Contact Us
Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk
Regional Representatives
On this page you can find information on who represents and provides voice for the Voluntary & Community Sector in the North West, along with details of the groups they sit on and contact details where possible.
This page will continually be developing and being updated. If you have information and knowledge that you would like to add to the page please get in touch.
Representative Profiles
Chris Shaw - Promise
Elaine Brogden - Promise
Regional Structures
- Children England NW Regional Group
- Compact Champion Group
- Demographic Change Group
- England Volunteering Development Council
- English Regions Equality Network
- European Social Fund Task Group
- European Regional Development Fund Programme Monitoring Committee
- European Social Fund Regional Committee
- European Social Fund Third Sector Network
- 50 / 50 Vision
- Five Counties Partnership
- 4 North West Leaders Board (4NW)
- 4 North West Sub Committees
- Investment For Health Steering Group (I4H)
- Joint Economic Commission (JEC)
- Joint Improvement Partnership (JIP)
- North West Environment Link (NWEL)
- North West Equalities and Diversity Group
- North West Infrastructure Partnership (NWIP)
- North West Regional Development Agency Board (NWDA)
- North West Regional European Partnership Board (REPB)
- North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (NWIEP)
- North West Together We Can (NWTWC)
- Personalisation Board
- PROMiSE
- Regional Skills and Employability Board
- Regional Strategic Migration Partnership
- Regional Strategy Advisory Group
- Skills for Care North West
- Social Value Group
- Target Wellbeing Evaluation Group
- Target Wellbeing Governance Group
- VCS Engage NW Steering Board
- Workforce Board
- Worklessness Task Group
Children England NW Regional Group
Warren Escadale (VSNW)
Compact Champion Group
VSNW and One North West are regional sign up partners to this group.
Richard Caulfield - Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW)
Paul Harris - One North West
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Demographic Change Group
Sub Group of Regional European Partnership Board.
Chair - Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
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England Volunteering Development Council
The England Volunteering Development Council is a high-level representative and advocacy mechanism for volunteering. It engages both with government and opposition parties in order to capture the collective intelligence of volunteer-involving organisations, volunteering infrastructure providers and of volunteers to provide a powerful, coordinated lobby to steer government policy and community action.
There are ten bodies of the council in total: a national body and nine regional bodies, one in each Government Office region of England.
Paul Harris - Attendee (One North West)
Further Information
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English Regions Equality Network
The English Regions Equality and Human Rights Network (EREN) was set up in April 2008 and comprises of strategic Third Sector organisations from all 9 English regions with a broad equalities and human rights brief, and a significant membership of associate networks in the Region that they serve.
EREN seeks to facilitate the engagement of influential regional equality networks in a regular dialogue with the Government Equalities Office (GEO), Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), Department of Health (DH), Equality and Diversity Forum (EDF), Capacitybuilders, National Equality Partnership (NEP), among others in order to influence and shape policy debate; collect, examine and share good practice; exchange information and intelligence; and help with delivery in the regions.
Attendee: Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
Attendee: Paul Harris (One North West)
Further Information
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European Social Fund Task Group
Richard Caulfield / Karen Rigg (Voluntary Sector North West)
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European Regional Development Fund Programme Monitoring Committee
John Hacking (North West Network)
NWN attend this meeting as regional partner representing the Third Sector (NWN has expertise and credibility in European funding matters). When at the meetings NWN speak on behalf of the regional Third Sector who have an interest in ERDF.
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European Social Fund Regional Committee
John Hacking (North West Network)
NWN attend this meeting as regional partner representing the Third Sector. When at the meetings NWN speak on behalf of teh regional Third Sector who have an interest in ESF.
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European Social Fund Third Sector Network
John Hacking (North West Network)
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50 / 50 Vision
50 / 50 Vision are a regional strategic partnership focused on the issues facing people aged 50 and over. The partnership brings together a range of public, voluntary and private sector interests and organisations. 50 / 50 exist to ensure that the implications of demographic change are addressed by policy and decision makers and that more people living longer, healthier lives is seen as a real opportunity for the region.
Voluntary Sector North West currently attend these meetings but are not a member of the group although hope to be in the future.
Further Information
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5 Counties Partnership
The 5 Counties Partnership is made up of the lead bodies of the voluntary sector infrastructure consortia for Greater Manchester; Cumbria; Lancashire; Cheshire and Greater Merseyside.
Cheshire Community Action
Cumbria CVS
Greater Manchester Council for Voluntary Organisations
Lancashire Education Business Partnership
Sefton CVS
Further 5 Counties Information
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4 North West Leaders Board
4NW is the Regional Leaders Board for the northwest of England. 4NW places public, private and third sector stakeholders at the heart of decisions that shape the future of the northwest, its people and places.
4NW has responsibility for housing, planning, transport and economic development. We will also be the only democratically accountable organisation responsible for signing off the proposed single regional strategy, RS2010, which will be produced in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
Member: Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
Richard attends the 4NW leaders board as a Social, Economic and Environmental Partner (SEEP) member. Richard went through an application process and was appointed for his personal skills, knowledge and expertise using a Nolan Principle appointment process facilitated by 4NW.
Membership of the 4NW Leaders Board
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4 North West Sub Committees
4NW has a number of advisory groups who provide expert guidance to the 4NW Board.
Housing and Regeneration Board
James Devlin (VSNW Position)
Feedback 4th March 2010
June 2010 Review
NWHRB Minutes 16 06 2010
Full Member List
Transport
Lillian Burns (VSNW position) Alistair Kirkbride (North West Environment Link position)
Feedback December 2009
June 2010 Review
Full Member List
Planning
Flick Harris and Peter Bates (VSNW positions) Andy Yuille and Peter Colley (North West Environment Link)
Latest Meeting Report
June 2010 Review
Full Member List
Economic Development
Richard Caulfield (VSNW position) Jo Pugh (North West Environment Link)
Full Member List
Full Member List
The members of the sub groups were appointed through an application process facilitated by 4NW which was based around the Nolan Principles.
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Investment For Health Steering Group
Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
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Joint Economic Commission
The Joint Economic Commission for the North West (JEC) has been set up to ensure the region’s economy emerges from the current downturn stronger than before.
Its is chaired by the Regional Minister and membership comprises key regional bodies including the NWDA, 4NW, the CBI, Greater Manchester Chambers of Commerce, the North West Business Leadership Team, Private Sector Partners, the Government Office for the North West, the NHS, Jobcentre Plus, the Highways Agency, the Homes and Community Agency, the Learning and Skills Council, the Voluntary Sector and the TUC.
Voluntary Sector rep: Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
Further Information on the JEC
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Joint Improvement Partnership
The Joint Improvement Partnership (JIP) is a partnership of organisations involved in improving services within social care. It is charged with:
- Accelerating the pace of improvement and targeting it where capacity to improve is lacking.
- Promoting and coordinating the range of high quality support available to organisations - mainly at no cost to the recipient - from existing agencies.
- Promoting the culture that seeking support to deliver better services for users is a sign of strength not weakness.
Attendee: Margaret McLeod (VSNW)
Further Information
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North West Environment Link
North West Environment Link (NWEL) is a partnership of environmental voluntary organisations representing over 1 million people in the North West.
Chairman: Andy Yuille (Campaign to Protect Rural England)
Vice Chair: Jo Pugh (National Trust)
Co-ordinator: Peter Wilson
Members:
Association of Civic Trust Societies
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)
Emerge Manchester
Friends of the Earth (FoE)
Groundwork
Landlife
Mersey Basin Trust
Merseyside Environmental Trust (MET)
National Trust
North West Transport Activists Roundtable (NWTAR)
Ramblers Association
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
The Cheshire Wildlife Trust
The Cumbria Wildlife trust
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside
The Woodland Trust
Worldwide Fund for Nature
Voluntary Sector North West
Associate Members:
Natural England
Environment Agency
English Heritage
Encams
North West Equalities and Diversity Group
The Northwest Equality and Diversity Group is a network of organisations that represent all equality groups,
as well as mainstream agencies. It has benefited from the involvement of over 40 organisations including:
· The Northwest Development Agency
· 4NW
· Government Office for the North West
· The Northwest TUC
· The Northwest Business Leadership Team
· The Federation of Small Businesses
· ACAS NW
· The Northwest Public Health team
· The Northwest faith network
· The voluntary sector
· The private sector
· Equality Consultants
· Representatives of the equality ‘strands’
Co Chairs: Louise Barry, Chief Executive of Merseyside Disability Federation
Paul Martin, Chief Executive of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation
Vice Chair: Flick Harris, Manchester Disabled People's Access Group
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North West Infrastructure Partnership
The North West Infrastructure Partnership (NWIP) is a developing partnership of regional and sub-regional VCS infrastructure organisations who come together to provide a coherent voice for the voluntary and community sector at regional level. It is facilitated by VSNW.
NWIP’s purpose is to improve the ability of the whole of the voluntary and community sector across the North West to influence local, regional and national policies and strategies, by bringing together infrastructure organisations around a shared agenda.
Cheshire Community Action *
Community Alliance
Community Empowerment Practitioners Forum
Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations
Cumbria CVS*
Greater Manchester Council for Voluntary Organisations *
Lesbian and Gay Foundation
Merseyside Disability Foundation
Merseyside Network for Europe
National Housing Federation NWCare and Support Forum
North West Council for Voluntary Youth Service
North West Environment Link
North West Forum of Faiths
North West ICT Group Representative
North West Network
North West Rural Community Councils
North West Tenants and Residents Association
North West VCS Learning and Skills Network
One North West
Refugee Action
North West Children and Young People's Partnership
Sefton CVS*
Social Enterprise Partnership North West
Third Sector Lancashire *
VCS Engage
Voluntary Sectory North West
Volunteering North West
* denotes 5 Counties Partnership Members
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North West Regional Development Agency Board
The NWDA is governed by a private sector-led Board, chaired by Robert Hough. The Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Agency across all areas of activity. The Board ensures that the Agency has a strong focus on the themes, actions and priorities within the Regional Economic Strategy.
Third Sector Specialist: Anne Selby (Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside)
Further Information on the board
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North West Regional European Partnership Board
The purpose of the NW Regional European Partnership is to act in a regional capacity to give strategic coordination and direction to the delivery of the European Framework, ensuring that the 4NW, NWDA and their partners collectively and individually gain maximum benefit from European policy and programmes.
Members of NWREP are drawn from the two major regional organisations: Northwest Development Agency and 4NW as well as the three Committee of the Regions members for the region. Membership therefore reflects both elected members from the five sub-regions: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside and partners from business, trade union and voluntary sector. Government Office North West also have a place in the Partnership.
Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
Further Information
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North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership
The North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (NWIEP) is a partnership formed from the merging of the North West Centre of Excellence and the North West Improvement Network.
There is currently no third sector representation on this partnership.
Further Information
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North West Together We Can
North West Together We Can encourages collaborative learning, practice and research about community empowerment and engagement across the North West. NWTWC is supported by a partnership of voluntary organisations, local authorities, academics, and community groups who are working together to build support for community empowerment and active citizenship. NWTWC is a sub group of NWIEP.
Regional Board Members:
Chair - Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
Dave Hannay - Communities North West
Helena Kettleborough - Neighbourhoods North West
Paul Harris - One North West
Rushi Munshi - CEMVO
James Devlin - NW Tenants and Residents Association
Further Information
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Personalisation Board
Louise Barry (Merseyside Disability Federation) Louise sits on this board on behalf of Voluntary Sector North West and the sector.
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PROMiSE
PROMiSE is the network for third and independent sector providers of mental health services in the North West. The network has three representative positions - two on the Stakeholder Board of the Mental Health Improvement Partnership, and one on its steering board. They are:
Stakeholder Board: Chris Shaw, Elaine Brogden
Steering Board: Chris Graham
Chris Shaw Profile
Elaine Brogden Profile
To find out more and contact the representatives please visit the Promise online portal
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Regional Skills and Employability Board
The Regional Skills and Employment Board (RSEB) was established in 2008 to provide the strategic direction and priorities for skills and employment in the region and oversee implementation. The work undertaken by the RSEB is in line with the Regional Economic Strategy. The RSEB is Chaired by the Chief Executive of the NWDA and includes both public, private and third sector stakeholders in its membership.
The RSEB has three sub groups which report into the full Board: Sector Skills Group; Employability Group; and Services to Employers Group.
Attendee: Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
Richard was asked to attend this group by virtue of his position at VSNW.
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Regional Strategic Migration Partnership
Regional Strategy Advisory Group
The development of the Regional Strategy will be assisted by a Regional Strategy Advisory Group, made up of members from the public, private and voluntary/community sectors. The main purpose of the Advisory Group is to help guide the development and implementation of the RS. The Group offers advice on changing circumstances in their own areas of expertise, and will act as a conduit with organisations they represent to share information on and gain views/input into the RS process.
Richard Caulfield (VSNW) VSNW are a named partner organisation and Richard attends in his capacity as Chief Executive.
Regional Strategy Advisory Group Organisations
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Skills for Care North West
Pat Hastings - VSNW Representative
4th March Meeting Feedback
Key Messages
29th June 2010 Meeting Feedback
Social Value Group
Facilitated by NHS NW
Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
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Target Wellbeing Governance Group
Margaret McLeod (VSNW)
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VCS Engage NW Steering Board
Warren Escadale (VSNW)
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Workforce Board
This group sits under the Joint Improvement Partnership.
Margaret McLeod (VSNW)
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Worklessness Task Group
Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
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Featured Event
Open Public Services - Passage of a bill workshop
This VSNW/Parliamentary Outreach Service event will explore the stages that the bill would go through, their relative importance and ways to engage and influence
Latest News
BBC Children in Need Grants
After a record-breaking fundraising campaign in 2011, BBC Children in Need is seeking to attract quality applications from groups who work to positively change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people throughout the North West
Two days left to enter our case study competition - prizes up for grabs!
We are inviting local groups and local or regional infrastructure organisations from across the North West to submit ideas for Listen Value Invest 2012 case studies about their work and how they are adjusting to the new environment
Commission on youth unemployment calls for emergency action
A new report published today by the ACEVO Commission on Youth Unemployment finds that youth unemployment has reached emergency point
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
