The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) is creating its new organisational strategy. It would like to gather information from a wide range of people who are supported by VCSE organisations to help ensure NEAS services are the best they can be for the people and communities who use them.
This is a fantastic opportunity to help amplify the voices of those who often do not get the opportunity to share their views, to help shape one of our key health services to ensure it meets the needs of all our residents.
NEAS would like to reach into the communities that often do not engage with traditional forms of public consultation through VCSE organisations who support them - including those who experience health inequalities.
Organisations will be asked to facilitate completion of short questionnaires by the people they support, holding at least one engagement event, and complete a short questionnaire themselves so organisational views are also collected.
NEAS are interested in hearing feedback from a wide range of communities including, people facing multiple disadvantage, people with learning disabilities and autistic people, mental health, women, black and minoritised communities, disabled people, criminal justice, carers and more... A full list of these communities and thematic areas is included in the guidance document.
In recognition of the expertise of organisations and the complexity of the communities the VCSE sector supports, a lump sum of minimum £2,000 will be provided to each organisation participating in this work. Additional funding is available for interpreters/translators etc, and additional payment for participants attending in-person events at £25 per hour per person will also be provided.
Full details of the work and how to express interest in being involved can be found in this guidance document.