Bulletin Contents - 3 March 2008

Are You Ready for Commissioning?

Children’s Workforce Development Council Induction Standards

Asset Based Development for Community Enterprises

First Movement

Registering Charities Online

HR Resource for Faith-based Projects

Volunteering in Further Education

Innovative Youth Volunteering

Free Accredited Payroll - 100% Internet Based

Publicity Website for Charities

Are You Ready for Commissioning?

A free full day training course for voluntary sector groups working with children and young people is taking place at High Peak CVS on Wednesday 19th March 2008.

The way in which local authorities commission children’s services is changing.  This free training course will enable you to enter the new commissioning process with confidence, equipped with the tools to understand what commissioners want and how you can deliver.

The training will:

• examine the differences between grant funding and commissioning;
• identify the key skills, characteristics and standards that VCS organisations need to demonstrate;
• provide the tools to effectively evidence them; and
• provide a checklist for writing a successful tender.

The training is designed for Voluntary and Community Sector groups working within all sectors of the children, young people and families VCS.  It is suitable for organisations of all sizes.

For an informal discussion about this course contact Nigel Caldwell at High Peak CVS on 01663 736423 or email nigel@highpeakcvs.org.uk

For bookings for the course contact Louise McNeill at High Peak CVS on 01663 736431 or email louise@highpeakcvs.org.uk

Children’s Workforce Development Council Induction Standards

A conference is being held on the Children’s Workforce Development Council Induction Standards which are designed to help those working with children and young people to make sure that their inductions are focussed around the children that they are working with and that they understand the development of children and young people. 

The morning will also include a presentation on the Independent Safeguarding Authority and the implications it will have on CRBs and why it has come into being.  There will also be information available from Derbyshire Safeguarding Children’s Board.

The conference will take place at Bakewell Agricultural Centre on 11th March, from 10.00 am until 1.00 pm.

If you would like to book, call the office on 01773 512076 or email carolynellis@avcvs.org

Asset Based Development for Community Enterprises

Tapton Conference Centre, Chesterfield
11th March 2008

High Peak CVS has joined with the Development Trusts Association to offer this seminar on ‘Asset Based Development for Community Enterprises’.

The seminar is aimed at both community organisations with an interest in developing the use of buildings, land or equipment for community benefit, and those in both the voluntary and statutory sectors with a role in supporting community enterprise, asset development and regeneration.

It will look at such topics as:

• the viability and long-term sustainability of asset development and asset transfer projects;
• the tools and support available for community asset development projects;
• community and third sector-led regeneration through the development of business centres; and
• innovative ideas such as ‘green procurement’ and using ‘community share’ issues to raise finance.

To find out more, please contact Louise at High Peak CVS on 01663 736431.

First Movement

First Movement is the leading arts organisation in the East Midlands working with learning disabled people.

The Level Centre, its new building, launches in Autumn 2008.  First Movement is seeking a Building Co-ordinator to plan, promote, programme, manage, maintain and monitor activities to ensure the smooth running of the building based operation and the site.

For eligibility and further details email fmt@first-movement.org.uk

Closing date for submissions is 9.00 am on Tuesday 25th March, interviews on Thursday 3rd April.

Registering Charities Online

The Charity Commission is now able to accept applications for registration of new charities (for England and Wales) online, but only using existing Approved Governing Documents, produced by some large charities and umbrella bodies, such as Age Concern or BTCV.  The service will be extended to all organisations later.  News release at www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=355628&NewsAreaID=2, online registration at www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registration/olarreg.asp

HR Resource for Faith-based Projects

An HR Resource for faith-based community organisations has been launched by the Church Urban Fund, following research highlighting that many were using out-of-date policies and material.  While there isn't a formal charge for 'Just Employment', they are requesting donations.  Find out more at www.cuf.org.uk/justemploymentpr08.aspx or register at www.cufx.org.uk to access the checklists, templates and so on which are (mainly) in Word format.

Online Collaboration Facilities for Charities

A current thread on Charity Web Forum (groups.yahoo.com/group/charitywebforum/) about online collaboration tools has thrown up a UK based service, Huddle, which provides more or less full facilities to registered charities at no charge.  No reports on how good it is yet, but worth a look, www.huddle.net/why-huddle/huddle-for-charities/

Volunteering in Further Education

To mark Student Volunteering Week, Volunteering England has published a report 'Assessing the Impact of Volunteering on the Further Education Sector', commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council.  Research shows that while student volunteers rated their experience as beneficial, there was a lack of support for volunteering by the FE colleges.  Press release.

Innovative Youth Volunteering

Newly published by youth volunteering promotion body v, 'Innovations in International Youth Volunteering' looks at lessons from youth-led volunteering around the world.  Accompanying case studies demonstrate that empowering young people, across the spectrum, is the most important factor for innovation.  Available via www.wearev.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=94

Free Accredited Payroll - 100% Internet Based

There is good news for all charitable organisations that have less than 50 employees.  www.payroo.com is offering a free payroll package over the Internet.  Any organisation with less than 50 employees can use it free of charge.  Take a look at their website: www.payroo.com for more details.  The package is offered subject to Payroo Limited's Terms of Service.

In general, the package is accredited by the Inland Revenue (HMRC) and all payroll processes are run over the Internet.  E-filing facilities are included.  The payroll system is very user friendly and has more features than most commercially available professional versions.  Employees of an organisation can also log in to view and print their pay data at any time over the Internet.

There is no catch, nor any hidden costs.  The only cost is you may have to bear some advertisements like when you use a free email system.

Publicity Website for Charities

In the UK there are almost 170,000 registered charities.  Without doubt, all of them are doing an amazing job in generating funds for their respective causes, often making it difficult to make an educated choice about which charity you would like to support most.

Particularly small charities, despite often being the most efficient, struggle on a daily basis to create the much needed awareness and the necessary funds to fulfil their goals.

Optimist Charities will not only list all UK registered charities, but also provide free promotional opportunities specifically for charities below an annual income of £500,000.  Each week, Optimist World gives five charities a chance to promote themselves with a featured article.  It doesn't stop there, as they encourage the public and their panel of Optimists, each week to vote for their favourite of these featured charities.  The weekly winner will receive a cash reward and move on to the next round in their Optimist Charity of the Year Award.

To help your preferred charity that you support, or are involved with, or simply if you would like to nominate a charity to be listed or featured, please fill in the form on their website: www.optimistworld.com/Articles2.aspx?id=fb7c618a-a1da-453f-a62a-dd0cdf64b37e&style=charities&page=1 
Those visiting the website will be encouraged to link to their own website (or a site such as website: www.charitygiving.co.uk ) for donations.