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
Community Empowerment Networks
Community Empowerment Networks are defined as the vehicle for linking the community and voluntary sectors with Local Strategic Partnerships. The Network brings together a range of organisations from large ‘professional’ voluntary agencies to the smallest community or residents group. They are responsible for getting information about LSPs out to all sections of the community and for providing ways in which people most affected by poor service delivery can get realistically involved in discussing and planning how the services should be changed.
Originally 21 Community Empowerment Networks (CENs) were set up in the North West from 2002. The largest number in any region outside of London. They were funded initially through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund but as this came to an end CEN's sought funding through a variety sources via Local Area Agreements. Since 2008 the number of CEN's in the North West has diminished and there are now twelve.
NW Forum of Community Empowerment Networks
The Forum began in 2003 when a number of co-ordinators met at a conference and wanted to be able to share information and practice and have a voice on issues of common concern. The Forum met on a quarterly basis and was attended by the coordinators and development workers from the CEN's. Due to the process of changes in funding for CEN's via Local Area Agreements and their decline in number it was decided that a broader forum was needed. This would addresss the needs of those working in community empowerment, whether funded through a CEN or not. The Forum ceased to meet and a Third Sector Empowerment Practitioners Forum was launched in May 2009.
The 12 CENs in the North West are:
- Community Network Blackburn with Darwen
- Bolton Community Network
- Burnley Community Network
- Halton Together
- Hyndburn Community Network
- Liverpool Community Network
- CN4M - Community Network for Manchester
- Preston Community Network
- Pendle Community Network
- St. Helens Community Empowerment Network
- Network Sefton
- Tameside Community Network
- Wirral Voluntary and Community Sectors' Network
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
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
Transforming Local Infrastructure Fund results announced
The beneficiaries of the £30 million fund to help transform and modernise local charity support services have been announced by Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society.
North West Operational Programme - Call for projects
The European Regional Development Fund 2007-13 is announcing a Priority 4 and Priority 5 call for project applications.
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
