Towards the end of 2006, I attended a number of Conferences where I attempted to progress the conept of a 3rd Sector Strategy Unit for the North East of England.
It seems to me, in the light of One North East’s Regional Strategy and Northern Rock Foundation’s reviewed policies, that the time for discussing this is now!
The start of 2007 should mark the beginning of a realistic discussion on the function, form and day-to-day activity of such a Unit. Maybe VONNE could take the initiative on this and establish a working group to discuss issues such as:
1. Why do we need a Regional Strategy Unit (RSU)?
2. How will this Unit relate to 3rd Sector organisations?
3. How will the RSU relate to other regional organisations?
This could act as a precursor to detailed discussions on staffing and resources at a later date. Would NRF be prepared to support such an initiative?
