Our Successes

Over the past few years we’ve had a number of successes in supporting the voluntary and community sector. Some of our highlights have been:

Shaping the future of the East Midlands

Rachel Quinn was appointed to the Regional Ministers Economic Cabinet to represent third sector interests and became the Deputy Chair of ERDF role in October 2011. We managed the elections to East Midlands Regional Assembly, sub groups and appointment to the Assembly Board. We were the lead organisation in the shaping of third sector engagement in the Regional Strategy.

Big Society

One EM tracked all parties priorities in regards to the voluntary and community sector throughout the election and into the new coalition government. We undertook a large programme of work with GOEM to update VCS on meaning of new policy and idea behind Big Society. We gathered examples of activities from the VCS perspective – across a range of specialisms which led to the publication of Our Big Society. We worked with VAL and Leicester organisations to bring Nick Hurd to the region and experience the strength of activity in the East Midlands – and presented Our Big Society in person. We engage with MPs in current VCS thinking on a regular basis on sector issues.

Supporting Infrastructure

We directly supported and facilitated infrastructure activities through RIC, EMISG and in supporting local consortia and TLI partnerships. We’ve undertaken research with local authorities on the barriers to constructive relationships with VCS and infrastructure. We’ve created the Infrastructure Finder, which signposts organisations to local support services. We produced video case studies that show the value of infrastructure in supporting front line services and volunteers.

Supporting Volunteering

We have worked with Volunteering England to shape and re-launch EVDC with clear regional objectives. The relaunched East Midlands’ EVDC is held as model of national good practice. We have held an extremely successful volunteering conference.