Spotlight on Wirral Place
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Wirral Place commissioning team was honoured as an Outstanding Commissioner, in the NHS category, at our VSNW Funding and Commissioning Awards 2024, for its groundbreaking work in transforming children’s mental health services in the area.
The award recognises Wirral Place’s innovative approach to commissioning, which prioritises collaboration, co-production, and long-term sustainability.
Simon Banks, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Place Director (Wirral) with our CEO, Warren Escadale
Their efforts led to the creation of Branch, an online mental well-being hub for children and young people, supported by a £750,000 annual investment for at least seven years. The hub, designed with input from young people, represents a bold, forward-thinking model for delivering community mental health support at scale.
Our Funding & Commissioning Awards honour outstanding individuals and organisations driving excellence in funding and commissioning within the North West's voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. Winners are nominated by the sector itself, celebrating their exceptional contributions.
Our panel noted:
Collaboration and co-production: The commissioning process brought together the NHS, Public Health, Wirral Council, and the VCFSE sector. Young people were involved at every stage, from service design to tender evaluation, ensuring the project reflected the community’s needs.
Equity and transparency: Branch uses an alliance model that ensures funding and decision-making are shared equitably among diverse providers, including national and local organisations like Action for Children, Kooth, Koala North West, and Open Door Charity.
Sustainability and flexibility: The seven-year contract provides stability while remaining agile enough to adapt to emerging needs. The alliance structure allows for pooled resources and innovative problem-solving, ensuring long-term impact.
“Wirral Place is a game-changer in commissioning. Their collaborative, inclusive approach has created a service that not only addresses immediate mental health challenges but also builds long-term resilience. Branch has set a new benchmark for what’s possible when partnerships are prioritised.”
The initiative’s community impact extends beyond immediate mental health services. The Open Door Charity’s £4.2 million ‘Joy’ development, part of Branch, aims to redefine how mental health care integrates into the community, transforming perceptions and accessibility on a national scale.
Wirral Place’s success exemplifies the power of ambitious, co-produced commissioning. The work demonstrates how pooling resources, engaging stakeholders, and embracing flexibility can lead to innovative solutions that serve communities more effectively.
“The pressures on children and young people have never been greater, and the NHS in Wirral have committed to embracing and scaling up what our sector can collectively achieve. We often rely on end of year underspend as a sector but here we can see commissioners embedding the sector with purpose and vision. Wirral Place are worthy winners of the 2024 Outstanding NHS Commissioner.”
“We’re really pleased to have received this recognition. It’s been a long road over the last two or three years to come together with this jointly funded and jointly commissioned piece of work, but we are hoping that, with the launch of Branch and the alliance, it’s going to make a real difference to the children in Wirral.”
Will Labour’s Plan for Change deliver for the North West?
Laura Tilston, Research and Policy Manager
Milestones, missions, foundations…will Labour’s Plan for Change drive change for communities in the North West? Laura Tilston, our Research and Policy Manager, shares her insights.
On the 5th day of Christmas the new Labour Government gave to me, six milestones, five missions, three foundations, and a landmark plan for change.
Well, that didn’t sound as good as it did in my head. But you get the idea.
There has been much talk on the run up to the launch of Labour’s big “Plan for Change”, particularly with the new Government’s rocky start to it’s first year in power. The prime minister is adamant that the plan is not a reset in response to some of the more unpopular policy decisions it has made over the last few months, insisting instead that the plan “doubles down” on the national missions.
The key milestones
Whilst intending the plan to be a clear message, particularly for Whitehall, there is understandable confusion as to how all these milestones, missions and foundations link together, and how they will be achieved.
The six milestones, or targets (if we want to introduce more terminology), announced last week are the key ambitions (oops another term) that will hold the Labour government accountable to the public during their first term in power. These are:
Raising living standards – Delivering higher household disposable income
Building 1.5 million homes in England
92% of patients in England waiting no longer than 18 weeks for elective treatment
13,000 additional police officers, PCSO’s and special constables
75% of five year olds in England ready to learn when they start school
Putting the UK on track to deliver at least 95% clean power by 2030
The Government is committed to having a long-term outlook and recognises the strengths of working “in partnership with business and civil society” with “a new way of doing government that is more joined up” and pushing “power out to communities”.
Whilst we clearly welcome this devolved partnership approach, there are questions as to how the VCFSE sector fits in with the plan, and how some of the recent controversial policy announcements align with these milestones.
While it is important that patients are not waiting longer than necessary for non-urgent medical care, it is unclear how this milestone fits in with the Government’s desired shift towards prevention. Will resources shift to the community if the milestone the Government want to be measured against is very much NHS provider focused?
Tackling inequality in living standards
A focus on living standards rather than just GDP is very much welcomed, but we need to be mindful that measures of increased household disposable income may not be representative. There is a risk that increase in average disposable income could just be reflective of the rising wealth gap, the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer. And where do wellbeing and regional disparities fit into this picture? Recently published ONS statistics on life expectancy show that people living in the North West will live three years less than those living in the South East. We need much stronger ambitions to tackle poverty.
We also need to contemplate how increases to employers national insurance contributions will impact the milestones. The VCFSE sector is not exempt from these rises. The VS6 Partnership have calculated that there will be a minimum £17.7 million black hole in sector finances in Liverpool City Region which the sector will either have to absorb (which it can’t and shouldn’t be expected to do) or make redundancies and hand back contracts, with the most vulnerable in our communities ultimately paying the price if we lose valuable staff and services.
So, will the milestones be achievable? Are they the best measurements that reflect the needs of our communities across the North West? I was at an event the other week ran by the Health Creation Alliance with Lord Gus O'Donnell who, in a discussion around how we should be measuring the wellbeing of the nation, suggested that “politicians will only measure things that they can control”.
Prioritising communities and wellbeing
At Christmas, a time traditionally associated with community, generosity, and togetherness, it feels especially fitting to reflect on the importance of placing communities and wellbeing at the heart of decision-making.
We will have to wait and see whether these milestones make a big impact on kickstarting economic growth and reducing inequalities. Big targets like these often distract us from the bigger picture. It is vital for the government to prioritise communities and wellbeing, ensuring that no one is left behind amidst a blizzard of policies, plans, and milestones, something VSNW will continue to advocate for across the North West.
Spotlight on the Eric Wright Charitable Trust
The Eric Wright Charitable Trust has been recognised as the Outstanding Grant Funder 2024 at our VSNW Funding & Commissioning Awards, celebrating their transformative support for the VCFSE sector across the North West.
The VSNW Funding & Commissioning Awards honour outstanding individuals and organisations driving excellence in funding and commissioning within the North West's voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. Winners are nominated by the sector itself, celebrating their exceptional contributions.
Alison Wright (middle) accepted an award on behalf of the Eric Wright Charitable Trust
Over the past six years, the trust has partnered with Macc to deliver five impactful grant programmes for small, grassroots groups and one for medium sized for groups operating in Greater Manchester.
This funding has enabled VCFSE groups to sustain essential work, such as supporting volunteering, promoting active communities, and, more recently, aiding efforts to mitigate the effects of the cost-of-living crisis.
“The Eric Wright Charitable Trust exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding grant funder. Their commitment to empowering grassroots and medium-sized organisations, their focus on tackling inequalities, and their ability to adapt to emerging challenges have made a profound difference to communities across Greater Manchester. We are honoured to celebrate their incredible impact.”
The trust stands out for its ability to value and elevate the expertise of the VCFSE sector. From the outset, they approached Macc, recognising the critical role of infrastructure organisations in connecting with local communities. Their funding model not only ensures inclusivity but actively supports organisations working with the most disadvantaged communities, helping to tackle societal inequalities and foster meaningful inclusion.
The trust has also been applauded for its transparency, responsiveness, and adherence to high governance standards, ensuring that grant programmes run efficiently and effectively. Beyond their main funding programmes, the trust has shown flexibility and compassion, providing rapid and generous support to organisations facing unexpected challenges.
“Alison Wright, Trustee for The Eric Wright Charitable Trust, said: “We are exceptionally proud of the funding and support we provide to the voluntary sector in the North West, through our CVS partnerships, and recognise the importance of providing funding to this sector. This award is testament to the team’s work and the strong relationships they have built across the region.”
Through their partnership with Macc and their strategic focus, the Eric Wright Charitable Trust has become a vital force for good in the North West. Their recognition as Outstanding Grant Funder 2024 highlights their enduring commitment to strengthening communities and creating lasting opportunities for growth and inclusion.
To find out more about the trust’s work visit: The Eric Wright Charitable Trust - Eric Wright Group
Impact Review 2024: A landmark year for VSNW
We are proud to unveil our Impact Review 2024, which spotlights a year of remarkable achievements and transformative progress for the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in the North West. The report details how we have worked to strengthen the sector’s voice, foster community resilience, and position the VCFSE sector as a critical player in regional growth and policy development.
Key highlights:
Strengthened policy advocacy:
The establishment of a dedicated Policy and Influencing Team has enabled VSNW to amplify the sector's voice in critical policy areas.Economic contributions:
The VCFSE sector contributed an impressive £896.5 million in gross value added (GVA) to the Cheshire and Merseyside economy alone, highlighting its pivotal role in regional development.£18.4M in sector investment:
VSNW's advocacy efforts secured significant funding for the sector, supporting initiatives in health, skills development, and poverty alleviation.Health and Social Care integration:
The North West became the first UK region to achieve full VCFSE sector representation on NHS Integrated Care Boards, advancing efforts in prevention, early intervention, and tackling health inequalities.Championing fair funding:
The creation of a regional Fair Funding Protocol is set to promote sustainable and equitable funding practices for the VCFSE sector, addressing long-standing challenges in commissioning and procurement.Sector-wide engagement:
Over the past year, VSNW facilitated 128 events, connecting 700 VCFSE leaders and fostering collaboration across the region.
Responding to challenges and opportunities
The Impact Review 2024 also reflects on the challenges faced by the sector, including the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and uncertainty surrounding the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. In response, we have doubled down on efforts to influence devolution discussions, advocate for preventative approaches, and highlight the sector’s role in tackling inequalities.
“Our Impact Review 2024 is a testament to the resilience and innovation of the VCFSE sector in the North West,” said Warren Escadale, CEO of VSNW. “Despite significant challenges, the sector has demonstrated its critical role in building strong, healthy communities and driving economic growth.”
Looking ahead
The Impact Review 2024 sets the stage for the year ahead with eight strategic impacts, including the development of a Centre of Excellence for Health Creation, advancing VCFSE-academic collaborations, and rebuilding pipelines for skills and employment.
We are also calling for greater collaboration between public, private, and voluntary sectors to unlock the full potential of the VCFSE sector.
Ambitious Social Value roadmap launched for Cheshire and Merseyside
A groundbreaking roadmap has been launched in Cheshire and Merseyside to transform the region into a thriving Social Value Economy.
This ambitious initiative aims to maximise the social, economic, and environmental benefits delivered by organisations across the region, in particular how social value can be realised through more systematic working with the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.
The roadmap was collaboratively commissioned by Voluntary Sector North West and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, and developed by Social Value Portal, an organisation dedicated to enhancing social, economic, and environmental wellbeing. This collaborative approach ensures that the report is closely aligned with regional priorities, such as addressing health inequalities and strengthening community resilience, making it a powerful tool for driving strategic and integrated working to achieve impactful social value outcomes across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Power yet to be utilised
At the heart of the Social Value Economy concept is the belief that every organisation—whether public, private, or within the VCFSE sector—should contribute to creating additional benefits for people, places, and the planet. To understand the challenges and opportunities, over 20 cross-sector system leaders were interviewed. The consultations revealed the transformative potential of Social Value is not yet fully realised in Cheshire and Merseyside. A critical gap identified is the underutilisation of the vast potential offered by the VCFSE sector in driving Social Value outcomes.
“This roadmap is a significant step towards embedding Social Value at the heart of our region’s economy. By leveraging the strengths of our VCFSE sector and fostering cross-sector collaboration, we can create a more equitable and sustainable future for all residents of Cheshire and Merseyside.”
Partner VCFSE
To address this, the roadmap introduces the "Partner VCFSE" commitment—a strategic call to action for all organisations in the region to deepen their collaboration with the VCFSE sector by 2025 as a catalyst to moving towards a social value economy. Organisations making this commitment pledge to baseline their current engagement with the VCFSE sector, identify key opportunities to enhance collaboration, and set ambitious year-on-year targets to increase their support.
For the public sector, this may involve directing more of their supply chain spending towards VCFSE organisations or fostering cross-sector partnerships that leverage the unique strengths of the VCFSE sector in addressing local challenges. Private companies are encouraged to engage more deeply with the VCFSE sector through initiatives like resource donations, volunteer programs, and integrating VCFSEs into their business operations.
Stay accountable
Accountability is a core aspect of this commitment. Organisations are urged to measure their progress using specific indicators from the Cheshire and Merseyside Social Value TOMs framework and embed these within their social value strategies and measurement. This approach ensures that the commitment leads to real-world impacts, driving investment and resources into the VCFSE sector, which in turn strengthens its capacity to deliver vital services and support to the community.
“ This report is a groundbreaking piece of work that came about through co-production. For our ICB/ICS to be truly successful, we need to work with all our partners to understand the needs and requirements and then work together to find a solution. The VCFSE sector is an integral part of this and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to develop this work, with colleagues, that puts social value at the heart of all that we do.”
Winners of the VSNW Funding and Commissioning Awards announced
The winners of the first ever our first ever Funding & Commissioning Awards have been announced.
We are proud to announce the winners of the VSNW Funding & Commissioning Awards 2024, which took place on Thursday 14 November, at our annual conference and AGM, in a celebration of outstanding achievements in supporting the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector across the North West.
This year’s awards marked the first-ever VSNW event of its kind, created to recognise the dedication and innovation of grant funders and commissioners whose work has transformed communities and driven positive social change.
The winners of the VSNW Funding & Commissioning Awards 2024 are:
Outstanding Grant Funder 2024: Eric Wright Charitable Trust
Recognised for their impactful and sustained funding that empowers VCFSE organisations and supports long-term community resilience and growth.Outstanding Commissioner - Local Authority: Manchester City Council’s Our Manchester Funds Team
Honoured for their collaborative approach, respect for community expertise, and commitment to inclusion, which has strengthened and uplifted the VCFSE sector in Manchester.Outstanding Commissioner - Local Authority: Wirral Borough Council’s Public Health Team
Celebrated for their partnerships with local organisations to address health inequalities and their innovative and adaptable public health solutions.Outstanding Commissioner - NHS: Wirral Place
Acknowledged for integrating health and community services, prioritising VCFSE involvement, and demonstrating transparency and commitment to health equity.
Alison Wright (middle) accepted an award on behalf of the Eric Wright Charitable Trust
All winners were nominated by the VCFSE sector, showcasing the trust and recognition they have earned within the community. The Outstanding Commissioner - Local Authority category was particularly popular, leading to the recognition of two winners: Manchester City Council’s Our Manchester Funds Team and Wirral Borough Council’s Public Health Team. This reflects the exceptional quality and impact of the nominees and the high level of competition within this category.
Warren Escadale, CEO at VSNW, said: “We are delighted by the response to our first awards and inspired by the dedication of the nominees. Each individual and team showcased a deep commitment to building resilient, vibrant communities across the North West. These awards are a testament to the exceptional work being done and a celebration of the innovation and partnership that drives our region forward.”
The event also highlighted VSNW’s ongoing mission to learn from these best practices. Moving forward, VSNW plans to develop a Commissioning Panel aimed at enhancing commissioning processes to better support the VCFSE sector. Attendees were invited to register their interest in joining this initiative to shape future improvements.
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.