Welcome to VOX

This is the web site for the Tees Valley Voluntary and Community Sector Forum - the subregional voice.

The Forum offers the opportunity for front line voluntary and community groups to come together to share their experiences, discuss and debate key issues around funding, legislation and other key issues. As a strategic sub regional network we aim to strengthen and support the sector through securing and maintaining meaningful representation on key partnerships within the Tees Valley and at a regional level. To help ensure the sector is well informed about strategic issues we also offer regular updates and information on key issues such as events, government policy, research and where to get help. We aim to compliment and not duplicate the work of the four Community Networks, support services and other district based forums.

Membership of the Forum is free and open to any Voluntary and Community Sector organisation in the Tees Valley. If you would like further information about becoming a member, about any of the other matters included on this site or you have an information gap, please contact Graeme Foster on: 01429 262641 or email

Tees Valley Infrastructure Strategy and Business Plan

The Forum undertook a consultation during December 2007 which asked for your views on the Support Services for front line Voluntary & Community Sector Organisations. The consultation direcly informed Tees Valley Infrastructure Consortium's resulting six year Strategy to 2014 and three year Business Plan to 2011. The Consortium, is a body which includes amongst its membership the Borough based organisations who provide support services to front line VCS groups and the Voluntary Development Agencies/CVS' within Tees Valley.  These plans make a firm commitment to strengthen and improve existing support services in particular those already delivered locally and will tackle ‘gaps’ in support and capacity building services. Please click on the following links to download these documents.

Tees Valley Infrastructure Strategy

Tees Vallley Infrastructure Consortium Business Plan

If you have any comments or queries on these we would be pleased to hear from you.

Membership of the Forum is free and open to any Voluntary and Community Sector organisation in the Tees Valley. If you would like further information about becoming a member, about any of the other matters included on this site or you have an information gap, please contact Graeme Foster on: 01429 262641 or email

Winning Contracts 20th June 2008

This Forum event brought together ninety five different VCS groups who were able to hear expert opinion and guidance to help in overcoming the barriers to winning contracts for service delivery.

The event was delivered with the North East Social Enterprise Partnership and VONNE.

Whilst the sector continues to add high value to people’s lives it is important to consider how these important local services can be sustained. With widespread movement away from grants, being able to cover costs and fund development is becoming a real challenge.

Making a transistion to understand the process of contracting with the statutory sector can be off-putting and feel like a real burden amongst all the other challenges small groups face in maintaining their services to the people that depend on them.

However, this event provided an ideal opportunity to hear from a range of specialists who shared good practice together with key information from the heart of government on why the funding environment is changing and how to prepare for the future.

A review report including feed back information from delegates and workshop sessions is being compiled and will be published here soon. In the mean time if you missed the event you can access copies of the presentations below:

Pat Chapman, GO-NE presentation

Simon Davidson, TV VCS Forum presentation

Allison Agius, NESEP presentation

Keith Bayley, HVDA, presentation

Mike Lazinski, Business Link NE, presentation

Jo Curry, VONNE presentation

Ron Brown, Middlesbrough Borough Council, presentation

Terry Murphy, Community Ventures presentation