Live Well in Greater Manchester
What is GM Live Well?
GM Live Well brings together people, services and organisations from across the city region, including NHS Greater Manchester, local councils, the VCSE sector, community groups, businesses and residents. Together, we’re working to make sure people can easily get help, advice and opportunities to improve their health and wellbeing, close to where they live. Live Well is Greater Manchester’s growing movement for community-led health and wellbeing.
The Greater Manchester Live Well Approach seeks to remove barriers to opportunity and tackle health, social, and economic inequalities, ensuring everyone has access to great everyday support in their own neighbourhood. It’s a movement that brings together local people, community groups, and public services to help everyone live healthier, happier lives. At the heart of this movement is the belief that community voice matters, and that people should feel empowered to shape the places they live.
It’s a movement that brings together local people, community groups, and public services to help everyone live healthier, happier lives. At the heart of this movement is the belief that community voice matters, and that people should feel empowered to shape the places they live. It’s all about making sure that everyone, wherever they live, has the chance to feel healthy, connected and supported in their everyday life.
It's part of Andy Burnham’s Manifesto commitment for:
“everyone in every community to have daily access to support and advice to improve their physical and mental health and socio-economic status”.
Live Well in Bury
Across Bury, work is already underway to build a network of Live Well Centres and Live Well Spaces in all five neighbourhoods. These places will offer friendly, local support that’s easy to access and rooted in the community.
Live Well Spaces
Live Well Spaces are informal, welcoming spots where people can drop in, connect with others and find support. They’re often run by voluntary groups, peer networks or local volunteers. These spaces could be cafés, libraries, community centres or pop up areas within other venues. They’re designed to feel familiar, accessible and part of everyday life.
Live Well Centres
Live Well Centres bring services and community support together in one place. They offer a warm welcome, guidance, and links to local activities. Together, they form trusted spaces where people feel at home and get early help before problems grow.
Live Well Offers
Work together across sectors to ensure that the offers and services local people need are available, whether that's housing or benefits advice through to early years advice and support.
Bury’s First Live Well Centre: Opening 2026
As part of Phase 1, Bury Council, NHS GM and Bury VCFA are working together to bring a currently disused building, The Ark on Albert Road in Whitefield, back into community use.
After conversations with residents and the VCFSE sector, plans are underway to transform The Ark into Bury’s first Live Well Centre.
This ambitious project aims to open the centre by April 2026, giving local people a welcoming place to connect, find support and get involved.
Photograph of The Ark on Albert Road, Whitefield (February 2026)
Live Well Festival 2026
Monday 9 March – Monday 23 March 2026
This spring, the very first Live Well Festival will take place across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. Over 250 events and activities will pop up in local communities, celebrating the people, places and ideas that help us all to live well.
The full festival programme will be released in three stages:
- 23 February – First launch
- 26 February – Second launch
- 2 March – Final launch
Updates of the Live Well Festival will be shared on the GMCA Website:
Each event will shine a light on one of four themes:
⭐ Spaces of Hope and Connection
Celebrating the welcoming, community rooted places that help us feel we belong.
⭐ Building Bridges and Weaving Trust
Bringing people together, strengthening relationships and growing trust across communities and public services.
⭐ Great Everyday Support
Showcasing the kind, inclusive and practical support that helps people live well every day.
⭐ Participation and Community Power
Highlighting how communities lead change, influence decisions, and help shape the places they live.
Live Well Spaces of Hope
Launched in April 2026, Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection is one strand within the broader GM Live Well model, which also includes Live Well Centres, Live Well Offers and other community-based Live Well Spaces. This investment will ensure that VCFSE-led and community-led spaces are firmly embedded within the Live Well approach, and provide practical learning about how communities can protect, sustain and grow their own local Spaces of Hope.
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.
