The Communities and Equalities Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss crime and policing, the Neighbourhood Investment Fund, and the Manchester Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Adventurous Activity Strategy. The meeting will also include an overview report from the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit, and a review of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Neighbourhood Investment Fund

The committee is scheduled to discuss the overview and impact of the Neighbourhood Investment Fund (NIF). The NIF provides £20,000 each year for all 32 wards in Manchester. According to the report pack, NIF grants are intended to enable communities to translate their own ideas into action, focusing on cleaner, greener, safer and vibrant neighbourhoods, bringing communities together to celebrate diversity and build cohesion, as well as supporting existing and brand-new community groups to flourish.

The report pack includes case studies from each ward to demonstrate community leadership in action. Examples of projects supported by NIF grants include:

• Moston: A fun day at the Simpson Memorial Hall celebrating diverse African cultures, organised by the North Manchester Community Partnership.
• Gorton & Abbey Hey: Transforming an under-utilised space in Debdale Park into a workshop to reduce isolation for men of all ages.
• Longsight: A community football programme delivered in partnership with Stanley Grove Primary School and Greater Manchester Police, focused on respect, honesty, and building relationships with young people.
• Didsbury West & Didsbury East: An inclusive event for the whole community to celebrate everything LGBTQ+, held at St James & Emmanuel Parish Church on Barlow Moor Road.
• Burnage: Installing a new sign at the Khanka Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Mosque to raise its profile and direct attendees to the entrance.
• Hulme: Creating a medicinal herb garden at the Hulme Community Garden Centre using recycled materials, increasing biodiversity, and providing a herbal resource for the community.
• Cheetham: Creative workshops to create a mural on the basketball court on Appleford Road to encourage more young people to use it.
• Chorlton: Installing a publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at St Clements Parish Church.
• Harpurhey: A PeaceJam Slam Youth Conference held at Manchester Communication Academy on the theme of 'Brave: Celebrating Collective Individuality'.
• Whalley Range: Engagement sessions for older residents at the Minhaj Ul Quran Mosque to create a welcoming space for social interaction and tackle loneliness.
• Rusholme: An annual Halloween parade and celebration in West Point Gardens, organised by the West Point Residents Association.
• Withington (including Fallowfield / Old Moat Wards): Withington Pride, an event to celebrate and strengthen 'Radical, Joyful, Unity' within the local and LGBTQ+ community.
• Charlestown: Creating a new garden growing space for young people and their parents at Charlestown Primary School.
• Ardwick: Improving the visual appearance of storage units through a community art project at the Church of the Nazarene.
• Fallowfield: Improving the aesthetics of the Platt Fields Park entrance in collaboration with the Friends of Platt Fields Park and Fallowfield Community Guardians.
• Piccadilly: Installing low level willow fencing and purchasing new tools for the Friends of Sackville Gardens volunteers to maintain the appearance of this City Centre green space.
• Levenshulme: Transforming an alleyway on Dorset Road into a shared garden space for residents, led by the Friends of Friendship Blossoms.
• Ancoats & Beswick: Residents created 'Stitched Up Crafternoons' as a weekly drop-in to improve sewing skills in repairing and making alterations to clothes at Woodward Court.
• Higher Blackley: Holding an event by closing the street outside Prospect House Primary Specialist Support School for 'Clean Air Day'.
• Moss Side: Transforming an unused car park into a Peace Garden at the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star.
• Deansgate: Adding more colour and vibrancy to St John's Gardens with increased planting to improve the space's biodiversity.
• Chorlton Park: Promoting a greener and more sustainable way of life at the Merseyfest family fun event on the Parkway Playing Fields, organised by the Barlow Moor Community Association.
• Baguley, Northenden, Sharston and Woodhouse Park: Establishing a community led bike shop by the Mcr Bike Kitchen to support active travel, reduce isolation and promote health and wellbeing.
• Crumpsall: Running training sessions for battle re-enactment, a day in the life of a Viking etc by the Odr Hird group at the Crumpsall and Cheetham Allotment.
• Clayton & Openshaw: Creating an all-weather cycling track in Delamere Park and a bike hub by Max Trax Events.
• Old Moat: Holding a 2-day event to celebrate the improvements to Rutherford Place and Copson Street in Withington Village.
• Miles Platting & Newton Heath: Commissioning Ed for All to provide a homework club for young people who were not in mainstream education at the Newton Heath Library.
• Brooklands, Baguley, Northenden, Sharston and Woodhouse Park: Holding music workshops in a new creative space in the Wythenshawe Forum at Wythenshawe Town Centre by Music Evermore.

The report pack states that the NIF criteria links to the 'Our People' theme of the Our Manchester Strategy¹. NIF grants are intended to support community-based events that bring diverse communities together to strengthen cohesion, build relationships, and help residents feel a greater sense of belonging. They also aim to improve road safety, support with the cost of living, promote family health and wellbeing, reduce isolation, enhance community safety, upskill residents, and support the establishment of new community groups.

One of the NIF eligibility criteria links to 'Improving the Environment'. According to the report pack, many grants are linked to alley-way greening, creating and improving green spaces, community gardens, providing gardening tools and equipment, supporting Friends of Parks and Green Space groups, street art and murals, and activities linked to national campaigns such as the Great British Spring Clean², Love Your Parks Week³ and Volunteers Week⁴.

The report pack also states that NIF grant funding is available for all residents and community groups to apply for, including those working together with the City Council, Registered Providers⁵, Greater Manchester Police and Health, as well as businesses.

Manchester Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Adventurous Activity Strategy

The committee is scheduled to discuss the emerging direction of the Manchester Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Adventurous Activity Strategy (2026–2036). According to the report pack, this is the first all-age outdoor learning strategy developed by a UK Core City. It sets out a citywide vision to deliver inclusive, high-quality outdoor learning and adventurous activities for all age groups, shaped through cross-sector collaboration.

The Strategy identifies six strategic priorities:

• Enhancing accessibility and inclusivity
• Strengthening workforce and training
• Developing the Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Adventurous Activity network of delivery partners
• Improving and developing facilities and infrastructure
• Fostering cross-sector collaboration
• Promoting sustainable and active travel

These priorities are supported by five specific strategy action plans:

• A 10-year delivery roadmap
• The Active Parks Action Plan
• Locality Facility and Activity Investment Action Plan
• Education Action Plan
• Young People's Action Plan

The report pack states that governance will be led by the Strategy Board, under the oversight of Manchester City Council, with delivery coordinated in partnership with stakeholders and communities. The final Strategy will be published as a live, public-facing document, reviewed and updated annually. The Strategy aims to embed outdoor learning into everyday life, reduce barriers to participation, and improve health, wellbeing, and educational outcomes across Manchester. It also provides a strategic foundation for the Manchester Local Plan Review, guiding future development and investment.

The report pack states that delivery of priority projects identified in the Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Adventurous Activity Strategy and Five Action Plans will contribute to achieving the zero-carbon target for the city. Future investment and associated capital and revenue projects will be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010⁶.

The Manchester Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Adventurous Activity Strategy supports the city's Child Friendly City goals by ensuring all children and young people have equitable access to outdoor experiences that promote wellbeing, learning, and life skills.

The Strategy identifies the need to improve infrastructure and access to the outdoors, notably investment into green spaces, and sustainable transport to access to the surrounding National Parks (Peak and Lake Districts).

Crime and Policing

The committee is scheduled to receive a presentation from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) providing an update on the neighbourhood policing uplift for the city of Manchester. The presentation will include an opportunity for further discussion on wider crime and policing.

The report pack indicates that the Government Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee has provided 176 extra neighbourhood officers for GMP, with 82 extra neighbourhood officers for the City of Manchester, representing a 23% uplift in NHD Resources for the CoM.

Overview Report

The committee will receive an Overview Report from the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit. This report includes details of key decisions due to be taken that are relevant to the committee's remit, as well as an update on actions resulting from the committee's recommendations. The report also includes the committee's work programme, which the committee is asked to agree.

The report pack provides an update on previous recommendations made by the committee:

• Further information on the development of an incentives offer for volunteers for the Manchester Volunteer Inspire Programme (MCRVIP) is expected around March 2025.
• The toolkit to promote best practice in terms of building community power will be brought to a future meeting for consideration by the committee once developed.
• A standalone table of activities delivered as part of the Manchester's Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy Update, including opportunities for young people, will be provided to the committee in the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy Update Report in February 2026.
• A future report on the Age Friendly Manchester Delivery Progress Update will include a case study of the pilot scheme in Gorton, or Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill.
• A future report on Digital Inclusion will include detail on the support offer for older people and that the Age Friendly team be invited to attend this meeting.
• A future report on the Age Friendly Manchester Delivery Progress Update will include a mapping exercise of service provision and support for older people through housing providers.
• A future report on the Age Friendly Manchester Delivery Progress Update will provide further detail and clarity on the successes of tackling isolation through place based approaches.
• Information on the FireStoppers campaign was emailed to members on 5 September 2025.
• The item on how the council communicates with young people and listens to their views on community safety will be scheduled for the June 2026 meeting to allow sufficient time for work to embed and be evaluated.
• Consideration will be given to incorporating MSV Housing Group's approach to communication with residents affected by ASB into the Manchester Standard.
• Detail on the number first-time applications to the Our Manchester Voluntary and Community Sector Fund will be provided after the sifting process is completed.
• The report scheduled for February 2026 will include a breakdown of funded organisations by their area of focus to help identify any gaps in provision.
• The report scheduled for February 2026 will include a breakdown of funded organisations by ward.
• Consideration will be given within this funding round and in future rounds for 5% of the Fund be allocated to smaller VCSE organisations and that training materials with examples of successful bids be developed to support smaller organisations in applying for the Fund.

The report pack also includes an extract of the most recent Register of Key Decisions published on 29 September 2025, containing details of the decisions under the committee's remit:

• Awarding two contracts for the provision of short-term accommodation-based support for vulnerable individuals who may have complex needs, and who are either homeless or threatened with homelessness.
• Awarding a contract for the provision of short-term accommodation-based support for young females aged 16-25 years old who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and who are pregnant or have dependent children under the age of five.
• Awarding two contracts for the provision of a short-term resettlement and floating support service tailored for young people with complex needs transitioning from temporary and supported housing arrangements or who are in their own homes but may be at risk of becoming homeless, and young LGBTQ+ individuals with complex needs transitioning from temporary and supported housing arrangements or who are in their own homes but face a significant risk of tenancy failure without appropriate support.