October 2025

Welcome to the second issue of our Oldham Voices bulletin. In this bulletin:  

• Introducing our VCFSE sector representatives 
• Vacancies: could you become a sector rep? 
• Policy headlines: what’s going on for the sector locally and nationally and how could it could impact you? 
• Themes and topics from our Oldham networks 

Our sector representatives come from a range of groups and bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and commitment to our communities. The representatives will attend meetings on behalf of the sector and have committed to attending bi-monthly representatives meetings to share updates from the meetings they are attending and hear from feedback from our networks about the messages they need to take back to those meetings. 

The list of names and partnership meetings they will attend can be on the Oldham Voices webpage and this will be updated regularly. Representatives can either be contacted at the details shared on the list or through emailing voices@actiontogether.org.uk

There are still a number of partnerships which do not currently have VCFSE sector representatives attending them or where there are still places available. To find out more about what roles are available visit Oldham Voices and if you are interested in becoming a rep complete an Expression of Interest form.. 

Alternatively if you want to arrange a call to discuss the role more and whether this is a good fit for you then please email voices@actiontogether.org.uk with your contact number requesting a call back and we will contact you within a few working days. 

Live Well Implementation Fund. 

Over the summer plans have been moving forward for how to implement the Live Well approach in Oldham and £844,000 has been allocated to Oldham to embed the Live Well ways of working, with a minimum of 50% of this coming to the sector. This funding is to be used to enable long term systems change and so some of it may come as grants and other things will be investments for example training and developing systems. The aims of Live Well are the support a neighbourhood working model, to promote a culture of prevention, to support a resilient VCFSE ecosystem and to develop a network of Live Well Centres, Spaces and offers. We will keep updating you as this work develops and watch out for items in our Oldham News eBulletin (sign up at HERE). 

As a Greater Manchester initiative each borough is approaching Live Well slightly differently and so if you work across boroughs it is worth contacting local colleagues to find out how it is working outside of Oldham. 

GM Accord refresh 

The GM VCFSE Accord is a collaboration agreement with the stated purpose of improving working relationships between the public and VCFSE sectors for the positive benefits of Greater Manchester’s communities and citizens. 

The current version of the Accord was signed in 2021 and lasts for a 5-year period until 2026. A refresh is currently taking place looking at: 

• A new Accord Agreement 
• A clear and agreed implementation methodology for the GM VCFSE Accord 
• An agreed programme of work to be funded and delivered at a GM footprint 

You can have your say via a online survey or commenting via this online whiteboard link. The consultation closes on 31 October 2025. 

Civil Society Covenant 

In July the Government launched the ‘Civil Society Covenant’ outlining how the UK government and other public bodies, such as local authorities and the NHS, will work as strategic partners with voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations. You can find out more about the covenant HERE. The GM Accord (see above) is cited as an example case study of how this can be applied more locally. 

Here we provide a brief overview of recent topics and issues from network meetings. Further information about each network can be found by clicking on the network name. These network meetings are also promoted through the Oldham E-bulletin. 

Got news about another network? Please contact julie.goreham@actiontogether.org.uk for inclusion in future bulletins. 

Was it too long or too short? 

Was the information relevant or not? Did you need more context? 

Please send your feedback to voices@actiontogether.org.uk

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