Regional Strategy background and development

The North West is leading the way in developing a single regional strategy (RS2010) that should be a new and clear strategic investment framework for the region.

RS2010 will replace the Regional Economic Strategy 2006 the Regional Spatial Strategy and Partial Review and the Regional Housing Strategy and builds on  the Government’s Sub National Review of Economic Development. The Review, through the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, will give NWDA and 4NW (Regional Leaders' Forum) the capability to develop a new integrated Regional Strategy.

 

This page includes further information about the regional strategy and the consultation process:

 

Latest phase of consultation

From 4 January 2010 to 26 February 2010, the draft regional strategy is being consulted on:

 

VCS involvement in the Principles and Issues consultation

The second phase of consultation for the regional strategy (RS2010), based on the Issues and Principles Paper, closed on 30 Apri 2009. 

VSNW held seven consultation events for the voluntary and community sector (VCS): a region-wide event, five events held jointly with sub-regional partners and one consultation session with the new NW Empowerment Practitioners' Forum to introduce and discuss the key principles and issues that would shape a new Regional Strategy 2010 - 2030:
 

  • Region-wide VCS infrastructure organisations and networks event
  • Merseyside sub-regional voluntary sector event
  • Greater Manchester sub-regional voluntary sector event
  • Lancashire  sub-regional voluntary sector event
  • Cumbria  sub-regional voluntary sector event
  • Cheshire sub-regional voluntary sector event
  • NW Empowerment Practitioners' Forum consultation session

Altogether just under 200 representatives of over 150 VCS organisations contributed their time and thoughts to the regional strategy principes and issues. VSNW's response and summary briefing are available here:

Besides the sub-regional responses, the VCS has been significantly involved in three other consultation responses


Relevance of the principles and issues consultation to VCS groups

The new regional strategy will integrate the region’s economic, spatial and housing strategies. It will also link local priorities and local potential to a regional framework.

“The regional strategy.... will ensure that all decisions and investment, locally, regionally and by central Government are helping the region move towards [the strategy’s] goals.”
North West Regional Strategy: Principles & Issues Paper, p.5

It’s becoming increasing clear that the new strategy will have far greater relevance for the voluntary and community sector. The Paper picks up on a number of areas relevant to many VCS groups, including: health and health inequalities, sustainable rural communities, climate change and other environmental concerns, tackling worklessness, skills, social enterprise, disability, housing, and even, briefly, local public sector procurement practice (specific VCS mention).

Most significantly, the Principles & Issues Paper has a particular focus on communities. One of the proposed goals of the 20 year strategy is:

  • Communities and places in which people feel safe and proud, have a sense of belonging and get on well together with people from different backgrounds.

While key challenges for the region include:

  • Areas of entrenched (and often intergenerational) deprivation and inequality and poor levels of social cohesion. 
  • External perceptions of the region and some evidence of low expectations or aspirations within some of our communities.

Clearly, at the heart of the regional strategy will be an ‘economic and social regeneration agenda’. However, the Principles & Issues consultation is an opportunity firstly to define that agenda so that it is relevant to our vision and work for the North West and, secondly, to ensure the best possible social, economic and environmental goals for the communities of the North West.

 

Relevant news and events

  • September 2009 update from 4NW: Taking Forward RS2010 (4NW Briefing)
  • For the latest news please see the latest VSNW Bulletins.

 

Key documents and links

 

Evidence Base

The previous Regional Strategy development phase focussed on the regional evidence base. Further information about the regional evidence base and to see VSNW's submission on behalf of the voluntary and community sector in the North West is available here: VSNW's response to the North West regional evidence-base consultation

The response outlines evidence that supports consideration of:

1. The voluntary and community sector as a distinct sector in the North West. In order to maximise the sector's potential to deliver regional objectives, sector specific strategies are essential.

2. The ability of the voluntary and community sector to contribute to the economy of the North West through social enterprise activity (trading and developing), being a significant employer, volunteer activity, and through public service delivery (delivery and design).

 

We will submit further evidence of:

3. The ability of the voluntary and community sector to tackle worklessness. NWDA's equivalent in the North East, following a pilot Third Sector Capacity Fund last year, is going to invest £6.8m to develop innovative ways of helping people move into work, deliver regeneration and boost the third sector’s contribution to economic growth;

4. The principle that sustainable success in tackling poverty must focus on both people and place. According to new Joseph Rowntree Foundation research, which very much backs up the thinking behind the Government's Transforming places consultation, true regeneration must balance social, environmental and economic outcomes and improve quality of life through strong, prosperous communities. The latter approach would neatly align the strategic expertise of the NWDA (economic) with that of 4NW (spatial) to develop an integrated regional strategy.

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Featured Event

15 September 2010

North West Community Empowerment Practitioners' Forum

Networking event for community empowerment practitioners and community development workers in the North West

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Latest News

8 September 2010

Second wave of National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises launched

The Office for Civil Society has launched the second wave of the National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises, giving invited charities, social enterprises and voluntary and community groups in every local authority area an opportunity to have their voices heard.

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8 September 2010

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service: call for nominations

The Office for Civil Society (OCS) in the Cabinet Office is inviting communities in the North West to nominate outstanding local voluntary groups for next year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.

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8 September 2010

Equal Support: Big Lottery Fund report into specialist VCS infrastructure

New report explores whether identity-based voluntary and community groups need identity-based organisational development.

read more

Events & Trainings

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

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