On this page you will find some information taken
from the North East VCS Sector Skills Action Plan.
A full copy of the plan may be found by following
this link: NE
VCS Sector Skills
Developed from an extensive consultation
process and building upon existing research on
sector needs, contribution and resources, the
aims of the North East Voluntary and Community
Sector Skills Action Plan are to:
Influence
and link the development and delivery of skills
policy, both nationally and in the North East
Make explicit the training needs
of the Voluntary and Community sector as defined
by organisations sector
Inform providers of skill needs
and support the planning of learning activities
The focus of this plan is development
of the VCS workforce: whilst the plan takes into
account skill needs linked to the development of
the sector’s role as a supplier of learning,
the needs of VCS clients are not addressed by this
plan. The specific objectives of this plan are to:
Raise the profile of the VCS
in the North East
Develop supply in priority skills
Stimulate demand for learning
Tackle barriers to learning
Promote equality and diversity
Evaluate and review progress
Priorities for skills development
in the North East Voluntary and Community Sector
are highlighted as:
Advanced IT or software
skills
Basic computer literacy
/ using IT
Campaigning/lobbying
skills
Customer handling skills
Developing social enterprises
Foreign language skills
Leadership skills
Managing volunteers
Oral communication skills
Planning and organising
Problem solving skill
Project management /
development
Skills to deliver/negotiate
contracts
Strategic/business planning
skills
Team working skills
Written communication
skills
Managing paid staff
Partnership skills
Added to these are the technical/job
specific skills related to past and forecast skill
shortage vacancies and predicted growth occupations:
Youth work
Community development
Childcare Care work
Training and assessment skill
Key Facts about the North East’s
Voluntary and Community Sector
47,000 paid workers, 4.4% 0f
region’s workforce
143,000 volunteers (15,000 full
time equivalents)
66% of workforce female (NE
= 48.5%)
1.8% of workforce from minority
ethnicities (NE=2.3%)
