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Our Story
Our Story
The Community Power Forum was founded by Tom Wiseman and Jane Dudley from Manchester City Council’s Neighbourhood Team, as part of the city’s post-pandemic recovery. The vision was simple but powerful: to rebuild community connections, give people back a sense of agency, and support collaboration between statutory services and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. The early phase involved 125 VCFSE organisations coming together over four VCFSE speed networking events, building connections and developing shared priorities.
As a result of these network meetings, Healthy Me Healthy Communities CiC and the Monastery met to share their own work and explore ideas for strengthening neighbourhood trauma- informed approaches and responses.
These events were the catalyst for the Community Power Forum, linking with a parallel initiative already happening in Clayton and Openshaw, led by Angela Beacon (MLCO) and Adrian Ball (Manchester Settlement).
Over time, MCPF has evolved into a multi-neighbourhood, multi-agency partnership that continues to grow.
Our Mission
Our Mission
To create stronger, healthier communities by centering local voices, supporting community leadership, and building lasting partnerships that address structural inequalities and support wellbeing for all.
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
Participation & Inclusion: Everyone is welcome, and every voice matters.
Equity & Fairness: We recognise and challenge the unequal systems that impact communities.
Collaboration: Together we are stronger - across sectors, backgrounds, and lived experience.
Leadership from within: Communities are not just consulted; they lead the agenda.
Action with Impact: We don’t just talk; we co-create change and measure our outcomes.
How We Work
How We Work
Co-Production: We design forums and actions with, not for, local people.
Place-based Practice: Each neighbourhood is different; the MCPF honours local context and identity.
Trauma-Informed Approaches: Recognising that trauma impacts both communities and systems, we design responses that are compassionate, inclusive, and empowering.
Power Shifting: Our aim is to shift decision-making power towards communities, wherever possible.
System Integration: We influence wider policy areas, such as health, anti-poverty, and care, by feeding real community insight into strategy.
We support and complement policies such as Making Manchester Fairer, Manchester’s Anti-Poverty Strategy, Manchester Local Care Organisation’s Community Health Model, Our Manchester 2025–2035 Strategy, and Manchester City Council’s Community Power Standards, as they align with our commitment to reducing inequality, empowering communities, and promoting holistic, person-centred wellbeing across Manchester.
Who steers the Manchester Community Power Forum?
Who steers the Manchester Community Power Forum?
A steering group of community partners, VCSE leaders, and statutory colleagues guides the Forum’s direction, events, and priorities. From March 2025, leadership transitioned to Healthy Me Healthy Communities CiC, following a successful handover from Manchester Settlement.
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