VONNE - Support for the Sector

Support for the sector

Looking for support?

If you're a frontline organisation in need of support or you are a support provider looking to connect with others, please visit our page with information on the support available:

Support and development services in the North East and Nation-wide

Support Services: what's the point?

Big Support in the North East

The Government's call to action for a stronger society, a "Big Society", presents both opportunities and challenges for the sector. VCS organisations already play a major role in empowering communities; delivering public services and promoting social action. If the sector is to do more, against a backdrop of funding cuts, they will need even greater levels of support to do so. Across the region, support providers are reporting an increase in beneficiaries as the impact of the recession and funding cuts take hold.

Support and development services are provided up and down the region. The impact they make can be defined by three top functions:

1) Developing organisations - to establish and nurture new groups and improve the effectiveness of delivery of more established organisations. Support and development services provide advice and information, training and direct support.

2) Connecting organisations - to spread best practice, minimise duplication and facilitate joint working to maximise resources and impact. Support services facilitate networks, partnerships and act as a broker to services and resources.

3) Strengthening influence - to bring about position change to communities by shaping the work of government departments, funders and policy makers. Support and development services support consultation processes, facilitate representation from the sector and promote, advocate and lobby for the common and diverse interests of the sector.

A recent report, 'Big Support in the North East' sets out in more detail the role that support providers in the region and includes a number of engaging case studies:

Big Support - Full Report (PDF 5MB)

Big Support - Main Body of Report (PDF 2.6MB)

Big Development 1 Case Study Darlington (PDF 973kB)

Big Development 2 Case Study Sunderland (PDF 488kB)

Big Development 3 Case Study Stockton (PDF 428kB)

Big Development 4 Case Study County Durham (PDF 429kB)

Big Connections 1 Case Study Northumberland (PDF 483kB)

Big Connections 2 Case Study Northumberland (PDF 2.57MB)

Big Connections 3 Case Study Region-wide (PDF 1.68MB)

Big Influence 1 Case Study Newcastle (PDF 481kB)

Big Influence 2 Case Study Gateshead (PDF 482kB)

If you are support provider and would like to contribute a case study, please contact Carrie Brookes on email: carrie.brookes@vonne.org.uk