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How RAISE Works

Regional Action and Involvement South East (RAISE) was established in 1999 in response to the growing importance of regional government and the need to ensure that voluntary/community organisations (VCOs) had the capacity and the mechanisms to influence regional policy. RAISE is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity and is governed by its memorandum and articles of association. The company was incorporated on 24 February 2000 and was granted charitable status on 25 May 2000.

RAISE runs a membership organisation in accordance with good practice so that the VCOs, which join, have the benefit of an accountable, representative and responsive agency acting on their behalf. RAISE organises its internal governance, management and administrative systems to ensure that its members can fully participate in setting its agenda, in its governance, in making decisions about its programmes and activities and in evaluating its impact and effectiveness.

All RAISE members are eligible to stand for election to the Board and this year saw the successful election process whereby new members have joined the RAISE Board. Details about the Board can be found by clicking here

RAISE is a membership organisation whose priorities for action are set by its members at an annual consultative conference.

Our business plan

The RAISE Business Plan 2007-2008 will keep us focused on what is important to the Voluntary/Community Sector and our members whilst maximising our impact as a regional infrastructure body through influencing regional policy. It will assist us in ensuring that the work of RAISE is effective, maximises the available resources and remains within our mission.

RAISE as an organisation will:

• be transparent in its approach to all areas of work.
• remain true to its mission;
• act as an advocate for the voluntary/community sector;
• have due respect for its position of power and influence within the region;
• listen to the membership;

The 'Top Five' priority policy areas for RAISE for 2007-2008 are:

• Infrastructure
• Workforce development (formerly Learning and Skills)
• Financial sustainability through social enterprise
• Social inclusion
• Housing and homelessness
• Children, Young People and Families

The new actvities we will undertake are:

• Social inclusion
• Policy support for VCS members on the Regional Assembly
.

The things we will stop are:

• We will continue to resist working on issues outside the 'Top Five'.
• We will bring to a close our policy work on Social Audit as out policy objective has been achieved.
• We will not longer manage the Assembly Partners' Support Unit.