Regional Developmemt Manager - North East

The aim of the VCS Engage programme in the North East is to improve the engagement of the Children, Young People and Families VCS in the design and delivery of the Every Child Matters agenda in the region. The work is focussed around five key areas of activity as outlined in the regional action plan, which can be accessed here.

Support for regional networks. The VCS Engage Regional Development Manager (RDM) works closely with existing regional support networks for CYPF VCS organisations, including Regional Forum for Voluntary Youth Organisations, Children England's North East regional group, regional forum for leads of local CYPF VCS networks, and the leads on the CWDC Workforce Strategy Partners Programme (WSPP).

Work is currently taking place to create a collaborative Regional Hub, bringing together existing regional support networks and linking key VCS organisations at regional level. This Hub will form a single point of contact for collecting and sharing information and data, supporting local and regional 'support and challenge' activity, and will provide the impetus for new developments within the sector. A document has been produced outlining the vision for the Regional Hub and can be accessed here.

Work with Government Office North East (GO-NE). Good relationships have been established with the Children and Learners Team within GO-NE, and the VCS Engage RDM holds regular meetings with staff to ensure the CYPF VCS perspective is incorporated into the design and delivery of the ECM agenda. This includes attendance at the quarterly Children and Young People's Forum, which aims to provide a co-ordinated approach to monitoring, support, challenge and intervention with local authorities' children's services.

Workforce development. The CWDC and VCS Engage RDM work closely together to ensure the involvement of the CYPF VCS in workforce reform and integrated working activity across the region. This has been facilitated by the delivery in the region of a CWDC funded pilot to explore the potential for regional WSPP activity, and future activity will be taken forward following a successful application to the North East Improvement and Efficiency Partnership for funding to support VCS engagement in workforce development activity.

Work with small organisations and equalities. Support to small organisations is provided through local networks for CYPF VCS organisations, with most local authority areas having some form of collaborative structure in place. Contact details and a brief description of existing local networks can be accessed here. Work on the equality and diversity agenda takes place through the North East VCS Equalities Coalition, which brings together VCS organisations from each of the diversity strands. Further information on the work of the Coalition can be accessed here.

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