VONNE

Call for Applications

Each year the Partnership chooses six policy topics which are affecting the sector to be examined through research, gathering the sector's views and producing a policy paper which is shared with statutory policy-makers.Each year six policy topics, concerning issues affecting the sector, are examined through research and consultations. Policy papers are produced and shared with policy-makers. By the end of the project, 24 different policy topics will have been examined.

The Partnership has been successful in securing additional funding to allow us to continue our work for a further year. We are therefore seeking detailed proposals which cover the policy themes listed below and that will be related to the development of public policies or practices in the North East. It is expected that proposals will clearly demonstrate the difference that the proposed work will have on that particular policy area and take into consideration equalities issues.

Further information can be found in the Call for Expression of Interest (Pdf 125 kB). Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 25th May 2012.

For its third year (1st July 2011 - 30th June 2012), the Partnership chose another 6 policy projects to carry out policy research and share findings with policy makers. These are;

• Adult Social Care in BME Communities
• BME Children and Young People in Care
• Meeting the Housing Related Support Needs for Homeless People in the North East
• NHS Reforms: the Winner and Losers in the VCS
• Net Assets - Using Social Media to raise the Voice of Young People in the North East
• Falling through the Cracks - Impact of Welfare Reforms on people with Learning Disabilities

In Year 2 (July 2010 - June 2011) the Partnership chose 6 different policy themes to research;

• Can the Big Society, be a Fair Society?
• Influencing Policy for Children and Families of (ex) Offenders in the North East
• Making 'User-led' Decision-making a Reality for People with Learning Disabilities Now and in the Future
• Enhancing the Role of the Third Sector in reducing Health Inequalities in the North East
• Assessing the policy framework of local government on child and women’s poverty among BME communities in the North East
• Building the Big Society: A race equality perspective

In Year 1 (July 2009 - June 2010) partners agreed to consider the real effect the recession is having on the Third Sector by focusing on the following policy topics;

• Grants/Loans-communitybuilders
• Integrated Regional Strategy
• Impact of Individual Budgets
• Learning and Skills
• The Value of Volunteering
• Who Should Deliver Public Services

The Policy and Representation Partnership commission VCS organisations to carry out this policy work on their behalf therefore the views expressed in the policy papers are that of individual organisations and are not necessarily shared by all Partners.