VONNE

Project Aims

The Policy and Representation Partnership aims to increase the third sector’s contribution to policy development in the North East. This three year long project will encourage and enable organisations to influence and shape public policy. The partnership brings together third sector organisations from across the North East to consider how public policy affects them, share ideas and, in turn, influence policy-makers through stronger representation.

How we will do it

• A Policy Forum has been established to bring together those with an interest in policy development in the sector. The quarterly meetings are used to discuss parliamentary processes and emerging issues.
• Each year six policy topics which are affecting the sector will be examined through research, gathering the sector’s views and producing a policy paper which will be shared with statutory policy-makers.
• Consultations will be held with the sector to disseminate information and gather views and opinions on policy issues.
• A Communications Network has been established, through this streamlined methods of communication will be developed to cascade information to the sector widely and allow a two-way flow to enable effective representation.

In Year two, from 1st July 2010, the partnership will focus on the following policy topics;

• Can the Big Society, be a Fair Society?
• Influencing Policy for Children and Families of (ex) Offenders in the North East
• Making 'User-led' Decision-making a Reality for People with Learning Disabilities Now and in the Future
• Enhancing the Role of the Third Sector in reducing Health Inequalities in the North East
• Assessing the policy framework of local government on child and women’s poverty among BME communities in the North East
• Contribution of BME VCS to Big Society

Who we are

Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East (VONNE) is the accountable body and lead organisation for the Policy and Representation Partnership, which has received three years funding from the Big Lottery Fund. Current partners include; British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres, Black Minority Ethnic Community Organisations Network, Community Alliance North East, Community Development North East, Community Work Assessment Consortium North East England, Development Trusts Association, Equalities North East, Funding Information North East, Mental Health North East, North East Volunteering Infrastructure and Northumbria University.

Benefits to Partnership Members

A wide range of organisations currently work on policy issues and gather and share information however there are significant overlaps in the interests of these organisations leading to duplications in effort, wasted resources and missed opportunities. It is hoped that this partnership will bring together the interests, resources and expertise of these players to make better use of the resources in the region by establishing mechanisms, forums and opportunities to sharing, gather and disseminating information and collectively influencing specific issues and concerns.