ChangeUp National Portal .:. East Region

East Region

ChangeUp east is managed by a Regional Advisory Group made up of representatives from GO-East, regional VCS organisations and funders. The Infrastructure, Strategy and Implementation Plan is delivered, through the six county consortia and a regional consortium, by the Fund Manager partnership of three organisations, with Community and Voluntary Forum Eastern Region (COVER) as lead.

Tel: 01223 372 599

Email: Suzanne.Lowe@goeast.gsi.gov.uk

Regional Manager: Kally Barot (07920 726 512)

Web: GO East ChangeUp

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ChangeUp in the East region

London Eye The development of the ChangeUp east of England VCS Infrastructure Strategy, Investment and Implementation Plan is managed by the Regional Advisory Group, which includes representatives from GO-East, VCS organisations and key funders.

GO-East commissioned a partnership of three regional organisations, Black Minority Ethnic Network in the Eastern Region (MENTER), Rural Action East and the Community and Voluntary Forum Eastern Region (COVER) to act as Fund Manager for the delivery of the plan and a team to provide ‘change management’ support, advice and information to the county consortia and to manage the distribution of ChangeUp funds. Regional consortium is managed by GO-East.

ChangeUp east has invested £5.2m in the development of six county consortia, one regional consortium and over 120 projects across the region.

The six County Consortia and the Regional Consortium Investment Plans were developed to meet ChangeUp’s criteria and priority objectives. The implementation of the plans and activity differ within each of the consortia, but key themes have emerged to meet ChangeUp objectives. An investment of £5.2m has been made in areas such as Governance, Workforce Development, Performance, Volunteering, Sustainable Funding, ICT, BME and Hard to Reach Communities , including Rural and Specialist areas such as Disability, Older People, the Arts, Children and Young People and the Environment.

The Regional VCS Infrastructure Partnership (RVIP), the Regional Consortium, supports:

19 specialist regional VCS networks (including Mental Health, Disability, Rural, Older People, BME, Children & Young People and Faiths);
5 clusters: Advice, Equalities, Children & Young People, Health & Social Care and Older People;
And in ICT terms has funded regional Open Source Software (OSS), Voice Over Internet (VOIP), feasibility studies and a Common Internet Portal for the 10 Disability Information providers in the region.

In May 2005 the Fund Manager team was established to work with Government Office East to support the ChangeUp east Infrastructure Investment Programme. Its purpose is to facilitate the development and opportunities of the County Consortia and to ensure that the funds are distributed appropriately and reflect the diverse needs of the sector. The dedicated team provides information, guidance, shares best practice, facilitates networking between consortia, locally and nationally and ensures that ChangeUp Investment criteria and monitoring procedures are followed.

VCS agents involved in regional management of ChangeUp

The ChangeUp east Fund Manager is a partnership of three regional organisations:

COVER is the lead accountable body and provides day to day management of the programme and staff.

Contact:
Andrew Cogan or Jan Cunningham
COVER Head Office
Eagle Stile
Rectory Farm Barns
Walden Road
Little Chesterford
Essex CB10 1UD

Tel: 01799 532 880

Email: andrew.cogan@cover-east.org
jan.cunningham@changeupeast.org.uk

Web: cover-east.org

Consortia in East Region

Bedfordshire
Lead: Voluntary & Community Action South Bedfordshire
Contact: John Gelder; Tel: 01525 850 559
Email: john@action-southbeds.org.uk
Web: voluntaryworks.org.uk/Portal/Index.asp

Cambridgeshire
Lead: Cambridgeshire ACRE
Contact: Kirsten Bennett; Tel: 01353 860 850
Email: kirsten.bennett@cambsacre.org.uk
Web: change-up-cambridgeshire.org.uk

Essex
Lead: Southend Association of Voluntary Services
Contact: Maureen Frewin Tel: 01702 356 000
Email: mfrewin@savs-southend.co.uk

Hertfordshire
Lead: North Hertfordshire CVS
Contact: Jacquie Hime Tel: 01462 450 022
Email: director@nhcvs.org.uk

Norfolk
Lead: Norwich & Norfolk Voluntary Services
Contact: Linda Rogers Tel: 01603 883 801
Email: linda.rogers@nvs.org.uk
Web: nvs.org.uk/strategy_group.php

Suffolk
Lead: Suffolk Association of Voluntary Organisations
Contact: Tom Bright Tel: 01473 275 193
Email: Tom.Bright@savo.co.uk
Web: onevoicesuffolk.org.uk

Regional Consortium
Leads: East of England Faith Council / MENTER
Contacts:
Jenny Kartupelis Tel: 01223 421 606
Email: eecn@cambscatalyst.co.uk
Ila Chandavarkar Tel: 01223 355 034
Email: ila@menter.org.uk

Accountable Body: Community & Voluntary Forum: Eastern Region (COVER)
Contact: Andrew Cogan Tel: 01799 532 880
Email: Andrew.cogan@cover-east.org
Web: cover-east.org

Consortia Infrastructure Investment Plans

Projects

There are over 120 projects funded throughout the region with a total investment of £5.2M, this includes early spend projects.

Bedfordshire & Luton: 11 Projects plus Consortium Costs £750,766

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough: 13 Projects plus Development Bank and Consortium Costs £750,766

Essex, Southend & Thurrock: 22 projects plus consortium Costs £700,766

Hertfordshire: 21 Projects plus Consortium Costs £750,766

Norfolk: 26 Projects plus Consortium Costs £750,766

Suffolk: 18 Projects plus Consortium Costs £750,766

Regional: 22 Projects plus Consortium Costs £440,048.

Matrix of Projects by Themes(Mar 2006) 236k

Cross-Regional Projects

There are four Cross-Regional Projects in the East:

Milton Keynes and South Midlands Social Infrastructure Research – lead Bedfordshire

SOUL Record (Soft Outcomes Universal Learning) – lead Norfolk

Regional Community Cohesion & Multiple Equalities – lead Norfolk

Trustee Development – leads Hertfordshire and Suffolk

These projects are underway and are to be completed by June 06.

Relationship of East region projects with national projects / hubs

The Fund Manager Team are encouraging contact with the National Hubs through events and themed meetings.

The Finance, Performance, Workforce Development and Governance Hubs have spoken at ChangeUp East events in Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds.

The ICT Hub has been involved in establishing an ICT Network group with representatives from each of the six consortia ICT projects and organising a regional event. Other themed meetings are planned to raise awareness, share best practice and to build strong networks regionally, as well as linking with the work of the hubs.

Some County Consortia and the Regional Consortium have made direct links with the hubs and are working with them on specific projects.