Community Engagement & Empowerment Programme Executive Summary

• Research phase (Year 1) was critical to the success of the programme by identifying activities to be funded. The findings provided a baseline regarding the current position regarding community engagement and empowerment in the region and identified gaps.
• Whilst there was potential for cross over and duplication with activities funding by the North East Empowerment Partnership (NEEP), individuals from both organisations worked hard to ensure that projects complimented each other.
• The programme facilitated stronger and more effective networking amongst local authority officers involved in CEE activities across the region and significant emphasis was placed on sharing the learning.
• The programme provided a valuable opportunity for local authorities and their partners to try out new approaches to community engagement and empowerment.
• The Programme has resulted in an increase in participation, understanding, influence and change in terms of community engagement and empowerment in the region. This set a foundation for work in the North East for the Big Society agenda.
• Year 3 of the programme saw a massive change in National Policy following the General Election and the Programme was a useful vehicle to change gear in terms of re-positioning CEE activity.
• Perhaps the most significant challenge has been maintaining the momentum of the programme in the current financial climate.