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
Consultation responses
VSNW's response to the National Lottery Shares consultation
In our submission to the consultation, VSNW:
► Questions the thoroughness of the Impact Assessment
► Calls for a more fully developed rationale for the policy change based on VCS need
► Calls for reconsideration of the proposed phased April 2011 change
Regional Leaders' Board Accountable to the North West
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VSNW wrote in support of 4NW's model of a Leaders' Board for the North West that incorporates social, economic and environmental partners (SEEP) alongside strong local authority representation. The North West is the only region proposing a model that would include a representative from the third sector.
Regional Strategy (RS2010) Part 1 consultation response
Working with five sub-regional partners, 1NW and North West Environmental Link, we engaged over 200 organisations directly in the consultation events to develop our response to RS2010.
The response is quite lengthy but some key messages from the sector we have raised are the role of volunteering in the strategy (currently too understated) and the role the third sector can play across all four strands identified to ensure we meet the ambitious aim for the NW.
Shaping The Future Of Care Together: Green Paper
VSNW submission: There is widespread VCS recognition that there is a need to develop a care system which provides equitable access across the region to services that reach an agreed standard of quality.
In responding to this consultation VSNW focussed on two aspects that impact on VCS groups delivering health and social care services in the North West:
►national versus local funding schemes
►joined up approaches
Regional Strategies and Leaders' Boards consultation response
VSNW’s consultation response places particular emphasis on:
►Mainstreaming the equalities impact assessment within the Sustainability Appraisal process
►Clarifying the right for local authorities to determine the structure of their regional Leaders’ Board
►The benefits of formal third sector inclusion on the Leaders’ Board
►Potential for equal emphasis on geographic and identity/interest communities
►The offer for regional third sector involvement in developing the national core sustainability framework.
Refreshing the Compact: a framework for partnership working
VSNW's response to the proposed new national Compact calls for:
►the means to further embed aspects of the Compact
►light touch initiatives to support third sector delivery of large programmes like DWP's
►closer links between Equalities Impact Assessments, strategic commissioning cycles and grant funding
We would also advocate consideration of the National Audit Office's Intelligent Monitoring recommendations.
Submission to the North West Regional Committee on the impact of the recession
VSNW's submission focused on the need for debt advice and measures to support the voluntary and community sector (VCS). The hearing took place on 15 June. Notes from this will be available shortly.
The Principles and Issues of the Regional Strategy (RS2010) VCS consultation
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Briefing summarising the response is available here:
Briefings: Regional Strategy Principles consultation response (#13)
Third Sector Action Plan response
The three key points of VSNW's response to the Government's consultation on actions to support the third sector through the economic downturn are:
- Ensure that the voluntary and community sector appropriately, directly and strategically engages with economically focussed decision-making processes at every spatial level.
This way the potential, perspective and knowledge of the sector be embedded and fully support the work of private and public sector partners to minimise the impact of the economic downturn - for the benefit of badly affected communities and VCS groups - and support economic recovery. - The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill offers a key opportunity to guarantee voluntary and community sector engagement in local economic assessments.
- Construction projects in partnership with the voluntary and community sector could be fast-tracked.
NCVO's response is available here: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/policy/index.asp?id=12266
Empowerment Fund consultation
Update on consultation responses and launch of Empowerment fund.
North West regional strategy evidence base
Includes an outline of the scope of the voluntary and community sector in the North West. A short version, not linked to explicit sources of evidence, which focuses on the size of the sector in the North West, is published as Briefing #08.
Prosperous places: sub national review consultation
Featured Event
The Health White Paper Consultation
CONSULTATION FULLY BOOKED
The White Paper on Health has the potential to create one of the biggest changes to the structure and function of the NHS since its creation in 1948. Within the White Paper there are 5 consultations which are all open until early October. Although the ‘what’ in the White Paper has largely been decided, the ‘how’ is very much still being shaped.
Latest News
New apprenticeships for VCS organisations
Skills-Third Sector has carried out an extensive consultation with a wide range of organisations to determine the needs of the voluntary and community sector around apprenticeships, and will be developing new apprenticeship frameworks as a result.
Influencing the Spending Review - update
Latest updates for the departmental structural reform plans available
Future North West consultation now open
A document outlining the agreed strategic priorities of the North West based on the Regional Strategy consultation work over the last two years is now open for consultation until 8 October 2010.
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport have proposed a potential £750m reduction in Big Lottery Funding to VCS groups over the next five years
