August 2012

Across the sector, there is an ever growing emphasis on sharing good practice and having a ‘joined-up’ approach to effectively address areas of need. Working together, organisations have a more powerful, cohesive voice and can avoid duplication of work. Working this way can ensure only the best services are delivered, better meeting the needs of individuals. Both organisations featured this month, one a consortium, the other a network are creating impact in this way. Both encourage partnership working and are actively sharing knowledge and learning within their respective areas of work.

Youth Homeless North East (YHNE)
In 2005, Homeless Link took over a commitment from the Community Foundation to continue to develop a joint approach to the issue of youth homelessness in the North East. At the end of 2006 Homeless Link brought together a large group of organisations working with homeless young people and identified that provision in the region was very patchy and that there was a lack of sharing good practice. In response to this the Regional Youth Homelessness Network was set up. In 2012 the organisation changed to Youth Homeless North East.

In the current financial climate with reduced opportunities for young people to find work and the increased pressure on families, it is likely that the levels of youth homelessness will rise. YHNE is addressing this need and developing a strategy for the region highlighting this issue and suggesting solutions. Together the combined membership of YHNE will be able to provide a voice for the most vulnerable young people at all levels to ensure that they are heard and that the contribution they can make to our future prosperity as a region is not forgotten.

YHNE have had two grants from the Foundation totalling £138,000 including a recent small award to develop their website.

To visit YHNE’s website please click here.

Mental Health North East (MHNE)
MHNE is a coalition of third sector and voluntary organisations that provide mental health services in the North East of England. Membership averages at 350. Like YHNE, MHNE uses its combined voice to represent the sector at all levels of government, commissioning and strategic, health and social arenas. MHNE also plays an advocacy role, gathering the voices of people with mental health problems and conveying these to policymakers. MHNE is built around a core belief that a strong, vibrant, diverse yet united voluntary and community sector is essential for the development of mental health services and for the improvement of the emotional health and well being of the region.

Many of the voluntary organisations in the North East that support people with mental health problems are often small in size and resources. Often they do not have the time to develop networks, identify training opportunities or carry out policy work. MHNE has been very successful in identifying and supporting small voluntary organisations, providing them with access to funding, to policy makers and colleagues working in the sector whom they would otherwise not have the opportunity to meet. Over the last three years, MHNE has developed its web portal with two grants totalling £155,310 from the Foundation. It now attracts over 2,000 hits per month. The website provides information about courses, events and jobs, as well as alerting members to consultations and new policy papers.

To visit MHNE’s website please click here.