Social Prescribing in Greater Manchester

In February 2018, the Greater Manchester Devolution VCSE Reference Group (The Reference Group) decided to commission from amongst its membership a review of social prescribing in Greater Manchester. The main task of the research was to carry out a mapping exercise of the existing patterns and nature of social prescribing across Greater Manchester (GM). The particular focus was to establish what was happening across the GM Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in relation to social prescribing.

Working in partnership, the University of Salford and Salford CVS have undertaken a review of existing research, a survey of social prescribing activity across GM and a deep dive involving interviews and qualitative investigation in one locality (Salford).

To read an executive summary of the report, please click here.

Devolution and Beyond: essays on the voluntary sector's role in an inclusive devolution agenda

Three years since Devolution, Our Devolution, this compilation of essays, Devolution and Beyond, from leading thinkers and operators in devolution explores the current context for the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector. 

With six combined authority mayoral elections in May 2017, this is a pivotal time for the devolution agenda - and if it is to be an inclusive one, it is vital that the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector is playing a leading role. These essays, from both within the sector and out, explore how this can be achieved.

With contributions from: 

• Mike Wild (Macc)
• Ceri Hughes and Ruth Lupton (Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit)
• Gill Bainbridge (Merseyside Youth Association)
• Fay Selvan (Big Life Group)
• Atif Shafique (Royal Society of the Arts)
• Neil McInroy (Centre for Local Economic Strategies)
• Sean Anstee (Greater Manchester Combined Authority)
• Simone Spray (42nd Street)
• Garth Hodgkinson (Community CVS)
• Carolyn Otley (Cumbria Third Sector Network)
• Kathy Evans (Children England)
• Jim McMahon MP (Shadow Minister for Local Government and Devolution)