Learning Matters Health and Care Awards 2017

As part of the joint regional award programme and learning campaign between Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW) and Health Education England (HEE), the Learning Matters Awards celebrates all kinds of learning across the health and care sector.

The nominations they reviewed reflected a diversity of people and projects in the NHS, local authorities, the voluntary and private sector. They encompassed clinicians, carers, patients and the public in both paid and volunteer roles. They featured people taking their first steps into work and education, those who tirelessly volunteer year after year and people who selflessly and skilfully support the development of others.

The awards are part of a cross sector adult learning campaign which recognises the contribution that adult learning makes to individual, community and economic wellbeing as well as the continued development of the health and care sector. The overarching theme is simple: lifelong learning is good for people, organisations and health.

This publications includes an overview of the Learning Matters campaign as well as profiles of the winners.

Devolution and Beyond: essays on the voluntary sector's role in an inclusive devolution agenda

Three years since Devolution, Our Devolution, this compilation of essays, Devolution and Beyond, from leading thinkers and operators in devolution explores the current context for the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector. 

With six combined authority mayoral elections in May 2017, this is a pivotal time for the devolution agenda - and if it is to be an inclusive one, it is vital that the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector is playing a leading role. These essays, from both within the sector and out, explore how this can be achieved.

With contributions from: 

• Mike Wild (Macc)
• Ceri Hughes and Ruth Lupton (Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit)
• Gill Bainbridge (Merseyside Youth Association)
• Fay Selvan (Big Life Group)
• Atif Shafique (Royal Society of the Arts)
• Neil McInroy (Centre for Local Economic Strategies)
• Sean Anstee (Greater Manchester Combined Authority)
• Simone Spray (42nd Street)
• Garth Hodgkinson (Community CVS)
• Carolyn Otley (Cumbria Third Sector Network)
• Kathy Evans (Children England)
• Jim McMahon MP (Shadow Minister for Local Government and Devolution)

Developing Devolution with our communities

Devolution has happened at a fast pace; many exciting developments have taken place that have transformed our governance at a local level to enable more responsive and innovative public services. This provides the potential platform from which to tackle entrenched disadvantage, drive social change and deliver inclusive growth, while at the same time refreshing local democracy. 

The devolution agenda has enthused many politicians and professionals, but it is fair to say that it has not always had the same reaction within communities. Many people who are enthusiastic about local social action to improve their neighbourhoods or provide support to their communities, have become disengaged from formal politics - whether this is Whitehall or the town hall can sometimes make little difference. Devolution has the potential to address this deficit and strengthen productive local partnerships that can underpin transformation.