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Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre

Ardwick Green North
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk

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Reports

Open for All? The Changing Nature of Equality under Big Society and Localism

Research into the impact of Government policy on Equalities Groups in the North West finds that:
1. Reforms have come at a cost
2. New forms of representation are weak and exclude equalities groups
3. Spending cuts are damaging voluntary sector capacity to deliver big society
4. The new policy framework is liable to reinstate old patterns of exclusion and discrimination
5. Implementation is disproportionately harming the most excluded
6. The capacity of equalities groups to participate and hold public bodies to account is heading towards a point of critical failure.

Links:
► The Full report (.pdf, 800KB) is available below through download link
► A word version is available here (4 MB)
► Executive Summary (.pdf)
► Executive Summary (.word) 

Towards more effective commissioning of local voluntary organisations

The Implications of Government Policy for Equality Issues

Produced as part of the Equality, Big Society and Localism Research Project commissioned by the NorthWest Infrastructure Partnership (NWIP), this think piece includes an exploration of the implications of The Localism Bill, Big Society, The Local Growth White Paper, and the latest Welfare and Health reform proposals.

Getting the Localism Bill Right

Getting the Localism Bill Right (May 2011), VSNW’s guide to the Localism Bill, highlights six key areas of the Bill and proposes six principles that could be used to shape and define “Localism”:

► Principle 1: "That Localism is open and inclusive for all local people"
► Principle 2: "Communities should have a say in making decisions that affect them"
► Principle 3: "Local services should be shaped by and accountable to local communities"
► Principle 4: "That Localism promotes a caring and broad sense of community"
► Principle 5: "That the assets of the state are owned on behalf of our communities"
► Principle 6: "That Localism builds local strength without becoming solely inward-looking"

Delivering for England's North West: VSNW Annual Review 2009-10

VSNW's annual review focuses on our achievements of the last year, as told by our members, networks and statutory sector partners. 

Demonstrating the local economic and social value of grant-making with the VCS

In this think-piece the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and VSNW seek to demonstrate the need for and the continued viability of grant-making for the voluntary and community sector. 

Promise Event Report: The Recession - An Opportunity for the Third and Independent Sectors?

The Report gives a summary of the activities and discussions which took place at the Promise NW Network Event held on 4th December.

Regional Compact for the North West

The Regional Compact commits the regional public and third sector agencies to developing a better working relationship based on stronger shared understanding and shared principles, commitments on both sides that include addressing key areas of joint work:

►Equality and Diversity
►Funding, Commissioning and Procurement
►Volunteering
►Monitoring and reviewing the regional compact

VSNW's Annual Review 2008/09

This review of 2008/09 includes VSNW's:

►Mission, values and strategic objectives
►Work building strong working relationships with the VCS in the North West
►Work building strong working relationships with key regional public sector agencies
►Work to tackle the impact of the recession
►Support for VCS Health and Social Care groups
►Details of trustees, staff, members, and funders

 

Future Jobs Fund: A good start?

A guide to help voluntary and community sector organisations in the North West to understand whether the Future Jobs Fund is a good match for you, your organisation and your new employee

Study Tour to Heartland Health, Missouri

(May 2009)

Key follow-up actions for VSNW and NHS partners on pages 10ff.

Collaborative scenarios

Using scenarios to explore opportunities for strategic collaboration between the social and community sectors and the NHS in the North West

(Duggan & Pashley: February 2009)

Report of an event jointly organised by NHS NW and VSNW

 

Liverpool Cabinet meeting

Summary of responses.

Debt counselling in the North West: Roundtable recommendations on debt advice provision

(VSNW: December 2008)

1. Develop strategies to maintain current debt advice support in the North West.
2. Widely promote full range of available advice services to people, especially those in the North West, and encourage early intervention.
3. Develop strategies to support debt advice services, particularly in the North West, to handle increasing demand.
4. Look for quick legislative wins that would support debt advice work and reduce caseloads.

Working Better Together in the North West: Skills for Care and the Third Sector

VSNW, L.Connor: November 2008

North West VCS learning and skills network survey

 (VSNW, L. Connor: July 2008)

Survey report which outlines:

• the benefits of the network as a means to develop a regional influence for the sector around learning and skills issues
• areas for improvement e.g. clarifying the role and membership of the network.

Featured Event

Latest News

Events & Trainings

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