Over 250 attended the launch event - the breadth and diversity of people and organisations in the room was phenomenal. Everyone from politicians to funders; GM social justice and action networks, to leisure centres and museums. All 10 local authorities, hospitals and medical practices. Policy makers and commissioners. And at the centre of it all, voluntary, community and faith groups, social enterprises and grassroots initiatives - that are building health in communities, everyday.

Over 30 community groups were involved in the community marketplace that was supported by 10GM, showcasing impactful community-led action and support. From community bike kitchens, choirs, neighbourhood groups and public living rooms, to culturally and community specific health and wellbeing peer networks, groups and campaigns.

Made by Mortals creative and immersive audio performance of STUCK, using silent disco headphones, alongside Idaraya Life C.I.C, and the Elephants Trail community reporting, all brought the experiences, stories and ideas of GM citizens to life.

We created our very own Live Well Living Room, with the help of Association of Camerados. Dawn Yates-Obe, Chief Executive at Bolton CVS and Pam Duxbury from Beacon Bolton Counselling Service sat down for a chat about what it would take from the system to spread, grow and enable community led action, power and wealth to become ‘the way we do things’ in GM, with our Mayor, Andy Burnham, and John Mothersole, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund.

There were workshops led by our courageous Live Well sites (Rochdale, Bolton, Salford, Oldham and Tameside) and Wigan, expertly supported by Innovation Unit, exploring sticky systems issues that are getting in the way. As well as a space to look at how we could resource community-led activities differently in GM.

You can watch a short summary of the Live Well launch here: Live Well launch event (youtube.com)

Made by Mortals worked with their community group to share what Live Well means to them.

You can watch their video here: Made by Mortals - what Live Well means to me? (youtube.com)

Idaraya Life CIC explored the ways women in Wigan currently view their experience of their local area and how they feel it needs to change for them to continue to Live Well.

You can watch the video here: The Live Well listening project - Wigan (youtube.com)

The extended version of each woman's recording is available as podcast episodes on the Feel Good with Idaraya Life Podcast: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/w3dsgSC1vHb 

Elephants Trail community reporters asked what health and wellbeing means to people, how community groups support people with connections, help and resilience, and the opportunities to grow more in the places we live and things we do. They called their video ‘Together’.

You can watch the video here: Together - Elephants Trail Community Reporters (youtube.com)

Made by Mortals condensed pilot of their creative and immersive audio performance of STUCK used 'silent disco' headphones to share their community group's experience and to encourage participants to create their own character and work with the community to help them become unstuck. 

You can read more here: https://www.madebymortals.org/stuck-a-theatrical-interactive-audio-workshop/

Live Well is part of our work to strengthen our communities, so everyone can lead a healthier happier life, to achieve fairer health for all.

Councils, NHS, voluntary, community and faith organisations, people and communities. Locally and across the region are working together to unblock barriers and create the conditions where:

• Everyone has opportunities to be healthy, happy and connected through a variety of activities, support and information
• Everyone can help make their communities healthier and happier, they are being heard and making a difference
• All communities have the resources to make change happen

This will mean shifting power and resources to the people and communities who are best placed to help Greater Manchester residents Live Well.​

This animation of our Live Well ecosystem explains more: Live Well animation (youtube.com)

The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, has invested £1 million in Greater Manchester’s Live Well work to grow opportunities in the places we live and the things we do.

The National Lottery Community Fund grant will help Greater Manchester’s public services tackle these health and wellbeing inequalities.

You can read about the work in Salford, Bolton, Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside here: Live Well | Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (gmintegratedcare.org.uk)

10-11.30am. Online

Public Living Rooms are popping up in communities across Greater Manchester – from to schools and colleges, libraries to hospitals, community centres to street corners.

Join the Association of Camerados, and Camerados from GM Public Living Rooms in Wigan, Rochdale and Bury to find out more about the idea, the movement and how it’s having an impact on community health and wellbeing.

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/858717606477?aff=oddtdtcreator

Time and Manchester city centre venue to be confirmed.

There is a wide range of people and places growing community wealth, ownership and opportunity in Greater Manchester. Rooted in our communities and neighbourhoods, local people are tackling health and wellbeing inequalities by developing new economic and social models that shift the control of wealth and resources to communities.

We know that these local initiatives need a supportive enabling system, so that more residents in Greater Manchester have access to wealth, opportunities and ownership to improve their quality of life. Live Well will work to understand and create the conditions required for investing in and sustaining this.

This event invites people and organisations growing community-led wealth and ownership, funders doing things differently, and commissioners from different sectors to:

• Seed connections across people and places in GM doing this work and grow the movement
• Share stories, practice and learning about growing community wealth, ownership and opportunity - and what it takes to enable it to thrive
• Get involved with the development of a GM Live Well Joint Investment Fund

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/867312784887?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you have previously expressed interest in contributing to this event, the GM Live Well Team will be in touch shortly to discuss opportunities for collaboration.

If you haven’t yet expressed interest in a potential contribution, but would like to, please contact GMLiveWell@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk and the team will get back to you.

2-3pm. Online

Hear the innovative ways in which National Lottery Fund Community grant holders are engaging their communities in supporting each other's health and wellbeing and discuss any learning they’ve picked up along the way.

National Lottery Community Fund online session's panel includes:

• Jeavon Nicely, Director of Sports Key CIC: A Birmingham-based charity that uses physical activity to build health and local cohesion; particularly for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Adam Downey, Project Coordinator for Marauder’s Men’s Health: Promotes and supports men’s wellbeing and mental health within the South Wales region through walk and talk groups and awareness raising events.
• Sonya Johnson, Chief Officer for Nuneaton and Bedworth Healthy Living Network: Delivers a 'Social Supermarket' where healthy surplus food is made available to reduce poverty and diet related ill health in Nuneaton and Bedworth.

To sign up for this free event, please click here.