VONNE

VCS Leadership Strategy

Voluntary and community sector (VCS) leadership is a concept gaining currency as something to be acknowledged, celebrated, nurtured and sustained. Leadership is necessary for developing effective organisations which will remain true to their values in a changing world and for the sector to play a full part in the transformation of the North East region. Leadership is relevant at all levels - within organisations, within communities and in different parts of our region. However not all in the sector feel comfortable with the notion, some are suspicious of what they see as the promotion of individuals rather than collective endeavour. So, the time has come to be clear what it means in a VCS context, why it is necessary and what needs to be done to get more of it. VONNE has therefore taken the initiative to prepare a draft a strategy which will identify areas for action; its preparation is drawing on views in the sector and will be subject to consultation. This is funded until March 2008 by One NorthEast as a contribution to developing ‘collective leadership’ which is an objective of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES).

The objectives of the VCS Leadership Strategy are threefold:

• To ensure that the sector understands what is meant by leadership and will explore the question of ‘leadership for what?’ with particular reference to developing effective VCS organisations; for representing the sector; for influencing public policy and for advocating social change.
• To ensure that current leaders are recognised (especially by the private and public sectors) and that they are supported when representing the voluntary and community sector.
• To support, mentor and develop the skills of a new generation of emerging leaders.

VONNE is working with Jane Streather, who coordinated the INVEST 2006 Campaign, which has informed this initiative. A steering group, chaired by Mike Worthington (chair of Tyneside Cyrenians) is guiding the work, a wider reference group, which kick-started this project earlier this year, will reconvene in December to discuss preliminary ideas and proposals which will be based on interviews with VCS people. VONNE held an event in June 07 with the Third Sector Leadership Centre which generated ideas and will hold a consultation event on the strategy in March 2008. Over the coming months the VONNE website will provide information about VCS leadership and link to relevant regional and national sources.

For further information contact Jane Streather, janestreather@yahoo.co.uk or Jo Curry, jo.curry@vonne.org.uk.

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