VONNE

Promoting the Value of the Third Sector in Reducing Health Inequalities in the North East

Initially funded through the Policy and Representation Partnership, this policy work aims to promote the role of the third sector in tackling health inequalities, through the wider determinants of health, to key policy makers in the North East. The project has been building the case as to how third sector organisations improve health outcomes for marginalised communities and individuals in the North East. The evidence gathered from this project is being used to share good practice between third sector organisationss and to promote the commissioning of effective services by the public sector, with the view to ensuring that the poorest people in the North East are not left behind in terms of health outcomes.  Resources have been developed for policy makers and commissioners to better understand the sector, and voluntary sector voice in the North East has been fed into consultations this year on the health white paper, public health white paper and into the NHS Future Forum listening exercise.  Read the North East third sector responses to the consultations. 

Resources for Commissioners and Policy Makers

Organisations involved in the project to date have expressed about the loss of relationships with commissioners and policy makers in the transition of structures in the NHS, and that the sector isn't widely understood. Thus VONNE has produced a "guide to the voluntary sector" which promotes what the third sector does to improve health and tackle health inequalities and suggests ways for working with the sector. Download the guide to the voluntary sector here (PDF 2MB).  If your organisation would like to adapt this leaflet for your local area this feature will become available soon.

Case Studies 

Women's Support Network and Jigsaw offer a holistic approach to working to reduce the impact of sexual violence in people's lives in Middlesbrough: Women's Support Network and Jigsaw Case Study (DOC 378kB)

Pioneering Care Partnership- a one stop shop for health and well-being in County Durham: PCP Case Study (DOC 695kB)

Riverside Community Health Project- promotes health and well-being in the West End of Newcastle using a community development approach, particularly focusing on working with families.  Riverside Case Study (DOC 1.6 MB)

Gateway into the Community support people with a learning disability take part  in leisure and learning opportunities in their wider community, to support healthier and happier lives. Gateway into the Community Case Study (DOC 1.4MB).

Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle builds sustainable communities through joint environmental action, promoting health through work with local green spaces.  Groundwork STAN Case Study (DOC 2.4 MB)      

Case studies coming soon: Community Action on Health, Inclusion North, Gateshead Crossroad Carers, Natural Ability,  Learning Disability Federation North Tyneside, Young Minds and Tyneside Women's Health,              

Other Resources

DePaul UK and Vision Sense have developed a resource aimed at improving services for men at risk of suicide: Dying for Change: Transforming Services for Men at Risk of Suicide

Open Clasp help, support and empower disadvantaged young women & women to claim their basic human rights through theatre- a a literally creative way of combatting inequalities that impact on health. Mind the Gap is a project that allowed groups of women to look at the issue of mental health, some with direct experience of problems with their mental health and others looking at what enables us to be healthy: Sarah's experience of Mind the Gap (DOC 28kB)

Du Services have developed an innovative approach to improving health in Durham villages: 'Like Britain in Bloom for Health' - Co Durham residents shape own health service

This web resource is to gather colourful stories of what the third sector can do to promote health and reduce health inequalities- if you have any resources to add please contact healthandsocialcare@vonne.org.uk.