Representational Roles
Voice4Change England is represented on a number of national government boards, advisory groups and similar bodies. By being on these bodies we can ensure that the voice of the BME Third Sector is heard at a national level.
Our participation in these forums is intended to get recognition of the BME Third Sector’s role in civil society, get acceptance that investment is needed to develop a central intelligence bank on the BME Third Sector, and to raise awareness of Voice4Change England as a Partnership speaking on generic issues for the BME Third Sector.
CapacityBuilders workstreams partnerships
Voice4Change England are a partner in three of the consortiums successful in winning the contracts to deliver the Change Up national support infrastructure programmes for Equalities and Diversity, Income Generation and Performance Management.
National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning Advisory Group
In December 2006 the Government launched an Action Plan “Partnerships in Public Services”. Included in the Action Plan was the proposal to set up a National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning, including a proposal to train 2,000 key commissioners from across government. An advisory group, chaired by Baroness Thornton, is now considering how to deliver the commitment contained in the Action Plan.
Innovation Exchange
The Innovation Exchange will bring together the voluntary and public sectors to develop and share innovative practice. It will offer innovators online resources including information, contact with other innovators and contact with appropriate sources of investment. Beyond this the programme will offer tailored support to the most promising innovators including training and guidance. This will help innovators to see their bright ideas become reality improving services for those that use them.
National Compact Voice
We are involved int he National Compact Voice and active in promoting involvement in the Commission for the Compacts's review of the BME Code.
Local Grants Forum
V4CE is a member of the Local Grants Forum, which has been established to to promote the importance of grant aid for voluntary and community sector organisations. Navca and other leading voluntary sector agencies are also involved.
Acevo and DWP welfare to work reform taskforce
This taskforce to explore the role of the third sector in the welfare to work reform. The joint initiative will explore the full potential role for the third sector, and make recommendations as to how that potential could be engaged.
Defra's Race Equality group
We hae also accepted an Invitation to become a member of Defra's Race Equality Scrutiny and Advisory Group which will advise the department on how it promotes and progresses race equality issues
Further information about our representational roles from Vandna Gohil at vandna@voice4change-england.co.uk.
In their individual and organisational capacities, our regional and national Partners represent the BME Third Sector on various policy making bodies.