Co-operative Engagement Toolkit

Various networks/forums/groups formed around interest, opportunity, place or need.

Action Together thematic networks/forums cross-borough networks that bring VCFSE organisations together to share insight and take collective action to address the root causes of poverty and inequalities. You can find out more about our Thematic Networks HERE book onto Network Meetings HERE.

• Food Solutions Network - improving access to nutritious, appropriate food with dignity and without deprivation
• Women’s Service Network - Tackling inequality in women’s lives and connecting the dots between the voluntary sector support and statutory services
• Emotional Health and Wellbeing Forum - Sustaining and developing inclusive VCFSE support pathways, creating new collaborative work, that benefits the whole network and supports the supporters
• Digital Inclusion Forum - a group working to tackle digital poverty and exclusion in Rochdale
• Rochdale Refugee and Asylum Seeker Multi Agency Forum - a space for groups with a shared interest of supporting Rochdale’s asylum seeker and refugee community, currently run jointly with the British Red Cross and meets bi-monthly
• Ethnic Minority Network - hosted by KYP, this network is a space to provide a voice and collective representation for Rochdale’s BAME led VCSE groups and organisations

Wider VCFSE thematic networks/forums

• BAME Emotional Health and Wellbeing Forum (Rochdale and District Mind)
• Homelessness Network (Sanctuary Trust)
• Women’s Homeless Service User Network (Petrus)
• Culture Network (Cartwheel Arts/Your Trust)
• Asian Business Network (Business in the Community)
• Social Prescribing Network – Meets twice a year – Contact Will Townsend william.townsend@rochdale.gov.uk for more information

Neighbourhood Networks

• Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton and Pennines Networks are quarterly neighbourhood forums bringing VCFSE and statutory colleagues together to build relationships, find opportunities for shared action and influence local decisions.

Wider VCFSE-led place-based forums/networks

• Flood Resilience Group (Littleborough Civic Trust)
• Darnhill Festival Association (Cartwheel Arts)
• Community Base Network (Community Centres)
• Middleton Co-operating
• Big Help Langley

Citizen Engagement Groups and Spaces

• Community Champions (Living Well volunteers supporting others with a range of skills/ expert by experience approaches)
• Rochdale Citizens (Citizens Curriculum - Place Team)
• Street Engagement Volunteers (Living Well)
• Community Influencers Forum (Living Well)
• Family Hub parent carer forums (Rochdale Borough Council)
• Healthwatch Rochdale Advisory Group (residents focused on health and care issues)
• Healthwatch Rochdale Youthwatch (Young people focused on health and care issues)
• Co-op Pioneer Champions (Co-op)
• Youth Parliament (Youth Service)
• Elephants Trail (Residents experiencing multiple disadvantage)
• The Bigger Picture (Sanctuary Trust)
• Rochdale Council of Mosques

Wider VCFSE Engagement Opportunities

There are 1239 VCFSE organisations in Rochdale Borough. Community groups across our different townships in Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale and Pennines run regular events and groups which could welcome an opportunity to share their experiences or insight, for example:

• Coffee Mornings and Social Groups
• Peer Support Groups
• Food Banks and Food Pantries
• 'Friends of' Groups for Green Spaces
• Community Work or Faith Groups
• Housing Association Residents Groups

There are a number of spaces and places that are led by Public Sector partners and include VCFSE sector organisations.  These can be places to share information and consult with VCFSE organisations.  Networks and partnerships include:

• Voluntary Sector Partnership (Elected Member led)
• Mental Health Partnership Board (HMR LCO) 
• Prevention Partnership Board (RBC)
• Early Help and Family Hubs (RBC)
• Age Friendly Partnership (RBH)
• Local Pilot (Your Trust)
• Township Meetings (Elected Member led)
• Patient and Public Engagement Committee (CCG led)

There are also networks, organisations and resources at Greater Manchester that the VCFSE in Rochdale are engaged with and can support Rochdale Borough working.  Some of these include:

• 10GM a joint venture to support the local VCSE sector
• GM VCSE Leadership Group
• GM Mental Health VCSE leadership group
• State of the Sector (VCFSE Sector Research Report, published every three years)
• GMCVO host networks including BAME network
• GM Moving (including Local Pilot in Rochdale)
• Healthy Ageing Research Group 
• The Linking Network Schools Linking Project

GM Equality Panels more info on panels HERE

• GM Equality Alliance – the umbrella group providing an intersectional strategic influencing space
• GM Women and Girls Equality Panel 
• GM Race Equality Panel
• Youth Combined Authority (convened by Youth Focus NW)
• GM Disabled People’s Panel (convened by GMCDP)
• Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (independent)
• Disability Design Reference Group (convened by TfGM)
• LGBT Adviser to Mayor of Greater Manchester
• LGBTQ+ Panel (convened by Manchester Pride)
• GM BAME Leadership Group (convened by GMCVO) 
• Engagement ongoing around setting up ‘Faith Equality Panel’.
• Inclusion and Wellbeing Partnership (convened by GMCVO)

Though ‘communications’ is mainly focused on information giving, engaging with VCFSE and communities about how information is given can help ensure that messages are received well and by the intended audience, achieving the intended outcome. Some methods set up to support this are:

• #TogetherRochdale – communicating in partnership (Healthwatch Rochdale/ Action Together/ Living Well / HMR CCG / Rochdale Borough Council)
• Rochdale e-bulletin (fortnightly newsletter to Action Together VCFSE membership)
• #WednesdaysWeekly Training, Q&A’s and Service Updates from Action Together and Partners 
• Crescent Radio - reaches 5,000 people
• Carers Hub Newsletter - reaches 2,000 people
• Get Rochdale Working Facebook Group - over 17,000 members (work and skills)

Several VCFSE organisations and public sector partners in Rochdale have a directory of services, which signpost people to activities. Many of these are online and used by the general public and by frontline workers and support Social Prescribing services. Some of these include:

• Food Support signposting developed by the Food Solutions Network
• Action Together Events and Training Directory 
• Cost of Living Toolkit (developed by Economic Support Network and Action Together)
• Our Rochdale (information on health, social care, childcare and family services within the borough of Rochdale)
• Rochdale and District Mind, Health and Wellbeing Directory (organisations and activities focused on Health and Wellbeing)
• Healthwatch Rochdale Advice and Information (health focused advice and information)
• Living Well Rochdale (health and wellbeing services)
• Rochdale Connections Trust Directory of Local Services (Services that support social, health and wellbeing needs including domestic abuse)
• Home Instead Senior Care ‘What’s on Where’ Guide (Older peoples activity guide - print only)

How do people link and connect into VCFSE activity?

Word of mouth, social media, local newspapers, noticeboards, recommendations, and radio are always mentioned as ways VCFSE organisations connect with people, either as volunteers or as activity participants. As the importance of the role of the VCFSE, in supporting people’s health and wellbeing has been further appreciated, the number of roles and teams that link to VCFSE activity and refer or connect people to activity has also increased.  These include:

• Action Together Community Development Workers 
• Community Connectors (Adult Care run service connecting people to services and community information, advice and signposting)
• Social Prescribing Link Workers and Focused Care Practitioners (support with multiple issues accessed via GP practice and working with the whole practice team)
• Living Well Health Coaches and Health Trainers (Supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing)
• Action Together Volunteer Centre (brokerage and placement of volunteers)
• Living Well Volunteer Coordinators 
• RBH Community Partnerships Team (Supporting RBH Communities and residents)
• Rochdale Borough Council Place Teams (Focused on place, working together to reduce ‘crisis’ demand on services)
• Early Help Teams (Supporting families holistically)
• Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (Five core neighbourhood teams delivering a wider range of health and social care services, across the Rochdale borough which consist of district nurses, community matrons, community nurses, therapists, general practices, social care and VCFSE sector services)