Gateshead VCSE Leaders Group Meeting and Gateshead Council 2027/28 Budget Consultation

This meeting is open to all Gateshead VCSE Leaders - Organisation Leads, Chief Executives, Senior Managers.

The Gateshead VCSE Leaders Group meeting is a quarterly forum that brings together leaders from across VCSE sector organisations operating in the borough. It provides a dedicated space to connect with peers, exchange updates, share challenges and opportunities, and build stronger working relationships.

Meetings also include contributions from senior public sector partners - including Gateshead Council, NEMSA and the NHS - giving VCSE leaders direct access to strategic discussions, emerging priorities, and policy developments. Through these conversations, attendees can influence decision making, highlight the needs of local communities, and help shape collaborative approaches across the borough.

This meeting will feature:

• Iain Burns, Gateshead Council Service Director – Chief Executive’s Department, will present the proposed Council 2027/28 Budget, provide an update on current Council developments relevant to VCSE leaders, and invite questions and feedback. 

• Maria Clarke, Gateshead Council Health and Wellbeing Policy and System Integration Manager, will share the Gateshead Neighbourhood Health and Wellbeing Strategy and seek input from attendees.

• Lisa Goodwin, Connected Voice Chief Executive, will provide an update on working with the Council administration, followed by a discussion with VCSE leaders about their experiences.

Additional agenda items will be added once confirmed.

Venue: The Salvation Army Gateshead Community Church, Tennyson Court, Sunderland Road, Gateshead, NE8 3EY

The venue is on bus route 27 and is walking distance from Gateshead Stadium Metro Station.

You can only book one place for yourself. If a colleague wants to attend, they will need to book separately themselves. This network meeting is limited to a maximum of 2 people per organisation. When you book, please ensure that you give us all the essential information requested so that we know your registration is genuine.

Our training and events are funded from a variety of sources, allowing us to offer them for free to eligible organisations. Please check the eligibility requirements for each session before signing up, as this varies.

You can keep up to date with the latest training and events from Connected Voice by subscribing to our fortnightly email bulletin.

Attendance and value Our staff dedicate significant time and resources to create and deliver an excellent range of training and events free of charge. We ask that you make an effort to prioritise attending our meeting once you have registered, and let us know as soon as possible if there is a barrier to you attending. 

Accessibility Please let us know in advance if you have any accessibility requirements that would help you get the most out of this session. We will do everything we can to accommodate them.