LINKS

Voluntary and Community Organisations
  Regional Links
  National Links
Sub-Regional Organisations
  Humber
  North Yorkshire
  South Yorkshire
  West Yorkshire
Regional and Central Government and other Official Sites (including EU)
  Regional
  Central
  Other government related agencies
  Regionalisation
  Europe
  Learning and Skills - training and education
  Compacts
  Best Value ~ modernising local government
  Sustainability & the environment
  Regeneration, neighbourhood renewal and community development
  Communities online
  Funding information
  Other information sources

Voluntary and community organisations

Regional Links. (Also see sub-regional links below)

http://www.bassac.org.uk
bassac - The British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres is a membership network of multi-purpose community organisations. Although based in London, bassac has a regional office for Yorkshire and the Humber in Leeds.

http://www.bitc.org.uk/what_we_do/where_we_work/yorkshire_and_humber/index.html
Business in the Community, Yorkshire and Humber - encouraging business to understand and report its impact on the environment, workplace, marketplace and community

http://www.bme.org.uk
The Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Regional Panel was formed to empower the BME VCS across Yorkshire and Humber to ensure their voives are heard at the regional level and to develop effective links.

http://www.crc-online.org.uk/
Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and the Humber (CRC) is a Christian organisation that is proactive with public bodies and faith partners in promoting regeneration in the region.

http://www.dtayandhonline.org.uk
Development Trusts Association - Yorkshire and Humber - useful site from the regional DTA.

http://www.fit4funding.org.uk
fit4funding - The Charities Information Bureau - comprehensive funding advice and information for the North of England.

http://www.keyfundyorks.org.uk
Key Fund Yorkshire is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI), which aims to provide loans and investments to community owned organisations working in disadvantaged communities in Yorkshire and Humberside. The Key Fund offers an innovative mix of flexible and accessible finance for the development of social businesses.

http://www.seyh.org.uk
Social Enterprise Yorkshire and the Humber (SEYH) is a regional voice for the social enterprise sector and driving forward its development.

http://www.thescarmantrust.org/yorkshire/index.htm
Scarman Trust - a national organisation with an office in Yorkshire which supports and resources individuals and small community groups who want to improve their communities.

http://www.yhep.org.uk/
The National Empowerment Partnership in Yorkshire & the Humber.

http://www.yhraf.org.uk/
Yorkshire and The Humber Rural Affairs Forum

http://www.yorkshireandhumberfaiths.org.uk
The Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum promtes the contribution of faith communities to the region and ensures faith issues are considered at a regional level.

National links

http://www.ace.org.uk/
Age Concern

http://www.ascskills.org.uk/pages/home
Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) ASC is the national centre for delivering the skills and knowledge needed to make better places.

http://www.candoexchange.org/exchange
The Can Do Exchange is about creating a place where active people and organisations in the community can access resources and contacts previously impossible for them to access.

http://www.capacitybuilders.org.uk
Capacitybuilders is the agency with responsibility to manage the £70 million ChangeUp programme for the financial years 2006/07 and 2007/08. It works with infrastructure bodies in every region to help the voluntary and community sector become even more effective and efficient.

http://www.cdf.org.uk/
Community Development Foundation - CDF news & projects.

http://www.cdx.org.uk
Community Development Exchange (CDX) works to ensure that community development is recognised and supported as a powerful way of tackling inequality and achieving social justice.

http://www.changeup.org.uk
ChangeUp is about strengthening the support and assistance available to voluntary and community organisations. The ChangeUp framework was developed in partnership with the voluntary and community sector and focuses on improving capacity building and infrastructure within the sector.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureaux site - comprehensive site detailing the range of advice available.

http://www.csv.org.uk
Community Service Volunteers - national organisation to promote volunteering

http://www.dsc.org.uk/
Directory of Social Change - training and publications (particularly on funding).

http://www.dta.org.uk/
Development Trusts Association - national organisation for development trusts.

http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk.
Futurebuilders England is a government-backed fund offering support and investment to third sector organisations to deliver public services.

http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/
Help the Aged - advice on pensions, residential care, welfare support and other information, together with background briefings on the older population and current government policy.

http://www.hubs.org.uk
The Hubs are funded by ChangeUp and are a group of six national partnerships that offer free services and information to voluntary and community groups. The six areas of activity they support: Finance, Governance, ICT, Performance, UK Workforce and Volunteering.

http://www.jrf.org.uk/
Joseph Rowntree Foundation - JRF's research and funding programme, including the latest JRF reports

http://www.lasa.org.uk/
LASA - London Advice Services Alliance (LASA) provides advice and information services, with help on information systems and getting the best out of your IT, welfare benefits (including training and policy work in the UK advice sector).

http://www.navca.org.uk
NAVCA - National Association for Voluntary and Community Action - national organisation for CVS (councils for voluntary service) and other LDAs (local development associations).

http://www.ncvcco.org.uk
National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations - information on their regional network can be accessed, including quarterly meetings in Leeds and other activities.

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/
NCVO - National Council for Voluntary Organisations, with links to other organisations, and useful resources, including helpdesk, campaigns, compacts, research, policy and trustees.

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services NCVYS co-ordinates, through its members, 500,000 paid and voluntary workers who provide direct support to approximately five million young people.

http://www.ourpartnership.org.uk
This project ceased at the end of March 2007 due to a lack of new funding.

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. It not only gives direct help and support, but also works with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/
RightsNet - benefits information and discussion forums for advice workers from LASA (London Advice Services Alliance)

http://www.ruralnet.org.uk/
RuralNet - an online, relationship-based peer support network for rural communities.

http://www.vaengland.org.uk
Voluntary Arts England promotes and supports participation in the arts and crafts and believes that active participation is the lifeblood of communities. It offers a number of services to voluntary arts groups which include information services (such as monthly briefing sheets on issues relevant to the sector and a weekly e-newsletter); lobbying and advocacy; advice and volunteer development.

http://www.volresource.org.uk
Volresource - aims to be a quick and easy source of information on anything to do with running a voluntary organisation.

http://www.volunteering.org.uk/
Volunteering England

Sub-regional organisations

Humber

http://www.hlc-vol.org
Humberside Learning Consortium - aims to encourage and support learning in the Humber sub-region by making it easier to access and provide learning opportunities.

http://www.humberforum.co.uk/
Humber Economic Partnership - a non-profit company, led by a Board of Directors chosen from private, public and other sectors, with an interest in the growth of the Humber sub-region economy.

http://www.hwrcc.org.uk
Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council is working to support rural communities in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire. Its aim is to strengthen rural community life by offering information, advice, support and training.

North Yorkshire

http://www.lsnetwork.org.uk
York & North Yorkshire Voluntary Sector Learning and Skills Network A consortium of voluntary and community sector organisations with an interest in building, supporting and encouraging learning and development within the sector.

http://www.nyfvo.org.uk/
North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations - promoting, developing and supporting voluntary action in N Yorkshire. Provides advice and training, and ensures sector views and interests are represented at county and sub-regional levels, plus contact details for CVS in N Yorks and York.

http://www.williamhouse.co.uk/about/about.htm
Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC) is working across rural areas of North, South & West Yorkshire and the City of York. YRCC works to enable communities to improve the quality of life for all people living and working in rural Yorkshire.

http://www.ynypu.org.uk
York and North Yorkshire Partnership Unit (YNYPU) is an independent unit which has been set up by partners across York and North Yorkshire to co-ordinate external funding into the sub- region.

South Yorkshire

http://www.syfab.org.uk
South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau - set up to help voluntary and community organisations to get the resources they need.

http://www.syopenforum.org.uk
South Yorkshire Open Forum. Providing an ambassadorial and strategic service to support the voluntary and community sector in South Yorkshire.

http://www.williamhouse.co.uk/about/about.htm
Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC) is working across rural areas of North, South & West Yorkshire and the City of York. YRCC works to enable communities to improve the quality of life for all people living and working in rural Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire

http://www.fit4funding.org.uk
fit4funding - The Charities Information Bureau provides information, advice and training to not-for-profit organisations throughout West Yorkshire.

http://www.pers.org.uk
Pay & Employment Rights Service (PERS). PERS provides a range of free and affordable employment rights services to individuals and employers in West Yorkshire.

http://www.williamhouse.co.uk/about/about.htm
Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC) is working across rural areas of North, South & West Yorkshire and the City of York. YRCC works to enable communities to improve the quality of life for all people living and working in rural Yorkshire.

http://www.wycas.org.uk
West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service works to develop voluntary and community organisations to manage their finances more efficiently and effectively.

http://www.wylc.org.uk/
The West Yorkshire Learning Consortium (WYLC) is a voluntary sector infrastructure organisation. They exist to provide support to other VCS organisations, helping them to develop their capacity to deliver learning programmes.

Regional and central government and other official sites (including EU)

Regional

http://www.goyh.gov.uk/
Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber

http://www.lgyh.gov.uk
Local Government Yorkshire and Humber is the regional partnership of local authorities, which enables them to work together and collaborate on issues of common purpose.

http://www.sportengland.org/yorkshire
The aim of Sport England Yorkshire is to increase participation in sport and physical activity by 1% a year, by developing and using strategic partnerships across the region.

http://www.thenorthernway.co.uk
The Northern Way is a unique collaboration between the three Northern Regional Development Agencies: Yorkshire Forward, Northwest Regional Development Agency and One NorthEast. This is a 20 year strategy to transform the economy of the North of England. Success will be determined by the bridging of a £30billion output gap between the North and the average for England. The Northern Way focuses on tackling issues that are important for the whole of the North and which cannot be tackled by one region alone.

http://www.yco.org.uk
The Yorkshire Cultural Observatory takes the lead role in analysing the cultural, social and economic information available in the region.

http://www.yhassembly.gov.uk
Yorkshire and Humber Assembly

http://www.yorksandhumber.nhs.uk
The Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority was created on 1st July 2006 following the merger of North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority, South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority and West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority. The Strategic Health Authority is the local headquarters of the NHS. As the name suggests, our role is strategic, rather than providing services or hands on management of local organisations.

http://www.yorkshire-culture.co.uk
Yorkshire Culture, the regional cultural consortium, works by bringing together individuals and organisations which are active in the region's cultural life.

http://www.yorkshire-forward.com
Yorkshire Forward - the regional development agency for Yorkshire and the Humber

http://www.yorkshirefutures.com
Yorkshire Futures - Regional Intelligence Network. A virtual intelligence unit providing up-to-date information in a single internet based resource. Information covered includes labour market, economic, social, environmental and health as well as forecasts and analysis.

http://www.yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk
Yorkshire Universities is the regional higher education association, providing a forum for the 10 Universities and 4 Higher Education Colleges to work together, and act as their collective voice in the region.

http://www.yorkshireurope.be/
Yorkshireurope is the region's european intelligence agency in Brussels. Funded by Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, we work with Yorkshire and Humber people and organisations. We offer information, intelligence, contacts and support: all that you might need to develop a working relationship with Europe.

http://yhpho.org.uk
The vision of the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory is to become a source of health related information for the NHS and local government.

Central

http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk
The Cabinet Office is at the centre of Government, coordinating policy and strategy across government departments. This website brings together information from units in the Department.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector
The Office of the Third Sector has been set up to drive forward the Government's role in supporting a thriving third sector. The third sector includes voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises, cooperatives and mutuals.

http://www.communities.gov.uk
Department for Communities and Local Government

http://www.defra.gov.uk/
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/index.html
Department for Education and Skills

http://www.dh.gov.uk/home
Department of Health

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/
Directgov is the place to turn to for the latest and widest range of public service information from the UK government.

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
HM Treasury

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
The Home Office

http://www.parliament.uk
UK Parliament

Other government related agencies

http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/
Audit Commission

http://www.cehr.org.uk
The Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) will be a Non-Departmental Public Body and independent influential champion whose purpose is to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen good relations between people and protect human rights. The CEHR will take an active role in helping to achieve change to benefit some of the most vulnerable and least well represented people in our society. The CEHR will bring together the work of the three existing Commissions, the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in this new body.

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk
The Charity Commission is the regulator and registrar for Charities in England and Wales.

http://www.crb.org.uk/
The Criminal Records Bureau is an executive agency of the Home Office, set up to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions.

http://www.cre.gov.uk/
The Commission for Racial Equality is a publicly funded, non-governmental body set up to promote racial equality.

http://www.eoc.org.uk/
The Equal Opportunities Commission is working to eliminate sex discrimination.

http://www.hse.gov.uk
Health and Safety Executive is responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.

http://www.ico.gov.uk/
The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information.

http://www.oisc.org.uk/
The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) is an independent public body set up under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The OISC is responsible for ensuring that all immigration advisers fulfill the requirements of good practice.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk
The Office for National Statistics website

http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/
Unlock Democracy campaigns for democratic reform in the United Kingdom.

Regionalisation

http://www.cles.org.uk/
The Centre for Local Economic Strategies is an independent organisation, involved in regeneration, local economic development and local governance.

http://www.lga.gov.uk/
The Local Government Association is a voluntary lobbying organisation representing local government.

http://www.lgiu.gov.uk/
The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) is an independent policy and research think-tank. It provides an information, advice, training and lobbying service, representing the interests of local authorities and supporting them in delivering excellent results for their communities.

Europe

Link to European page European Funding Service - news on EU funding, training and advice services from the EFS (provided by the Regional Forum and sub-regional partners).

http://www.cec.org.uk/
EU Commission Representation in the UK - useful site for anything on the EU which relates to the UK, e.g. UK MEPs, UK European agencies/documents etc.

http://www.esf.gov.uk/
ESF News - keep up to date with news about the European Social Fund (ESF).

http://www.europe.org.uk/info
The European Information Network provides a gateway to European information for UK regions.

http://www.goyh.gov.uk/goyh/eurofund/
Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber currently administers the European Structural funds in the region.

http://www.yorkshireurope.be/
Yorkshireurope is the region's european intelligence agency in Brussels. Funded by Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, we work with Yorkshire and Humber people and organisations. We offer information, intelligence, contacts and support: all that you might need to develop a working relationship with Europe.

Learning and Skills - training and education

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Jobcentre Plus is a government agency supporting people of working age to move from welfare benefits into work, and helping employers to fill their vacancies.

http://www.learndirect.co.uk/
LearnDirect - Ufi's dedicated LearnDirect site

http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/
Life Long Learning - main government site for lifelong learning projects, including Career Development Loans, Learning Towns and Cities, ILAs, Small Firm Training Loans, Adult and Community Learning Fund and a whole range of reports on basic skills, (PAT) Skills, Outreach projects etc.

http://www.lsc.gov.uk
The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for planning and funding high-quality vocational education and training for everyone.

http://www.niace.org.uk
NIACE (The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education - England and Wales) is a non-governmental organisation working to promote the interests and needs of adult learners.

Compacts

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/asp/search/microsites/main.aspx?siteID=3&sID=33&subSID=218&documentID=1643
Register of Local Compacts

http://www.thecompact.org.uk/
The Compact is the agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector in England to improve their relationship for mutual advantage. The Compact site provides latest news and reports on the voluntary and community sector perspective.

Best Value ~ modernising local government

http://www.cover-east.org/
COVER is the Community & Voluntary Forum for Eastern Region. COVER works to enhance the activities of the regional voluntary sector by co-ordinating projects and partnerships, encouraging funding into the sector, developing supportive policies and representing the sector’s interests to regional agencies and national government.

http://www.engage-em.org.uk
Engage East Midlands is the voluntary sector network for the East Midlands. It has a dual role: to help the East Midlands voluntary and community sector influence policy development in the region, and to help voluntary and community organisations to get over the barriers that prevent them from developing into strong and vibrant organisations.

http://www.lvsc.org.uk/
London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC) brings London voluntary and community sector organisations together to learn and share best practice and to create a co-ordinated voice to influence policy makers.

http://www.raise-networks.org.uk/
RAISE enables voluntary/community organisations in the South East to influence regional policy, wherever it is made or implemented, for the benefit of the people they serve.

http://www.rawm.net
Regional Action West Midlands (RAWM) was established in 2000 as the regional strategic network for the West Midlands voluntary and community sector. It helps the sector to become involved in regional decision-making and strategies that impact upon communities.

http://www.southwestforum.org.uk/
The South West Forum's key role is to be an active and dynamic influence in the region ensuring that the voluntary and community sectors are genuinely engaged in developing and influencing policy. Working closely with regional bodies, including the Regional Assembly, South West Regional Development Agency and Government Office South West, the Forum seeks to raise understanding of the importance of the voluntary and community sector to the social and economic life of the region. The Forum has a particular interest in tackling disadvantage and promoting social inclusion and sustainability.

http://www.vonne.org.uk
VONNE (Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East) is the regional voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisation for North East England. It facilitates links between voluntary and community groups and other relevant bodies, and promotes the role and potential of the sector in regional matters.

http://www.vsnw.org.uk/
Voluntary Sector North West is the regional voluntary sector infrastructure network. It aims to promote the contribution of voluntary organisations and community groups in securing the well being of people and communities through the development of an influential voluntary sector voice.

Sustainability & the environment

None found.

Regeneration, neighbourhood renewal and community development

None found.

Communities online

None found.

Funding information

For funding information contacts, please see our regional and sub-regional links. For European funding information, please visit our european website pages. Funding support and advice is also available from your local Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), full contact details for CVS are available at www.nacvs.org.uk/cvsdir

Other information sources

http://www.arvac.org.uk/
Association for Research in the Voluntary and Community Sector - important resource for anyone interested in research on the voluntary and community sector.