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Main Content
The following content is the main page content.
Sector News
Give your views on proposed Poverty Impact Fund
The Department for International Development is inviting views on a new Poverty Impact Fund to be launched later this year, for UK civil society organisations focusing on delivering the Millennium Development Goals.
Adult rate for minimum wage starts at 21
The qualifying age for the adult minimum wage drops to 21 from 1st October, the government has confirmed - previously it was 22.
National funds for health and social care projects
Details about the Department of Health's Third Sector Investment Programme's Innovation, Excellence and Service Development Fund for 2011/12 are available on the DH website.
Applications close 1st November, although funding awards will be subject to the autumn spending review.
Updated web content for Communities Department
The Communities and Local Government Department has now updated its website to reflect the government's priorities and direction, http://www.communities.gov.uk.
Monitoring charity accounts compliance in Scotland
Scottish charity regulator OSCR has new performance indicators for the current reporting year, published monthly. These calculate the percentage of charities every month that have provided accounts that pass or fail the filing criteria, and those that pass but have some basic deficiencies.
Other indicators show response times by OSCR, applications refused or granted etc. http://www.oscr.org.uk/2010-11Indicators.stm.
Online membership for community development organisation
Community Development Exchange, the membership organisation for community development, has a new e-membership category "for the princely sum of nowt". This provides a monthly e-zine, policy updates and occasional CDX news.
Changes to Virgin Trains charity fares
Virgin Trains is changing its Charity Line fares concession. The arrangement of allowing charities to travel during peak periods with saver tickets disappears, with the last date for such ticket purchases being 20th August. Instead, from 13th August, there will be a 20 per cent discount for charity work-related journeys on its advance train tickets booked online.
Examining public benefit in sports and recreation charities
The Charity Commission has announced the sports and recreation charities that will be involved in its last round of public benefit assessments. They are Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, Tintagel Memorial Playing Fields Association, Birmingham City FC Football in the Community and The Radlett Lawn Tennis and Squash Club.
News item at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/RSS/News/pr_pbassess_sports.aspx.
Research on understanding of the Compact across government
The first comprehensive assessment of the levels of awareness, knowledge, understanding and use of the Compact among Government and Non Departmental Public Bodies has been produced by the Commission for the Compact.
This sets a baseline for measuring changes over time. "There are areas where excellent Compact practice is taking place but there is a lack of consistency across departments and room for much improvement."
Safeguarding and looked after children: third sector survey
Ofsted has published the results of its first annual survey of third sector organisations representing the interests of, or providing services for, children and young people in
Information on youth work careers
The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services has produced seven career information sheets for individuals interested in paid or voluntary work connected to working with young people in the voluntary and community youth sector.
In pdf format, up to 1MB, from http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?alias=carinfoshe.
(Source: NCVO Workforce Development E-Briefing)
Manifesto for Advocacy Services
Developed by a partnership of national and regional advocacy organisations, 'A Manifesto for Advocacy Services in England and Wales' sets out a series of core beliefs relating to advocacy services and a number of expectations in respect to the sector's relationship with government at all levels (local, regional and national).
Understanding Social Investment
With a growing interest in social investment, chief executives organisation ACEVO has published 'Understanding Social Investment' in association with RBS, Social Investment Business and Natwest.
Partnership working between private and third sector organisations
From chief executives body ACEVO and the CBI, 'Win-Win: The leadership of private and third sector public service partnerships' examines a number of case studies and considers the risks and benefits of such partnership working.
The focus is on how leaders can make partnerships work. Download, pdf,2.38MB, from http://www.acevo.org.uk/Document.Doc?id=832.
Tailoring volunteer services in a multi-faith society
A guide for Volunteer Centres and others providing expertise on volunteering aims to help them with developing support in a multi-faith society.
Opening up local decision-making for women
A new report from Women's Resource Centre examines what helps or hinders women's organisations in creating change at a local level, with women being under-represented in local decision-making.
Involving local councillors in community campaigns
A joint publication from bassac and Urban Forum, 'Local Action: The Handy Guide to Communities Working with Councillors', shows how councillor involvement is key to the success of local community projects, with case studies and top tips from activists.
Impact of change of government on voluntary sector skills development
Skills Third Sector has written a briefing on 'The voluntary sector skills landscape', which summarises some of the changes since the formation of the Coalition Government, its legislative and policy programme, relevant changes and key players in voluntary sector skills. Pdf, 152KB.
Abolition of charity music fee exemption delayed
The removal of the charity exemption from music licensing charges (those levied by Phonographic Performance Limited) has not been actioned, as had been anticipated, before Parliament's summer recess.
The Intellectual Property Office, which has responsibility here, is quoted by Third Sector (http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/1018714/): "The government is considering the issue and speaking to interested parties" but would not comment on a new timescale.
Legal forms for trading
NCVO's Sustainable Funding Project has a new "tool" for those developing a trading organisation, 'Trading: Choosing the right legal form', developed with legal experts Hempsons.
