VCS Team CORE offer

I’ve worked in and for the voluntary & community sector for much of my working life – beginning back in Leicester in the mid-1980’s – including as a self-employed facilitator, various roles within local government, as a Programme Manager for a regeneration partnership and now in the role of Development Officer with the charity Hartlepower CIO. A second strand to working life has been as a counsellor/therapist and teacher.

With my fellow Hartlepower CIO Development Officer, Juli Simons, our roles are to champion & support Hartlepool’s voluntary & community sector. This includes convening networking forums (e.g. the twice monthly VCS Sector Connector meetings), sharing information & opportunities, assisting the formation & development of new charities and social enterprises (e.g. Play Out Hartlepool), facilitating training for the VCS (e.g. Funding Bid Writing and Governance) and encouraging collaboration.

My email is julianpenton@hartlepower.co.uk

When asked about my history with the voluntary sector in Hartlepool I start with saying I've been there, wore the T-shirt.  My progression has been as project beneficiary, volunteer, trainee, project worker and co-ordinator for some great town based organisations before  moving into starting  my own community business.  I live in the town  and still volunteer as a primary school governor and charity trustee.    

Our role is helping to establish and support VCS groups, small businesses and social enterprises with development support, funding advice and  governance.

 During the last year we have worked hard to connect organisations in Hartlepool to each other and to the public sectors  to help improve relationships  -  explore more partnership working and understanding of each other and how we fit together with the complex picture of communities in our town. 

 My email is: julisimons@hartlepower.co.uk 

I became actively involved in the community from a young age which guided my journey into employment. I have over sixteen years’ professional experience of working with communities, children, young people and their families in a wide range of environments. I also worked in the hospitality sector which is often the social heart of many communities.

 My role as Community-Led Business Development Officer has been funded by The Council’s Adult and Community Based Services Department and supported by a panel of community organisations, who are looking at finding new, creative ways to provide social care that enable people to thrive supported by their own communities, rather than be pushed towards more intensive and expensive  care packages.

  My aim is to use my social and professional life experience to serve Hartlepool Borough Council’s “Community Led Support” initiative by developing and supporting new community-led businesses.

My email is nancypout@hartlepower.co.uk  

I have experience in the voluntary sector as a volunteer for 4 years, working to develop confidence in people with additional needs through online media.

My role involves identifying gaps around projects the rest of the team are involved in and assisting in whatever way possible. I also help promote Hartlepower and other charitable organisations through social media.

My email is:

JamesIrvin@hartlepower.co.uk

 I have recently been appointed as the Hartlepool Financial Inclusion Partnership Co-ordinator, this role has been funded by Hartlepool Borough Council.

Hartlepool Financial Inclusion Partnership brings together private, voluntary, community sector and Advice and Guidance agencies to enable collaborative working to support vulnerable residents of Hartlepool and help reduce financial burden.

My role is to provide full administration support, co-ordinate and drive forward the partnership by identifying potential funding sources to support their work and in due course explore all opportunities to develop a Credit Union.

My email is dawnwatson@hartlepower.co.uk

I'm Stephanie - together with Rachel my colleague, our aim is to listen to as many residents as possible from the Victoria Ward, to hear what they want from their community, make connections with key members of the ward and plan future activity that will strengthen the community there

Stephanie works for Changing Futures North East and is based at Hartlepower 3 days a week. 

steph.bailey-minton@changingfuturesne.co.uk

Tbc.