VCFSE Representatives to join the Greater Manchester Live Well Board

Nominated by existing networks to ensure coverage across the sector, including local infrastructure, equalities and VCFSE providers, the three reps are:

• ‍Darren Knight, CEO, George House Trust - nominated by the Alternative Provider Collaborative.

• Jo McGrath, CEO, Sector 3 Stockport - nominated by the LIO (Local Infrastructure Organisation) Network.

• Sam Palmer, CEO, Respect for All - nominated by the GM Equality Alliance (GM=EqAl).

Live Well is Greater Manchester’s commitment to ensuring great everyday support is available in every neighbourhood. It represents a shift in how public services work with people and communities. This new Board will provide overall direction and leadership for the Live Well programme as it is scaled and embedded across Greater Manchester.

The role of the VCFSE reps is to work collaboratively with Greater Manchester partners, across health, families, housing, wellbeing, advice, and safety. They will channel VCFSE sector expertise in prevention, neighbourhood working and community-led approaches into the delivery of Live Well - in particular, the development of Live Well Centres, Spaces and Offers and the integration of services within neighbourhoods.

Darren Knight said:

“I’m delighted to be selected as a voice for the Alternative Providers Collaboration (APC) on Greater Manchester’s Live Well Board. I’ll bring the perspectives of a diverse range of Greater Manchester’s VCSE sector organisations who connect to tackle the entrenched health and social inequalities that exist. I’m looking forward to ensuring that we talk about the intersections of identity, issue, needs and place when devising solutions, bringing innovations, ideas and solutions from my colleagues on the APC that centre lived experience and people at their heart.”

Jo McGrath said:

“Live Well presents a significant opportunity to align system leadership with the strengths already present in our communities. Across Greater Manchester, the VCFSE sector brings trusted relationships, insight into inequality, and a deep understanding of neighbourhood realities. I’m pleased to represent our local infrastructure network in ensuring that community voice and lived experience actively shape how Live Well evolves - so that as it scales, it strengthens prevention, partnership and community power in ways that are sustainable and felt locally.”

Sam Palmer said:

“I’m proud to have been nominated by the GM Equality Alliance to join the Live Well Board. VCFSE organisations play a vital role in shaping preventative, neighbourhood-based support, particularly for communities facing the greatest inequalities. As CEO of Respect for All, a neurodivergent mental health charity, I’m especially committed to ensuring that neurodivergent voices and experiences are recognised within Live Well’s development. Inclusion must be designed in from the start, and I look forward to working with partners to embed that across Greater Manchester.”