How leadership, workforce, and volunteering can help active lives for all

By Emily Wilkins, People & Leadership Lead (GM Moving) | 10 April 2025 | TAGS: Systems Leadership, workforce, Volunteering

On Monday 24 March 2025, I joined over 50 people at Friends Meeting House in Central Manchester to explore how leadership, workforce, and volunteering can help active lives for all. This event was a hosted by GM Moving, in collaboration with 10GM, Macc, Collaborate Out Loud, and Curators of Change.

Our event brought together a diverse group: those who had previously engaged in GM Moving’s Systems Leadership workshops, Different Conversations training, and the Volunteering Community of Practice, as well as people keen to learn more. This was a chance for us to come together to reflect on what’s working, explore new ideas, and shape what comes next. 

Our interactive workshops helped people dive into practical tools and new ways of working. In "Reframing Volunteering in Sport", we explored how language can either invite people in or unintentionally shut them out. The session provided a closer look at how we communicate about volunteering, with helpful examples and tips for making it more inclusive and appealing. 

Meanwhile, our "Systems Leadership" workshop explained rapid testing and learning in localities, drawing on insights from the 100-day challenge with Curators of Change.  

In "Values, Beliefs, Needs and Wants", Maggie Elliot and Claire Haigh from Collaborate Out Loud introduced the concept of core emotional concerns and how they shape the way we interact and support others. Through the lens of emotional needs, the group explored how to have deeper, more effective conversations that help people feel heard, valued, and motivated to move. 

Each workshop provided space for people to test out ideas, hear from others, and take away practical tools for use in their own contexts. Most importantly, we learned how to apply the skills and tools in community settings, local government, health, or the voluntary sector. 

In the afternoon, we focused on sustainability and next steps. Drawing on lived experience, we thought about how to continue embedding these new skills, behaviours, and mindsets. This could be within our own teams, organisations, and systems. There was a strong sense of shared ownership and commitment to building a culture where movement is part of everyday life for all. 

Looking Ahead 

The insights, energy, and learning from this event will help shape our ongoing plans for workforce and volunteering development. Most importantly, this will ensure that together, we continue moving towards a healthier, more active Greater Manchester. 

Would you like to stay involved in conversations around how leadership, workforce, and volunteering can be adapted to help everyone lead more active lives?
Drop me an email at: [email protected]

We recognise that this event took place during Ramadan, and we deeply appreciated those who joined while observing. Thank you for your presence and contributions. Please continue to let us know how we can support inclusion at all our events. 

Tickets are now live for the GM Moving Conference. Join us for a day of learning, leading and moving, with inspiring discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. Get your tickets now.