The National Empowerment Partnership (NEP) has been established to improve the quality, co-ordination and evidence of empowerment across England.

"The partnership will support and inform the government to help implement its vision of a truly participative society and promote the fundamental role of empowerment in achieving a more equal, cohesive and democratic society."

NEP will:

* Demonstrate the difference community empowerment can make to individuals, community groups, communities and public agencies
* Develop effective methods of quality assurance for community empowerment
* Promote examples of good practice across the country

The Regional Empowerment Partnership in Yorkshire and the Humber will carry forward much of the practical work and develop the relationship with local authorities and their partners in this region.

COGS is co-ordinating the regional programme in Yorkshire and the Humber. The partnership in this region has two key bodies working with COGS to ensure more strategic, co-ordinated and improved empowerment activity and practice: the Consortium of Partners and the Regional Community Panel.

The principal outcome to be achieved is an increase in the number of people, especially people in disadvantaged areas, who participate in public issues, press for and contribute to the improvement of public services and help to shape the future of their locality.

There is a particular concern about the level of involvement in decision making of younger people, people living in poorer neighborhoods and people living rurally and the opportunities available to them.

NEP wants to see a real improvement in empowerment in terms of:

* More residents and community groups are confident that they can influence public decisions that affect them locally.
* More local authorities become effective in giving local people a say in improving their quality of life.