Who We Are
The Newcastle Community Empowerment Network (CEN) was set up in 2001 to help build and support a community network of networks in the City, enabling communities to speak on their own behalf and impact on the strategic decision making processes in the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), in Newcastle this is called the Newcastle Partnership.
The Newcastle Partnership involves public sector (local authority, police and health), private sector (local business) and community and voluntary organisations. Communities have a seat on all of the boards which make up the Partnership and they are taken by community activists called “Community Voices” (CV’s).
The CEN Steering Group invites community groups to propose people to become CV’s and ensures that the selection covers the diversity of groups in Newcastle. CV’s (there are currently 25) receive training and support from CEN staff and meet each other at regular CV Gatherings.
