Explore what happens when public services trust communities to lead, working alongside them to create better, fairer outcomes.

How do we grow a system that helps everyone thrive, not just survive? Places to meet, connect and belong are the backbone of thriving communities, strengthening wellbeing and opportunity. We’ll explore how communities and public services can work side by side to grow this great everyday support.

Joined up, welcoming and built around people's lives, open and available when it's needed, a social safety net to catch and help people back up.

From grassroots mutual aid to community hubs and door-to-door connections, we hear how trust, shared power and courage are changing support and places.

This series shares honest, lived experiences. Some content may feel sensitive or challenging. Please listen in a way that feels right for you.

Talking Points:

00:00 - Introduction to the Greater Manchester Live Well Podcast

01:41 - Episode Three Overview and Recap

03:10 - Exploring Community Support in Wigan

03:45 - Angela's Story: Building Community from the Ground Up

14:59 - Trafford's Community Hubs: A Model for Local Support

17:54 - Sale West: A Decade of Community-Led Initiatives

22:09 - Health in Communities: Trafford's Integrated Approach

25:22 - Little Holton: Community Connection and Growth

29:01 - Public Services Flipping the Script

32:51 - Reflections and Future Directions

37:23 - Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Organisations & groups featured:

Local Trust – Rachel Rowney

GMCA - Annette Cloherty and Tabz O’Brien

Northern Heart and Soul, CIC and Springfield Beach Hill Community Mutual Aid Group - Angela Fell

Wigan Council - Alison McKensie-Folan

Trafford councillor - George Devlin

Our Sale West - Claire Standish

Little Hulton - Stewart Knights

Salford Council - Rebecca Bibby

Trafford Council - Dan Shelston

Innovation Unit - Steph Gamauf

A Brilliant Thing - Kerry Tottingham, Beth Creedon

Made by Mortals – contributors, Tess Keeble

Some watching:

Live Well, Made by Mortals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5bkOlAHExU&t=1s

Further Reading:

Read the transcript for this episode here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NjNbLNWAw9NWbsjvHb5tjCoJlkBTtcHC?usp=drive_linkre

GM Live Well is Greater Manchester’s commitment to ensuring great everyday support is available in every neighbourhood. It will tackle health, social and economic inequalities by changing how public services work with people and communities to grow opportunities for everyone to Live Well.

GM Live Well will ensure everyone has the support, control, connections and resources to lead a healthy and happy life. Find out more: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/live-well/

This podcast brings together over 100 voices from across Greater Manchester, add yours to conversations on social media using #GMLiveWell.

Funders

GM Live Well is a partnership between GMCA, NHS GM 10 GM and partners across the city-region. Movement building and learning, and accelerator work in five boroughs has been funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Credits

A MIC media Production