Our response to Covid-19

The sector in Greater Manchester, as it has right across the country, has responded and responded strongly to the challenges we now face. While normal working is suspended in our sector as it is for others, VCSE groups have mobilised, redeployed staff and reinvented delivery models in order to continue to provide basic support to our communities and beneficiaries.

The GMCA & H&SC Partnership statement recently issued by commissioners has been extremely well received by the sector and for us represents a significant milestone in the maturity of our partnership. We thank partners for the support shown, and shown now, given the challenges you too are dealing with. Your recognition of what we are and what we do, is greatly appreciated.

We are also conscious that the local infrastructure organisations operating in localities have played a major role as part of their local resilience system. In the spirit of devolution, these systems have evolved as a consequence of floods and the Arena Bombing in order to maximise local capacity. This has been a significant early win that should not be lost.

Added to this, the opportunities for the sector to be involved and represented in senior strategic-level meetings have been a hallmark of devolution in Greater Manchester. We would ask that the opportunity to be represented and to engage in senior strategic level meetings continues from here forward.

As the end of the beginning draws near, the GM Leadership Group recently met to share updates and assess what is now needed, and draw together a number of issues that need to be addressed. We identified the following seven areas for concern and action.

  1. Inequality
  2. Engagement
  3. PPE and testing
  4. Economic impact
  5. Volunteering
  6. Emotional support
  7. Redeployment of Resources / Use of Skills

 

Find out what the GM VCSE Leadership Group have been doing in response to the Covid-19 pandemic on behalf of the VCSE sector in Greater Manchester.

 

Read the letter sent to Mayor Andy Burnham and Local Authority leaders in October 2020 in response to Greater Manchester being placed in Tier 3.