Backed by £16.5 million from The National Lottery Community Fund and matched by £30m from GMCA and NHS Greater Manchester, the latest investment will grow more than 100 Live Well community spaces and support the wider expansion of Live Well across the city region over the next three to four years.
This investment in Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection will create a network of 100+ inclusive, community-led and owned spaces across Greater Manchester where people can meet, belong and find everyday support.
Prioritising communities facing the greatest inequalities, the investment will strengthen social infrastructure and grow community action, power and wealth. Powered by the Live Well movement, VCSE organisations, public services and residents will come together to share power, change systems and shape healthier, fairer, more connected places.
Across Greater Manchester, there are already hundreds of community-led spaces. They're the lifeblood of our sector. But many are underfunded, overstretched and held up by just a few dedicated individuals fighting to keep the lights on. And too many people still don't have communal spaces to call their own.
This investment will help change that. Launching in April 2026, it represents one of the largest investments in community-led development in England — building on the leadership and creativity already rooted in local communities, and shifting power so that communities themselves decide where investment goes.
10GM is the programme's accountable body, with delivery leads in each Local Infrastructure Organisation coordinating work in each borough. GMCA, NHS GM, GM Equality Alliance and The Innovation Unit will play key roles as delivery partners.
The programme begins with a six-month codesign phase starting in April 2026, and the programme's focus areas are:
Stronger local leadership – supporting people to develop skills, confidence and connections to shape local decisions.
Better, more welcoming community spaces – investing in community centres, buildings, parks and shared spaces to keep them open, inclusive and thriving.
More power in residents’ hands – enabling community-led decisions and resident-led investment.
- A Greater Manchester that listens and learns – working with think tanks and national partners to share learning and influence wider policy and investment.
We'll be sharing updates and opportunities via our e-bulletin and the Bury VCSE Leadership group. You can find out more about the GM Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection by visiting the 10GM website. Further information about the programme in Bury can be found on our Live Well webpage.
