This report highlights success stories from Children & Young People NW network members from the last 18 months. These include winning strategic representation on Health & Wellbeing Boards and Apprenticeship Hubs, campaigning for families, buidling successful consortia that win contracts, strong and effective local infrastructure work, providing support for community group take-up of graduate placements, CCG grants, award successes, youth work and nuclear business, young people lobbying for young people (Youthforia!), and evaluating the impact of respite services on parents.

The purpose of this briefing is to provide details from the Spending Round 2013 and from Investing in Britain’s Future (27 June 2013) focusing on:
► Specific Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) measures
► Economy relating to the NW VCS
► Health and Social Care highlights from the Spending Round 2013
► Further Welfare Reform news

VSNW, as part of Regional Voices, is working with the Care Quality Commission to raise the awareness of CQC’s work with the voluntary sector. As part of this we are sharing a series of articles that CQC have prepared to highlight different aspects of their role.

This briefing highlights:
► Latest on the NW Universal Credit Pathfinder areas
► Shaping local future support via DWP's 'Local Support Services Framework'
► Welfare Reform Timetable
► Role of councils and concerns about implementing Welfare Reform

Local Healthwatch (HW) organisations will be in place by April 2013. The report draws together the knowledge, experiences and contributions that voluntary sector organistions who attended a workshop on 17th January 2013. The aim of the workshop was to look beyond Healthwatch organisational structure issues to how the voluntary and community sector can maximise its contribution to Local Healthwatch organisations.

 This briefing contains information on welfare reform and some of the main changes