Regions are playing an increasingly important role, and more and more organisations now operate on a regional level. Here are some of the ones you can find in the West Midlands: Advantage West Midlands http://www.advantagewm.co.uk/home-page.html
The Regional Development Agency for the UK's Industrial, Agricultural and Commercial Heartland'' Advantage West Midlands is one of nine Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) established by the Government in 1999 to transform England's regions through sustainable economic development. Connexions http://www.connexions.gov.uk
See the Connexions Partnerships operating in the West Midlands http://www.connexions.gov.uk/partnerships/index.cfm?CategoryID=4&RegionID=WM
Find out about the voluntary and community sector and strategic involvement in Connexions Involving the Voluntary and Community Sector in Connexions http://www.connexions.gov.uk/partnerships/publications/uploads/cp/Involving%20VCS%20in%20Connexions.PDF
Government Office for the West Midlands GOWM http://www.go-wm.gov.uk/
''The face of central Government in the West Midlands and the voice of the West Midlands in Government.'' Among it's many responsibilities, Government Office for the West Midlands co-ordinates a number of regional activities aimed at Children and Young People, including: Sure Start, Children’s Fund, Connexions, Positive Activities for Young People, Millennium Volunteers, Transforming Youth Work, Children and Young People Policy For more information on these initiatives click here http://www.gowm.gov.uk/gowm/149817/?a=42496
Race Equality West Midlands http://www.rewm.org/index.htm
Working with the Commission for Racial Equality and Government Office for the West Midlands in partnership with the local authorities and other statutory, voluntary and private organisations for a just society which gives everyone an equal chance to learn, work and live, free from discrimination and prejudice, and from the fear of racial harassment and violence !RegenWM http://www.regenwm.org ''Regeneration Centre of Excellence for the West Midlands'' We are one of the regional centres being set up in England to promote good practice and better skills in regeneration. We respond to local need and to the Government's Sustainable Communities agenda. We are supported by ODPM, the Regional Development Agency and others. Our vision is simply to make regeneration easier to achieve in the West Midlands.
Regional Health Development Agency http://www.hda-online.org.uk/html/about/west_midlands.html
Working regionally to improve people's health and to address health inequalities.
Sustainability West Midlands http://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk ''Working together for a better region'' We are the independent champion of sustainable development in the West Midlands. Our membership is drawn from a variety of organisations and businesses across the region.
West Midlands Business Council http://www.wmra.gov.uk/business_policy_group.htm
The West Midlands Business Council (WMBC) is the only representative regional business organisation in the UK, comprising national and regional business bodies who have united to present the business perspective on the regional agenda.
West Midlands Higher Education Association http://www.wmhea.ac.uk/flashintro.html Members of West Midlands Higher Education Association (WMHEA) include all thirteen institutions of the West Midlands. They offer a broad range of services to West Midlands businesses. WMHEA aims to help universities and HE colleges realise their potential regional contribution to the economy and society. West Midlands Learning and Skills Councils The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England. Find out more about what the local Learning and Skills Councils in the West Midlands are doing http://www.lsc.gov.uk/selectlsc.asp?section=/Corporate
West Midlands Life http://www.westmidlandslife.org.uk
West Midlands Life is one of eight Regional Cultural Consortiums in England set up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sports. West Midlands Local Government Association WMLGA http://www.wmlga.gov.uk/ WMLGA is a voluntary association of the 38 local authorities (County, District, Metropolitan and Unitary) in the West Midlands Region - comprising the West Midlands Metropolitan area and the Counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
West Midlands Regional Assembly http://www.wmra.gov.uk ''Speaking out for the Region'' The West Midlands Regional Assembly is uniquely placed as the only organisation able to speak out with a single, coherent voice on all the important issues that affect our region. We work with a range of social and economic partners, forming strategic partnerships to develop policies and strategies that address these issues.