The Newcastle Partnership is the city’s Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), bringing the voluntary, community, private and public sector together to implement the Newcastle Plan, with its ambition of making Newcastle better for everyone who lives, works or visits it.   

Introduced in 2001 as part of the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, LSPs have become an increasingly important part of the Government’s programme of public service reform.  Along with Local Area Agreements (a three year agreement between the Government and the local area based on a set of agreed outcomes), LSPs are seen as a way of changing established means of service provision, giving the voluntary and community sector the chance to influence, shape and even deliver public services.

In 2007, in response to the higher profile being given to LSPs the Newcastle Partnership reviewed its organisational structure. It reduced the number of thematic partnerships from nine to five and re-named them Delivery Partnerships. The five Delivery Partnerships are Wellbeing and Health; Safe Newcastle; Economy, Work, Skills and Learning; Environment and Housing; Children and Young People.

Newcastle Partnership also established a Delivery Board to performance manage the LAA, and an Innovation Group, which will consider what the Newcastle Partnership can do to address emerging challenges such as climate change.  A Strategic Board sets the strategic direction for the whole LSP and also oversees the production of the Sustainable Community Strategy and LAA.

The voluntary sector is an important partner throughout the Newcastle Partnership. The Regen Forum provides the means for voluntary sector representation and engagement with the Partnership.  There are currently 18 voluntary sector representatives from the Regen Forum involved in the Newcastle Partnership.

The Voluntary Sector representative’s role is to give voice to the sector’s interests and ensure that the sector has the opportunity to be fully involved in the Partnership’s activities.  The Regen Team provides a wide range of support to help representatives carry out their role, including preparing briefing papers, accompanying reps to meetings and liaising with the Newcastle Partnership team.

For more information visit www.newcastlepartnership.org.uk, email the Regen team or ring on 0191 232 7445.

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