Sign in to tag this notice and share notes on it with your team.
Winston AI writes a plain-English brief of every opportunity — what the buyer wants, and what affects whether to bid. It's free in every Scout workspace. Sign in to see it.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is procuring the next phase of the Restricted Eligibility Support Service (RESS), supporting migrants experiencing or at risk of homelessness across Greater Manchester. The service supports delivery of the Greater Manchester Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2021-2026 and aims to improve outcomes for people with restricted eligibility for public funds, including those with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and unresolved immigration status who are disproportionately represented among people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in Greater Manchester
The opportunity will be split into two lots:
Lot 1 - Immigration and Legal Advice (Estimated Total value £649,371.64 Sept 26-Mar 29)
Provider(s) will deliver specialist immigration and legal advice and casework to help individuals regularise immigration status, access welfare benefits or asylum support, prevent homelessness, and support move-on from emergency accommodation. The service will work closely with the Home Office, Local Authorities and Lot 2 providers to deliver coordinated, person-centred support.
Lot 2 - Specialist Floating Support (Estimated Total value £648,088.95 Sept 26 - Mar 29)
Provider(s) will deliver flexible floating support to help individuals engage with legal processes, access accommodation and wider services, overcome practical barriers, and progress towards independence. The service will work with the Lot 1 provider and lead on coordinating referrals, partnership working and peer support across Greater Manchester.
Across both lots, the programme aims to prevent rough sleeping, reduce pressure on homelessness services, strengthen partnership responses, and deliver trauma-informed, culturally competent support.
Expected outcomes include improved access to immigration advice, increased recourse to public funds, reduced homelessness risk, and stronger referral pathways across Greater Manchester.
| Lot | Title | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Immigration and Legal Advice4.5. Provider(s) will deliver immigration advice, other legal advice and casework to support people with restricted eligibility to regularise their status, gain access to welfare benefits and/or asylum support and/or voluntarily return to their country of origin, in order to prevent and/or support move-on from homelessness. Provider(s) will work collaboratively in partnership with Lot 2 Provider(s) to deliver a holistic, joined-up casework and support offer for the client, ensuring regular communication and prioritising face-to-face meetings where feasible. Provider(s) will maximise use of the Home Office Homelessness Escalation Service (HES), working closely and proactively with the HES team to support efficient, quality decision-making and foster strategic partnership. Provider(s) will also work, where appropriate and with consent, with the Home Office Voluntary Returns Service (VRS) so that where leaving the UK is a person's best option, they are supported to do so. | £649,372 |
| 2 | Specialist Floating Support4.6. Provider(s) will deliver an integrated and flexible floating support service, in collaboration with Provider(s) in Lot 1, that helps people with restricted eligibility to progress their cases (by supporting the collection of evidence or appointment attendance), access accommodation, overcome practical barriers including financial, and gain access to other specialist support they might need to stabilise and live well. This support offer should include proactive working with referring organisations, where possible, to ensure that support is not duplicated and that referring workers are empowered to provide the support that is needed, including ABEN workers, Rough Sleeping Navigators and Enhanced Live Well workers. It will also include open conversations regarding Voluntary Return, where appropriate and in close partnership with Lot 1 Provider(s). |
| £648,089 |