You have to get the heather crackling!

A much-needed week in the sun with my friend Sarah recently gave me time to think. We met when we were teenagers. Middle class girls from North London, we knew what was expected of us. My mother would not be … Continue reading

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What next for devolution and civil society in the North?

Guest blog post by Alex Schafran and Zac Taylor, University of Leeds School of Geography. Following on from our ‘Whose North is it anyway‘ event in March and alongside today’s ‘What does the North want‘ event with Isobel Mills; Dr … Continue reading

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What does the North want?

A quick quiz: which of the following did Sigmund Freud actually say?  Was it “Time spent with cats is never wasted”?  Or “The great question that has never been answered is what does the North want”? Politicians of all stripes … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Devolution, Policy & influencing, Yorkshire region | 1 Comment

It’s not going to be easy…

Having an interim role provides discipline for someone like me who loves to think about the big picture and makes things happen. It means you have to focus:  there’s a deadline. So I’ve probably paid less attention to the commentaries … Continue reading

Posted in Opinion, Policy & influencing, Voluntary Sector Services, Yorkshire region | 1 Comment

Post election blues

Guest blog post by Judy Robinson. Post-2015 General Election, the UK is looking decided blue. There are already many analyses about the election by voluntary organisations, but frankly some of them smack more of opportunism than thoughtfulness. So, here I … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Opinion, Policy & influencing | 2 Comments

Welfare reform “enablers and life changers”: Putting the voluntary sector at the heart of delivery

Guest blog post by David Smith, Chief Executive of Hull and East Yorkshire MIND Last year I was honoured to be asked to write a guest blog for Involve on the impact of welfare reform and in particular how that … Continue reading

Posted in Front Line Services, Health & social care, Opinion, Policy & influencing, Welfare reform, Yorkshire region | Leave a comment

Bearing the burden of proof: compliance investigations and benefits cuts.

Guest post by Richard Bridge, Better Leeds Communities. The issue of benefit fraud never fails to trigger interest and a range of emotions. With the public regularly whipped into fits of hysteria by media coverage of ‘fraudsters’ siphoning off taxpayers … Continue reading

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Creating our own future: what opportunities for the voluntary sector in 2015?

At the beginning of this month, I took up the role of Acting Chief Executive here at Involve. Working three days each week, I’ll be around until the end of 2015, navigating through a period of uncertainty, change and opportunity. … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Devolution, Events, Health & social care, Infrastructure Services, Opinion, Policy & influencing, Welfare reform, Yorkshire region | 3 Comments

3 issues with the Care Act 2014 and their expected impacts on carers and their families

Guest blog post by Elizabeth McPherson, Chief Officer, Scarborough and Ryedale Carers Resource.   I have been working with Scarborough and Ryedale Carers Resource for the last 13 years now, firstly on the front line giving direct support to adult … Continue reading

Posted in Front Line Services, Health & social care, Policy & influencing, Welfare reform | 2 Comments

Doing Better Together: sign up to the VCS Manifesto!

Everyone’s at it…writing manifestos, I mean! Involve has been busy collating responses and shaping our manifesto for the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Yorkshire and Humber, in consultation with our members and other VCS colleagues. The final version has … Continue reading

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