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North East England has scored a national first for developing leadership in and among voluntary and community organisations.

VONNE, the regional infrastructure body for the voluntary and community sector in the North East, has produced the UK’s first Regional Third Sector Leadership Strategy.

It is designed to give voluntary and community organisations a clear idea of how leadership can help them to be more effective; to make sure existing third sector leaders are recognised and supported; and to set out what needs to be done to develop the skills of future leaders in the sector.

The work is being funded by One NorthEast’s Third Sector Capacity Fund, as part of the Agency’s drive to develop stronger strategic leadership in the region.

Jo Curry, Senior Policy and Development Manager at VONNE, said: "Effective leadership in the voluntary and community sector is essential if it is to fulfil its role in the design and delivery of services that people need, and as an influential voice for social change.

“This strategy seeks to make sure that people from all parts of the sector benefit, whether they be chief executives or unpaid volunteers. The strategy presents an opportunity for the sector to harness its vision, energy and values for the benefit of the North East."

One NorthEast’s funding has also helped VONNE to establish a Third Sector Economic Regeneration Forum in the region, to create a new website for organisations across the sector and to support leadership training.

The forum exists to promote and support the impact of the third sector in helping people back into jobs, learning and wider community participation. It will respond to consultations, act as a sounding board for third sector organisations and will represent the sector on economic regeneration issues.

www.vonne.org.uk is a website to which voluntary and community organisations can turn for the latest news from the sector, advertising their job vacancies and events, and communicating with their colleagues.

Jo added: “I am particularly pleased that the funding secured from One NorthEast has provided bursaries to enable eleven emerging leaders from the sector to complete leadership development training with Common Purpose and The Leadership Foundation. Together, the forum, the website and the strategy will provide a lasting legacy for the sector and for the North East.”

One NorthEast’s Economic Inclusion Strategy Manager, Robin Beveridge, said: “Spotting and developing future leaders, and helping people already in leadership positions to grow, is an important part of the Regional Economic Strategy. This is how North East England will continue developing its reputation in the rest of the UK and beyond and in influencing national policy. The Third Sector has some very specific challenges when it comes to leadership and VONNE’s work makes clear what needs to be done and how.”

Barbara Dennis OBE, Managing Director of P3's Leadership Foundation, said: "I am delighted that VONNE is putting North East England on the map for developing leadership in the Third Sector. When it comes to a strong leader, there’s no such thing as the finished article – there’s always more to learn. We help leaders to discover their full potential which can take their organisations, whatever the sector, into greater success.”