In 2023, Manchester Local Care Organisation and Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse launched Neighbourhood Health Champions, a volunteer programme full of local people, supporting their community to live healthier lives.

Why do we need Neighbourhood Health Champions?

Good health matters. But we don’t all get the same chance to lead healthy, good lives. We need to take action together to change this.

The champions are local, so are familiar with local issues and well connected to their community. This helps them to:

• Empower people to lead healthier lives and access services
• Work on local issues facing people in the area
• Help improve the health system. Watch our video about the role of champions

What do the champions do?

Manchester Local Care Organisation work in partnership with local organisations and communities to establish the needs and priorities for the areas the champions cover, such as:

• Help remove barriers that get in the way of keeping ourselves healthy
• Empower people to lead healthier lives
• Help connect local people with support – on housing rights, on social security benefits and other cost of living help, on warm and healthy homes, and much more
• Help share information on health screening and vaccination programmes, and conduct health checks such as blood pressure
• Organise community events to help support communities
• Feedback on local issues facing people in the area
• Help improve the health system, so that it works better for everyone. Watch our video about the positive difference champions have made this year: Neighbourhood Health Champions longer film on Vimeo

What areas do the champions cover?

Originally the champions started in Hulme, Moss Side and Rusholme, before extending to Ardwick and Longsight. This year, they have also taken on projects in Wythenshawe, Gorton and Levenshulme.

What training and benefits do the champions receive?

If you become a neighbourhood health champion, you get:

• Paid expenses and food
• Free training and support
• An opportunity to make a real difference as part of a team that cares about helping people live longer, better lives.

Interested in becoming a champion?

We are currently recruiting neighbourhood health champions.

Our next recruitment event is taking place on Wednesday 21st January 2026, 12pm to 4pm at Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse, M14 4SL

For information about this event, please contact our neighbourhood health champion coordinators Wendy and Sedi, via 07726 692 551 or NHC.coordinator@msmpowerhouse.org.uk

If you would like to be kept informed about other opportunities to volunteer with the champions, please contact communications@mancheserlco.org

Interested in working with our champions?

If you would be interested in working with us or to find out more, please contact communications@mancheserlco.org