Connecting to local partners and across sectors was key to Manchester’s approach. The place team spent time building new relationships and trust with partners. This ensured that place-based principles were embedded into shared areas of work. These foundations allowed the team reposition physical activity as a solution for tackling inequalities and improving health outcomes. Which in turn meant that physical activity was embedded across different agendas, including the city-wide Making Manchester Fairer strategy.

Connection and engaging with existing community groups was identified as a core strand to Manchester’s place work. Through community engagement the team were able to build;

• • Better community knowledge

• • Community trust

• • More connectivity within the system

To support these groups the place team provided support and mentoring to VCSE and community groups. This included wrap around support for CiFs, and training for place-based ways of working.

Through the test and learn approach, Manchester identified different community engagement models for each the four neighbourhoods. Although each model was adapted for each community, all models had the following;

• • Encouraged flexible of ways of working

• • Were shaped by the needs of each community

• • Focused on building community leadership.

Successes from community engagement in hyperlocal work has now influenced the broader system. Examples of community engagement in action is seen in infrastructure projects city wide. A key example of this is the implementation and placement of the cities football hubs.

Walking  and cycling was identified as a key areas of focus for Manchester’s place team. This area of work was based on resident feedback. As residents identified walking and cycling as a the most likely way to provide opportunities to be physical activity. Since the start of the place partnership Manchester have had multiple successes both at a system and local level.

Manchester walking took a community sustainability approach. This included providing training for people who wish to become walk leaders. The aim of this is to build up a strong and sustainable community walking programme within the city. The training also provided an opportunity for the team to build up stronger relationships with the walk leaders. Which led to a new barrier being identified for informal walking groups in the form of an out-of-date parks policy. Once identified the place team were able to use this knowledge and work with the parks team to find a solution. The result was a change in policy. Allowing walking groups to meet in parks without £10million insurance requirement. The place team took this one step further and held a series of meetings to publicise this change in policy with the park teams.

Manchester have also had successes in policy changes within cycling at a local level and national level. By working closely with communities a barrier was identified within the ride leader programme. By leaning into the community knowledge, and stakeholder relationships the place team were able to influence changes. These changes were then implemented in future training programmes, making them more accessible.

Manchester want to build on the good work already done in this area. While also leveraging the momentum created from the 2024 European Capital of Cycling. For deepening the place team want to strengthen the outdoor recreational offer, and improve access to active travel.

Infrastructure has been identified to as key to this works suitability. Manchester want to create more connected neighbourhoods by improving on active travel routes. This work will be supported by Teams Around a Neighbourhood which will ensure that resident voice is visible at all levels.

Another important area of focus for the place-based work in Manchester is tackling health inequalities. The place work is aligned the Making Manchester fairer strategy. This strategy is Manchester’s commitment to equality. Aiming to make services, facilities, and opportunities as fair as possible. This will include targeted place-based interventions, while also exploring ways to make services as accessible as possible.

One pathway that we are hoping to streamline is the exercise referral and social prescribing pathway making it easier to access. Part of this is an ambition to create a digital triage system. This platform will triage and connect residents to local provision. Therefore, making it easier to residents to access support and find local activities. To ensure the success of this work, the team will be working in collaboration with other health and academic partners.

Alongside the platform the place work will also contribute to the expansion of quality assured health pathways for those who are inactive. This will involve working closely with VCSE partners to help upskill community organisation. A number of trusted partners have already been identified as potential physical activity champions who can help other organisation build capacity and confidence.

Key to the sustainability of place work is building community power and a sense of ownership of local initiatives. This has already been demonstrated in place base work such as seed of joy and Heart and soul (insert links). Manchester want to build on these learnings and further involve local people in decision making, and upskilling. By working in place-based ways Manchester want to cultivate trust within the new communities they are expanding into.

Supporting the communities directly and via the VCSE sector will also support other deepening aims.