Member Article

North East VCS partners with public sector

The North East’s public sector and voluntary and community sector are set to enter a new period of co-operation with the signing of a new partnership agreement last week. The Regional Compact aims to ensure that the voluntary and community sector (VCS) plays an active role in helping shape government policy and securing the services that local communities want by improving the working relationship between them and the public sector across the region.

Jonathan Blackie, Regional Director of Government Office for the North East, said: “The Government Office views the third sector – the VCS – as a key partner in the design and delivery of services and the Regional Compact is a significant step in strengthening the relationships between regional bodies and agencies and this important group. “The Compact builds on progress we have made in recent years to improve the way public and voluntary and community sectors work together and can only have a positive impact on our role in influencing and delivery of national policy. We all need to work together to respond to the challenges that we face as a region and we need to be equipped to influence and respond to national policy.”

Mick Marston, Chair of VONNE (Voluntary Organisations Network North East), said: “As the regional infrastructure body for the VCS in the North East, VONNE recognizes the Compact as the mechanism to improve the conditions for the VCS to engage in effective partnerships. The Compact and the action plan which will follow is a sign of commitment at a regional level and VONNE is keen to address issues which are prioritized by the sector through the Compact.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .