Dear all,

We would be grateful if you could promote the following survey to your members and contacts.  In this survey we are trying to identify what key services are at risk in your area and specific support is needed to help organisations survive so we can lobby for appropriate support and funding.

Previous results have been used to inform the delivery of the Third Sector Capacity Fund and help target funding to areas of most need.  It is important that as many organisations in your area complete the survey so we can assist you in your calls for additional funding and support ensuring regional funding and support is targeted at those areas and organisations of most need.  Evidence from previous surveys has also been sent to local authorities to support your calls to maintain funding to the sector.

Given the public sector across the region is anticipating making on average a 15% cut in their revenue and capital budgets after March 2011, it is important that we have the evidence in place to support those calls.  Our third survey has been designed to allow us to do that, and we will naturally share the results with you.

Please help us promote this survey as we have we will not have a better time as a region or sector to influence the new Government.

We have created the following paragraph for ease if you want to copy and paste into your communications but please feel free to edit, amend or put forward your own text.

VONNE have opened their 3rd survey into the impact of the economic climate on the region’s voluntary and community sector and we the Churches' Regional Commssion urge you to take part.  With a new government imminent and the public sector facing unprecedented budget cuts after March 2011, it has never been more important for voluntary and community sector organisations in the North East to gather the evidence and call for the support we need to be able to continue to provide the high level of service to our beneficiaries.   The survey aims to find out what the impact has been and also what specific support you need to ensure that your organisation or group can continue to operate.  The results will be used to lobby government, regional bodies and local authorities to ensure that your needs and requirements are listened to, valued and where possible met when it comes to issues of budget cuts and the support that you require.

The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Survived  a downloadable version can be found on VONNE’s website at www.vonne.org.uk/survey.

I hope that you are able to assist us with this request as the more organisations that complete the survey the more weight we have to call for appropriate support.

Should you have any queries regarding the above please feel free to contact me.

Thanks in anticipation.

John Main

Policy & Development Officer – Regeneration

What do you need to survive in the new economic landscape?

VONNE’s 3rd recession impact survey 19th April – 14th May 2010.

Make sure you have your say! Complete the survey online >>