Plan for the final year of delivery of the VCFSE Accord confirmed

The delivery plan for 2025–26 focuses on completing delivery under existing workstreams whilst ensuring alignment with emergent GM system priorities such as Live Well, Safer Stronger Communities and Transport. The aim is to ensure a realistic and streamlined programme that prioritises impact whilst providing space to lay the groundwork for the next Accord beyond March 2026.

The delivery planning process has been shaped through collaboration between Accord partners, interim evaluation findings, and the broader political landscape. It emphasises the strategic positioning of the VCFSE sector; enabling VCFSE participation in, and quality assurance of, key public sector programmes as they develop; and lastly, activity to enable and support the VCFSE sector to thrive.  

As part of the delivery plan for the final year, four of the eight Accord commitments have been highlighted as priorities:

Commitment 2: VCFSE is a key delivery partner of services

Commitment 3: A financially resilient VCFSE sector

Commitment 5: Greater Manchester has the best VCFSE ecosystem in England

Commitment 6: The co-design of local services is the norm

Specific deliverables within the plan include:

• Strategic positioning of the VCFSE Sector: ongoing influencing and communications, and development of the Accord Post-2026 plan through stakeholder engagement.

• VCFSE role in contributing to GM system programme design including Live Well, neighbourhood working, work and skills, Safer, Stronger, Communities, Housing First and Mental Health.

• Enabling participation in programmes: supporting diverse VCFSE representation in steering groups and boards, and supporting key groups in influencing spaces, such as GM Equality Alliance (GM=EqAl) and Alternative Provider Collaborative.  

• Working to improving VCFSE Sector Sustainability & Commissioning with support of GM commissioners, and driving VCFSE provider growth, via Alternative Provider Collaborative, and the profile of GM VCFSE health providers.  

• Growing the VCFSE Ecosystem by strengthen collaboration between Local Infrastructure Organisations, reviewing grant distribution models, identifying new collaborative opportunities and engaging the sector in planning the post-2026 Accord.

• Embedding guidance around hearing the voice of lived experience in policy, led by GM=EqAl.  

• Reviewing mission, governance and priorities of GM=EqAl to create a future plan, firming up the strength of the network.

• Growing Sector Data & Intelligence: Collaborative work to design and build the business case for a GM VCFSE Intelligence Hub.

Overall, this final year will balance delivery, reflection, and preparation for the sector’s future positioning within Greater Manchester’s evolving strategic framework.