After a period of dedicated service, Alison Dunn will be stepping down as Chair of Trustees at VONNE’s AGM this November. As we begin the search for our next Chair, we spoke to Alison about her experience in the role, what it involves, and why now is such an exciting time to step forward.

Read our latest blog to hear from Alison herself about her time in this rewarding role.

We are recruiting a new Engagement Officer to place engagement at the heart of our work. This strategic, outward-facing role is ideal for someone who is collaborative, proactive and skilled at bringing people together. This is an exciting opportunity to build trusted relationships with our members, partners and stakeholders, and support key regional programmes.

If you’re ready to help strengthen and connect the VCSE sector across the North East, we’d love to hear from you!

Deadline for applications: Tuesday 26th May at 12pm

Tuesday 12th May, 1pm - 2pm – Online

New resources have been co-produced with community partners in the North East and North Cumbria to help address challenges they have faced when collaborating on research projects. They intend to provide both VCSE organisations and researchers with practical tools to help them work together more effectively.

Join us for the official launch of these new resources at our 'Share and Learn' event, where we will introduce the new package of resources, reflect on the co-production process to create them, and share how you can use them in practice.

This event is open to anyone with an interest in working in partnership in health and care research.

The new Civil Society Council has met for the first time in 10 Downing Street, with both the Prime Minister and Chris Ward MP, the Minister for Procurement, in attendance.

The Council held an initial discussion in which Members raised a wide-ranging set of challenges and opportunities - from volunteering rates to civil society’s capacity levels, particularly amongst small charities. They also discussed what good partnership between government and civil society looks like, and the barriers that need to be resolved to embed this way of working.

The Charity sector umbrella body NCVO has cautiously welcomed new government rules that aim to reinforce the freedom of people who receive welfare benefits to work and volunteer.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) intend its “right to try” regulations, which came into force on 30^th April, to strengthen benefits claimants’ ability to volunteer without automatically triggering a reassessment of their claims. The regulations apply to personal independence payment recipients, those on universal credit and people on the new-style employment and support allowance, among others.

Read the full article on the Civil Society website.

Strong charity governance depends on effective leadership, but what makes the relationship between a charity CEO, chair and board truly successful?

ACEVO, Association of Chairs and nfpResearch have published new research into charity board behaviours and dynamics, revealing generally positive CEO and chair relationships (with 70% of CEOs and 83% of chairs rating their relationship as strong) but persistent gaps in board effectiveness, behaviour and governance practice. This research, based on responses from chairs, CEOs and trustees across the UK, highlights the central role that relationships and behaviours play in effective governance.

Download the full report to explore the findings in more detail.

 In 2025, the Charity Commission announced new accounting regulations, requiring charities above a certain size to report on their impact in their annual reports. Many charity leaders have expressed scepticism, including DSC's CEO Debra Allcock Tyler, who argued that it is harder for some organisations to measure impact. Many charities have a “massively over-stretched budget” she said, and the push for metrics risks “overlooking the real intangible, unmeasurable magic”.

In this interview, DSC speaks to the Director of John Ellerman Foundation, Sufina Ahmad, to discuss their new Impact Framework, which it recently launched alongside its new five-year strategy. This interview provides some key insights into why measuring impact matters and how you can do it too.

Wednesday 17^th June, 9am - 5.30pm - Northumbria University, Newcastle

Increasingly people are feeling that the wheels are starting to come off, that cracks are appearing in the stories we were raised to believe, that the structures that seemed to be immovable and certain are starting to crumble. Increasingly, we are seeing the world as volatile and uncertain, fluid and complex. In order to grow, we need to unlearn much of what we have taken for granted about learning itself, and instead craft new collective learning practices, systems, and structures. 

Northumbria University invite you to this interactive unconference hosted by the Faculty of Society and Culture as we take the first steps on this journey.

A  new report by The Future Governance Forum’s Social Insights Panel, 'Six Ways To Move the Dial on Prevention’, has called on the Government to make key changes in order to shift public services towards a preventative approach, after decades of successive governments acknowledging the shift is needed, but failing to achieve it. 

The Panel’s first report argues that prevention is dependent on the resilience of the support networks that exist in communities, which often don't look like traditional public service delivery. They also identify six mindset shifts the government must adopt to deliver meaningful prevention, including an overhaul of public and social sector commissioning culture and practice at a local level to rebuild trust with community organisations and groups.

In the latest Third Sector podcast, Emily Harle shares her reflections from an event run by the Women in Charity Network, including the need for female leaders to make space for their more junior counterparts. Andy considers the circumstances surrounding new regulatory guidance on conflicts of interest, after the Charity Commission reported an increase in cases. The team also provides context to Third Sector’s recent findings about legacy trends across 100 major charities.

Local government in England is going through one of its biggest periods of change in a generation. Through devolution and local government reorganisation, new decision-making structures are emerging that will shape how services are designed, funded and delivered in communities.

To help organisations navigate these changes, NAVCA and ACRE have launched a new website, bringing together practical resources for the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector, local authorities, strategic authorities and rural community support organisations.

Visit the website to find out more and browse the resources.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 - 11th - 17th May

Mental Health Awareness Week is a campaign that aims to increase public understanding of mental health, and how mental health problems can be prevented. The theme this year is ‘Take Action’, because, while awareness is vital, real change comes when we take action too.

World Bee Day 2026 - 20th May

World Bee Day celebrates the importance of bees in our ecosystem. The public can help bees by planting bee friendly plants in their gardens and encouraging their councils to plant wildflower meadows and leave grass verges to allow wildflowers to bloom. 

National Numeracy Day 2026 - 20^th May

National Numeracy Day is the UK’s only campaign dedicated to improving everyday maths. Each May, individuals, schools and organisations across the country come together to help children and adults feel more confident with numbers at work, at home and at school. 

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2026 - 21^st May

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a UN observed awareness day led by UNESCO. The day highlights not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

The region's first mental health safe haven for children and young people is now open. Commissioned by the Integrated Care Board (ICB), it will offer welcoming non-clinical support for young people, giving them an alternative place to get support for anything causing them distress.
 
Run in partnership between Everyturn and Children North East, Nook Newcastle, at The Beacon on Westgate Road, will offer free, walk-in mental health support for 13-17 year-olds (and 18 year-olds in further education) in Newcastle and Gateshead. Young people can access the service when they need it, without a referral from a GP.

Healthwatch Gateshead have released a new report that explores how providing unpaid care for loved ones with dementia affects caregivers’ wellbeing, mental health, social lives, and work-related activities including:

• The impacts of caring on their own life
• What support services they were aware of
• Experiences of accessing those support services

By sharing their stories, Healthwatch Gateshead hopes to help improve services, strengthen community support, and reduce the inequalities caregivers face.

In this Voices article for Civil Society, after his first year as CEO of the charity Sense, James Watson-O’Neill reflects on how his experience of being different has shaped his leadership and the change he wants to see for disabled people.

James feels that too often we talk about difference in cautious terms, as something to accommodate or manage. But difference is not a problem to solve, it is a strength to build from, as he shares his early experiences and hopes for the future.

Wednesday 13^th May, 10am - 11am - Online

It’s estimated that around 15% of the UK population is neurodivergent. Understanding neurodiversity and taking steps to better support it in workplaces can benefit both employers and employees. This Acas webinar is for employers wanting to learn more about neurodiversity. This free to attend event covers:

• supporting and managing neurodivergent staff
• reasonable adjustments
• making your recruitment process more accessible
• creating an inclusive environment

Work has begun to transform an ex-mining site into a nature haven, as Advance Green Futures is redeveloping Potland Burn into a wildlife hub. Officials say the 268-hectare venture will create a “complex mosaic of habitats” including grassland, scrub and ponds. 

They endeavour, based north of Ashington, in Northumberland, will also use technology to track species recovery, habitat health and environmental changes, saying the project “marks a major step forward for environmental restoration and sustainable development”.

From the UK’s first turbines in Blyth to a new generation of skilled work, the North East remains at the centre of our clean energy future. Starting with two turbines to nearly 3,000 off our coasts today, offshore wind has grown into a truly significant industry. Now it supplies enough clean energy to power the equivalent of half of all UK homes and supports tens of thousands of skilled jobs and businesses across the country.

In this article for The Northern Echo, Julia Rose, The Crown Estate's Head of Offshore Wind, writes about how The Crown Estate's Leasing Round 6 will help to power thousands more jobs.

Digital is essential for charities, but senior leaders may need convincing. If you want senior leaders to invest in digital, you need to put together a strong business case, a proposal for why a charity should adopt and integrate digital into its operations. As well as the why, an effective business case will explain what the work will achieve, how much it will cost, and what the value will be.

This article from Charity Digital offers some tips to help you prepare a strong argument.

The Saltways team have released a set of guidelines for charities to use when dealing with AI-generated images. The guide contains everything charities need to know about using AI-generated imagery, from understanding the risks to crafting responsible prompts. The guidelines are built on extensive research into how charities are currently using AI-generated imagery and what the sector needs to navigate this new terrain ethically.

Sign up by email to receive your free downloadable copy.

Wednesday 13^th May, 2pm - 3pm - Online

This short webinar from Society Matters CIC explores five key things professionals should understand when supporting people with mental health challenges through the PIP process. The session will also introduce their in-depth PIP training, which explores the subject in much greater detail.

Tuesday 19^th May, 10am - 11.45am - Online

Join Durham Community Action for this online workshop delivered by Rebecca Robinson from the Disclosure and Barring Service. The aim of the workshop is to understand the benefits of working together with DBS, the different levels of DBS check and eligibility, and what ‘regulated activity’ is.

Wednesday 20^th May, 2pm - 3pm - Online

The menopause is a natural occurrence, yet up until recently, it has received little attention despite the impact it is known to have on women at work. Join Acas for this free webinar where we will discuss the importance of supporting those experiencing the menopause.

Thursday 21^st May, 9.30am - 10.30am - Online

AI-driven search is transforming which organisations are found, seen, and trusted. Join Hart Square for this free webinar to explore the patterns we’re seeing across NFPs, charities and membership organisations: why content built for traditional channels can be overlooked, why trusted organisations are getting outranked, and how AI is reshaping authority and relevance.

£11,236 actual salary

Nepacs is looking for caring and creative Play Workers to join their Visits Services team at HMP Holme House. You’ll help provide a safe, welcoming and fun environment for children visiting loved ones in prison, delivering play activities and ensuring the play areas are clean and child friendly.

Deadline - Tuesday 12^th May

£27,115 pro rata

Your Voice Counts are seeking a Children and Younger Person’s Advocate to support individuals in diverse circumstances to have their voices heard by health and social care professionals and other key stakeholders. You will help ensure people are empowered to make informed decisions about their lives and care.

Deadline - Tuesday 12^th May

£34,000 pro rata

Feeding Families are looking to recruit a Food Justice Network & Projects Lead to lead out the implementation of the Gateshead Food Justice Network. The ideal candidate will be passionate about social justice and making a real difference to the systems that seek to release people from food insecurity.

Deadline - Friday 15^th May

£33,900

North East Law Centre is seeking an experienced Business Support Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled professional looking for a senior management role within a fast paced, mission‑driven organisation. The ideal candidate will have strong project and line management experience, with the ability to lead teams and deliver all service and project outputs effectively.

Deadline - Monday 18^th May