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Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre

Ardwick Green North
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk

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Tackling the recession

1 August 2009

VSNW is involved in a number of significant strategies to tackle the impact of the recession. We have three key aims:

• to support VCS groups to help individuals, families and local communities
• to minimise the impact of changes and reductions in funding on VCS groups
• to enable VCS groups to develop and access new opportunities, particularly those linked to supporting communities to thrive and recover from the recession.

We have made an active decision at this stage to prioiritise work that supports the sector to support communities and families.

 

Context in the North West

The following sources of information provide a good summary of the current situation in the North West:

• Regional Roadshow presentation (GONW: 28th April 2009)

• North West Regional Committee Submission (VSNW: 29th June 2009)

• Latest Regional Economic Forecasting Panel reports (NW Regional Intelligence Unit, NWRIU).

 

VSNW activity

• Progress a 10 Point Plan (VSNW: December 2008) to support VCS work to tackle the effects of the economic downturn.

• Work with regional public sector partners to mimimise the impact of recession and appropriately promote the VCS in the NW as a means to aid recovery through such bodies as the Joint Economic Commission for the North West (JEC) and the Regional Skills and Employment Board.

• Promote VCS apprenticeships and the development of a sector-specific Group Training Association (GTA) to support VCS apprenticeships: Group Training Associations and VCS Apprenticeships (VSNW: July 2009)

• Promote VCS engagement in the Future Jobs Fund through lead sub-regional bids. FAQ Briefing (VSNW: July 2009)

• Lobby for increased VCS engagement in local and sub-regional economic agenda, for example through the Third Sector Action Plan response (VSNW: 31st December 2008).

• Promote Train to Gain opportunities to voluntary and community sector groups.

• Support the development and promotion of VCS service provider networks (eg learning providers, Promise).

• Lobby for national initiatives aimed at supporting the voluntary and community sector to be implemented in a way that makes best use of resources and ties in effectively with current local, sub-regional and regional activities. See the submission to the North West Regional Committee (VSNW: 29th June 2009).

• Lobby for national initiatives aimed at supporting communities and families suffering the consequences of the recession to be implemented effectively with minimal inadavertent effects, eg the Targeted Support Fund and through the NW Money and Debt Advice Group:  

• Through the NW Money and Debt Advice Group campaign for increased support for local advice provision: Debt counselling in the North West 
  (VSNW: December 2008)

Government initiatives

Practical advice and information from an official Government website to help manage debt and provide advice on keeping your home, getting training and skills, and with jobs and benefits is available here: DirectGov

The Government's programme of support for the voluntary and community sector is called  Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises. It consists of a number of schemes providing £42.5m support package and includes: 

• Volunteering Brokerage Scheme providing work focused volunteering placements for unemployed people (JSA claimants for more than 6 months). The scheme is being delivered in England by BTCV who can be contacted by email: dwp-volunteering@btcv.org.uk
  Scheme Flyer: The Volunteering Offer 

• £0.5m investment in the School for Social Entrepreneurs to expand its action-learning programme. Liverpool School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) is the latest addition to the SSE Network, and will be based at Blackburne House.

• £1bn Future Jobs Fund, available to all employers, to create 150,000 new jobs. Now open.

• £16.7m Hardship Fund available to organisations with a turnover of at least £200,000 that are in financial hardship which is impacting on their ability to deliver services in the areas below. Also read more here:  

  • Health and Social Care
  • Housing Support
  • Education and Training

  • Information, Advice and Guidance

• Targeted Support Fund (Closed 3rd July 2009): A £3.3m fund in the North West for small, local third sector service providers who have experienced increased demand as a result of the recession. 

• £16.5 million Modernisation Fund (Phase one applications closed 17th July 2009)

 

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Events & Trainings

VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West