Join us on 28th November 2024 in Newcastle for VONNE’s Conference and AGM, where we will reflect on the events of 2024 and look forward to opportunities for collaborative work in 2025.
This year’s theme will centre on Devolution and Community Cohesion, with a particular focus on the aftermath of the summer riots and the impact on the North East region. With the region now governed by two Combined Authorities—the North East Combined Authority and the Tees Valley Combined Authority—there is a unique opportunity for the charity sector to participate in meaningful conversations about the future of our communities.
Find out more about each of the themes below. View the list of delegates here.
Devolution
What does devolved power mean for the North East, and how can the charity sector be an active participant in shaping our region’s future?
We're thrilled that North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness will be joining us to open the conference. We're looking forward to hearing from Kim on what’s happening across the region since the inception of NECA, how NECA are supporting the VCSE sector and the benefits of building a close working relationship with the voluntary sector.
This will be followed by a panel discussion with panellists from the North East Combined Authority, North East Child Poverty Commission and VCS Emergencies Partnership – this will be an opportunity to hear from experts and decision makers on how devolution can support community cohesion through policy, VCSE influence around decision making and valuable conversations with the sector.
Meet the panellists
Amanda Bailey
Director of North East Child Poverty Commission
Amanda Bailey has worked as Director of the North East Child Poverty Commission for over 5 years, and is also
Knowledge Exchange Research Associate for the Disability and Youth Transitions project.
Robin Fry
North East Combined Authority
Robin Fry worked for more than 20 years in the voluntary sector before joining the North of Tyne Combined Authority as Inclusive Economy Adviser. After the creation of a regional combined authority, Robin now works for the North East Combined Authority.
Robyn Knox
Director of VCS Emergencies Partnership
Robyn Knox is an experienced voluntary sector leader and trustee, who is currently working as Director of VCS Emergencies Partnership.
Neil Denton
Community Mediator and Professor in Practice at Durham University
Neil Denton is a Community Mediator and currently Professor in Practice at Durham University.
Erin Parker Leonard
Director of Policy and Advocacy at Represent Women.
Erin Parker Leonard has previously worked as a local councillor and is currently Director of Policy and Advocacy at Represent Women, a representative and advocacy organisation that aims to maximise the potential of women and girls in the North East.
Claire Rodgerson
Senior Organiser for Tyne and Wear Citizens.
Claire Rodgerson works as a Senior Organiser for Tyne and Wear Citizens, a chapter of Citizens UK that organise to tackle injustices in the local communities and bring about change.
Community Cohesion
The summer riots and racist violence deeply shocked the nation and left so many communities in a state of fear. VONNE shared a coordinated response from the North East VCSE sector at the time of the riots, and we have been keeping connected with organisations across the region to determine positive steps towards community cohesion.
During the conference we'll hear from grassroots organisations and partners/associates of VONNE on what community cohesion looks like at ground level using organisational experience of working with communities during and after the riots.
Following on from the presentations, we'll use breakout groups to explore what effective collaboration looks like, and how VONNE can support at a strategic level to help this work to continue and adapt in the current climate.
Meet the speakers
Lesley Storey
CEO of My Sister's Place
Lesley Storey is currently CEO of My Sister's Place, a domestic abuse support service in Middlesbrough.
Duncan McAuley
CEO of Action Foundation
Duncan McAuley is currently CEO at Action Foundation, an award winning charity providing support to disadvantaged refugees, people seeking asylum and other migrant in the North East of England.
Nancy Pout
Community Development Manager at The Big League CIC
Nancy Pout is Community Development Manager at The Big League CIC, an organisation in Hartlepool that uses the power of community to support and inspire change.
Menisha Gela
Deputy Chief Executive of VONNE and member of the North East Anti-Racism Coalition
Menisha Gela has over 20-years' experience of working in the voluntary sector in a range of programme and development roles. Prior to joining VONNE she worked as Director of Development and has a particular interest in policy work to bring about social change, good governance as well as mentoring and coaching. Menisha will be speaking about her involvement in the North East Anti-Racism Coalition.
Yasmin Khan
National Adviser to the Welsh Government and Founder of The Halo Project
Yasmin Khan is the National Advisor to the Welsh Government and Founder of the Halo Project, an award-winning national charity that supports Black and minoritised victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and hidden harms including forced marriage, FGM, and honour-based abuse.
Performance from Samia Malik
Samia Malik
Singer, Activist and Artist
To close the event, we’re delighted that Samia Malik, UK based bilingual Urdu/English singer, activist and artist will be performing. Samia was born in Saudi Arabia to Pakistani parents and has lived in the UK since she was a child. She fuses, extends and subverts traditional South Asian and Western musical and literary forms to explore contemporary issues around identity, race and gender.
VONNE's AGM
Our 25th AGM will take place within the conference and is an important opportunity for our members to come together and use voting rights to ensure VONNE's voice is accountable and representative of the sector.
You'll have the opportunity to vote in new board members from the list of nominees, agree last years financial accounts and approve the minutes from last year's AGM.