Call for contributions: Share your experiences and learning from failure (Manchester)
Ever messed-up? Yep, we have too.. we just don’t often talk about it.
We are looking for people from the VCSE sector in Greater Manchester to share their experience of failure and the valuable lessons learned from this as part of our event, ‘Learning from Failure’ on Thursday 23rd June 2022, in Manchester.
We’re interested in hearing about when things haven’t gone to plan in your field, what contributed to this, what did you learn from it, how you responded to it and what you did next. Each person will be given the stage for a couple minutes to share their experience with the audience.
It doesn’t have to be an epic adventure tale or end in success - although it could be these things as well. We are also interested in mundane experiences of failure - the everyday things that happen, ordinary ‘mistakes’ that lead to small golden nuggets of learning that we collect along the way when we mess up.
We want the event to create a space for people working in, with and funding the VCSE sector to talk about:
When things do not go as planned
How we can learn from things going wrong
The value of looking at failure in research and evaluation
How to get involved:
Skills for Growth Programme in Greater Manchester
The aim of the Skils for Growth programme is to provide an up-skilling service to VCSE organisations across Greater Manchester. This programme can be tailor-made with the ambition to help improve productivity across the workforce, which in turn will help your organisation to prosper.
What your organisation can expect:
Develop your team with skills
Maximise future growth
Reshape your organisation
Improve your team’s wellbeing
Funding your growth
Support for individuals is also available to:
Explore training providers and grow skillset
Help maximising opportunities
Guidance improving your CV
Develop interview techniques
Skills for Growth is delivered by Growth Company (GC) Business Growth Hub with GMCVO and funded through the European Social Fund, which is commissioned by GMCA.
MORE INFORMATION HERE.
Digital Inclusion in Great Manchester: Andy Burnham's Pledge
The last year has seen a rise in homeworking and the inextricable need for many people and organisations to increase their capacity to work and communicate online . This has exacerbated digital access inequalities, and has forced many to be ‘digitally excluded’. A focus on digital inclusion is therefore a necessity.
This month, Andy Burnham was re-elected as Greater Manchester’s Metro Mayor. He has since pledged to aim to equip all under 25s, over 75s and disabled members of the community with the skills and technology to engage with our ever increasing digital society. Through the newly established Digital Inclusion Action Network, Burnham will work with organisations to help extinguish digital exclusion in the city region.
Since 2020 and the Greater Manchester Technology Fund launch, over 1,300 disadvantged young people have been helped with a “digital kit bundle”, which includes a laptop or tablet and tools to get online.
GM VCSE Leadership Group Economic Vision
The GM VCSE Leadership Group have devised an ‘economic vision’ for Greater Manchester; they hope this vision will guide future conversations in the VCSE, private, statutory sectors and in communities.
The Vision:
They instigate a need to explore alternative approaches to economics by adopting something more progressive.
They propose an inclusive economy that prioritises the needs and interests of all of society and the environment, in contrast with only the interests of corporate power.
They argue that Covid-19 has further exacerbated and harshly exposed the deepening inequalities in Greater Manchester and that now is the opportunity to address these inqualities through empowering communities and society members, organising work and time and combating environmental issues further.
A new, inclusive econonmy
The focus on profit and gain that is currently ingrained in our economic culture prospers at the expense of our happiness & wellbeing. A new, inclusive economy however would be based on the following core values:
Equality & human dignity
Solidarity & community
Autonomy & liberation
Stewardship of environment
Pragmatics:
An inclusive economy would need to encourage community engagement in economics, as opposed to economic development decisions being solely down to professionals & agencies.
Greater social ownership of wealth; through communtity and locally owned businesses etc.
A need for a Green New Deal: secure a fairer society and safe climate by transforming the economy.
Social & mission-led businesses would receive positive noteriety.
Full vision available here
Greater Manchester Covid Insight Reports
Safely Managing Covid-19: Manchester Population Survey
The impacts of coronavirus across the Greater Manchester population have not been evenly distributed. In order to address the lack of detail in national surveys the Greater Manchester Combined Authority are going to carry out regular research on behalf of their partners, exploring the issues and impacts of Covid-19 across Greater Manchester, including it’s 10 local authorities.
BMG research are using a mixture of monthly online and telephone surveys to collect data from a minimum of 1000 residents in GM, with at least 100 residents in each local authority. Measures are being taken to ensure that respondents reflect the profile of the different areas
Thus far, there have been two surveys:
Survey 1:
Aim: to provide an overview of key issues/barriers/motivations relating to how GM, individual localities and specific parts of the GM population are “living with Covid-19"
Brief Summary of findings:
These groups have been more negatively impacted than others:
Young people, particularly those aged 16-24;
Residents with young children, and particularly those aged 0-4yrs
BME residents overall, but Asian residents in particular;
Muslim residents and those for whom English is not their first language;
Carers, and residents where someone in their household has been told they are at high risk from COVID;
Those with a disability;
Residents that have served in the armed forces;
Those living in the ‘most deprived’ communities of Greater Manchester, among others.
Examples of some of the feelings and concerns due to Covid-19 include:
High levels of worry about the virus, especially amongst those with a disability, children and those in the most deprived neighbourhoods
Worries regarding the economy and future of young people, mental health, education
Many have big concerns affording bills, food, rent, mortgages etc
BAME residents regarded caring for family, those in needs etc a ‘big concern’.
Selection of impacts Covid-19:
Loss of jobs, redundancy (more frequent for 16-24 year olds, students, Asian residents etc), furlough
Many self-employed have seen reduction in work
1 in 14 have used foodbanks (1 in 5 amongst those with children aged 0-4 and ex armed forces).
1 in 10 have had to borrow money
Reports of more support needed widely spread (finding employment, mental health, monetary, childcare)
Survey 2:
Some questions remained the same from survey 1, comparisons made
Aims to understand concerns and impacts of the virus
Also aims to understand residents feelings towards a second national lockdown and thoughts on vaccinations and mass testing
Highlights:
1 in 5 have had coronavirus (only 2/3 have had a positive test)
1 in 3 have had to self-isolate (only small number aware of financial suppot payment during this time)
Levels of concern have increased
Individual concerns increased such as mental health, finances, impacts on children
1 in 10 couldn’t name any of the key symptoms of coronavirus
9 in 10 follows key guidelines for stopping spread of virus
52% feel it is okay to leave house when self-isolating
Faith in restrictions decreasing
68% would take part in community testing, those who wouldn’t not informed
75% likely to get vaccine
Life satisfaction decreased
Greater Manchester Business Survey - call for Social Enterprise participation
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is working with the Mayor’s Business Advisory Panel and the Business Growth Hub to deliver the 6th annual GM-wide business survey, to improve their understanding of the strengths and opportunities local businesses have, as well as the challenges and issues they face. Listening to what matters most to businesses will enable them to design and deliver better policies, programmes and services intended to support the business community to thrive.
GMCA are particularly interested in hearing about issues that are important for social enterprises, and how their needs may be different from private companies and charities. To ensure they reach as many social enterprises as we can, they are keen to hear from social enterprise organisations who would be willing to support this research. Their research consultants have been asked to interview leaders from up to 50 social enterprises from across GM as part of this survey. If you would be willing to take part, please express your interest by emailing Anne Lythgoe (anne.lythgoe@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk) by Friday 22nd November at the latest, giving the name of your organisation, the person nominated to take part in an interview and their email address.
The interviews will take place between November 2019 and January 2020, and each interview will last approximately 20 minutes.
The GM VCSE Reference Group is now the GM VCSE Leadership Group
The VCSE Devolution Reference Group was formed in 2016 as a coalition of leaders from the VCSE sector who wanted to promote the role and involvement of the VCSE sector and communities in Greater Manchester devolution.
The group now oversee a number of significant projects/initiatives and feel that they need a name that better reflects the work that they do. After careful consideration the group will now be called the GM VCSE Leadership Group with the strapline: ‘the sector’s voice in Devolution’.
Warren Escadale, Independent Chair of the group, said:
“We believe that our sector plays a critical role in our communities. As a leadership group we want to make sure that voluntary, community, and social enterprise groups and organisations are not taken for granted and that we influence the future of Greater Manchester and the devolution agenda. Greater Manchester’s 16,000 groups cannot engage in everything but we need to make sure, collectively, that our sector is better understood, that where groups can be engaged they are engaged, and that we are fighting for the principles and programmes of activity that benefit and support our communities and beneficiaries.”
A new website will be launched soon that will explain more about the group, who they are, how they operate and what they do. In the meantime you can find out more on Voluntary Sector North West’s website here.
Greater Manchester Poverty Action
Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) has been working on behalf of the GM VCSE Devolution Reference Group to develop tools that help promote the voluntary and community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector’s role in the Greater Manchester economy.
The following film sets out some of the socio-economic challenges the city region faces and considers the potential role for the VCSE sector in helping to reshape our economy.
The GM VCSE Devolution Reference Group is a group of organisations who come together to promote the role and involvement of the VCSE sector and communities in devolution. Part of this work involves promoting the role of VCSE organisations in the Greater Manchester economy, ensuring the economic value and potential of such organisations is recognised.
Given the twin challenges of economic inequality and poverty in Greater Manchester, the Reference Group recognises that the economy of Greater Manchester needs to be more inclusive, delivering better outcomes for all residents and ensuring everyone living in the city region can benefit from sustainable economic activity. The Reference Group believes VCSE organisations have a central role in achieving this, particularly in respect of encouraging economic activity in place with high levels of deprivation and poverty.
To view the film visit here.
For more information on the work that GMPA are doing in this area, visit here.
What’s next for the VCSE sector in Greater Manchester? Have your say
The Greater Manchester VCSE 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.
Please share your views on the draft Paper. Does it describe a way forward that is meaningful for all VCSE organisations?
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 is intended to be really ambitious, describing a future role equal to those of the state and business. It sets out what our sector could bring over the next 25 years to Greater Manchester people and communities, and what would need to be done to enable it, including investment.
It isn’t an action plan, but after the Policy Paper is finalised in November an ‘implementation and transformation plan’ will be developed over the following year in each of the 10 localities as well as for Greater Manchester. The plans will vary, but will all be co-designed with relevant partners within the broad framework set out in this Paper.
Please respond to the online survey and/or come to a consultation event (dates and venues will be advertised once agreed). The survey is open until 30th September 2019.
The draft Executive Summary can be viewed online here. If you would like a copy of the full document, please email Katya Pursall (kat.pursall@gmail.com)