There is a wide range of networks to strength voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations across Greater Manchester:
Greater Manchester Autism Consortium - formed by the 10 social services departments of Greater Manchester (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan) in 1998. In 2017 the Consortium was extended to include the 10 Greater Manchester Clinical Commissioning Groups. The Greater Manchester Autism Consortium funds and steers The National Autistic Society's (NAS) Greater Manchester Autism Consortium Project which carries out a variety of tasks set by the Consortium Steering group. To find out more, visit the Greater Manchester Autism Consortium website.
Greater Manchester BAME Network - aims is to provide networking opportunities and better access to knowledge, information and support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) and refugee voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations across Greater Manchester. The Network holds regular meetings, working in partnership with Manchester BME Network. For further information about how you can get involved visit the GM BAME Network page.
Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) - a Disabled People’s Organisation, which means it is controlled and run by disabled people only. GMCDP welcomes the support and involvement of non-disabled allies, who appreciate that control of its organisation is an essential part of disabled people achieving control over their own lives. GMCDP recognises that disabled people are discriminated against in all areas of society, and actively opposes the segregation of disabled people. All of its projects, campaigns and the activities of the Coalition are geared towards fighting against this discrimination and segregation. To find out more, visit the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People website.
GM Co-production Network: a safe space for radicals. It aims to support each other and share skills to get more and better co-production happening in Greater Manchester. And sometimes we need a space for big talk rather than small change. To find out more, visit the GM Co-production Network page.
Greater Manchester Equality Alliance (GM=EqAl) - a coalition of organisations and individuals drawn from a wide range of communities of experience across Greater Manchester. Working in alliance with voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE), public and private sector individuals and organisations, GM=EqAl serves to connect communities to policy makers, and vice versa, to assist with strategic equality and diversity work within the sub-region. It takes a pan-equalities approach, focusing on the intersections between different forms of inequality, channeling multiple perspectives and developing solutions through dialogue. To find out more, visit the Greater Manchester Equality Alliance webpage.
GM Food Security Action Network (GM FSAN) - to provide leadership on delivering the key mayoral commitments and to identify opportunities for action with an initial focus on No Child Should Go Hungry. GM FSAN aims to bring together residents, communities, businesses, partners and organisations to work co-operatively to improve fair access to fresh, local, affordable healthy food with dignity and to work to end the scandal of food insecurity. As well as providing a forum for interaction, GM FSAN will develop a consistent approach with key stakeholders to enable cooperative action and build a strong food network across Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester Homelessness Action Network - brings together everyone in Greater Manchester working to end homelessness: People with personal insights into homelessness, people from the frontline organisations, public sector officers, and anyone working to find more effective solutions to the homelessness crisis. To find out more, visit the Greater Manchester Homelessness Action Network website.
Greater Manchester Independent Mental Health Network - a growing network of people with lived experience of mental health that work together to improve mental health services and campaign against mental health stigma. To find out more, visit the Greater Manchester Independent Mental Health Network website.
GM Movement for Community Power - For more information, contact Nick Dixon nick.dixon1@nhs.net
Greater Manchester Mutual Aid Network - Offering support and solidarity to mutual aid groups and other informal community groups in GM. Follow the Greater Manchester Mutual Aid Network on Twitter and Facebook. For more information, contact Thomas Waring via Email: thomas@macc.org.uk.
Greater Manchester Older Peoples’ Network - It is made up of both individual older people aged 50 and over and organisational representatives. It addresses issues within areas of transport, housing and health & social care, as well as a steering group of representatives for each Borough. To find out more, visit the Greater Manchester Older Peoples’ Network website.
Greater Manchester Welfare Rights Advisers Group - brings together many advisers and community advocates in Greater Manchester who are fighting for welfare rights and social justice. GMWRAG has continually asserted the case for strong welfare rights and for empowerment of individuals and disadvantaged communities. To find out more, visit the Greater Manchester Welfare Rights Advisers Group website.
GM100 - bringing together 18-25 year-olds from across Greater Manchester to address the challenge: “How can we act together to transform Greater Manchester into a cleaner, greener place for all?” This is an exciting opportunity to meet new people and join a community of young leaders who care about making change happen in Greater Manchester.
The Mental Health, Sport & Physical Activity Network - set up to support people to access positive mental health in sport and physical activity. The network is free to join and has many opportunities for clubs to support them, and their community's mental health. Find out more and join visit the Greater Sport website.