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The Draft Legislative Programme 2008/2009 - Statement

BASIS 2 launches to fill gaps in VCS support

OPPORTUNITY: VCS Equality and Human Rights Network Steering Group Membership

14/07/2008:
INVITATION: Evening the Odds - towards Equality of Health - 14th July 2008

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RESEARCH

Here is a collection of Research Papers taken from our knowledgebase.

View our archived research.

So What? Community Engagement Research in Yorkshire and Humber - Digest 2 (PDF: 102.53KB)

The second digest from the Regional Forum. This digest focuses on Evidencing the Value & Impact of Community Participation and alternatives to the way we currently do Engagement.

Changing Funding Programmes (PDF: 784.42KB)

This research quantifies the potential impact of the loss of funding to the voluntary and community sector post 2006. The report demonstrates how important the voluntary sector is to improving the region's quality of life and shows that the sector faces big challenges in the future.

So What? Community Engagement Research in Yorkshire and Humber - Digest 1 (PDF: 83.41KB)

This first research digest produced by the Regional Forum, with funding from the Active Citizenship Centre draws together a range of community engagement research from across our region.

It focuses on two themes:

Clarity of Purpose of Community Engagement

A Stronger Voice for the Voluntary & Community Sector

The real core of the debate amonsgt researchers, policy makers and community engagement practitioners was to identify practical ways in which community engagement processes could be improved. This digest captures those actions and suggestions for implementation.

A 21st Century Voluntary & Community Sector for Yorkshire and the Humber (PDF: 428.51KB)

This research report surveys income and activity across voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in Yorkshire and the Humber. Professor Gary Craig calls for the region and the VCS to take a longer term view of the web of voluntary activity and the ways in which it is supported.

The research demonstrates the increasingly important role the VCS plays in helping deliver services ranging from meals on wheels to school support.

It also clearly shows how the VCS adds additional economic value as well as social and community benefits. The VCS has achieved what it has almost invisibly and the report calls for the region to work with the VCS to engage in an open dialogue that defines its role.

Building the Foundations (PDF: 150.01KB)

This report was commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council West Yorkshire to uncover the current barriers for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups to deliver learning and skills projects. The report recommendations are aimed at developing the ability of the BME sector to deliver more learning related activities.

A Picture of Performance (PDF: 62.18KB)

This report provides an insight into the development of Community Empowerment Network (CEN) activities in the Yorkshire and Humber region. There are clearly positive advancements being made by CENs and this report captures many of them, particularly those around representation, inclusivity, influence and how CENs are working together with LSPs.

Positively Perceived (PDF: 126.78KB)

So what do Local Strategic Partnerships really think of the voluntary and community sector? The Regional Forum asked them and the response was Positive! "Positively Perceived" is a report commissioned by the Regional Forum that uncovers how LSPs view the involvement of the voluntary and community sector.

Heartland Territory (PDF: 253.42KB)

Heartland territory is how one VCS organisation decribed the involvement of the sector in all those quality of life, anti-poverty strategies and inclusion projects that are known as public health.

The Regional Forum has been doing work recently to find out what the sector needs to boost its engagement in the public health agenda. A small grant from the Regional Public Health Group (in Government Office) and the Health Development Agency provided resources to commission a study.

Evaluation Report for the Social Accounting and Audit Pilot Project 2003-2004 (PDF: 285.5KB)

The Regional Forum's aim was to raise awareness of social auditing within the voluntary and community sector, to encourage the sector to measure and demonstrate social impact, and to support a handful of organisations through the process to act as role models to encourage others to do likewise and so build a network of experienced practitioners in the region.

Making a Difference (PDF: 353.91KB)

This report is the result of an extensive and detailed study by the Social Business Company (SBC), which highlights the process, findings and recommendations for options for effective BME engagement in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The Social Business Company was asked to develop a series of options that could potentially support the development needs of the black and minority ethnic sector voluntary and community sector in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Usual Suspects - Discussion Analysis (PDF: 136.86KB)

An analysis of the online discussion facilitated by Bradford University's International Centre for Participation Studies and the Regional Forum's Active Partners Unit. This paper has been prepared by Heather Blakey of the International Centre for Participation Studies at University of Bradford.

62 people signed up to the week of debate largely, though not exclusively, people with a professional focus on promoting involvement and participation either through consultancy or paid work. 21 people actively participated in the discussion.

Usual Suspects - Briefing Paper (PDF: 116.38KB)

This briefing details the current reality of community participation in formal decision-making structures, particularly within the context of economic regeneration. It is a summary of the full analysis document.

It is based on a participative online discussion project, facilitated by Bradford University's Centre for Participation Studies, and the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Forum's Active Partners Unit.

Powerful Connections (PDF: 261KB)

This report presents key findings from the Powerful Connections research into how public agencies connect with the voluntary and community sector to influence policy and strategy. The report highlights action points for public agencies and the voluntary and community sector.

Mapping the Contribution of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Yorkshire and the Humber (PDF: 214.26KB)

Mapping the Contribution of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Yorkshire and the Humber. Regional Forum's research providing regional level data on the sector's contribution, focusing on number of organisations, employment, volunteering, and contribution to regional economy.