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
PROMiSE
Promise is a new network of third and independent sector Providers of Mental Health Services in the North West. It will be co-ordinated by Voluntary Sector North West as part of NHS North West’s Mental Health Improvement Programme (MHIP).
Visith the Promise website at: www.promisenw.org.uk
NEWS
The Report of the Promise Network Event: The Recession - an Opportunity for the Third and Independent Sectors? is now available to download. You can also download all the presentations from the Event as well using the links below.
• Brokerage, Personalisation and the Third Sector with Dave Fidler of the Step by Step Living Network
• Commissioning and the Third Sector – the Wirral Experience with Chris Shaw of Wirral Advocacy, Sean Harrington of Wirral CAB and Barbara Edwards of Wirral PCT
•Secure Commissioning with Stephen Brooke, NHS NW
• Wellbeing in the Workplace with Health @ Work from Ellesmere Port
New Revised Commissioning Friend for Mental Health Services Guide
This guide is written mainly for commissioners in primary care trusts
and local authorities to assist them in developing their mental health
commissioning practice, but it may also be a useful resource for others
involved in commissioning and the provision of mental health services.
Objectives:
Promise aims to enable third and independent sector organisations to engage with the MHIP by accessing information, support and links. The Network will also build upon best practice and share knowledge, skills and experience on a region-wide basis.
Activities:
Promise members will:
- Provide ways for the full range of third and independent sector organisatoins to engage and influence mental health service delivery across the North West
- Share ideas about developing services and overcoming obstacles
- Raise awareness of good practice in commissioning services
- Support effective, collaborative working
- Showcase examples of new and innovative ways of working
- Provide opportunities for skill-sharing across sectors
- Appoint PROMiSE network representatives to sit on MHIP's steering and stakeholder boards and directly influence mental health services
- Monitor the progress of third and independent sector engagement with MHIP.
Members:
Promise will be open to all providers of mental health services from third and independent sector bodies within the North West, from national bodies to smaller grass roots groups. The network will engage organisations on an equitable basis from across the five sub regions: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
We also want to ensure that we include those working with seldom-heard groups. Therefore the Network will also include providers who work with traditionally under-represented clients, including: Black and Minority Ethnic; young people; prisoners and ex-offenders; older people; gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual people; transgender people; people in rural communities; gypsies and travellers.
Promise Representatives
Following the launch of the Promise network on 7 September 2009 in Preston three representatives were appointed to Mental Health Improvement Programme Stakeholder and Steering Board.
The Stakeholder Board is composed of members drawn from as wide a range as possible of stakeholders from across the region, a third of whom will represent users and carers. This board will be charged with overseeing the agreement and delivery of the programme and operate at a strategic level, meeting perhaps every three to four months. The representatives are
Chris Shaw of Advocacy Wirral
Elaine Brogden of the Women's Centre, Blackburn
The Steering Board will be a smaller body of 10-12 members, three of whom will be representatives of users and carers. The Steering Board will meet every four to six weeks and oversee the detailed development and delivery of the programme. The representative is
Chris Graham of Croftlands Trust
PROMiSE Bulletin
To subscribe or see the latest copies of the Bulletin: PROMiSE Bulletin
Promise Coordinator - Interim
Margaret McLeod
Policy & Network Officer - Health and Social Care
0161 276 9303
07908 682927
Featured Event
Influencing Parliament with the Communities and Local Government Select Committee
As part of the Parliamentary Outreach and VSNW 'Get Involved' series of events, this event will explore:
►What Parliament is and what it does
►How groups can effectively engage with Parliament
►Insights from a Specialist Clerk from the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee
Latest News
Listen Value Invest campaign is launched at the Houses of Parliament
The Listen Value Invest campaign was launched in a special event at the Houses of Parliament last week.
The Future of the North West - new collection of essays
A new collection of essays edited by the Smith Institute, which was launched in the House of Commons recently with the endorsement of an audience of more than fifty cross-party MPs and other stakeholders.
Demonstrating the local economic and social value of grant-making with the VCS
This new 'think piece' from the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, commissioned by VSNW, explores the shift from grants to contracts, and the value of grant-making within the voluntary and community sector.
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
