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About the South East

Third sector structures

A 'consortium' (plural 'consortia') refers to a group or network of support providers who come together to plan strategically to improve the support services available in their region.

South East Regional Strategic Cross-Sector Partnership (RSCP)

Where it all began

The South East Regional Consortium was originally set up to manage ChangeUp funding in partnership with the Government Office in the South East (GOSE).

Membership was split between third sector and public sector organisations and it was chaired by a member from a third sector organisation.

Due to the number of consortia in the region, consortium membership was originally sought from four sub-regions; however, now all consortia are invited to send a representative.

Review

A review of the aims and purpose of the Regional Consortium was conducted in 2006 and it was decided that, with the advent of Capacitybuilders, the consortium would turn its attention to awareness raising of third sector issues and strategic influencing of public sector partners at regional and national level.

Name change and increased membership

It changed its name to the South East Regional Strategic Cross-Sector Partnership (RSCP) and membership was expanded. It continues to be chaired by a representative from the third sector.

Third sector representatives

Third sector representatives come from the regional network, RAISE (Regional Action and Involvement South East); South East Rural Community Councils; UNI, the BME regional network; SE², the regional Social Enterprise Partnership; local consortia and frontline organisations. 

Public sector partners represent Government Office South East (GOSE), South East Development Agency (SEEDA), South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA), the SE Strategic Health Authority, Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Job Centre Plus and local authorities at county and district levels, as well as funders including Big Lottery and Capacitybuilders.

Sub structures

There are 19 top tier authorities and each one has a ChangeUp Consortium which is able to send representatives to the RSCP.

The RSCP has four sub-groups working on Local Area Agreements (LAA's); the Regional Compact, ICT and the Regional Infrastructure Group. It is also addressing the Sub-National Review and taking forward an earlier report on funding and finance.

ChangeUp Consortium Co-ordinators meet quarterly with Capacitybuilders' Regional manager to exchange information, network and share knowledge and experience.

Key facts and figures
Area
  
Square kilometres 19,000
Rural / urban 80% rural
Population
  
Size  8.3 million in some 3 million households; 19 county/unitary authorities and 55 districts (the highest population by region)
Percentage of UK population 12.5
Rural / urban spread 78% of the population lives in urban areas
Main urban areas Two cities have populations of around 250,000 (Medway and Brighton and Hove) and five cities have populations of greater than 100,000.
Deprivation 6% or 318 areas are in the most deprived areas of England (Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2007)
Affluence Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire are the most affluent counties
Ethnicity
  
Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) population 4.9%
Breakdown Asian 2.3%, mixed 1.1%, black 0.7%, Chinese 0.4%, other origin 0.4%
Highest BME population 41.7% in Slough
South East voluntary and community sector
  
Registered charities 28,808 (region with highest number)
Other VCS organisations 5,500 
VCS employment 307,000 full time equivalent
Numbers in volunteering 726,000
Charitable income £6.5bn (registered charities only)

 

Region SE