report 2017 
• Coops UK: Community Benefit Societies: What, why and how to start or convert to one
• Coops UK: Community economic development - lessons

Community / Voluntary / Social Action

• Voluntary action: a way forward - a policy framework for the common good
• GOV.UK: Description of social action
• GOV.UK: Making the case for social action in the public sector
• GOV.UK: Leadership and culture change to enable social action
• GOV.UK: Commissioning for social action
• GOV.UK: Creating the conditions for social action
• GOV.UK: Enabling social action methodology

Volunteering

• The Value of Volunteering in the North
• A guide to high impact volunteering in hospitals
• Volunteering in general practice - download summary or Full Publication
• Time Well Spent: National survey on the volunteer experience report
• NCVO - Getting Involved: How people make a difference

Data Sources / Research

• English indices of deprivation 2019
• Greater Manchester Key Facts
• GMCA Research Projects - By clicking on each of the topic areas you can find insight and research conducted by the GMCA
• Mapping GM - MappingGM provides a range of maps that you can use to explore Greater Manchester’s housing, planning, infrastructure, socio-economic and demographic data. The maps are open for you to use, and most of the data used is freely available to download.
• Data.gov.uk - Find data published by central government, local authorities and public bodies to help you build products and services
• Office of National Statistics
• UK Data Service

Procurement and Commissioning

• Greater Manchester Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Commissioning Framework and Delivery Plan
• SE UK Procuring for Good - Procuring for Good, published by Social Enterprise UK, paints the most comprehensive picture yet about how councils in England are using the Public Services (Social Value) Act. 
• The King's Fund - guide to commissioning
• CLES: Opportunities for Public Procurement Post Brexit
• A Whole New World: Funding and Commissioning in Complexity
• CLES Report - Power of Procurement II: the policy and practice of Manchester City Council
• Commissioning Better Outcomes Fund Evaluation Update Report
• Influencing Commissioners Guide
• Commissioner Perspectives on Working with the Voluntary Sector
• Healthy commissioning: How the Social Value Act is being used by Clinical Commissioning Groups
• Unlocking the value of VCSE organisations for improving population health & wellbeing: the commissioner's role and its Sister Guide

Poverty and Inclusive Economy

• Building Back Better in Greater Manchester: together with the VCSE sector and the wider social economy - A Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group inclusive economy discussion paper (published August 2020)
• JRF Report - Creating an anti-poverty childcare system programme paper
• Poverty Action Group - Poverty Monitor
• JRF report: Counting the cost of UK poverty
• Citizens Advice - A state of disrepair
• GM Local Industrial Strategy
• Measuring Poverty Report 2019
• Citizens Advice - It's broke, let's fix it
• The Social Economy Alliance manifesto for an inclusive economy
• Inclusive Growth Commission: Making our Economy Work for Everyone
• JRF - UK Poverty Data
• JRF - UK Poverty 2019 report
• Feeling the Pinch - End Child Poverty Report
• Locality - Powerful Communities, Strong Economies Report
• Understanding business behaviour that supports inclusive growth
• Tackling Poverty in the North – Third Sector Trends
• Destitution in the UK 2018 - JRF Report
• Understanding business behaviour that supports inclusive growth
• Oxfam Report: An economy for the 99%
• Flipping the coin: two sides of community wealth in England - The Young Foundation
• Strong resourceful communities: The case for a Community Wealth Fund
• Oxfam Reward Work, Not Wealth - An Oxfam report exploring how to end the inequality crisis, we must build an economy for ordinary working people, not the rich and powerful.
• CLES: Community Wealth Building through Anchor Institutions

Welfare Reform / Living Wage

• Citizens Advice - Delivering on Universal Credit: full report
• Early Warnings - Universal Credit and Foodbanks
• Hidden: Who are ‘hidden’ young people and why are they not engaging with welfare support?
• DWP Conditionality and Sanctions Interim Report
• DWP Benefit Conditionality and Sanctions in Salford - One Year On
• NAO Report - Benefit Sanctions
• The Uneven Impact of Welfare Reform
• The uneven impact of welfare reform: the financial losses to places and people report
• The Living Wage: Employer Experience
• Citizens Advice - Delivering on Universal Credit: full report
• Early Warnings - Universal Credit and Foodbanks
• Welfare Conditionality Project 2013-2018 - Find Finding 
• Final findings: WelCond project - Summarises the final findings of the Welfare Conditionality project (2013-2018). It presents analysis on the effectiveness, impacts and ethics of welfare conditionality, and the sanctions and mandatory support that underpin this approach.

Food Poverty

• Food Poverty Action Plan for Greater Manchester - summary and full report
• GM Poverty Action Food Providers map
• Salford Food Share Network website
• Early Warnings - Universal Credit and Foodbanks

Housing and Homelessness

• GM Housing Strategy
• GM Spatial Framework
• GM Homelessness Action Network Strategy
• Salford Homelessness Strategy 2018-2023
• Precarious Lives: exploring live experiences of the private rented sector in Salford
• A House Divided - How Unaffordable Housing Drives UK Inequality 
• The Housing Question 2016: Private renting and the housing market in Salford
• The Housing Question – two years on
• Justlife: Lifting the Lid on Hidden Homelessness
• Guide - How to make the case for community-led housing on public land
• A Second Class Ending  - Exploring the barriers and championing outstanding end of life care for people who are homeless
• Health Access and Homelessness in Salford - Healthwatch Salford Report
• No One Turned Away: Changing the law to prevent and tackle homelessness
• From Homes to Assets: Housing financialisation in Greater Manchester - full report

Community Assets 

• Big Potential: Buying an asset
• Reimagining community services: making the most of our assets
• Community Hubs Presentation
• IVAR - Working in Place: Collaborative funding in practice
• Locality - Understanding Community Asset Transfer
• Locality - The Great British Sell Off Report

• GM Youth Task Force and Young Person's Guarantee - Details of the task force, young persons guarantee and the advisory board.
• GM School Readiness Summit - Details and presentations from the summit in 2019
• GM Youth Combined Authority
• Children England Publications
• Not seen, not heard: a review of the arrangements for child safeguarding and health care for looked after children in England
• Directory of activities for children and young people in Salford
• Feeling the Pinch - End Child Poverty Report
• Hidden: Who are ‘hidden’ young people and why are they not engaging with welfare support?
• Making young minds matter: Reshaping support services for young people in the new Parliament
• Still Hidden: A deeper look at hidden young people and how best to support them toward employment
• Hidden Young People Report
• Early Access to Mental Health Support

Community Safety

• Making Safer Communities Summit Pack
• Making Safer Communities Summit Feedback Notes
• Police and Crime Plan
• Voices of Survivors Full Report - Exploring the voices and experiences of female sexual violence survivors - also available in an Executive Summary and Easy Read Summary format. 

Employment and Skills 

• GM Work and Skills Strategy - This document is due to be refreshed so you may also find it useful to see the ongoing work detailed on the GMCA website.
• Community Learning in Salford
• IGAU - Addressing Ethnic Inequalities in the Greater Manchester Labour Market
• IGAU - Ethnic Inequalities in the Greater Manchester labour market and in educational attainment and trajectories

Health and Social Care - Generic

• GM Health and Social Care VCSE Engagement - An overview of the work done at a GM level including details of the MoU signed in 2017.
• VCSE Representative with GM Health and Social Care meetings and boards 
• Health and Wellbeing Policy Context
• Salford Locality Plan
• GMHSCP Population Health Progress report
• PHE Strategy 2020-25​
• Primary Care Network Briefing Paper for VCSE
• Head, hands and heart: asset-based approaches in health care report
• Adult Social Care - Market Position Statement
• Salford Together - Integrated Care
• Evaluation: what to consider - commonly asked questions about how to approach evaluation of quality improvement in health care
• Joint review of partnerships and investment in voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in the health and care sector
• Taking Charge Together Report
• GM Health and Social Care website
• Working Together for Change
• Nuffield Trust NHS Reforms Timeline
• Healthwatch Salford Annual Reports and Publications
• Untapped potential: Bringing the voluntary sector’s strengths to health and care transformation
• Nesta: Health as a Social Movement
• Realising the Value: Ten actions to put people and communities at the heart of health and wellbeing
• What the system can do: The role of national bodies in realising the value of people and communities in health and care
• New approaches to value in health and care
• Making it happen: Practical learning and tips from the five Realising the Value local partner sites
• Making the change: Behavioural factors in person- and community-centred approaches for health and wellbeing
• At the heart of health: Realising the value of people and communities
• Taking Charge Implementation and Delivery Plan
• Wellbeing in four policy areas Report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Wellbeing Economics (2014)
• Healthier Futures GMCA Smoking in Greater Manchester profile
• Public health working with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector: new opportunities and sustainable change
• STPs: What, Why and Where Next?
• Keeping us well: How non-health charities address the social determinants of health
• CQC Report: State of Care 2017 
• Salford Together 'Big Conversation' final report
• Health as a social movement: theory into practice
• Evaluating Care Homes Summary Report of all Enter and View visits
• NHS Salford CCG Annual Report and Publications
• VCSE Inclusion Health Audit Tool
• The Health Foundation - What Makes Us Healthy Guide
• GMHSCP Population Health Progress report
• PHE Strategy 2020-25​
• Primary Care Network Briefing Paper for VCSE