Who is the Live Well Workforce?

NEWSLETTER UPDATE

📰 One newsletter, all the updates We’re making a change to how we share information with you — and we hope it’ll make things simpler.

Following feedback from across the workforce, we’re planning to phase out this separate Workforce e-Bulletin. Instead, we’ll bring everything together in one streamlined Live Well newsletter, including:

• Live Well programme updates
• News from across the system
• Opportunities, training and resources
• Key diary dates and events

You can read the latest Live Well newsletter by clicking here

💬 What you told us. Most of you said a single newsletter would be easier to follow and more useful, as content needs to be useful for the big variation of roles, so we’re acting on that.

✅ What happens next. Unless we hear otherwise, we’ll assume this change works for you. You’ll be added to the Live Well newsletter mailing list, and we’ll stop sending a separate workforce bulletin.

📌 Role-specific updates. We will continue to send out role related information directly to the workforce cohorts, but also over the next 6 months develop Live Well workforce pages on the 👉 Fairer Health for All Academy

📣 Any concerns? Let us know if you spot any issues with this approach. We want to make sure it works for everyone.

Thank you as always for your continued support and feedback.

Charlotte and Sarah (c.leonhardsen@nhs.net and sarah.paine1@nhs.net)

GM LIVE WELL WORKFORCE PEER SUPPORT NEWS

August update

The Network is Growing – Help Shape It

🗓️In-Person Event

We’re excited to invite you to the upcoming Face-to-Face Live Well Workforce Peer Support Network Event — a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with others across Greater Manchester’s frontline workforce.

🗓️ Monday 29 September 2025
⏰ 10:00am - 4pm (option of half day)
📍 St Thomas Centre, Manchester
🎟️ Register now via Eventbrite

This event is supported by both NHS GM and GMCA, highlighting its importance and strong system-wide support for those working on the frontline.

What to expect:
🔹 Insightful discussion with guest speakers
🔹 Choose between focused sessions on problem solving or building resilience
🔹 Practical tools to support your delivery
🔹 Key opportunities to build connections and strengthen multi-disciplinary collaboration

Let’s come together to celebrate, support and shape the future of integrated working.

'Space to Thrive' Supervision Offer – Update Our time-limited group supervision offer in collaboration with Brigid at Space to Thrive has now come to a close. A huge thank you to those who took part in the sessions led by Brigid, a qualified supervisor and therapist. Your input has helped shape our understanding of the support needed across the workforce. 🔔 Still want to connect with Brigid? Brigid continues to offer her services independently and remains involved in the network until the end of October. She’ll also be at the in-person Live Well Workforce Peer Support Network event in September. 📩 Questions or want to connect directly? Contact Brigid at: brigid@spacetothrive.co.uk

NEWS FROM ACROSS GM

Free Early Morning Bus Travel Trial for Older and Disabled People

Throughout August, around 400,000 older and disabled residents in Greater Manchester can travel for free at any time of day on Bee Network buses, as part of a new TfGM trial. 🕒 Previously, free travel was only available after 9.30am on weekdays. From 1 August, this restriction has been lifted — giving people better access to healthcare, leisure and shopping earlier in the day. 📊 TfGM will review feedback, usage and travel patterns throughout the month before deciding whether to make the change permanent. Find out more through the TfGM website

Manchester Pride Events from LGBT Foundation

With Manchester Pride festival approaching (15–25 August), the LGBT Foundation is hosting a range of events and activities to celebrate. 🌈 Highlights include “My First Pride” — a welcoming event for people of all ages who have recently come out and want to mark the occasion in a supportive space. 📅 To see the full schedule of events, visit the LGBT Foundation’s website.

🌿 Give Inner-City Youth a Green Boost, Says Be Well Report

A new research report from Be Well highlights that parks and green spaces could significantly improve the mood and confidence of young people living in some of Manchester’s more deprived neighbourhoods.

The study focused on Longsight, Moss Side, and Hulme, and found that safety concerns, stop and search by Police, and a lack of engaging activities are key barriers preventing young people and their families from using green spaces.

📘 Read the full report on the Big Life website:
👉What are the barriers young people face in accessing high quality green spaces in Hulme, Moss Side and Longsight?

💡 What’s next?
Natural England and NHS GM are now working with local schools to build stronger connections between young people and nearby green spaces – supporting mental wellbeing, confidence, and a sense of place.

NATIONAL NEWS

NHS 10 year plan

Live Well is featured as a case study in the NHS 10 Year Plan:  10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future - GOV.UK. The plan puts prevention and neighbourhood health at the heart of NHS reform — with social prescribing named as a key approach.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The Government is right to put prevention at the heart of an NHS fit for the future, and Greater Manchester is ready to blaze a trail as the UK’s first Prevention Demonstrator."

“Bringing health services closer to home through neighbourhood centres and teams is the approach that is already the driving force of our Live Well mission to transform how we deliver public services."

Charlotte Osborn-Forde, CEO of National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP), welcomed the plan, saying: “It’s encouraging to see recognition of social prescribing’s role in tackling issues like debt, housing and employment – and in building stronger community links.”

📌 What it means:

• New Community Health Workers to offer holistic support

• Debt and employment advice integrated into local health hubs

• Continued support for Link Workers and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise partnerships

• A call for long-term investment in community groups and assets

The Power of Music: Transforming Dementia Care

The Power of Music Fund supports projects across the UK that use music to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers. Funded grassroots groups have delivered thousands of sessions that improve mood, reduce isolation, and build connection — many in collaboration with local health services. 🎵 One participant shared: “Despite worsening dementia, music sessions lift Lawrence’s mood, improve his walking, and boost his cooperation immediately afterwards.” 🧠 Manchester’s Centre of Excellence is leading the way in developing evidence, training staff, and embedding music within dementia care. The Power of Music Learning Network brings together over 100 practitioners to share learning and strengthen practice across the country. Read more here

Activate: New Animated Series to Get Kids Moving

A new animated series called Activate has launched to help children stay active and build healthy habits over the summer.

🎬 Developed in partnership with Joe Wicks and the government, the series is designed to get more children moving in a fun and accessible way.

📺 The first episode is now available on The Body Coach TV YouTube channel, with new episodes released weekly throughout the summer holidays.

A poster and toolkit are available to help promote the series in your networks:
Search for “Activate” on the Campaign Resource Centre.

SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

New Resources from Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK has updated its Learning Zone with a new course focused on the emotional impact of living with type 2 diabetes.

💭 The course covers topics like stigma, fear of complications, and diabetes distress, while offering practical coping strategies for those who need them.

🌍 They’ve also released translated resources promoting the importance of attending regular diabetes health checks — now available in several community languages.

To access the course and multilingual materials, visit the Diabetes UK Learning Zone and Language Resources pages.

GM Moving Awareness Calendar

The updated GM Moving Awareness Calendar is now available. This calendar includes key awareness weeks, months, and days for the remainder of the year. Add it to your calendar here. Email marketing@gmmoving.co.uk if you think any dates are missing that would be useful to include.

New Training Roadmap for Link Workers

A new national training roadmap has been launched, shaped by feedback from the first Social Prescribing Link Worker Survey, to clarify development pathways and core competencies. Survey results show that most link workers feel confident in meeting required competencies. However 36% weren’t aware of training opportunities and 70% want to develop their skills further. The roadmap aims to support consistency, build confidence, and help link workers grow in their role. Explore the full roadmap on the NASP website.