Welcome

This website will no longer be updated as VOX closes its doors on 31 December 2010. It will however remain live until the end of March 2011 so communities can access its various resources.
A Voice for Communities: VOX is the Community Empowerment Network (CEN) for the Wakefield District. We have hundreds of members made up of community and voluntary groups and individual community members throughout the local area. We work to give our members the chance to influence the way the District is run by providing a voice for the community and voluntary sectors in the Wakefield District. Click here to read more about VOX

To download our latest VOXNow e-bulletin click here.

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Click here for latest Wakefield Express headlines.

Latest News

That's all Folks!

View the last ever edition of VOXPop
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Neighbourhood Management Vacancies

Applications are currently being sought from residents of Airedale, Ferry Fryston and Townville to sit on the Neighbourhood Management Board.
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Third Sector Map

VOX carried out a major piece of research over the last year and a half which identified nearly 1600 voluntary and community sector groups, and social enterprises operating in the Wakefield District.
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Three new healthcare consultations

Go to our consultations page for more information.
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How Wakefield Works for Me

Download a free copy of our 'Take Part' training package. Find out how the Wakefield District works and how to have your say.
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VOX case sudy published

Yorkshire and Humber Empowerment Partnership commissioned 12 case studies around Re-imagining Community Involvement. VOX work was included in this.
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New Networking Opportunity for Wakefield Rural Community Groups

20th October 2010, 7pm, Woolley Village Hall. This is a networking event for the communities of Notton, Woolley and West Bretton.
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VOX loses core funding

As you may know the core funding of VOX has been terminated by Wakefield Together. Our Board of Directors met at the end of September and have agreed to continue operating at full capacity until 31st December 2010, at which point VOX will close its doors.
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'Who's Who' in the Wakefield District

VOX has started mapping key contacts for communities from various service providers across the District. If you would like to be added or have any updates or suggestions of who should be on the list please email abby@voxnet.org.uk.
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New plans for service delivery in Wakefield

Wakefield Council and Wakefield Together Partnership are planning to take a new approach to area and neighbourhood working based on seven areas across the District and twelve Priority Neighbourhoods.
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The Big Society

'The Big Society' is about giving citizens, communities and local government the power and information they need to come together, solve the problems they face and build the Britain they want.
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Refugee Week

Various refugee week celebrations have been planned in Wakefield from the w/c 14th June.
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Third Sector Development Plan

The Wakefield Together Partnership has put together a Third Sector development Plan for the District.
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Comng Soon: Take Part Events

Throughout July and September, VOX will be holding 7 events across the district on 'How Wakefield Works for Me'. The events are open to all community members looking to gain a better understanding on how the District runs, how to have more influence on decisions and how they can achieve change in their community.
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Message from the Chair on the future of VOX

"The Wakefield Together Partnership is currently reviewing its engagement strategy and its implementation along with the development of the mechanisms for Area Based Service Delivery. It is clear that we are in a new and challenging transitional phase. Although no formal offer of financial support has yet been received the VOX Board of Directors has agreed that we will continue with the 18 Neighbourhood Networks and other engagement work during this transitional period in the interests of the communities we serve. We will keep you updated on the new arrangements as they are developed and hopefully before they are implemented." Robin Barron, Chair of VOX

Health matters at VOX Neighbourhood Networks

Non-executive directors from Wakefield District NHS will be attending all of the VOX Networks over the next few months, so if you have any local health issues you want to discuss, check out the Neighbourhood Network pages to find out when they're at your local meeting.
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GP Choice

For details on the new GP Choice consultation click on the link below.
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Draft Rural Strategy Event Consultation

Wakefield Council want your views on the Draft Rural Strategy.
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Do you provide activities for Young People aged 13 to 19?

Wakefield Council has the responsibility of pulling together information on activities for central government. If you would like to include your work in this report click the link below.
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Commission services for young people consultation

Wakefield Council is intending to commission services for young people aged 16, 17 and 18 who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET). They want views on a draft specification that has been developed.
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Have your say on three new consultations

NHS Wakefield District want your views on rights for patients and local breast screening services. Wakefield Council is asking for views on the proposed admissions policy for local community and voluntary controlled schools.
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Find out how well your services have been performing

Comprehensive Area Assessment Results have been made public today (9th December 2010). To find out more on how well the Council, Primary Care Trust, Police and Fire Service are performing in our area visit http://oneplace.direct.gov.uk

Feedback from VOX and Partners Report

VOX has produced a brief report to update you on our recent work, news from partners, news from Networks and other relevant information.
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VOXPop Autumn 2009

Read articles on the new Duty to Involve, Comprehensive Area Assessment, Networks update and much, much more.
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Annual Review 08/09

Read all about our work in our Annual Review 08/09.
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Safer & Stronger Rep Report

A report from the latest Safer & Stronger Partnership Meeting.
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Healthier Communities Fund

Find out more about the Healthier Communities Fund and the funded projects.
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Police Consultation: Equality Schemes

The preparation of new Equality Schemes will allow West Yorkshire Police and The Police Authority to focus on the needs and expectations of people with characteristics protected by equality duties or anti-discrimination laws.
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Have your say on plans for hospital services

Local people are being asked for their views on a proposal to improve and develop specialist hospital services. NEW PONTEFRACT DATE ADDED
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Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

The Queen's Award was established oin 2002 to recognise groups of individuals who are giving their time freely for the benefit of others. To find out more or to nominate visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk

Consultation Reminder: New Horizons - take part and help shape the future of mental health

The Government has a consultation to find out what you think of plans to help improve everyone's mental well-being and the services that provide mental health care.
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Community Cashback

Community Cashback is a new scheme in England and Wales which gives local people a say in how £4million of recovered criminal assets should be spent in their communities.
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The Truth about Asylum Seekers & Refugees

To find out more about Refugees & Asylum Seekers, members of Wakefield Together have produced a myth busting leaflet which gives you the facts and figures as well at looking at individual stories.
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Governance Guide

The second edition of our Guide to Governance Roles in the Wakefield District is now available to download.
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Fair Rules for Strong Communities

On the eve of the Queen's speech, the 'Fair Rules for Strong Communities' paper set out a number of reforms to strengthen communities and contribute to dealing with the global economic downturn. Policy initiatives have been outlined for welfare reform, crime and policing, children and young people, business rules, immigration and empowerment.
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Latest Issues from the Networks

Click on the link below to read an overview of the latest issues raised at our Neighbourhood Network meetings.
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VOX Review 2007-08

Download a copy of our annual review 07-08.
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Download the latest VOXPop magazine

Download the latest VOXPop magazine containing info on our next Convention: Handing Power back to the people? alongside briefings on the Policing and Crime Reduction Bill, and The National Health Service Reform and Draft Constitution. You can also find out more about VOX's role in representing local community and voluntary sectors with an introduction to the VOX reps.
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Communities in Control: Real people, real power

With the publishing of the Empwerment White Paper, Communities in Control in July, VOX brings you a briefing on what this means and a what's going to happen and when guide.
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Watch footage from the 'Community Governance for You' Event

Click here to watch the film>>

Community have their say on the Local Area Agreement

As Wakefield District was in the process of developing its new Local Area Agreement, (LAA), it was seen as crucial to organise an event so that local people could find out more and have a direct input into the discussions on priorities.
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Citizen Governance roles in the Wakefield District

One of VOX's targets is to increase the number of people involved in citizen governance roles. These include the roles of Magistrate, School Governor and Councillors.
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LINks - A stronger local voice?

From April 2008 the Government will be strengthening and increasing the opportunities for individuals and communities to influence the health and social care services they receive.
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