Collective Effect seeks to fund the exploration and development of new and transformational methods designed to increase the levels of active citizenship in local communities.

The way we see it, active citizenship is all about people taking an active role in community life and making a positive contribution to society. Ways in which active citizenship traditionally manifests itself include taking part in voluntary work, involvement in community organisations, faith-based institutions or trade unions, and engagement with local and national politics.

However, for this project, we specifically want to see active citizenship focused on the development of independent new activities genuinely owned by individuals within their communities as opposed to the recruitment of volunteers to deliver a pre-ordained brief. In other words, we want to encourage organisations to support service users or beneficiaries to work collaboratively in the pursuit of mutually agreed goals.

As a result of Collective Effect, we want to be able to understand more about how organisations develop different relationships with the individuals with whom they team up. Approaches of particular interest are projects that create activity which is sustainable by the same communities ultimately benefitting from the work. We also want to find out how more community centred approaches can be developed that are powerful enough to bring about positive change in the relationships between providers and users.

Project requirements

Your bid should indicate which of the following best describes the approach that your organisation will be taking to this programme:

• You already support active citizenship and wish to extend this work to other areas and communities

• You already support communities to develop active citizenship and are now looking to work with different organisations to transfer the learning

• You already enjoy strong relationships with an existing community and are looking to consolidate on these via the development of active citizenship.

The work will must delivered across in at least one of the eight local authority districts that we cover, i.e.: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside and Wigan (not Trafford or Stockport).

Contract length and value

The contract period will run from September 2018 until March 2020.

We will award a contract with the three providers who achieve the highest scoring bids. Each will receive 50,000 over the 18 months of the contract. 

To find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about bidding for this work, please go to our GMCVO website and register on the bidding portal:

Upcoming bidder event

GMCVO recommends that organisations interested in applying for this work attend the bidding engagement event. This will give prospective applicants the opportunity to learn more about the project principles, the delivery model and the approach GMCVO is looking for.

The event will take place at GMCVO, St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North, Manchester, M12 6FZ – Wednesday 27th June 10.30 am to 12 noon.

• To book your place please click here:

Full details of the guidance event for potential bidders can also be found on the events section of the GMCVO website

Final deadline for submissions

12 noon, Wednesday 25th July