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
Briefings
Briefing #71 Healthy Lives, Healthy People: the New Public Health System
The purpose of this Briefing is to:
►Outline the role of Local Government in Public Health
►Outline the role of Public Health England
►Outline the Public Health Outcomes Framework
►Proposed Timeline for implementation of the new Public Health System
Briefing #70 LINks to HealthWatch
The purpose of this briefing is to:
►Outline the proposals for Local HealthWatch
►Outline the role and functions for Local HealthWatch
►Outline the proposals and function of HealthWatch England
Briefing #69 Health and Wellbeing Boards
The purpose of this briefing is to
• Outline the Structure and Functions of Health & Wellbeing Boards
• Outline Voluntary and Community Sector representation in the North West
Ensuring local VCS Groups don't lose out in Lottery changes
Briefing note for MPs on the potential effect of proposed Cabinet Office changes to the way in which Lottery Fund money is distributed.
Groups are encouraged to pass a copy to their Member of Parliament.
If you wish to adapt our briefing for your own or use aspects of it in order to write to your MP please feel free to use this Word Version: Briefing Note for MPs (Word Version)
Briefing #68: Year of Health and Wellbeing
The purpose of this briefing is to:
• Outline the purpose of the Year of Health and Wellbeing
• Outline the Five Ways to Wellbeing
Briefing #67: Proposed new Big Lottery Fund policy directions consultation
The purpose of this briefing is to:
► Encourage groups to respond by 18th November
► Outline five points to consider
Briefing #66: Draft National Planning Policy Framework - Call for Action!
The purpose of this briefing, provided by the North West Environment Link, is to:
► Highlight some of the key issues arising from the draft National Planning Policy Framework
► Provide signposts to more detailed briefings and information
► Encourage specific actions for individuals and groups
Briefing #65 Clinical Commissioning Groups
The purpose of this briefing is to:
►Provide an update on the position of emerging Clinical Commissioning Groups
►Provide a list of North West Clinical Commissioning Groups
Briefing #64: Local Nature Partnerships
The purpose of this briefing, provided by North West Environment Link, is to:
► Raise awareness about the purpose and functions of Local Nature Partnerships
► Highlight specific proposals in the North West and encourage civil society groups to engage.
Briefing #63: No Second Night Out
The purpose of this briefing is to outline:
►The government's vision to end rough sleeping: No Second Night Out Nationwide
► A new £20million Homelessness Transition Fund for the voluntary sector to help deliver the pledge
Briefing #62: Civil Society Strategic Partners
The purpose of this briefing is to highlight:
► appointed strategic partners of the Office for Civil Society
► contracted priorities (lead and contributory agencies)
Briefing #61: Analysing The Natural Choice (The Natural Environment White Paper)
The purpose of this briefing, provided by North West Environment Link, is to provide further analysis of the themes and implications of the White Paper. It follows an introductory briefing on the White Paper: Briefing #60
Briefing #60: The Natural Choice (The Natural Environment White Paper)
The purpose of this briefing, provided by North West Environment Link, is to:
► raise awareness of the first environment White Paper for 20 years
► summarise the key themes and commitments
► highlight the links to LEPs, planning, economic growth, communities and localism, health, and education
Briefing #59 Government Response to the Future Forum Report
This briefing outlines the key changes the government will be making to its health and social care reforms as a result of the NHS Future Forum Report. Some of these will require amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill; others will be in the form of statutory guidance.
Briefing #58 Engagement with European Health: Opportunities and Risks in the NW of England
The purpose of this briefing is to:
►Explain the role of the NW Health Brussels Office
►Outline areas for engagement with European issues
Briefing #57 No Health without Mental Health - Cross Government mental health strategy
The purpose of this briefing is to:
►summarise the main intentions of the strategy
►outline the implications of proposals
Briefing #56 Big Society Accountability: from Equality to Fairness
This briefing outlines the New Government's approach to equality including...
► the shift from equality to fairness, and
► the emergence of a new form of untested and potentially questionable accountability
Briefing #55 Abolition of Equality Impact Assessments
The purpose of this briefing is to highlight:
► a consultation on implementing the public sector equality duty
► 21st April deadline for responses
and encourage groups to send a short email in response
Briefing #54 Big Society, Localism and the Environment
The purpose of this briefing, provided by North West Environment Link (NWEL), is to highlight:
Briefing #53 Vetting and Barring System (VBS) Update
The purpose of this briefing, provided by the National Safeguarding Unit, is to outline:
► Current Government policy on vetting
► VBS Remodelling Review recommendations
► Future of ISA, CRB and the VBS Contact Centre
► 2 page Q&A on the changes
Briefing #52 The Future of our Forests
This briefing, provided by North West Environment Link, explains the government proposals for selling off parts of the Forestry Commission estate.
The government has now announced the abandonment of this consultation and removal of clauses relating to forestry from the Public Bodies Bill. Issues remain over the future management of our forest estate, and we hope there will be ongoing discussions where the VCS can be involved.
Updated Briefing #51 - GP Consortia and the Health Transition Period
This briefing has now been updated to take account of the latest developments in the reforms of the NHS:
Briefing #50 The Localism Bill, decentralisation and local voluntary action
The purpose of this briefing is to highlight:
►The content and implications for the VCS of The Localism Bill, including the importance of The Community right to challenge
►Housing and homelessness proposals that target poor
►The Government’s new cross-departmental action plan for decentralisation
►A checklist for developing a proactive approach to The Localism Bill
Briefing #49 Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Public Health White Paper
This briefing outlines the main proposals of the Public Health White Paper: Healthy Lives, Healthy People.
Briefing #48 Modernising Commissioning
This briefing outlines the content and aims of the Modernising Commissioning Green Paper, which is gathering views on how the government can reform all stages of the commissioning process at both local and national levels to ensure VCS organizations have a greater involvement in the running of public services.
Briefing #47 A Vision for Social Care
The purpose of this briefing is to outline:
• The main changes proposed within the Vision for adult social care
• Some of the possible implications for the sector (presented throughout the document in text boxes)
Briefing #46 Liberating the NHS: An Information Revolution
The purpose of this briefing is to outline:
• The main changes proposed within the Information Revolution consultation
• Some of the possible implications for the sector (presented throughout the document in text boxes)
Briefing #45 Liberating the NHS: Greater Choice and Control
The purpose of this briefing is to outline:
• The main changes proposed within the Choice and Control consultation
• Some of the possible implications for the sector (presented throughout the document in text boxes)
Briefing #44: Public Services (Social Value & Social Enterprise) Bill
If passed, this bill will require public service contracts to include social value provisions. This briefing explains:
► What the bill could mean for the sector and the communities it serves
► How the bill will pass through Parliament
► How you can lobby your MP to support the bill
Briefing #43 Transforming Community Services - Plans for PCT Provider Arms
Since April 2009 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have been required to develop plans to have separate commissioning and provider arms and to adopt a contractual relationship with provider organisations. This Briefing outlines the plans for the North West which must be in place by March 2011.
Briefing #42: New model regeneration and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)
This briefing outlines:
►How economic development might link to communities
►Potential VCS role and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)
Briefing #41: New Geographies
Briefing outlining the likely implications of changes to local, sub-regional and regional ways of working (right across policy agenda from health to economy to localism to equalities) and how it may affect priorities, and ways of working.
Briefing #40 Environmental priorities of the 'Future North West' consultation
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The purpose of this briefing, provided by North West Environment Link, is to provide an update on:
► The background and development of Future North West: our shared priorities
► How will Future North West be used
► The key environmental provisions
► How to respond to the consultation
Briefing #39: Coping with Cuts
The purpose of this briefing is to:
► Provide guidance for busy CEOs and trustees to navigate the new landscape of cuts.
► Offer hints and tips for how your organisation can adapt now.
► Show how you can effectively demonstrate your outcomes and successes through telling your stories.
Briefing #38 Analysis of the Voluntary Sector Social Care Workforce in North West
Skills for Care have produced an analysis of the Voluntary Sector Social Care workforce in the North West using the most recent data from the National Minimum Data Sets. The briefing provides information on workforce turnover, reasons for leaving, pay and qualifications.
Briefing #37 Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS
The purpose of this briefing is to:
►outline the Health White Paper - Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS
►outline possible implications for the voluntary and community sector
Briefing #36: The Big Society: step by step
Briefing #35 The Work Programme
Includes:
• Latest news on the Government’s proposed new Work Programme and framework for delivery
• Brief, early news of linked initiatives: business mentors, work clubs and volunteering
Briefing #34 Social Impact Bonds
Social Impact Bonds are a financial tool to provide new ways to invest money in social outcomes. Their purpose is to more effectively achieve social goals through creating more good for less money.
Briefing #33 The Spending Review 2010 framework
Outline of the purpose, areas of review, future timetable and process for how the Government will address the national deficit.
Briefing #32 Fair Society, Healthy Lives - Marmot Review
The Marmot Review was carried out in order to propose the most effective evidence-based strategies for reducing health inequalities in England from 2010. The Review is calling for health inequalities to sit alongside tackling climate change as the core of society’s achievement. Creating a sustainable future is, the Review says, entirely compatible with action to reduce health inequalities: sustainable local communities, active transport, sustainable food production, and zero carbon houses will all have health benefits across society.
Briefing #31 North West Mental Wellbeing Survey
A major new survey of 18,500 residents in the North West has been published. The survey was carried out in response to a need to understand more about positive mental health and wellbeing. Carried out as a collaborative partnership between local authorities, PCT's, and led by NHS NW, it is seen as informing future policy and practice in the North West.
Briefing #30 The Government Skills Strategy and the Third Sector
A briefing from Skills-Third Sector on the issues raised by the Skills for Growth report, which explains how groups can influence what will happen next.
Briefing #29 Third Sector Tackling Worklessness in the North West
Briefing #28 NHS Quality Framework: Quality Accounts
This briefing gives an overview of the proposed Quality Accounts report which all NHS Trusts will be required to produce from April 2010 onwards. It is suggested that third sector organisations providing NHS Services will also be required to produce the same report from 2011 onwards. A consultation is currently taking place until 10th December.
►Please feed into VSNW's response by 8th December: Margaret.McLeod@vsnw.org.uk
Briefing #27 National Safeguarding Unit
The purpose of this briefing, provided by the National Safeguarding Unit, is to:
► Introduce the new unit and its aims
► Explain how it intends to work with the voluntary and community sector
► Outline who can access its services and how
Briefing #26 Connecting Communities
The purpose of this briefing is to:
► Explain the background to and aims of the CLG programme
► Identify where, when and how it will be rolled out
► Demonstrate how VCS organisations can get involved
Briefing #25 Support for key community organisations from bassac
The purpose of this briefing is to provide a brief summary of:
• bassac
• bassac’s current programmes: collaboration, voice, impact, Communitybuilders and inspiring democracy programmes
• bassac’s key services: including up to 15 days collaboration support, Axis of influence tool, and ChangeCheck guide and resources
Briefing #24 Shaping the Future of Care Together green paper
The purpose of this briefing is to:
►Summarise Government's Green Paper proposing a radical change in the national adult social care system
►Explain how NAVCA, Regional Voices and VSNW are working together to provide a sector response to this consultation
Briefing #23 Faith in England's Northwest
This briefing summarises recent research into the contribution that faith groups make to communities in the North West.
Briefing #22 The Regional Compact: what you need to know
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Jane Groves, Team Leader for Empowerment and the Third Sector in Government Office North West, has written this update on the North West Regional Compact, due to be launched in November this year.
Briefing #21 Vetting and Barring
The recently established Independent Safeguarding Authority will oversee the newly-created Vetting and Barring scheme, established by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which will significantly affect the way that people who work with vulnerable groups will be vetted. This briefing explains how the scheme works, who it will affect and what the implications are for organisations.
Briefing #20 Summary of the Principles & Issues Consultation Report
The purpose of this regional strategy update is to:
►Provide a brief overview of the Consultation Report
►Encourage third sector organisations to think about how their work does and/or could help deliver the draft outcomes
"The Regional Strategy will ultimately aim to improve the sustainable quality of life for the people of the region and to make it more equitable"
Briefing #19 Improving Voluntary and Community Sector representation in the North West
This briefing aims to introduce VSNW's Representation project, to outline its outcomes and how they will be achieved, and to explain how it links to the North West Infrastructure Partnership.
Briefing #18 Group Training Associations and Apprenticeships in the Voluntary & Community Sector: FAQs
This briefing aims to help VCS organisations to understand the aims of Group Training Associations (GTAs), the benefits of Apprenticeships for VCS organisations, VSNW's involvement in a bid for a national sector-specific GTA and the benefits of such a GTA.
Briefing #17 The new Qualification and Credit Framework for learning (10 July 2009)
This briefing, drawn from information supplied by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, summarises how and why the current qualifications system will be simplified.
Briefing #16 VCS Engage NW: review and preview of activities
This briefing summarises VCS Engage NW’s:
- aims and priorities
- work over the last year
- forthcoming work over the next year
- steering group and terms of reference.
Briefing #15 Tackling Worklessness: Government Office (GONW) actions
This briefing summarises GONW’s work to tackle worklessness: GONW’s objectives, partnerships and activities.
Briefing #14 Target: Wellbeing
This briefing outlines the work of the Target: Wellbeing partnership which pump-primes local and regional wellbeing activity in the North West focussed on the following three themes:
- Increasing physical activity
- Encouraging healthy eating
- Improving mental wellbeing
Briefing #13 Regional Strategy Principles consultation response
This briefing summarises:
The voluntary and community sector response to the regional strategy (RS2010) consultation on the Principles & Issues Paper.
Briefing #12 Interchange Programme
This briefing outlines:
- The Interchange programme and how to take part.
- An "Interchange" between VSNW and GONW to support voluntary and community sector (VCS) engagement in Local Area Agreements and develop a regional Compact.
- LAA refresh news and VSNW’s offer to promote local VCS engagement, partly as a consequence of the interchange programme.
Briefing #11 Better future in mind: Mental health services in the North West
The NHS North West Commission on Mental Health Services was set up in September 2007 to review mental health services in the North West. This briefing outlines the Commission’s key findings and recommendations.
Briefing #10 Volunteering and the draft North West Compact
Volunteering as part of the draft North West Compact, and influencing volunteering in the final version of the Regional Compact.
Briefing #09 VCS and the Joint Economic Commission for the North West
An outline of the recently formed Commission's seven point action plan for the North West, and a call for information on how the economic downturn is affecting VCS groups and debt counselling services in particular.
Briefing #08 Regenerating the North West: VCS role and potential
A summary of key data outlining the size and potential of the Voluntary and Community Sector in the North West to regenerate communities. This is a summary of VSNW's full response to the regional evidence base consultation.
Briefing #07 Framework for a fairer future: The Equalities Bill
Briefing #06 Community and mental health contracts: Department of Health consultation
Learning from latest NHS consultation event on standardised contracts for community and mental health services.
Briefing #05 Proposed NW regional governance structures: influencing the new Integrated Regional Strategy
Briefing #04 VCS engagement project
Briefing outlining VSNW's work to appropriately engage VCS groups and structures in Skills for Care work in the North West
Briefing #03 Together We Can
Current and future work of the empowerment partnership for the North West
Briefing #02 European funding in the North West 2007-2013
Briefing #01 Prosperous Places: sub national review
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
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
