Live Well Hallmarks: A New Vision for Everyday Support Across Communities

Live Well is a movement for change that reimagines health, social, and employment support by placing communities at the heart of change. Itis a key mayoral manifesto commitment from Andy Burnham, and is powered by investment from GMCA, the National Lottery Community Fund, NHS GM and national Government.

This document outlines a set of emerging hallmarks and principles to support local areas in shaping and strengthening their own approaches to everyday support in neighbourhoods to tackle health, social and economic inequalities.

It has been co-produced in true Live Well style - through hundreds of conversations, workshops, and learning sessions with communities, public services, and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector and local communities across Greater Manchester.

Live Well is underpinned by a culture of prevention, a thriving and well-resourced VCFSE sector and a skilled Live Well workforce – all of which is led by the guiding principle of community-led and system enabled. The ‘Live Well neighbourhood’ - a connected local network of people, communities, VCFSE, public services and businesses working together to improve wellbeing and reduce inequalities of populations of 30k-50k - is made up of Offers, Spaces and Centres:

• ‍Live Well Offers are united by common principles and practice. The Live Well workforce, which will include community connectors, volunteers, social prescribers, peer supporters and public service staff, will help people navigate these offers, ensuring support is holistic, joined up and culturally competent, available wherever people live, work, and connect.

• Live Well Spaces work alongside Live Well Centres and Offers as trusted, informal places rooted in the community, offering low barrier access to mutual support and social connection, fostering community belonging.

• Live Well Centres will act as a front door to a wider network of Live Well Spaces and Offers. They will be welcoming, stigma-free spaces offering joined-up support for housing, health, employment, and more.

The document shared the key features and the key hallmarks of each of these four areas (neighbourhoods, offers, spaces and centres). Live Well wants to create the conditions for good lives in every neighbourhood, provide a first port of call when people hit a bump in the road, provide responsive, connected systems that care for people, and integrated support for people and families at risk of crisis – giving them back control over their lives. All of this will be achieved with the involvement of the VCFSE sector as a key partner, working seamlessly with public services in neighbourhoods.

Get Involved

Residents, practitioners, and partners are invited to contribute to the next chapter of Live Well by sharing insights and experiences via GMLiveWell@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk or using #GMLiveWell on social media.