Our work
Our aims are to tackle disadvantage and improve quality of life in the North East and Cumbria. As a region despite improving economic success in recent years we still experience levels of poverty and social disadvantage that are among some of the highest in the country. We focus on problems that are particularly acute in our area and broader social and economic concerns where there are solutions here that we can share nationally.
We use a variety of tools to achieve our aims.
- Grant programmes respond to proposals from organisations carrying out charitable activities that tackle certain needs, and that result in particular outcomes or changes.
- Policy work informs and influences the environment in which the activities we support take place. As a neutral body we also provide independent research and analysis, and space for organisations to learn from each other.
- Our VCS training and development activity aims to increase the effectiveness of the voluntary sector through courses, capacity building support and investments in its infrastructure.
- Special initiatives concentrate on particular issues in depth. They allow us to develop work and test new approaches alongside evaluation and advocacy of emerging good practice.
- Loans and other investments provide alternative tools for supporting charitable activities.
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