North East regional seminar success

Over 70 people from across the North East turned up to the PB Unit's first regional seminar, helping to create a really successful event.  People came from a variety of different sectors including local authorities, housing association, voluntary and community groups, regeneration initiatives, and neighbourhood management areas. 

The 'interactive game' got everyone involved in a mini PB event, tasting first hand what it's like for local residents to be involved and have a direct say over how public money is spent in their area.

As a result of the seminar, the PB Unit became aware of a number of areas including Hartlepool and Tynedale who are already doing PB but just didn't know it!  The seminar has created a wealth of knowledge about PB in the North East, from different approaches to different amounts of time each project has been running - there is much that practitioners in the North East can draw on.  To develop this shared learning it was decided at the seminar that a Peer Learning Set should be set up for the North East.  Newcastle City Council, the PB Unit, Government Office North East and the Regional Empowerment Consortia are all working together to bring the learning set to life.

The PB Unit would like to thank Newcastle City Council, Government Office North East and the Regional Empowerment Consortium for their support and resources kindly provided for the seminar.  Without them the event wouldn't have happened. 

On the back of the success from the North East, the PB Unit's next regional seminar is on 11th July in Birmingham for the West Midlands region.  We are working on securing dates for the rest of the English regions - these are likely to be in the Autumn.