Looking ahead to a future where everyone can live well, every day.

What will it take to make this way of working that everyday reality across Greater Manchester?

Explore what happens when systems enable community action, community power, and community wealth to grow. Where devolving power and funding means communities thrive, inequalities reduce, and everyday support becomes accessible, inclusive, and sustainable.

Communities and public services share a vision for Greater Manchester’s future — where welcoming, strength-based spaces and support foster trust, belonging, and purpose. This is all about putting people, not processes, at the heart of change.

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

01:31 - Reflecting on the Live Well Vision

03:04 - Community Stories and Insights

04:54 - The Vision for Live Well Centres

09:06 - Employment Support and Community Engagement

10:23 - Exploring Community Hubs

16:10 - Challenges and Barriers to Employment

19:53 - The Future of Live Well

35:36 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Organisations & groups featured:

GMCA - Annette and Tabz, Jane Forrest

DeButterfly Mama Health and Poverty Partnership and GM Shapers - Folashade 

Mayor of Greater Manchester - Andy Burnham 

Unlimited Potential - Chris Dabbs 

Elephants Trail - Andy 

Wigan Council – Alison McKensie-Folan

Stretford Public Hall via Elephant's Trail

Lighthouse project via Elephant's Trail

Plattbridge Community Zone via Elephant's Trail

Christine, Keegan and Jaimie

Local Trust – Rachel Rowney

Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Alison McGovern MP

Some watching:

Hope, Elephants Trail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S33Y5Jj-PYY

Further Reading:

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

Community power map - https://goodlivesgm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/UK-evidence-for-community-power-1.pdf

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

What happens when systems start to share power? They shift from fixers to working in genuine partnership with communities, with better results.

What happens when we rethink culture and control and build power within communities?

When we create spaces for change and grow system leaders’ capacity to act on community voice, insights and ideas?

Hear how councils, funders and services are helping communities lead lasting change across Greater Manchester. Rethinking funding, building trust and changing - not just strategies but culture and mindsets. 

You'll hear what system leaders, commissioners and people working across public services have learned by doing things differently. Real change that grows great everyday support that lasts. 

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

01:31 - Welcome to Episode Seven

01:55 - Exploring Community Power

02:55 - Eve Holt on Community Power

05:34 - Shifting Power

10:18 - Community Development

16:11 - Bev Craig's Personal Story

20:58 - Investing in Community Power

28:34 - Final Reflections and Call to Action

Organisations & groups featured:

GMCA - Tabz and Annette, Eve Holt, Caroline Simpson

Wigan Council - Alison McKenzie-Folan

Nurture Development - Cormac Russell

Manchester City Council - Bev Craig

Mayor of Greater Manchester - Andy Burnham

A Brilliant Thing – Kerry Tottingham

10GM and Action Together - Liz Windsor-Welsh

Rekindle Supplementary School - Nika Nuthra-Shah

Young Manchester - Samuel Remi-Akinwale

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

Dive into what’s strong in Greater Manchester neighbourhoods – knowledge, skills and experience - and how growing this leads to lasting change.

What has community power got to do with people living a good life?

We’ll discuss how solutions grown with communities lead to better outcomes. Hear from people across Greater Manchester shaping their neighbourhoods and creating spaces where people feel safe, seen and supported.

From neighbourhood councils, mutual aid groups, community organising and grassroots action networks to public services sharing power through participatory approaches, asset-based practice and working in genuine collaboration.

This episode reflects on how public services lead, support and show up differently in work. 

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

01:26 - Exploring Community Power

03:34 - Voices from the Community

06:03 - Community Superpowers

08:45 - Community Power in Action

15:21 - Fighting Poverty and Debt

19:55 - Youth Leadership and Participation

24:32 - Legislative Theatre and Policy Change

28:55 - Reflections and Future Directions

32:27 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Organisations & groups featured:

GMCA - Tabz and Annette, Caroline Simpson 

Women's Voices - Nadia Siddiqui

Rekindle Supplementary School - Nika Muthra-Shah

Caring and Sharing - Nicky Iginla

Open Agency - Selva Mustafa

Elephants Trail – Paddy, Shannon 

Disability Stockport – via Elephants Trail 

SAWN - Agatha Phiri

Debt Justice – Richard Dunbar

Anti-Poverty Foundation panel for Rochdale - Jo Barker-Marsh

Young Manchester - Samuel Remi-Akinwale

Youth Focus Northwest Be Counted Project - Madia and Divine

Legislative theater facilitator- Sam Dixon 

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology - Liz Kendall MP

Some watching:

Able, Elephants Trail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUQgsVLRTT0

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

Explore growing power, sharing resources and creating the conditions for happy, healthy lives - what systems can do to create community wealth.

From participatory grant-making to local funds, how collaboration, trust and community ownership are transforming how money and opportunity flow.

Featuring funders, councils, health, voluntary sector and community organisations, this is a discussion about community led, system-enabled change.

Through stories of empowerment, inclusion and the impact of being resource rich, we’ll explore what helps this flourish. How local authorities and other public services and funders are teaming up with communities, growing power, sharing resources, and creating the conditions for happy, healthy lives.

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

01:26 - Episode Five Overview and Key Themes

02:23 - Exploring Community Wealth with Chris Dabbs

04:15 - Nika's Perspective on Community Wealth

05:22 - Cultural Contexts of Community Wealth

06:22 - Community Transformation

07:23 - Stewarding Community Resources

08:28 - Cormack Russell on Community Health and Wealth

10:44 - Real-World Examples of Community Wealth Building

12:02 - Participatory Grant Making

17:26 - Impact Stories from Funded Projects

21:36 - Oldham's One Oldham Fund and Community Trust

26:21 - Rochdale's Community-Led Leadership and Training

28:25 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Organisations & groups featured:

GMCA – Tabz O’Brien and Annette Cloherty

Unlimited Potential - Chris Dabbs 

Rekindle - Nika Nuthra-Shah, Ruth Ibegbuna

Elevate Young Minds - Edenamiuki AiguobasinmwinRochdale Council - Helen Davies

Lankelly Chase Foundation Julian Corner, Carrina Gaffney

Nurture Development - Cormac Russell

Systems Changers - Selva Mustafa, Carl 

Theatre in Flow - Liz Mytton

Support and Action for Women's Network - Rose Ssali

Oldham Council - Rachel Dyson

Action Together - Laura Windsor Welsh

Yuvanis - Zakir Ahmad

UK Funding Futures - Billy Darroch

Mayor of Greater Manchester - Andy Burnham 

NHS GM - Zoe Porter

Propel London Funders – James Banks 

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

Explore how growing community wealth, opportunities and ownership moves us from fixing problems to preventing them — together.

What happens when communities have ownership of ideas, spaces, decisions and local enterprise?

This episode explores how health and wealth are deeply connected and why thriving communities need control of resources.

We’ll hear how communities are reclaiming spaces, reshaping local economies and creating fairer futures.

From cooperatives to community run spaces, we'll discover what happens when ownership and opportunity are local. Shaping the future of Greater Manchester from the ground up, creating real change that is long term, sustainable and rooted in local pride.

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 - Welcome to the Greater Manchester Live Well Podcast

01:27 - Introduction to Episode Four

01:42 - Exploring Community Wealth

02:57 - Insights from Cormack Russell

05:00 - Community Wealth in Action: Bolton's Perspective

06:37 - Andy Burnham on Community Wealth

08:01 - Tom Lloyd Goodwin on Community Wealth Building

13:52 - Real-World Examples of Community Wealth

0:31 - Historical Context: The Birth of Cooperatives

26:16 - Community Projects: Skate Parks, Kitchens, and Football Clubs

31:48 - Final Reflections and Closing Remarks

Organisations & groups featured:

GMCA - Tabz O’Brien and Annette Cloherty, Will Clarke

DeButterfly Mama Health and Poverty Partnership and GM Shapers - Folashade Alonge

All Souls Bolton and We’re Right Here Campaign - Inayat Omarji

Nurture Development - Cormac Russell 

Mayor of Greater Manchester - Andy Burnham

CLES  - Tom Lloyd Goodwin

Funding Futures - Billy Darroch

New Pioneers - Nicola McCormack, Daisy de Silva 

Your B Credit Union - Martiza

Elephants Trail – Andy, Shannon

Manchester Project Skate Park – via Elephants Trail

Open Kitchen – via Elephants Trail

FC United - via Elephants Trail 

Some watching:

Ours, Elephants Trail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mVuRLZ-AVg

Further Reading:

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

Growing GM Live Well: Evidence for Community Power - https://goodlivesgm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/UK-evidence-for-community-power.pdf

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

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

Explore what happens when communities take action and lead everyday local support.

Community action is the heartbeat of our neighbourhoods — where peer support groups, taxi drivers, barbers, neighbours and volunteers are stepping up, connecting and creating change.

This episode is filled with stories of our communities showing up for each other, friendly faces and places for people to turn to without referrals, long waits and fear.

Featuring voices from across the city-region, from our libraries, food banks, music cafés, youth hubs and women-led groups and more, this episode shows how trust, hope, and collaboration are growing healthier, stronger and fairer communities.

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 - Welcome to the Greater Manchester Live Well Podcast

00:37 - Introduction to the Live Well Vision

01:40 - Meet Your Hosts and Episode Overview

02:56 - Community Action and Everyday Support

04:51 - Spotlight on Elephants Trail

06:33 - Voices from the Community

10:10 - Gorton: A Hub of Collaboration and Support

15:11 - Empowering Women and Building Community

20:36 - Community-Led Support in Action

29:51 - Reflections and Future Directions

32:08 - Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Organisations & groups featured:

GMCA - Tabz O’Brien and Annette Cloherty

Unlimited Potential - Chris Dabbs

Elephants Trail – Paddy, Shannon

Longsight Library – via Elephants Trail 

Cutz on the Block – via Elephants Trail

Veterans Allotment in Denton – via Elephants Trail

Smallshaw Hurst Parent group - via Elephant's Trail

The Monastery - Elaine Griffiths

Healthy Me Healthy Communities - Kate 

Angels of Hope - Leah Chikamba

Inspirational Women - Chizzy Ijeh

Southway Housing - Miu

Gorton Hub - Michael Kendall Lamb

BFI Active CIC - Shamime Jan

Kelly – Smallshawhurst Pantry 

Angels United - Oliver Monk

Class – Community Savers - Sophie King, Susan Anya

Age UK - Keith Carter

Some watching:

Connection, Elephants Trail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9SfcRoXBwA

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

Discover how Greater Manchester is doing things differently — creating everyday support that starts with people, not systems.

Live Well is reimagining everyday support, tackling inequalities by supporting the person and not just waiting to treat the condition or crisis. Residents, communities, public service leaders and the Mayor of Greater Manchester share why it’s time to find new ways of supporting people and communities in everyday trusted places.

Explore what Live Well is and why it matters – a journey from policy to practice, from neighbourhoods to boardrooms. What's working, what's shifting and how we can create new systems of support, together.

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 - Welcome to the Greater Manchester Live Well Podcast

01:36 - Introduction to Live Well Vision

01:55 - Understanding Live Well: From Policy to Practice

02:29 - Community Voices and Stories

03:24 - Health is Wealth: A Deeper Dive

04:04 - Live Well's Commitment and Expansion

05:59 - The Role of Community and Connection

08:46 - Elephants Trail: Changing the System

10:02 - Community-Led Health and Wellbeing

16:19 - Andy Burnham's Vision for Live Well

17:44 - Challenges and Hope for the Future

22:05 - The Roadmap to 2030

25:55 - Funding and Support for Live Well

36:20 - Conclusion and Next Steps

Organisations & groups featured:

GMCA – Caroline Simpson, Annette Cloherty, Tabz O’Brien

Mayor of Greater Manchester - Andy Burnham

NHS GM – Mark Fisher

DeButterfly Mama Health and Poverty Partnership and GM Shapers, Live Well’s Community Accountability Group - Folashade Alonge

Idaraya Life VSNW – Ayisatu Emore

Made by Mortals – multiple voices, Paul Hine, Tess Keeble

Elephants Trail – Shannon, Andy, Paddy, Laura

SAWN – Agatha via Elephants Trail

Well Mental – via Elephants Trail

Army of Kindness – via Elephants Trail

Wigan Council – Alison McKensie-Folan

National Lottery Community Fund – John Mothersole

Unlimited Potential - Chris Dabbs

Some watching:

Together Elephants Trail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYj8ZuPVETQ&t=3s

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: Live Well - Greater Manchester Combined Authority

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

Discover a new way of doing things in Greater Manchester - with people, not to them.

Welcome to The Greater Manchester Live Well Podcast — a new series about doing things differently.

Hosted by Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester), Folashade Alonge (GM Shapers) and the GM Live Well team, this eight-part series brings together 100 voices from across our city region.

Live Well is Greater Manchester’s movement for change. It’s about creating great everyday support in everyday places, built on trust, connection and hope. A helping hand, not a hoop to jump through.

Episodes release weekly from November 2025.

Featuring:

• Andy Burnham – Mayor of Greater Manchester
• Folashade Alonge – GM Shapers
• Tabz O’Brien and Annette Cloherty – GM Live Well team
• Voices from across Greater Manchester communities

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 about GM Live Well here.

This podcast brings together over 100 voices from across Greater Manchester — add yours to the conversation on social media using #GMLiveWell

Funders

GM Live Well is a partnership between GMCA, NHS GM, 10GM 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