Understanding the proposed benefit changes
The UK government has launched the Pathways to Work Green Paper, proposing major reforms to health and disability benefits. With a public consultation now underway, these changes could have significant consequences for low-income and vulnerable communities.
The green paper aims to reduce the rising number of people claiming health-related benefits, but concerns have been raised about potential income losses for vulnerable individuals. While some proposals offer better employment support, others restrict eligibility for financial assistance, sparking debate.
For voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations across the North West, who work tirelessly to combat poverty and support employment and training, these changes are deeply concerning. Many will want to engage in the consultation process to ensure the voices of their communities are heard.
Our briefing outlines the key elements of the consultation, highlights areas not covered, and provides guidance on how VCFSE organisations can contribute effectively. Now is the time to act and shape the future of health and disability benefits.
What’s in the briefing?
The briefing outlines:
Key themes of the consultation, including benefit system reforms, employment support, and employer responsibilities.
How to respond effectively, emphasising evidence over opinion.
Alternative approaches, such as public campaigning and political engagement.
The full list of consultation questions to help organisations shape their responses.
With the consultation open until Monday 30 June, this briefing serves as a vital tool for VCFSE organisations looking to ensure their communities’ voices are heard.
Pan North West: Strengthening research engagement and collaboration
Francesca McIntosh at the event promoting BRIDGE
Last week, the Pan North West event took place in Manchester, bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, and community organisations to strengthen collaboration and engagement. In this blog post, our Research and Communications Coordinator, Francesca McIntosh, shares her insights and key takeaways from the event.
As the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise research coordinator for Cheshire and Merseyside and the creator of the BRIDGE Research Network, I had the privilege of working alongside the Research Engagement Network teams across the North West to organise a pan North West event, a day filled with powerful discussions, shared experiences, and a collective drive to make research more inclusive and community-led. The energy in the room was inspiring, and it was clear that everyone was committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that research truly serves all communities.
The day began with insightful presentations that highlighted the importance of research engagement at both a national and regional level. Alice Williams from NHS England provided a national perspective on the ICS Research Engagement Network programme, emphasising the role research plays in improving health outcomes, job satisfaction for health and care staff, and the wider economy.
She shared compelling data demonstrating that research-active hospitals deliver better care and that for every £1 invested in research, there is a £19 return to the wider economy. However, she also stressed that research must be representative of all communities, as disparities in clinical trials can lead to treatments that don’t work as well for some groups. This was a crucial reminder that research must be shaped by and for the people it aims to serve.
Teams from Cheshire & Merseyside, Greater Manchester, and Lancashire & South Cumbria shared how they are working to increase diversity in research participation and tackle systemic barriers. It was particularly encouraging to see how different regions are developing community-led research projects, focusing on mental health inequalities, data accessibility, and inclusive engagement strategies.
For me, one of the most powerful aspects of the event was hearing directly from diverse communities about their experiences with research. Some of the projects that stood out included:
The Deaf Village in Blackburn, where community members shared the challenges deaf individuals face in research and healthcare. Their insights reinforced the need for specialist interpreters, inclusive communication tools, and culturally appropriate engagement.
Streetlife in Blackpool, where innovative comedy-based workshops have been used to encourage research participation in a way that feels safe and empowering.
Inspire Women Oldham, who are building confidence in research through peer-led initiatives. The StrongHer Together project showcased how women can take ownership of research and shape studies that directly impact their health and wellbeing.
To learn more about these initiatives and explore all projects shared at the event, you can view the presentation slides here.
Making research more accessible
A recurring theme in discussions was the need to remove jargon and acronyms that can make research feel inaccessible. Many of us agreed that clearer communication is needed so that more people can understand and engage with research opportunities.
There was also a push for greater visibility of ongoing projects, so organisations can identify similar work happening elsewhere and collaborate rather than duplicate efforts. Integrated Care Boards were encouraged to use and share data more effectively, ensuring that research is driven by real-world evidence.
Addressing barriers and supporting community researchers
A major discussion point was how funding processes sometimes create competition rather than collaboration. We need to move towards a collective approach to securing resources, ensuring that research is done with communities, not to them.
Many attendees also called for affordable and accessible training courses to help community members become researchers, rather than always relying on external experts. There was a clear message that we need to develop researchers from within underrepresented groups, making lived experience a central part of research design. Training should also be available in various formats to accommodate different learning styles.
Technology access was also raised- something as simple as having a laptop can determine whether someone can participate in research. We need to address these resource gaps to make research more equitable and inclusive.
The role of BRIDGE Research Network
Throughout the event, BRIDGE Research Network, was mentioned as a potential solution to many of these challenges. BRIDGE was developed by VSNW with support and influence by both community voices and the research infrastructure across the north west coast.
BRIDGE provides a collaborative space for sharing research opportunities, showcasing good practice, finding research partners, and openly discussing the struggles that come with research engagement. There was a strong appetite for using BRIDGE to create and share resources, making it easier for organisations to learn from one another.
One of the biggest takeaways was the need for tangible evidence of research impact. We often hear that research is important, but communities need to see the difference it makes. BRIDGE can help VCFSE organisations work with researchers to demonstrate real-world benefits, from policy change to better service delivery.
Moving forward together
Research is at its best when it is community-led and co-designed. The voices and insights shared reinforced the importance of putting people at the heart of research, ensuring they are not just participants but active partners in shaping the research agenda.
As we move forward, I am excited to continue working on BRIDGE Research Network and our partners to make research more inclusive, collaborative, and impactful. This event was a fantastic step in the right direction, and I look forward to seeing how these discussions shape the future of research engagement in the North West.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed- let’s now keep the conversation going and make sure research works for everyone!
New Volunteering Hub for Cheshire and Warrington
A new website has been launched to support volunteering in Cheshire and Warrington, giving people easy access to a wide range of opportunities across the area, whilst providing a shared space for volunteer-involving organisations.
Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA), Community & Voluntary Services (CVS) Cheshire East and Warrington Voluntary Action (VA) came together to launch the platform, as part of the Cheshire and Merseyside VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme, led by VSNW and coordinated through the Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Network (CWIP).
Now people in Cheshire and Warrington have a central place to start their volunteering search, showcasing almost 250 different opportunities in the region. It makes it easier for people to connect with causes that match their experiences and interests, contributing to their wellbeing, skill development and sense of community.
Alison Cullen, who co-ordinated the volunteering hub on behalf of CWIP, said: "The Cheshire and Warrington volunteer platform gives people more choice to quality volunteer opportunities across the area and is the start of a coordinated approach to volunteering. Bringing the three CVSs together will further encourage, develop and promote good practice in volunteering. It shows our shared vision that truly values volunteering and the benefits volunteering brings to people in all aspects of life.”
CWVA, CVS Cheshire East and Warrington VA continue to support community organisations in their local areas with accessing and advertising their volunteering opportunities on the volunteering hub.
The platform works in a similar way to the existing Liverpool City Region volunteering hub, which you can find here.
You can find out more about the organisations involved and the Cheshire and Merseyside VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme, from the following websites: · CWVA website · CVS Cheshire East website · Warrington VA website · CWIP · VSNW (including C&M VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme)
Integrated Care Board cuts: A message of support for our NHS colleagues
Last week, the Prime Minister announced that NHS England, the administrative body responsible for delivering health services, setting out funding and agreeing priorities for the NHS across the country, will be abolished.
Alongside this, and perhaps most relevant to our VCFSE organisations and NHS partners across the North West, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have been ordered to cut their running costs by 50 per cent in the next six months with provider trusts also told to cut their corporate service budgets back to pre-pandemic levels.
Citing a need to “liberate” NHS staff and leaders from over regulation and bureaucracy, these changes will see the NHS “taken back into direct government control” within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Keir Starmer, in his speech in East Yorkshire, was critical of the systematic duplication that has evolved since the establishment of NHS England, with the Government expecting around 50 per cent of jobs at both NHS England and DHSC to be cut in an attempt to streamline health and care planning and provision and redeploy savings to frontline services.
The Government are wasting no time with this latest announcement, with work beginning immediately to transfer functions to DHSC with an aim for the transition to be complete within a 2-year timeline. There is uncertainty around what this news means in terms of the recent publication of various policy announcements regarding NHS priorities and for the long awaited NHS 10 year plan. It is also unclear at this stage what 50 per cent cuts to ICB running costs will look like, particularly as many ICBs are already in financial deficit, with some concerns raised that reforming ways of working could impact on place-based teams and frontline services.
We understand that this is an extremely concerning and demoralising time for many health and care staff across the country, and here at VSNW we want to offer our solidarity and support to our NHS colleagues and partners across the North West.
It is easy to see these figures as that, just figures, but behind these numbers and percentages are hardworking and passionate people who are dedicated to delivering high quality care to our communities in the face of increasingly difficult circumstances. Communities in which their families, friends, colleagues and they themselves live and receive health care.
Whilst we wait to see the impact of these proposed cuts locally, and indeed on the VCFSE sector, we will continue to support our health and care partners across the North West to navigate this challenge to continue to provide high-quality services for our communities.
At VSNW we are committed to supporting improved, integrated, prevention-driven community and neighbourhood delivery concurrently with the three NHS shifts (hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention).
For further information on this announcement, NHS Confederation have produced a briefing which can be found here: https://www.nhsconfed.org/publications/abolishing-nhs-england-what-you-need-know
Supporting mental health and wellbeing with Kind to Your Mind
At VSNW, we are proud to support the launch of Kind to Your Mind, a new website designed to be the primary gateway to mental health and wellbeing resources across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Developed by Champs Public Health Collaborative in partnership with the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, this platform provides an essential one-stop shop for individuals seeking advice, support, and resources to improve their mental wellbeing.
What is Kind to Your Mind?
The Kind to Your Mind website is a dedicated resource aimed at supporting the 2.7 million residents of Cheshire and Merseyside with their mental health and wellbeing. It offers a wide range of services, tools, and information, including:
Mental health support services tailored to individual needs.
Practical advice and self-help tools to manage stress, anxiety, and low mood.
Apps and online courses that provide guidance on mental wellbeing.
A personalised support plan to help individuals find the most relevant resources based on how they are feeling.
Mental health and wellbeing are critical aspects of overall health, and ensuring that everyone in our communities has access to the right support is more important than ever.
For any questions, feedback, or additional support opportunities, you can reach out to the Champs Support Team at champscommunication@wirral.gov.uk.
Welcoming Cathy Elliott as NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Chief Executive
We welcome the news that Cathy Elliott, a committed champion for the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector’s role in tackling health inequalities, has been appointed as Chief Executive of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside. Her leadership will be key to securing better health and wellbeing for communities in Cheshire and Merseyside with a focus on neighbourhood care and partnership working.
She will be taking over from Graham Urwin, who will be retiring after 36 years of service within the NHS from the end of June. Graham has been a strong advocate for partnership working between the NHS and the VCFSE sector, recognising the vital role that community organisations play in supporting health and well-being.
Stepping into this role in the spring, Cathy will bring a wealth of expertise. With executive level experience across a number different sectors, including the VCFSE sector, we are looking forward to strengthening partnerships and continuing to drive positive change under her leadership.
Cathy was previously a member of the VS6 Partnership in Liverpool City Region during her role as Chief Executive of Community Foundation for Merseyside, and we are sure that with her experience she will continue to champion and advocate for collaboration between the NHS and the VCFSE sector for community-led approaches to health and well-being.
Warren Escadale, CEO at VSNW and partner member of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, said: “We wish Graham a happy retirement and thank him for his commitment to the VCFSE sector. His leadership and dedication to partnership working have strengthened its role within health and care systems, ensuring the sector has a seat at the table.
“We would also like to congratulate Cathy on her new role. I am confident she will build on the existing work with the sector, and I look forward to working together to support communities across Cheshire and Merseyside.”
VSNW works alongside C&M Health and Care Leaders Group, VS6, and CWIP to support the vital role of the VCFSE sector in Cheshire and Merseyside.
You can read more about the appointment on the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside website.
Empowering Community Organisations: New Research Engagement Opportunities for Cheshire, Merseyside, and Across the North West
We are excited to announce three valuable initiatives designed to empower community organisations, strengthen research capacity, and drive impactful change across the region. These opportunities offer tailored support, expert training, and collaborative networking to advance research-led improvements in health and wellbeing.
1. Mabadiliko Academy: Community-powered Health Research Training
In partnership with Mabadiliko CIC, the free Mabadiliko Academy equips community members with essential skills to engage in health research and drive positive change. This initiative aims to build confidence and empower local communities to influence health outcomes.
Spaces: 40 places available on a first-come, first-served basis
Deadline: Registration is now extended until Friday, 21st February 2025
Who Should Apply: VCFSE organisations and community groups in Cheshire and Merseyside seeking to develop research capacity
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to enhance your organisation’s research skills—register today and share this opportunity widely within your network.
2. Health Economics Masterclass: Evaluation Support for VCFSE Organisations
Four VCFSE organisations in Cheshire and Merseyside are invited to benefit from bespoke evaluation support through our Health Economics Masterclass. In collaboration with UCLan and Lancaster University health economists, this initiative offers practical advice to help organisations evaluate their work more effectively and demonstrate their impact.
Deadline: Register by Monday, 31st March 2025
Objective: To strengthen evidence of impact and encourage knowledge-sharing across the sector
This masterclass is an ideal opportunity for organisations looking to refine their evaluation practices and build a stronger case for their contributions.
3. Research Engagement Network Pan North West Event
Mark your calendars for an inspiring day of collaboration at the Research Engagement Network Pan North West Event. Taking place on Thursday, 20th March 2025 at Central Hall Manchester, this event brings together VCFSE sector representatives, research infrastructure partners, and integrated care board (ICB) staff to explore co-production and innovative research solutions.
Focus: Addressing health inequalities and driving forward collaborative research
Open Invitation: All interested parties are welcome to join, network, and contribute to this dynamic conversation
This event is a key opportunity to engage with thought leaders and peers in our sector, fostering stronger partnerships and community-led research initiatives.
We encourage all interested organisations to take advantage of these initiatives and to share this news widely within your networks.
For any further information or queries, please do not hesitate to contact francesca.mcintosh@vsnw.org.uk.
Sector instability warning in open letter to Greater Manchester commissioners
The Greater Manchester VCFSE Leadership Group has written an open letter to commissioners in the city-region calling for urgent action to support and protect the local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector due to significant systemic issues.
The open letter notes that the sector has endured years of challenges, including:
Contracts that fail to keep pace with inflation and relevant pay scale.
Delayed decisions that undermine the ability to plan.
A lack of funding uplifts, even as operational costs surge.
Lack of long-term funding.
Lack of a level playing-field in commissioning decisions.
On top of this, new financial pressures such as the recent increase to National Insurance Contributions, which has been forecast as an additional £20,000–£50,000 annually per organisation, have increased the strain.
The open letter asks for an open and honest dialogue with commissioners to protect the future of the sector in the city-region. Whilst support has already been seen from local and GM leaders, including Mayor Andy Burnham and Councillor Arooj Shah who called on Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to urgently reconsider proposed NIC changes to protect the VCFSE sector in Greater Manchester, the open letter calls upon commissioners to support their shared vision of a thriving sector.
Organisations have already been forced to make staff redundancies, to make real-time pay cuts and to scale back services, leaving the most marginalised members of society without essential services.
Without consideration of increased costs for VCFSE organisations, continued short-term and unreliable funding, and a lack of consistency, transparency and dialogue from commissioners, the valuable and much-needed VCFSE sector in Greater Manchester is at risk.
The Leadership Group, for which VSNW act as secretariat, are dedicated to promoting the role and involvement of the sector in Greater Manchester (GM).
Find out more about their work: www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/our-work
Help shape the future of health data research
The North West Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Public Advisory and Accountability Group (PAAG) is seeking members of the public to provide input on the development of a secure digital system for health and public data research.
As part of NHS England’s digital strategy, this initiative aims to bring together currently separate data sources—spanning health, care, environment, and travel—into a secure, pseudonymised digital environment. Researchers will be able to apply to access de-identified data to support studies that could improve healthcare, public services, and policy making.
To ensure transparency and public trust, it is essential that local people are involved in shaping this system. The PAAG will play a key role in advising on the design, expectations, and safeguards around the use of health and social data for research.
Who can get involved?
The group is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, and no prior experience in health data, research, or advisory roles is required. The aim is to gather diverse perspectives to ensure the system meets public expectations and operates responsibly.
What to expect
Monthly online meetings (2 hours)
£50 payment per session
Opportunities to contribute to an important national initiative
This work is being led by teams from the Lancashire and South Cumbria, Cheshire and Merseyside, and Greater Manchester Integrated Care Systems.
For those interested in contributing to this critical development in secure health data research, this is an opportunity to have a direct impact on how data is used for public benefit.
To register, visit North West Secure Data Environment [forms.office.com] or contact Nichola.Verstraelen@lthtr.nhs.uk for more information.