NE VCSE Skills, Inclusion and Employment Network - 15th July 2025

1

Welcome & Introductions – Refreshments

9.30 - 9.40

2

Minutes of the last meeting 18^th February 2025 - accuracy, actions and matters arising (paper)

9.40 - 9.45

3

Presentation – Overview of The King's Trust - Simon Campbell, Head of Government Partnerships, The King's Trust 

9.45 – 10.00

4

Presentation – North East Combined Authority - Direction of Travel, focusing on the Local Growth Plan, New Deal for North East Workers, Connect to Work and the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer - Ruth Gaul, Principal Programme Manager and Alex Black, Programme Manager for Health Inequalities, North East Combined Authority

10.00 – 10.30

Comfort Break

10.30 – 10.40

5

Workshop Discussion – The VCSE sector’s role across the employment, skills and health system and how it can influence change – Martin Brookes, Chief Executive, VONNE and Heather Lee, Chair, NECA Area VCSE Sector Skills, Inclusion and Employment Network

1. What is the role and value of the VCSE sector across the employment, skills and health system?
2. What opportunities are available to and offered by the sector to influence change in the way the system works?
3. What are the barriers, both internal and external, to realising these opportunities, supporting innovation and changing the system and how can we collectively overcome them?

10.40 – 11.35

6

Updates from Members – good news, challenges, potential partnership opportunities and how members can support current delivery and promotion etc.

11.35 – 11.50

7

Any Other Business & Planning for Future Meetings

• Future Meeting Topics
• Next Meeting -14th October (online) – 9.30 am – 12.30 pm

11.50 – 12.00

8

Networking

12.00 - 12.30