Representation

One of the Regional Forum's central roles is making sure that the voluntary and community sector is represented at the regional level. The Forum carries out this role through conferences, briefings and, crucially, through representatives (reps) on a growing number of regional bodies.

These representatives are usually elected through the Forum's membership so that they carry with them a degree of legitimacy and sector recognition. This is important because the Forum consistently makes the point to agencies that representatives have a responsibility to try to reflect a range of views within the sector and that, therefore, they need to have the confidence of the sector gained through a democratic process. Of course, no one individual can represent the whole of a sector as diverse as the voluntary and community sector and reps are not delegates. Nevertheless, a system which links the reps to the sector is necessary so that there is a two way dialogue.

This webpage is all about this dialogue. The Forum hopes that members and others will use the page to link to a representative in an area of interest and that the reps will use it to tell the sector what is happening in various regional bodies. In this way the reps will get to know the issues that are of concern in the sector and be able to find out sector views on decisions and policies that are discussed in the region.

The Forum is determined, through its representatives, to take the voice of the sector to the places where decisions are made so that the needs of communities and the understanding of the sector play their part in developing the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Reps are currently sitting on the following committees:

VCS Leaders Advisory Group

European

European Objective 2 2000-2006 Programme Monitoring Committee
Yorkshire Europe Forum
ESF 2007-2013 Regional Committee
ERDF 2007-2013 Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC)
ERDF 2007-2013 Programme Monitoring Board (PMB)
ERDF 2007-2013 South Yorkshire Programme Monitoring Board (PMB)
ERDF 2007-2013 PMC Cross-Cutting Themes Sub-Committee
ERDF 2007-2013 Evaluation Steering Group
Third Sector European Network

New Regional Thematic (advisory) Boards

Spatial Planning Board
Work and Skills Partnership Board

Other Boards

Charity Bank Northern Advisory Council
Care Services Improvement Partnership
Future Years
LSC National VCS Advisory Group
Migration Impact Group
NEET 14-19 Challenge Group
Reducing Re-offending Action Plan (RRAP)
Yorkshire & Humber Empowerment Partnership
Yorkshire & Humber Public Health Observatory
Yorkshire Gold (Healthy & Cohesive Communities Group)

The Yorkshire and Humber Environment Hub also has a number of VCS representatives on Regional Boards. On their website they have regular reports from their representatives, which you may find useful. To view these updates use the following link:
Y & H Environment Hub