We’re thrilled to introduce our new Policy team at VONNE. Policy Manager, Siobhan and Data Officer, Georgia have moved from our Health and Wellbeing Team to create a new policy function at VONNE. In our last member survey, members told us they want a stronger link between policy and practice, ensuring member perspectives influence policy decisions. With this in mind, the team will be focussing on listening to and amplifying the voices of our members and the wider sector to increase advocacy and understanding of your work. Read more from Siobhan and Georgia below, including details of how to get in touch with them.
Speaking about the new role, Policy Manager, Siobhan said: “After three and a half years supporting the North East and North Cumbria VCSE Partnership Programme at VONNE, I’m delighted to step into our new Policy Team as Policy Manager. This role allows me to build on a clear thread running through my career so far, a motivation to strengthen the VCSE sector and support positive social change through collaboration.
"I’m especially excited to be part of VONNE’s involvement in the North East Combined Authority’s Economic Inactivity Trailblazer, a major programme to help shape a more integrated employment, skills and health system in our region. With my last post being part of VONNE’s Health and Wellbeing Team, I feel well placed to support this work and draw on those relationships and insights. Working with local VCSE organisations, infrastructure bodies and statutory partners, the Trailblazer aims to identify barriers, map provision, and co-design practical reforms so that people who are economically inactive, particularly those facing health-related challenges, can be better supported into work and wellbeing.
"In this role, I’ll be working to amplify your voices as well as those of the communities you serve, ensuring the sector’s insight shapes regional and national decision-making. Please do get in touch with me at siobhan.flynn@vonne.org.uk if you’d like to share ideas or experiences."
Georgia Morris joins the team as Data Officer, moving from her Project Support Officer post within the Health and Wellbeing team at VONNE. Speaking about her new role, Georgia said: "I'm excited to immerse myself in the connecting worlds of data and the VCSE sector. There is much untapped data within the sector that could be better understood and used to the benefit of those who work with it. By creating spaces and opportunities for colleagues, we can build more efficient systems and better demonstrate impact. Within VONNE's newly developed Policy Unit, we hope to support the VCSE sector to highlight their contribution to funders and policymakers."
In her new role, Georgia will focus on developing opportunities for the VCSE sector to use data more effectively and to tell the story of their impact. She’s keen to connect with members who are interested in exploring how data can strengthen their work, so if you have any questions please do get in touch at georgia.morris@vonne.org.uk.