What is Empowering Northeast

Empowerment is what happens when people feel able to get involved in their communities and make decisions that affect their lives.

A four year programme was delivered between 2007 and 2011 in the region and was based on the principles of the white paper “Communities in Control; Real People, Real Power”. Two bodies led the programme and developed strategy and resourced delivery across communities in the north east. The Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership Community Engagement and Empowerment board (RIEP) and the North East Empowerment Partnership (NEEP) pioneered empowerment action between statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

Both partnerships have left a legacy of research, toolkits and data for lessons to be shared across public, private and community sectors.

Glossary

NEEP - North East Empowerment Partnership (NEEP),” a forum for critical debate regarding the definitions of engagement and empowerment, and a practice-led exploration of their implications for policy and practice

NEP - resourced by central government to promote a "truly participative society and promote the fundamental role of empowerment in achieving a more equal, cohesive and democratic society."

RIEP- Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership in the north east led a Community Engagement & Empowerment board