Are you:
-An active part of your community in Stockport?
– Wanting to get involved in the key decisions that affect your community in Stockport?
-Available to commit 1/2 day a week learning time over the course of 12 months?
This fully-funded 12 month programme will provide you with the practical experience, skills and confidence to represent and advocate for real change for your community.
Stockport Volunteer Hub and Sector 3 are proud to launch the Unheard Voices Civic Leadership Programme, a new investment in civic leadership across Stockport, in partnership with Stockport Council.
Across our borough, there are people with incredible insight, lived experience, skills and ideas. Volunteers, community leaders, grassroots organisations and local residents are already making a difference every day. Yet too often, the people who understand community challenges best are not represented in the spaces where important decisions are made.
The Unheard Voices Civic Leadership Programme has been created to change that.
This is a unique opportunity for people who are passionate about their communities and want to have a greater influence on the future of Stockport. Whether you are already leading in your community or have valuable lived experience and a desire to create change, this programme will support you to step into civic leadership with confidence.
Unlike traditional leadership programmes, this is not simply about attending training sessions and receiving a certificate. It is a practical, action-focused programme designed to open doors, build connections and create genuine pathways into influence, representation and decision-making.
Participants will gain the knowledge, confidence and networks needed to engage with local decision-makers, contribute to important conversations and help shape the future of their communities.
By the end of the programme you’ll have a seat at the table.
If so, then we’d love to have you on the programme.
Participants will take part in a structured leadership development journey over a period of 12 months. (Jan 27 – Dec 27)
The programme will combine practical learning, mentoring, peer support and direct exposure to decision making environments.
Areas of development are expected to include:
Understanding how decisions are made within local government and public services
Understanding strategic partnerships, governance and accountability
The role of the voluntary & community sector in shaping local priorities
Public speaking and presentation skills
Confidence building and personal leadership development
Influencing and negotiation skills
Networking and relationship building
Pitching ideas to senior decision makers
Working with data, insight and evidence to influence change
Community engagement and co production
Media and communications skills
Chairing meetings and facilitating discussions
Systems leadership and working across organisational boundaries
Understanding power, representation and civic leadership
Developing a personal leadership vision and action plan
Each participant will also be matched with a senior mentor from Sector 3, Stockport Council or another strategic partner who will provide one to one support throughout the programme.
The programme is fully-funded and completely free to participants.
The programme is designed to create real opportunities for influence.
Participants who successfully complete the programme will be offered opportunities to:
Represent the VCFSE sector on strategic boards and partnerships across Stockport
Join the VCFSE Alliance and contribute to borough wide discussions
Attend regional Greater Manchester leadership and engagement opportunities
Contribute to consultations, system change programmes and strategic developments
Build relationships with senior leaders across the public, voluntary and community sectors
Become advocates for their communities and the wider VCFSE sector
We want participants to leave the programme with the confidence, skills, networks and opportunities needed to influence decisions that affect local people.
We recognise that many people balance work, volunteering, family and community commitments.
We will endeavour to deliver the programme in a flexible and accessible way. However, participants must be willing to commit fully to the programme.
This will include:
Attendance at all core training sessions
Participation in mentoring sessions
Attendance at networking and leadership events
Active engagement in learning and development opportunities
Participation in placements, observations or strategic meetings where appropriate
The anticipated commitment is approximately 1 to 2 days per month, equivalent to around half a day per week, although participants will be encouraged to continue developing their leadership practice outside of the structured programme.
Applications Open – Monday 12th October
Applications Close – Sunday 22nd November
Applicants notified – December 2026
Programme starts – January 2027
The application process is simple. All you need to do is answer the question:
Tell us what you would do with your voice if you had the chance to be heard by local decision makers in Stockport.
There are two ways to apply for the Unheard Voices Leadership Programme.
1. Through the Online Application Form below
2.OR you can send us a short video (maximum 2 minutes long).
In the video, we would need you to include the following:
– Your full name
– Date of birth
– Confirmation that you are a Stockport resident
– Answer to the following question:
Tell us what you would do with your voice if you had the chance to be heard by local decision makers in Stockport.
Please send your video to info@sector3sk.org via wetransfer OR via Instagram messenger @stockportvolhub
In your messsage, please include the contact details of a referee (someone who can vouch for your character). Please seek permission from your referree to share their contact details.
Do you know someone who would benefit from this programme?
Please share the details of the programme with your networks and encourage those who you think would enjoy it to apply.
The asset pack contains graphics and promotional informationfor you to share with your volunteers, employees, service users and networks to spread the word of the programme and encourage residents to apply.
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We are temporarily without a home as we wait to move into our new office in the new year.
This means that our old phone number is no longer in use. Please look out for our new number, which we’ll have in the new year.
We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
We are still contactable via email on support@stockportvolunteerhub.org.uk
