Our response to the Autumn Budget 2024
It has finally arrived! After months of speculation and snippets of information, we now have the full Autumn Budget 2024 which outlines Keir Starmer’s Labour government’s spending priorities for the next 18 months.
With the many challenges that the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector have faced over the last few years, the pressure was on for the government to create a budget that empowers communities, builds inclusive growth and tackles the inequalities prevalent in our communities across the North West.
However, since the budget was announced on Wednesday, the overall reaction from the VCFSE sector has been a bit of a mixed bag.
The extension of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF) for a further year, from April 2025 to March 2026, is very much welcome. We recently wrote to the Chancellor to urge the government to continue this funding as a minimum, so it is a relief to see this has been taken on board.
However, with the level of funding allocated (£900m) compared to last years allocation (£1.5bn) vastly reduced, and as of yet no inclination of whether this amount includes funding for Multiply or any underspend, there are concerns about how this scaling back of UK SPF funding will impact VCFSE activity. It will be important for us to lobby for VCFSE organisations to ensure that wider funding reforms prioritise the sector as a key partner.
The budget also advances devolution, with integrated settlements for Greater Manchester delivering a single flexible pot of funding to deliver growth, with a further integrated settlement to be delivered for Liverpool City Region in 2026/27. We will continue to utilise our close working links with our regions combined authorities, including the proposed Lancashire Combined County Authority in the future, to ensure the sector has a role in this devolution.
A 3.2% rise in core local government spending is a step in the right direction. This increase, alongside £600 million in social care grant funding, should provide promising opportunities for the VCFSE sector. In particular, the government's emphasis on a "preventative approach to public service delivery" and giving "more power to communities to deliver more efficiently and effectively for civilians" is encouraging.
Time will tell whether this funding will translate into meaningful investment in the VCFSE sector. Achieving this will require a coordinated sub-regional and place-based approach to influence this local government spending effectively.
However, many of these more welcomed elements of the budget have been largely overshadowed by the announcement of increased employer national insurance (NI) contributions .
With the VCFSE sector already burdened by increased demand and falling funding, many organisations are already finding it extremely difficult to maintain their workforce and keep their services going. This, in conjunction with the rise in the minimum and real living wage, is putting extreme financial pressure on the sector which has already had to absorb ever increasing costs with our communities ultimately paying the price.
The sector can no longer afford to absorb these costs, nor should it be expected to subsidise public services. We will be monitoring this issue closely and will work to raise awareness of its impact on the sector. We will also outline actions that should be taken to mitigate these challenges, such as lobbying for contract uplifts where necessary.
NCVO has published an open letter to the Chancellor on the impact of increased NI contributions for charities, calling upon Rachel Reeves to exempt the VCFSE sector from this new policy and providing the same support to the sector as they have to public sector organisations. Sign the open letter to show your support.
The organisation has also produced a more comprehensive overview of the impact of the Autumn Budget on the VCFSE sector, so please check out the breakdown of key implications.
We are committed to making sure that the sector’s collective voice across the North West is heard and we will continue to advocate on behalf of the sector on the back of this budget. Through our upcoming work around maximising social value outcomes with the VCFSE sector and developing a regional fair funding protocol for the region, we will continue to work hard to ensure the sector is funded sustainably and recognised as a key delivery partner alongside our public sector services.
Share your views on hospital gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool
A six-week public engagement has been launched, giving people an opportunity to comment on the issues facing hospital gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool.
The main challenge facing these services is the fact that they are located on a different site to most other acute and specialist care, which can cause problems and delays with care – Liverpool Women’s is the only specialist centre for gynaecology and maternity in the country where this is the case.
People can find out more, download an information booklet summarising the key issues, and complete a short questionnaire at: www.GynaeAndMaternityLiverpool.nhs.uk
The website also features a number of short films with staff involved in delivering gynaecology and maternity care, explaining more about the challenges in their own words.
As part of the public engagement, a series of face-to-face and online engagement events will take place during November, giving people the opportunity to hear about the issues from clinicians and take part in small group discussions. Sessions will be held in Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton, with people welcome to attend whichever is most convenient for them.
Details of these events and how to register are available at: https://www.gynaeandmaternityliverpool.nhs.uk/get-involved/attend-an-engagement-event/ or by calling 0151 702 4353 (Monday to Friday, between 8.30am – 4pm) or emailing engagement@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk
These contact details can also be used to request information in different formats or languages.
The NHS will be working with a wide range of partner organisations and local community groups to help share information and encourage people to take part in the engagement.
Once the engagement closes on 26 November 2024, all responses gathered will be analysed by an independent organisation and put into a report, which is likely to be published in early 2025. This feedback will be used to help inform what happens next, including the development of any proposals for how hospital gynaecology and maternity services could look in the future.
Cancer Alliance wins prestigious national award for Community Partnerships scheme
A project promoting cancer awareness and screening through voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) grassroot organisations has been named Community Care Initiative of the Year at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards 2024.
The Community Partnerships programme is a collaboration between Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) Cancer Alliance and Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) organisations and over 100 local VCFSE providers, delivering effective hyperlocal engagement, supporting early cancer diagnosis and prevention across the region.
This is one of a number of projects emerging from the C&M VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme, coordinated by Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW), which harnesses the collective strength of the sector to tackle inequalities and improve people’s health and wellbeing.
Racheal Jones, VCFSE Transformation Lead for Liverpool City Region VS6, said: “This work is a real testament to the power of collaboration and partnership between the NHS and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Sector to reach those furthest away from securing positive health outcomes.”
Alison Cullen, VCFSE Transformation Lead for Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for all those involved, delivered through a truly coproduced approach that recognises how local people are best placed to deliver grassroots community engagement, and have a pivotal role in addressing health inequalities.”
Cancer incidence is higher in Cheshire and Merseyside than the English average, as is the number of people whose cancer is diagnosed later, including during emergency attendance. One third of residents live in the most deprived 20% of neighbourhoods in England. This has a significant effect on mortality levels and types of cancer that specific communities experience.
The Community Partnerships programme was developed to support local communities to reduce their risk of dying from cancer, by improving community understanding and awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer, encouraging more people to go for NHS screening when they are invited and encouraging appropriate health seeking behaviour.
Through the Community Partnerships programme, the alliance initially funded a small grants programme in Halton, Knowsley and Warrington, the success of which has led to the extension of the programme. The programme now funds eight Social Action Leads to work two days a week in each of the nine localities of Cheshire and Merseyside to work with grassroot organisations to enable and empower them to support their local communities in increasing earlier diagnosis of cancer and saving lives.
The programme contributed to Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance being ranked joint top in the most improved rates of early diagnosis in England.
One of the programmes supported by this initiative is the Tower Hill Amateur Boxing Club Soul Sisters programme. Founded by Mel Melia, the programme supported mothers, grandmothers and aunties of children who attend the club, many living in difficult circumstances and with no focus on their own health or wellbeing to take time for themselves, to discuss the importance of their own wellbeing, be educated on the importance of screening and checking themselves for changes or symptoms of cancer and to share experiences.
The success of this programme has led to the creation of the Teen Soul Sister and Soul Kings programmes and has been played a key role the achievement of this award.
In addition to being named best Community Care Initiative of the Year at the HSJ awards, the Community Partnerships project was also a finalist in the Early-Stage Patient Safety Innovation of the Year category.
Jon Hayes, Managing Director of Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, said: “I am delighted that this ground-breaking collaborative work has been recognised and would like to congratulate everyone involved. From the beginning they have been driven by desire to reduce health inequalities, and by the understanding that cancer messaging is most effective when communities put it into their own words.”
The CVS organisations partnered with the Community Partnerships programme through the C&M VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme are One Knowsley, Warrington Voluntary Action, Cheshire West Voluntary Action, CVS Cheshire East, Halton and St Helens Voluntary Community Action, Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services, Sefton CVS and Wirral CVS.
Submit your nominations for our Funding and Commissioning awards
We are excited to announce the launch of the VSNW Funding and Commissioning Awards 2024.
Our outstanding grant funder and commissioner awards, will recognise organisations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment as well as fair and innovative approaches, in the field of grant funding and commissioning the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector (VCFSE) in the North West.
Through these awards, we plan to not only recognise and celebrate strong public sector and grant funder partnerships, but build up our understanding of what “good” looks like in terms of commissioning and funding, to guide VSNW’s work on building strong collaborative partnerships with our colleagues.
If you have had a positive experience with a commissioning and/or funding team, based in the North West, and wish to share and celebrate this story, please consider filling in this short form and submit your nomination to info@vsnw.org.uk no later than 9am on Monday 21 October 2024, with the subject line ““VSNW Awards 2024”.
Guidance
To support you to put forward your nomination, a list of potential qualities that you might want to consider have been developed below. Nominees should address why they think the organisation a good funder or commissioner, whether they meet some or all of the outlined qualities and provide specific examples and evidence where applicable.
Qualities
Values the work and expertise of VCFSE organisations
Provides sustainability and long-term vision
Provides transparency and accountability
Provides timely support and communication
Promotes diversity and inclusion
Embraces efficiency and effectiveness
Consideration of current challenges and providing flexibility
Provides VCFSE organisations with financial resilience e.g., annual contract uplifts in line with inflation
Values positive community impact and social value
Submission criteria
Please ensure that your nominee submission meets the following criteria to be considered:
Must be a commissioning/funding experience from the last 18 months
Please nominate the appropriate commissioning/funding organisation (with reference to the lead individual if appropriate)
Can be for funding/commissioning experience of any value
Must be funding/commissioning for a VCFSE organisation in the North West of England
Please reference the above relevant qualities in your nomination submission – you do not need to include all of them
Your nomination should be no more than 500 words
Supporting Documents: We will be in contact to request evidence if required
Nominations must come from a senior manager within your organisation
Awards process
Once the deadline has passed, all applications will be reviewed by a panel that consists of VSNW Board Members. Successful nominations will be informed via email.
If you need help with your application or have any questions about the awards, please contact info@vsnw.org.uk with the subject line ““VSNW Awards 2024”
Standing united against racist and Islamophobic violence
In light of the violent disorder carried out over the past few days, we recognise that our sector has continued to do what is does best, uniting communities, safeguarding the most vulnerable, and striving to create a better world.
The solidarity shown in these challenging times is a testament to strength and resilience of our communities.
We strongly condemn the violence and destruction which has been inflicted. These incidents have been driven by racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia - all of which have no place in our region.
Many of our voluntary, community and faith groups, will be affected, and some will be afraid of being targeted. If you feel threatened, please seek advice from the police or your local authority.
The Charity Commission has also released a statement which includes safeguarding guidance and a section on how to handle and report incidents and concerns.
We remain committed to supporting initiatives that grow community resilience, social cohesion, and positive change. Together, we can overcome these challenges and build a future where everyone feels safe, valued, and heard.
We stand together in solidarity with the affected communities and support the individuals and families who have been victims of hate.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King Jr
"Why Weight to Talk" Training Programme Launches for VCFSE Organisations in Cheshire & Merseyside
Health Equalities Group (HEG) is excited to announce the launch of its "Why Weight to Talk" training programme, aimed at VCFSE organisations across Cheshire & Merseyside. This new initiative, funded by the Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance, seeks to build greater understanding and skills among practitioners about the complex causes of overweight and obesity.
The "Why Weight to Talk" training programme is designed to help practitioners consider the broad range of factors that contribute to our health and wellbeing in relation to weight. The training will also explore how weight stigma can impact individuals and how practitioners can support children and families in a more effective manner.
Free to Access: The training is available at no cost to VCFSE organisations.
1-Hour Sessions: Introductory sessions will be held online via MS Teams.
Comprehensive Content: The training covers the causes of overweight and obesity, weight stigma, and how to frame conversations to best support people’s needs and circumatances.
Training Dates
Monday 15th July, 14.00-15.00: Register here
Tuesday 16th July, 11.00-12.00: Register here
Friday 19th July, 11.00-12.00: Register here
Monday 22nd July, 14.00-15.00: Register here
Tuesday 23rd July, 15.00-16.00: Register here
Thursday 25th July, 15.00-16.00: Register here
Cancer Alliance shortlisted for prestigious healthcare award
The Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance is in the running for a national award for its work with communities to promote awareness of cancer and the benefits of screening.
Its Community Partnerships team has been collaborating with Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside to support grassroots groups in giving vital health information and the initiative has now been shortlisted for a HSJ Patient Safety Award.
The project will go forward to final judging in the Health Service Journal’s Best Use of Integrated Care and Partnership Working in Patient Safety category ahead of a national awards ceremony in September.
Over the 18 months that the initiative has been running, 12,000 individual conversations have taken place with people through many different community organisations.
The Cancer Alliance initially funded community groups to do this by giving small grants but then created Social Action Lead roles in each CVS organisation to work two days a week on pushing out cancer awareness information to community groups in their area.
The project has played a crucial role in advancing the NHS Long Term Plan's goal of diagnosing three-quarters of all cancer cases at stages one and two by 2028. Insights gained from the pilot have led to an investment of over £600,000 over the past two years, empowering VCFSE service providers to deliver effective engagement at a hyperlocal level and further contribute to meeting NHS system outcomes.
The outcome of the Community Partnership project has contributed to Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA) being ranked joint top in most improved rates of early diagnosis in England over the past year.
The Cancer Alliance’s Managing Director Jon Hayes said the project helped communities to understand the importance of coming forward early with possible symptoms of cancer, which is vital in treatment being easier and more successful. He added that CVS organisations helped to pass this information to a wider range of community groups and individuals.
Jon said: “We are delighted that our Community Partnership initiative has been highlighted in this award shortlist and we thank all the CVS organisations and groups which have been involved in it. It is a very important project bringing vital cancer information to people who need it most.
“Knowledge is power in having the confidence to come forward early with potential signs of cancer to be checked out. Having this knowledge given to you by a friend or trusted community member has much greater impact than if it is delivered by an external public sector organisation so, over time, more and more people will have a heightened awareness of cancer.”
The CVS organisations which have partnered in the scheme are: One Knowsley, Warrington CVS, Cheshire West Voluntary Action, CVS Cheshire East, Halton and St Helens Voluntary Community Action, One Knowsley, Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services, Sefton Council for Voluntary Services and One Wirral CIC.
Greater Manchester VCSE sector takes centre stage with mayoral candidates committing to support
Last week, the Greater Manchester Metro Mayor candidates were put to the test answering questions and debating key issues facing the VCSE sector at an event hosted by the GM Leadership Group.
The event was held on Tuesday 23rd April at Central Methodist Church in Manchester and was chaired by Ben Gilchrist. There were over 80 representatives in attendance from the VCSE sector and Metro Mayor candidates from three of the major parties:
Andy Burnham – Labour
Jake Austin – Liberal Democrats
Astrid Johnson (substitute for Hannah Spencer) – Green
The Chair of the GM VCSE Leadership Group, Warren Escadale, gave an introduction to the VCSE sector and, along with other Leadership Group colleagues, shared their ambitions on what they want to achieve over the next four years.
The Metro Mayor candidates were each asked to speak about their vision for Greater Manchester and how they see the VCSE sector supporting that vision.
Astrid Johnson on behalf of Hannah Spencer
Astrid Johnson speaking at the event
Astrid Johnson, spoke on behalf of the Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer. She advised that Hannah is very passionate about all Greater Manchester residents deserving to have access to a warm home and access to food, but acknowledged that it is not a reality for a lot of people in our city region. Astrid raised her concerns on key issues such as homelessness, the climate crisis, mental health and said that the “NHS is on its knees”. She confirmed that herself and Hannah both welcome the VCSE manifesto and support all six policy areas.
Speaking of the value of the VCSE sector, Astrid said: “The VCSE sector are doing a lot of heavy lifting where government isn’t, VCSE work is now more important than ever”.
Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham speaking into a microphone at the event
The current Labour Metro Mayor, Andy Burnham, spoke about how his vision remains the same as the one he set seven years ago, in that a good home, a good job, good health and life for all, with all Greater Manchester residents able to grow up and grow old.
Andy is proud that Greater Manchester is one of the most progressive places in the UK. He is keen on building solutions from the bottom up with place first, coming before party. Andy highlighted how he bought the VCSE sector into the Reform Board to help influence on big issues such as homelessness, issues where the VCSE sector can make a real difference. Andy asked for the sectors support on Thursday 2nd May.
On investment into the VCSE sector, Andy said he “Looks to further embed current principles and link the VCSE sector into the Single Settlement”.
Jake Austin
Jake Austin standing and speaking at the event counting with his fingers
The Liberal Democrats candidate, Jake Austin, began his speech by thanking and confirming his support for the VCSE sector. Jake highlighted that although the Liberal Democrats helps the VCSE sector across Greater Manchester, there is still room for improvement. He advised that his party is focussed on building investments, capacity, transport improvements and affordable housing.
On his vision for Greater Manchester, Jake said “I believe the VCSE sector will be empowered by the Liberal Democrats and I will fight for every resident in Greater Manchester”.
Answering your questions
Metro Mayor candidates participated in a Q&A session in which attendees from the VCSE sector were able to put forward questions to the candidates covering topics such as transport and young people.
At the end of the event, the Metro Mayor Candidates were each asked to provide a closing statement.
“Hannah is passionate about making homes more comfortable, cleaner air, better greener public transport and making streets safer for women and girls”
“The VCSE sector serves communities in different ways which should be cherished. I will continue to lead from prioritising issues Westminster neglects”
“I pledge to invest in the Voluntary, Community and Enterprise sector and lift you up. I am very keen on an investment-led approach in Greater Manchester”
The Chair closed the meeting and invited all three Metro Mayor candidates to sign the 2024-28 Greater Manchester VCSE Manifesto, showing their commitment to working closely in partnership with the VCSE sector over the next four years.
The Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group expresses its gratitude to the Metro Mayor candidates for their attendance at the event and wishes them the best of luck in their campaigning.
Metro Mayor elections are taking place on Thursday 2nd May 2024. Remember to take an ID with you. You can find acceptable forms of ID on The Electoral Commissions website.
Left to right: Ben Gilchrist the event chair; Jake Austin, Lib Dem; Astrid Johnson, Green; Andy Burnham, Labour.
VS6 Holds successful Metro Mayor Hustings for the VCFSE sector
On 26th March the VS6 Partnership hosted the first Metro Mayor Hustings event of the 2024 campaigning period in Liverpool City Region (LCR), focusing on key issues facing the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector.
The event, held in Liverpool Cathedral and chaired by VS6 Partnership Chair Dr Ellen Loudon, was attended by over 70 representatives from the VCFSE sector and Metro Mayor candidates from all four major parties*:
Jade Marsden – Conservative
Tom Crone – Green
Steve Rotheram – Labour
Rob McAllister-Bell – Liberal Democrats
Metro Mayor candidates had the opportunity to provide opening and closing remarks, as well as participate in a “Q&A” session in which our VCFSE attendees were able to put forward 6 questions to candidates covering a broad range of topics concerning groups in the City Region. These questions included the cost of living crisis, climate change, VCFSE funding, equalities, social capital and children & young people.
In addition to the discussions, candidates were invited to sign the latest LCR VCFSE Manifesto which is due to be published in the coming weeks to show their commitment to working closely in partnership with the VCFSE sector in the next 4 years.
Jade Marsden (Conservatives) began her opening statement with a key message around fostering trust between the Metro Mayor office and communities by empowering local decision making, encouraging inward investment, and committing to transparency and accountability. Jade was passionate around making sure that LCR was the most accessible place in the country and was committed to supporting people with additional needs such as unpaid carers, people with both physical and learning disabilities, and children and young people. Jade also spoke about ringfenced investment for the VCFSE sector to improve equalities in the City Region. Building trust in politicians was a key priority for Jade, who emphasised that the VCFSE sector should be able to hold the Metro Mayor to account with the sector having a voice in decision-making.
Of the VCFSE Manifesto, Jade said “The manifesto shows a group of people that know their sector inside and out.”
Green Party candidate Tom Crone spoke highly of the important role that the VCFSE sector has in supporting communities in the City Region and his own experience of establishing groups in his current ward. Tom wanted to provide communities with the freedom to make their own improvements, with the VCFSE sectors understanding of the needs of communities being crucial to unlocking this potential. This also included policies around a 4 day working week, a citizens income (not means tested) with more free time for people to engage in volunteering. Tom’s vision of a cleaner and fairer City Region touched upon a number of different areas including greener, more accessible public transport, fuel poverty, and ensuring that young people who will face the burden of climate change in the future play an active role in our democracy.
Reflecting on the VCFSE Manifesto, Tom said “The VCFSE Manifesto matches closely with the Greens desire to create a fairer, greener City Region”.
Current Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram spoke of the work and progress to date that the Combined Authority has achieved since it’s inception, and highlighted the important working relationship that he has with developed with the VCFSE sector and other sectors including universities and businesses. In terms of funding for the sector, Steve reflected upon the pandemic highlighting how the VCFSE sector “propped up the country” and how the Combined Authority levelled the playing field for the sector by improving access to funding and grants, such as the #LCRCares funding. Steve discussed the potential for working closely with local authorities for targeted interventions for specific groups, such as carers, developing a mechanism for community transport officers to benefit from green transport funding, and adopting recommendations from the Cheshire & Merseyside State of the Sector report and our manifesto.
Steve was keen to continue working with the VCFSE sector if he was elected once more, stating that “Liverpool City Region has been on a very long journey – we are here now”.
Rob McAllister-Bell (Liberal Democrats) expressed his desire about wanting to do more to help support communities to be more involved in politics, citing statistics claiming that LCR is the lowest city region for numbers of people planning to vote. Rob talked about transformative change to unlock peoples potential, stressing how communities are facing “unbelievable” choices in the face of the cost of living crisis and the need to make sure that LCR receives its “fair share of funding” from central Government. Rob see’s working with the VCFSE sector as an important part of his vision for a Metro Mayor, including ensuring the VCFSE sector is “fit for purpose” with sufficient resources to avoid it becoming even more stretched. Putting equalities at the heart of policy was also a key priority for Rob, who wants LCR to become a disabled friendly City Region and to expand Liverpool Pride into every borough.
Steve was keen to continue working with the VCFSE sector if he was elected once more, stating that “Liverpool City Region has been on a very long journey – we are here now”.