STUCK at GM Live Well: A Day of Energy, Ideas, and Big Ambitions
Last week, we had the privilege of facilitating two STUCK workshops at GM Live Well: Everyday Support, a landmark event for Greater Manchester’s Voluntary, Community, Social, Faith, and Enterprise (VCSFE) sector. Held on Social Prescribing Day (March 19, 2025), the event was a buzzing, high-energy gathering of people passionate about social change and transforming the way we support communities. With Mayor Andy Burnham pledging funding and backing for a radical rethink of how the voluntary welfare state is supported—culminating in the vision for Live Well Centres—this was a day filled with collaboration, creativity, and a shared commitment to real change.
Bringing the Barriers to Life with STUCK
Our STUCK workshops were designed to help participants think about Live Well Centres. Using our interactive and immersive approach—brought to life through the voices and ideas of our amazing Johnny Barlow Theatre Company—we helped attendees step into the shoes of someone who is struggling to access support. They built characters who were “stuck,” identifying the personal barriers they face and imagining what a Live Well Centre would need to look like in order to truly support them.
The energy and conversations in the room were fab, and some key themes emerged:
- Access & Practical Barriers – People struggle with childcare, transport, inconvenient opening hours, and digital exclusion (especially with GP services moving online). Flexible services and mobile outreach could be game-changers.
- Emotional & Social Barriers – Stigma, anxiety, and a lack of trust in services prevent many from reaching out. Attendees highlighted the need for safe, welcoming spaces where people don’t feel labelled or judged.
- Cultural & Community Barriers – Representation matters. Seeing staff who reflect the community, hearing different languages spoken, and learning from existing community spaces were all seen as vital to making support truly inclusive.
These insights didn’t just resonate in our sessions—they were reflected in wider conversations throughout the day and in the brilliant film by Elephant’s Trail, which also captured real experiences of people facing these barriers daily and some of the wonderful community groups supporting them.
One of the standout moments for me was how the process of character creation really helped bring the barriers people are facing to life. It was so clear from the feedback how essential person-centred approaches like this will be in removing the obstacles that prevent people from getting the support they need.
“Lovely immersive experience, almost living the character. Made the thoughts come to life.” – Helen Pratt, Dementia United
A Shared Vision for the Future
The feedback from our STUCK workshops was great! People found the experience immersive, thought-provoking, and moving. Many said they would take the ideas back to their teams, and some even planned to use our exercises in their own work. It reinforced that real change starts with listening to people’s lived experiences—and that’s exactly what the Live Well movement is about.
As we look ahead to 2030, it’s clear that the success of Live Well Centres will depend on listening to and working with community groups from the start. This includes the importance of health and social care training, rooted in lived experience, and integrating creative groups in places like Tameside, where we’re based, to ensure that support services are community-driven and inclusive. That’s something we’ve always believed in—putting lived experience at the heart of our work isn’t just an idea, it’s how we do things.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part, shared their thoughts, and contributed to such an inspiring day. This is just the beginning! 🚀
