As VONNE’s strategy shifts towards a greater emphasis on policy, membership, and engagement—and with the sale of Hadrian House prompting a rethink of our working arrangements—it was vital to gather member insights to ensure our future plans align with your needs.
Between February and March 2025, we gathered feedback from VONNE members and the wider North East VCSE sector on how you’d like us to engage with you in the future.
Thank you to everyone who made time to share their thoughts via our online survey and roundtable event. As a membership organisation, your views are central to our work so we appreciate you engaging with us.
Below, is a summary of the key themes of what members want us to do, and how they would like to see us do it.
What Members Want Us to Do
- Connect Policy & Practice – Members want structured thematic groups that link their discussions to lobbying efforts, ensuring their perspectives influence policy decisions.
- Enable a Collective Regional Voice – The North East has unique needs, and members want VONNE to champion regional policy work, share power, and ensure decision-making reflects sector needs rather than a top-down approach.
- Strengthen Links with Policy and Decision-Makers – Members emphasised the need to enhance engagement with key regional institutions, such as the Combined Authorities (NECA/TVCA), local authorities, and the Integrated Care Board (ICB), to improve collaboration between the VCSE sector and these key stakeholders.
- Improve Sector Representation & Visibility – Members want to see their voices represented in our work. They suggested that VONNE utilise member representatives in key meetings to increase the visibility of local representatives and specialists in different areas of interest.
- Provide Support and Resources – There is a strong need for resources and support in areas such as policy, intelligence, data, and funding—especially among smaller organisations with limited capacity.
- Communicate Our Work Clearly – Members want to better understand VONNE’s achievements and the impact of our work on their behalf.
- Clarify Member Benefits – Beyond tangible benefits like job adverts and funding information, members want a clearer understanding of why they should engage with VONNE.
- Differentiate Ourselves from Local Infrastructure Organisations (LIOs) – Members felt VONNE should more clearly define our role and how we differ from LIOs.
How Members Want Us to Engage
- Face-to-Face Engagement – There is strong appetite for in-person meetings to build relationships and facilitate meaningful discussions.
- Regular Networking Opportunities – Strengthening connections through regular networking is a priority for members.
- Facilitating Safe Spaces – Members value inclusive environments for debate, networking, and collaboration among organisations, particularly for CEOs.
- Providing Multiple Ways to Connect – Given time constraints, travel limitations, and accessibility concerns, members want online events and alternative engagement opportunities.
- Attending Existing Events & Networks – Members highlighted that conversations are already taking place in regional events and networks that VONNE should be a part of.
- Expanding Beyond Newcastle and Gateshead – There is a need for VONNE to more visibly engage with organisations beyond these areas.
- Avoiding Overload & Ensuring Valuable Contact – Members are time-poor and do not want excessive asks on their time. They want to see clear value in every interaction with VONNE.
Next Steps
The feedback gathered through this engagement exercise will inform VONNE’s future plans, ensuring our work continues to meet the needs of our members and the wider sector. We will explore how best to implement these recommendations while maintaining our strategic focus on policy, membership, and engagement.
Thank you to all who contributed their insights. Your voices are invaluable in shaping the future of VONNE and ensuring we remain an effective advocate for the North East VCSE sector.
Stay connected with us as we put this feedback into action. If you have any further thoughts, please get in touch—we value your input!