Our Voluntary and Community Sector

Grants Programme 2018/2019 Annual Report

Community Hub Contents Foreword Manchester’s Voluntary and Community Sector This annual report celebrates the successes (VCS) organisations are a vital part of the fabric of the VCS organisations funded by the Council. Foreword 3 of the city. Their work is key to reaching those It’s wonderful to see what has already been untouched by Manchester’s success, to create achieved in the first year of the programme. Introduction 4 resilient and vibrant communities, and to make sure that they are able to access the best of It’s also a great opportunity to look forward Our year in numbers – what Manchester has to offer. The VCS plays and outline our ambitions for the next two 2018/2019 6 an important role in improving people’s skills years of the programme. This includes working and job prospects, encouraging residents to to strengthen our partnership with Manchester Supporting individuals 8 get involved in their neighbourhoods, building Health & Care Commissioning to extend the local partnerships, and celebrating the city’s reach of our investment and support to a Community impact 10 diverse communities. The work of voluntary broader range of organisations and residents. organisations is also typical of the Our Supporting volunteering We also recognise that these successes only Manchester way of working: listening to represent a portion of what VCS organisations in the city 12 people and recognising the best in them, deliver across the city. Despite the many and working together to improve the lives Better relationships 14 challenges and changes we face, our ambition of individuals and communities. to continue to support and work with the Looking ahead 16 Manchester City Council is committed to sector remains. We are optimistic about the supporting the city’s VCS. The Our Manchester future as we work in partnership with the VCS OMVCS Programme Board 18 VCS (OMVCS) grants programme embodies our to continue to make our city a great place to ambition to invest in the sector and to work live, work and visit. Our thanks 19 more closely with VCS partners. Following an almost two-year co-design with the VCS and our partners in other public-sector organisations, we’ve developed a programme that sets out to achieve exactly that. By integrating multiple Council grant funds into one, we made it easier for organisations to apply for funding. In changing the funding from one year to three years, we’ve listened to the calls from VCS groups for more financial stability. Also, by having one point of contact, organisations can now grow their relationship with the Council. Councillor Sue Murphy CBE Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council and Lead Member for the Voluntary and Community Sector

Joanne Roney OBE Chief Executive, Manchester City Council

3 Introduction The VCS plays an essential part in delivering The story so far We’ve also established a dedicated team to Looking ahead and achieving the aims set out in the Our This new funding programme represents a shift manage the programme. The team is supported Finally, as well as reflecting and celebrating Manchester Strategy, the long-term vision in the model for grant funding by Manchester by a group of liaison officers that act as the what has been achieved in the past year, we to make the city the best it can be by 2025. City Council following an almost two-year main link between the VCS organisations we also know that the work has just begun. There co-design process that involved the voluntary fund and the Council. Our aim is to build is a lot to be done in the next two years of the The Our Manchester Voluntary and Community sector and our partners in other public-sector better, more positive relationships where programme and beyond, including the launch Sector (OMVCS) grants programme was organisations. Through this process, we VCS organisations know they can go to if they of the Older People’s Neighbourhood Support developed in recognition of this role, and were told about how the sector wanted more need support and guidance. We’re already (OPeNS) Fund and the First 1,000 Days Fund. aims to work with and invest in organisations stability in the current economic and funding seeing the positive impact this is making, There is also work to be done around our that support the individuals, families and environment, and how time-consuming with organisations feeling they have someone priorities of working with and supporting neighbourhoods of Manchester. multiple monitoring systems were taking staff to go to to share their thoughts and ideas and VCS organisations in north Manchester, and Launched in 2018, the OMVCS grants programme away from delivering services to residents. celebrate their successes. As well as sharing developing more work with black, Asian and is investing £7.4million over three years into 63 the impact VCS organisations are having with minority ethnic (BAME) organisations and We heard this feedback loud and clear, and organisations. We are now a year into the new residents of Manchester, you’ll also get to hear leaders. We’ll discuss these and our vision in response developed a programme that programme and a huge amount has already in more detail how these changes have started for the future towards the end of this report. emphasises the move towards both long-term been achieved. The organisations on the OMVCS to make a difference. funding and building positive relationships grants programme have supported over 124,0001 with the sector as valued partners. We’ve done Manchester residents through a wide range of this by bringing together five grant funds into activities, including peer-support programmes, a single pot, and extending our grant-funding information, advice, support services, and length from one year to three years. This has health and wellbeing activities. We’re incredibly already started to make a huge impact on proud of the work that’s been done in the past the VCS organisations on the programme by year. This report gives an insight into just some increasing their ability to plan ahead and to of this work, highlighting the positive impact it secure further funding from other sources. has had on the residents of Manchester. Organisations also tell us they now spend a lot less time filling in monitoring forms and more time delivering to residents, which is great to hear!

1 The data used in this report is collected and reported by the VCS organisations on the OMVCS grants programme. Data is collected via an electronic survey system, and variations in data collection processes across organisations may affect data quality

4 5 Our year in numbers igher Blackley 2018/2019 Charlestown

We support organisations Crumpsall Key facts across the city that work Moston and figures with the wide diversity of arpurhey Manchester’s communities. Cheetham Miles Platting A large proportion of the ewton eath organisations we fund work Our organisations Over 6,000 beyond the ward boundaries in worked with more than Manchester residents spent ncoats 209,881 hours volunteering e are investing which they’re based. Residents Beswick Clayton Openshaw 124,000 which euates to £1.8million in from every ward in Manchester eansgate Piccadilly residents in Manchester economic impact i calculated £7.4million using the real Living age in organisations have accessed these services over three years rdwick throughout the year. ulme orton ey ey For this is Moss Side 17 new roups rought in nearly £2,466,033 in organisations halley usholme Liaison Officers ange spread across the Council £4million Fallowield support VCS organisations worth o additional money Chorlton on the programme to Manchester Old Moat Chorlton Park ithington

Burnage

idsury est The programme funds activities across the city and communities of identity. All organisations Brooklands idsury meet at least one of the following objectives: ast orthenden

Strong sense o Support the contriution No. of VCS organisations Baguley citienship and pride older people make based in each ward in the city geFriendly city Sharston Collectively improve health and welleing oodhouse Park Increase Support volunteering carers

6 7 Supporting Young and elderly residents have met through individuals Chorlton Good Neighbours befriending scheme The funding provided by the OMVCS Manchester Rape Crisis – Celia Chorlton Good Neighbours – Hilde Back on Track grants programme goes to a wide range of When Manchester Rape Crisis (MRC) met Hilde is 85 years old and lives in Whalley Range. “Before I started my courses at organisations across the city. These include Celia2 in 2016, she was extremely fragile and She loves getting out and about and visiting Back on Track I was a drug addict, and those that support refugees to gain safety and suicidal. She had issues of trust and building friends, but this has become more difficult shoplifted to fund my habit, I lived in a support in their new home, those that help relationships, and would break down in in recent years due to reduced mobility and very dark place and went to prison for the people who have been homeless to get back meetings and group sessions. Over time, with bereavements, which have made Hilde less consequences of my actions. Then I found on track, and those that advocate for the rights support from MRC, Celia has become more confident to go out alone. This meant she was Back on Track six months ago, which has of disabled people – to name just a few! All confident and has developed self-esteem. often spending more time alone in her home. really helped me to get into college for these organisations provide a vital service She also now understands boundaries, and English and maths. The Women Aloud After a fall, Hilde was referred to Chorlton within their local communities, in terms of how to say ‘no’ and feel okay about it. group has got me new friends. It helped Good Neighbours, where she started attending both place and communities of identity, and me with my confidence and gave me a weekly coffee mornings. These started to make often support and work with those most in much better life.” need that the Council and other public a big difference. Hilde says: “Living alone I services can’t reach alone. can feel miserable and closed in by four walls, but coming here opens me up. I The organisations we fund are making a real chat, or just sit and listen. I laugh and difference to people’s lives; in fact, over share the fun, or hear other people’s 124,000 people were helped in the past year. opinions.” We regularly hear stories from the organisations we fund of how people’s lives are changing for Hilde was also referred to the befriending scheme, and quickly became good friends with the better. Here are just some of them: She says: “I have learned about my own volunteer Cathy. Hilde now gets to do what she rights and started asserting them. I am loves again, which is going out for walks to more resilient and assertive and have enjoy nature – especially if she can have a developed clear boundaries with people coffee or even half of shandy on the way! who have taken advantage of me in the past. I have come off medication, which Research by Age UK has found that over I had been on for ten years, and I feel 1.4million elderly people are chronically lonely, Women Aloud is Back on Track’s peer support stronger and happier than I have been group. In the past year, group members have been and nearly half of people aged 65 and over say out on day trips and created their own zine. for years. that television or pets are their main form of company. Loneliness can be incredibly harmful “I still have very difficult days when I feel to a person’s health, and they are more likely numb and can’t deal with anything, but I to develop Alzheimer’s.3 Through social clubs don’t feel hopeless or sorry for myself any and befriending schemes, Chorlton Good more. I know there are many things I can Neighbours and other community hubs and do to help myself, and who to ask for Good Neighbours groups funded by the OMVCS help when I need it. I have made some grants programme are leading the way in great friends in the group; we are like helping to reduce loneliness among elderly a small family.” people in Manchester.

3 https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/ reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health--wellbe- 2 The names used in this report may have been changed ing/rb_june15_lonelines_in_later_life_evidence_review.pdf

8 9 Community impact As well as supporting and changing the Bringing communities together Places to be of Life for a four-week work placement as lives of individual residents, the voluntary VCS organisations are one of the first to The 16 community centres and organisations he had been unemployed for more than two organisations we fund make a big impact respond in times of need and crisis, and use we fund on the OMVCS grants programme are years. During this placement he worked on the on their local communities. their voice to shine a light on issues affecting great examples of bringing a range of services furniture reuse project, developing skills such the various communities of Manchester. In together to benefit the community. They are as teamwork and problem-solving. Rob was the past year, volunteers at have held hubs for local activity, providing safe and also able to complete a qualification in manual shows to raise awareness of hate crime; accessible spaces for residents to access a handling, and accessed support to compile his organisations such as Connect Support and wide range of services they may not otherwise CV and complete job applications. Thanks to the Manchester Carers Centre have fed into the be able to. support provided by Tree of Life, Rob gained development of the city’s Carers Strategy; more skills and confidence, which led to him The Tree of Life Centre in is just and Moodswings have run training sessions gaining full-time employment. one great example of this. Tree of Life brings on mental health in the workplace. together a range of services that improve the health and wellbeing of local residents. They include work clubs, Universal Credit support, a furniture reuse project, volunteering opportunities, wellbeing activities, and digital skills classes. Having everything under one roof means that residents can access support for a number of things at the same time and get back on their feet quickly. It also provides a welcoming environment where people can relax, make friends and get hot food from the community cafe. Rob was referred to Tree

The VCS organisations we support also regularly join other groups and causes to positively benefit the community. For example, the LGBT Foundation runs community clean-ups in the Gay Village, works with the Canals and Rivers Trust to keep Canal Street clean, and raises awareness about safety.

10 11 Supporting volunteering in the city As a city we think volunteering is incredibly Here are just some of the volunteer Fred Alia important, as good volunteering opportunities stories we’ve heard throughout the year: Volunteers come from all walks of life – they After Alia came to the UK in 2017, she felt lonely can have a huge positive impact on the Morgan can be any age, come from anywhere in the and isolated. Alia’s counsellor suggested wellbeing of residents. Volunteers can gain city, have volunteering experience, or be doing volunteering, and she’s now been with Rainbow Morgan has been volunteering with Manchester vital skills that can put them on the path to it for the first time. They can also take on roles Haven for a number of years. She has taken on Mind after moving to the UK two years ago. employment, increase social connections and that surprise even them. This was the case for many roles, including greeting clients and improve their mental health.4 For this reason, “I was amazed by the mindfulness training retiree Fred, who lives in Miles Platting. He supporting the advice team, and has also supporting and increasing volunteering is so I became a trainer so I could teach it to started volunteering for Healthy Me Healthy been an interpreter for Arabic and French- one of the city’s aims in the Our Manchester others. I feel more confident being around Communities through a friend, and has recently speaking clients: Strategy and is a core objective on the OMVCS strangers and talking to them in English, a become a driver, collecting and redistributing grants programme. “When I see people here language I am not a native speaker of. The food from FareShare and retailers: who need help, I really mindfulness training has been useful for The organisations funded on the OMVCS want to help solve their me too, as it is helping me to reduce my grants programme have supported over 6,000 problems. I have been anxiety, be kinder to myself and reduce volunteers within the city in the past year. through what they are my stress. They took on roles such as job skills coach, suffering from, and I community grocer, social media assistant, “I love it. Who would “I have gained new skills through my know how hard it is not van driver, advocate, befriender, and more. have thought that I volunteering that can be transferred to having the language to Volunteers contributed 209,881 hours, which if would become a van the workplace. I am improving my English, express your situation. calculated using the real Living Wage roughly driver at my age?” I am getting more patient, and I am learning equate to £1.8million in economic impact. “Volunteering has helped me a lot. I really how to get out of my comfort zone and These volunteers enable our organisations like seeing the staff when I come here. speak to people. I have really enjoyed to keep doing the great things they do. They are so kind to me. Before, I was my time as a volunteer with Manchester taking antidepressants twice a day, but Mind. I am learning new things and now I only take them once a day. I trust improving my skills at the same time as Chrissie now things will always get better. The helping people in my new community.” Chrissie was also a volunteer at Healthy Me dark times only last for a short time.” Healthy Communities. While volunteering, she These stories have been shared with the undertook training in food safety and gained Programme Team as part of the quarterly her certificate. After doing this, Chrissie was monitoring that takes place. They’re a regular successful in gaining employment as a care reminder of how important this work is and assistant after two years without a job. She has the difference that organisations are making said that it was the certificate, knowledge and to people’s lives. experience gained from volunteering that helped her secure her new role. We share these stories in the OMVCS newsletter and report to the Leader of the Council, Chief Executive, other senior leaders, and our partners.

4 https://blogs.ncvo.org.uk/2017/04/07/does-volunteering- improve-mental-health/

12 13

Better relationships Feedback from the VCS during the co-design of This meant changing the way we worked VCS organisations have told us that How talking to their Liaison Officer OMVCS was loud and clear – better relationships with each other. While there were pockets of the way these relationships have been saved Coffee4Craig £1,000 with the Council needed to be a key priority for good practice, we were told that many of the developed – through providing a space to This story was reported in the Manchester the new programme. This was also an aim for us relationships between the Council and the VCS be mutually supportive and challenging – Evening News in August 2019. at the Council, as we wanted to have stronger had become highly transactional and mainly has had a huge impact: links with local VCS organisations. based on the completion of lengthy grant- One example of where regular catch-ups with monitoring forms. Instead, under the new their Liaison Officer has had a real impact for programme we wanted to focus on how we a VCS group on the programme is Coffee4Craig. could develop and strengthen partnerships, “There is so much more This organisation helps people sleeping rough and create a culture based on conversations, involvement than before. in Manchester by offering hot food, food trust and honesty. Whenever we have needed help parcels, showers and medical support, with anything we have had speedy alongside mental-health crisis intervention. To achieve this, a Programme Team was responses to emails that treat us Feeding dozens of people each day generates introduced to oversee the fund and be a central with respect and as equals.” a great deal of waste, which the volunteers at point of contact for funded organisations. The Assist Neighbourhood Care Programme Team has a broader role to promote the charity were struggling to deal with. Not the work of the voluntary sector with other able to pay for a commercial company to take Council departments, outside organisations away their rubbish, staff were taking cardboard, and partners. This includes promoting how tins and plastic bottles home after each shift in we work with each other and sharing examples “When facing a crisis, we have felt a bid to do their bit for the planet. During one of good practice, with the aim of encouraging that Our Manchester would be able to of their catch-ups, Coffee4Craig mentioned collaboration and co-design with the VCS support us, with our officer looking this to their Liaison Officer Jess. He put the across the Council. into what resources might be available charity in touch with local waste management to help us and providing reassurance. firm Fresh Start, which offered to take away To strengthen this work, the Programme Team It’s good to feel there is a back-up Coffee4Craig’s waste free of charge for the has recruited 17 Liaison Officers to directly person we can call to celebrate success year. This has saved them more than £1,000 support organisations by being their main and help us when things get tough.” in recycling costs, which can now be spent on point of contact, linking groups with other TLC St Luke’s service provision. Also, departments and services, and celebrating the staff at Coffee4Craig amazing work their organisations are doing. now have a lot more time to support people “There is a genuine using the charity, as willingness to help and support they no longer have the VCS to make the best of the to fold up cardboard grant scheme, to have honest boxes or squash conversations about what is and plastic bottles! isn’t working, and to flex projects and outcomes accordingly.” Manchester Action on Risha, co-founder Street Health of Coffee4Craig

14 15 North Manchester working Looking ahead group members The first year of the new programme has Population health targeted funding Development work Engagement been incredibly busy, and it’s amazing that in Over the past year, we’ve been working We’ll also be undertaking work to strengthen A key priority in the next year will be developing such a short space of time there has been a big with colleagues in Manchester Health & Care and grow the VCS in north Manchester, and with the new OMVCS grants programme beyond difference. We want this to continue and grow Commissioning (MHCC) to do exactly that – BAME organisations and leaders. This work was 2021, for which engagement with the VCS will in our second year. Alongside the day-to-day in the second year of the programme we’re identified as part of our analysis of organisations be crucial. We’re also keen to explore ways in running of the programme, we’ll be focusing on launching a new targeted funding round as a that didn’t receive funding under the OMVCS which we can bring our funded organisations a number of new developments, some of which result of a £2.1million investment from MHCC. grants programme. Over the next year we together more often, as they’ve told us they are already underway. This work has and will The fund focuses on the delivery of two of want to work closely with VCS organisations would like to get together more to network, continue to be shaped by the feedback we the priorities and objectives set out in the and partners within those communities to share their knowledge, learn from one another, have received over the next year. Manchester Population Health Plan 2018–2027: understand the challenges being faced and and strengthen collaboration across the city. what is working well that could be built upon. 2019 onwards • Creating an age-friendly city that promotes Some of this is already underway, for example Demonstrating impact good health and wellbeing for people in We know we have an important role to play the north Manchester inquiry started in January Alongside all this work we’ll be continuing middle and later life in supporting the sector. For us, this means 2019. As part of this we heard from a variety of to demonstrate the impact of the OMVCS both finding opportunities for further financial • Improving outcomes in the first 1,000 days VCS groups and partners in the area about their grant programme and the difference VCS investment, and developing work with of a child’s life. experiences and where they think support could organisations are making to Manchester’s organisations to more effectively reach the residents. This includes using the monitoring The priority areas for this funding programme be increased. Over the next year, we will be communities of Manchester. and the case studies we’re sent from funded have been directly influenced by our learning working alongside these organisations, local organisations and sharing them with the rest from the first year of the programme, which partners and strategic leaders from the Council of the Council and beyond. Underpinning focused on organisations working with and MHCC to develop projects and investment. everything we do are the Our Manchester residents in north Manchester, and with BAME We’ll be taking a similar approach to working Strategy aims of making the city a great place communities. with BAME VCS organisations and leaders. Both areas of work are rooted in the Our Manchester to live, work and visit, and it’s crucial that we The Older People’s Neighbourhood Support principles of collaboration with the VCS and continue to showcase the work that’s taking (OPeNS) Fund and First 1,000 Days (supporting partners. This has the fundamental aim of place, and the valuable contribution the VCS families and children to start well) will supporting a diverse, thriving and resilient makes in the city. commence in early 2020. We’re really excited sector across the city. about this, as it represents a great opportunity for us to work in collaboration with the VCS and our partners in MHCC to help address and improve the health outcomes of our residents. “As a GP in Wythenshawe, I see on a regular basis the role local VCS organisations play in keeping our residents happy and healthy. I’m therefore delighted that MHCC is investing £2.1million in the Our Manchester VCS Targeted Fund to help children get a good start in life and to support older people to be as healthy as they can be. This money will fund local organisations to help us address the stark difference in health and wellbeing outcomes between different parts of the city, and between Manchester and other parts of the country.”

Ruth Bromley, Chair of Manchester Health & Care Commissioning

16 17 Our thanks The Programme Team would like to say a big thank you to the amazing VCS organisations on the programme. OMVCS 4CT Ltd Manchester Deaf Centre Programme Board African Caribbean Care Group Manchester Men’s Room African Caribbean Mental Health Services Manchester Mind The OMVCS Programme Board oversees all the brilliant work taking place on the OMVCS grant Age UK Manchester Manchester Rape Crisis programme. The Board comprises strategic leaders Albert Kennedy Trust Manchester Refugee Support Network within the Council, MHCC and the VCS, including All FM – All Arts and Media Manchester Settlement Manchester’s children and young people’s grant- Alzheimer’s Society Moodswings funder Young Manchester, and Macc, the city’s Assist Neighbourhood Care Nephra Good Neighbours voluntary-sector infrastructure organisation. The Back on Track North Manchester Black Health Forum Board keeps the work on track by overseeing the delivery of the programme, and is a driving force Barlow Moor Community Association Northmoor Community Association in promoting the positive difference that’s being Benchill Community Centre People First Housing made. It also ensures that what’s being done is Burnage Good Neighbours The Place at Platt Lane – Burnage Library, Activity and Information Hub aligned with other opportunities and strategies Caritas Salford Rainbow Haven in the city, and is always looking at ways this can Cheetham Hill Advice Centre be enhanced even further. Saheli Chorlton Good Neighbours St George’s Community Association Coffee4Craig Stroke Association Connect Support Talbot House Support Centre Didsbury Good Neighbours The Proud Trust EMERGE – FareShare Greater Manchester TLC St Luke’s Freedom from Torture – Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture Together Dementia

Beth Plant Gaydio Tree of Life Centre Wythenshawe Cllr Bev Craig Cllr Sue Murphy National Lottery Manchester City Council Manchester City Council Community Fund George House Trust Trinity House Community Resource Centre Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People Turkey Lane and Monsall Neighbourhood Centre Healthy Me Healthy Communities Venture Arts Higher Blackley Community Organisation Wai Yin Hulme Community Garden Centre Whalley Range Community Forum Just Life Foundation Whitemoss Club for Young People Levenshulme Inspire Women MATTA – Women in Prison LGBT Foundation Jane Gant James Binks Justin Watson Mark Duncan Wythenshawe Good Neighbours Southway Housing Trust Manchester Action on Street Health Manchester City Council Young Manchester Manchester City Council representing Manchester Housing Providers’ Partnership Manchester Bangladeshi Women’s Organisation Manchester Carers Centre Manchester Carers Forum

We’d also like to thank our partners, who help us to support the VCS organisations in the city.

Nick Gomm Sharmila Kar Mike Wild Manchester Health and Manchester Health and Macc Care Commissioning Care Commissioning

18 19 To find out more, or if you have any questions, contact us at: [email protected] @OMVCS