New Civil Society Covenant recognises collaborative efforts of Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester’s collaborative efforts as a partnership working to improve outcomes for our citizens and communities has been recognised in the UK Government’s new Civil Society Covenant.  

Launched last Thursday (17th July), the Civil Society Covenant aims to reshape how the Government works with communities to tackle the country’s biggest challenges – from healthcare to tackling violence. It will play a key role in delivering their ‘Plan for Change’, along with the recently announced 10 Year Health Plan for England, which is committed to improving people’s lives by prioritising prevention interventions and improved collaborative working. 

The Covenant sets out how the UK government, local authorities and other public bodies, including NHS, will work as strategic partners with voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations to achieve shared goals. It includes a commitment to recognising the strengths and role of our sector. 

Through effective partnership working with civil society, the government aims to strengthen the voice of people in decision-making and delivery to make communities stronger, improving public services by ‘making them more responsive and rooted in local needs’.  

Recognised in the Covenant as an example of successful partnership working with civil society is the Greater Manchester VCFSE Accord - an agreement between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the Greater Manchester NHS Integrated Care System, and the VCFSE Sector represented by the GM VCFSE Leadership Group, supported by VSNW.

The Accord, signed in 2017, is based on a relationship of mutual trust, working together, and sharing responsibility. It aims to grow awareness of the significant role of the VCFSE sector in Greater Manchester to unlock its full potential as a partner and resource to tackle the city-region’s significant inequalities.  

The Covenant also recognises the work of the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit to taking a community-led approach to prevent violence, recognising the unique role of VCFSE organisations in working closely with communities, to understand their needs, challenges and strengths in relation to violence prevention. Dawn Obe-Yates, GM VCFSE Leadership Group member, CEO of Bolton CVS and VCFSE representative on GM Violence Reduction Unit Community-Led Delivery Group, said: 

"It's great to see the work of the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit recognised. Community-led partnerships are so important -

we need the voices of people across our communities to be heard in decision-making and delivery to ensure maximum impact.

The Covenant is a step in the right direction and it’s great to see the recognition of the role of our sector."

Warren Escadale, Chief Executive of VSNW said:

“It is extremely pleasing to see the emphasis in this national agreement, and in the exemplar case studies, being on local relationships. Once I get over us being associated with the flagship case study, we need to get on with making local exemplars the local norm across the North West.”

What now? 

We know that the impact of the VCFSE sector is substantial in improving outcomes for local people, so it’s promising to see the recognition of the VCFSE sector as essential partners in tackling health, social and economic inequality. 

A local covenant partnerships programme has been set up to support collaboration between civil society, councils and public services in communities, alongside an online hub for practical guidance and resources relating to the covenant. 

We urge all VCFSE leaders, commissioners and statutory decision makers to read and digest the covenant: www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-society-covenant/civil-society-covenant