Author Archives: Involve Yorkshire & Humber

The ‘Bedroom Tax’ and its impact on Northern families

As criticism mounts for the government’s controversial new “bedroom tax” policy, we asked Rob Warm from the National Housing Federation what the bedroom tax means for families in the Yorkshire and Humber region: “How many bedrooms do you have?  Do … Continue reading

Posted in Policy & influencing, Welfare reform | Leave a comment

What does the Rural VCS Policy Group do?

Guest blog by Jan Thornton The Rural VCS Policy Group, hosted by Involve Yorkshire & Humber, meets about every couple of months and is one of the increasingly rare opportunities for those working in the voluntary and community sector with … Continue reading

Posted in Opinion | Leave a comment

The relationship of discontent between voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and public bodies

Guest blog by Maureen Grant, Development Officer for The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) and former Trustee of Involve Yorkshire & Humber. Maureen manages The West Yorkshire Racial Justice Programme and her role involves supporting projects working for race equality, social … Continue reading

Posted in BME programme, Opinion | Leave a comment

Ears to the Ground: what’s hot for Involve Trustee Board members

‘Ears to the Ground’ is a new quarterly feature that we will be posting here on the Involve Yorkshire & Humber blog. Our trustees represent our membership and they are an experienced and sharp bunch of people! So we know that what’s pressing their button will be of interest to you. At each board meeting, we’re asking for their ‘hot topic’, so that we can share it with our wider readership. We hope this new feature will be informative, sometimes fun, and always useful for its finger on the pulse. We’d be interested to hear your comments. If you want to take anything further, join in the discussion or hear more about about an Ears to the Ground topic, please post your comments in the box below. This blog lists Ears to the Ground topics raised at the July 2013 Involve Yorkshire & Humber Trustee Board meeting. Continue reading

Posted in Ears to the Ground, Opinion | Leave a comment

Takes two to tango

You can hardly pick up a policy document without some reference to co-production, co-operative councils and public service innovation and re-design. New ideas about localism abound. At the same time the hard news about public services  is not good. The … Continue reading

Posted in Community engagement, Finance and governance, Opinion | Leave a comment

What a great Adult Learners Week awards ceremony

Guest post by Ian McGregor Brown, Manager for HEART As manager of HEART and representing 12 Colleges and Universities in West Yorkshire it was a great pleasure to sponsor the Raising Aspirations Award at the ceremony in Forsters Bistro, Bradford.  The event was superbly organised by … Continue reading

Posted in Learning & skills | Leave a comment

Lifelong learning: whatever the time of year

Guest blog by Ian McGregor Brown, Manager for HEART Adult Learners’ Week offers a focal point to celebrate the range and diversity of learning opportunities available to adults and how lifelong learning can really transform the lives of individuals, communities and organisations. … Continue reading

Posted in Learning & skills | Leave a comment

Can technology make it on to your ‘To Do’ list?

Guest blog by Helen Milner, Chief Executive for Online Centres Foundation Most of the community organisations I come across in my role as Chief Executive of Online Centres Foundation – the organisation behind the national network of UK online centres – have … Continue reading

Posted in Technology and social media | Leave a comment

Take action to change attitudes towards dementia

Guest blog by Simon Wallace, Project Manager for Dementia Action Alliance Misunderstanding, stigma and fear are all typical of the reaction to dementia – and organisations from the public, private and charity sectors recently recognised that action must be taken to bring … Continue reading

Posted in Health & social care | Leave a comment