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This special event is focused on funding issues. Drop in at any time over the day to meet funders including Derbyshire Community Foundation, The Big Lottery, Charity Bank and others. You could also attend one or more of the informative workshops:.

The Funders Perspective - Kelly Hart, The Big Lottery Fund

Preparing for a Successful Application John Beech, Charity Bank

Youth Led Applications John Rogers, Youth Opportunity Fund

Tendering or Grants: the Difference - Sandra Pink, Derbyshire CAN

Keeping Your Group Financially Afloat - Esther Jones, High Peak CVS

For further information, including timings of the workshops, please phone Louise on 01663 736431 or email Louise@highpeakcvs.org.uk

Festival Forum: Marketing and PR

Wed 12 Nov 7–9pm at The Dome, Derby University in Buxton.

Are you involved in running a Festival, Carnival or local event (like a well dressing) in High Peak or surrounding area? Then this free event is designed to help you.

The evening is a chance to:

Get training on marketing and PR
Gather new information
Network
Access the online Festival toolkit
Reflect on past glories (or otherwise!)
Look to future plans
Highlight what you need

Tiina Taatila, a freelance consultant, will run the training session on marketing, audience development and PR. (Tiina was a key part of the team that developed the online Festival toolkit for Derbyshire.)

We expect there to be something of interest for all types and sizes of organisations and there will be time to network informally.

To book your place please contact Louise at High Peak CVS on 01663 736431 or email louise@highpeakcvs.org.uk

Or for further information or any queries contact Nigel on 01663 736423 or email nigel@highpeakcvs.org.uk

Rural Art Auction

Sat 22 Nov 4.30pm at The Cheshire Cheese Pub in Longnor

An impressive range of rural art, photography and crafts are set to go under the auctioneers hammer. Beautiful limited edition photographs, original artwork and unique craft objects lovingly created will be available at competitive prices auctioned off by Leek's professional auctioneer Bruce Daniel of 'Daniel & Sons' in a fun environment – and in time for Christmas.

The fundraising event aims to assist the continuation of REAP’s (Rural Education & Arts Project) community work and promote the rich mix of local, professional artists, craft persons and creative’s who have each donated a piece of artwork in support of the organisation.

REAP's offices will be open from 2–3.30pm to view all pieces, with the actual Auction taking place at The Cheshire Cheese Pub, Longnor at 4.30 pm.

If you've never been to an auction before – don't worry – one of the friendly REAP team will be on hand to help you do your bidding.

So, whether you are looking for an original artwork, an early Christmas present, or whether you simply want to demonstrate your support for the work of REAP, please come along and join us for an exciting, arts-filled afternoon. If you can't wait, REAP's ground floor space will be open to the public, to view all of the artwork on offer from Saturday 15th November onwards.

For any further details or directions, please contact REAP (or call in to the office) on: 01298 83500 / enquiries@reapweb.org.uk

www.reapweb.org.uk

Second Chance to Complete Third Sector Survey

If you received the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations - but didn’t respond – don’t worry, you have a second chance. A reminder survey is on the way to you now.

The survey asks third sector organisations what they think about funding and income opportunities in their local areas; about partnership working, about whether they feel their voice is heard and how well localities are doing in creating a positive environment for the third sector, including social enterprise.

The survey is an important way to measure how well local government is doing in meeting performance targets. For further information please go to www.nstso.com

Pay Scale Increases for 2008/09 Agreed, Sort Of

A partial agreement has been reached on this year's settlement on local government NJC pay rates, widely used or referenced in the voluntary sector. The National Joint Council, representing local government employers and staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has agreed to a rise of 2.45% which will be backdated to 1st April 2008, with an extra £100 for the lowest paid (scale points 4 to 6). However, the trade unions see this increase as an interim measure pending an arbitration process, but the employer side sees it as implementing their final offer and separate from arbitration with ACAS.

For links to pay scales and further updates see either Northern Ireland's NICVA, www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/NJC_pay_Nov08
or NAVCA, www.navca.org.uk/localvs/scales (alternative link).

Reducing Carbon Footprint of Goods and Services

A new standard launched by BSI British Standards, the Carbon Trust and Defra aims to provide a consistent way of counting the greenhouse gas emissions embedded in goods and services throughout their entire life cycle. It may be of limited use to smaller voluntary organisations but there are possibilities to make a real impact. News item at www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/081029b.htm or go direct to 'PAS 2050 Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services'.

Climate Change and Non-Environmental Groups

The Carnegie Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society has two projects to engage voluntary organisations in the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity, in particular groups that have a social rather than environmental focus. 'Climate change and resource scarcity: A discussion paper for non-environmental civil society groups' can be downloaded (pdf, 204KB).

An online questionnaire aims to gather information about how such organisations are currently thinking about the effects of climate change and resource scarcity on society and on their future plans, and what areas they feel uninformed about and would like more advice or discussion. A second study is exploring how the social justice and climate change agendas may be bridged practically. See democracy.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/node/326

Innovation in Charity Working Arrangements

Action for Blind People is to become an ‘associate charity’ of the RNIB from April using a governance model that they say is new to the sector. While the fine detail is still to be pinned down, Action for Blind People will be RNIB's delivery agent to provide regional services in England.

Third Sector magazine reports that RNIB chief executive Lesley-Anne Alexander brought this model from her time working in the social housing sector, where group and subsidiary arrangements are common. She also hopes that the model might be replicated in other parts of the charity sector – "There are 700 charities for blind and partially sighted charities. I don't for a moment think there should be just one, but 700 is far too many.”

News item at www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/857015/ (registration required).

Creating Effective Local Compacts

The Commission for the Compact has published 'What Makes a Successful Local Compact?', based on research identifying practical approaches to increase the effectiveness of Local Compacts (agreements between councils and the voluntary sector) and partnership working.

Key findings include that a lack of trust and communication between partners is a barrier and that ownership of the Compact at senior levels within local authorities is vital. The Commission hopes that this practical guide containing real life examples and case studies will be used as a basis of "healthy discussion in Local Strategic Partnerships, local authorities, Primary Care Trusts, community and voluntary sector organisations and in Compact implementation groups".

News item, or report as pdf, 957KB.

Official Launch of Third Sector Research Centre

Press release on the official launch of the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) on 23rd October at the University of Birmingham. It has five years of funding and will be led by Professor Pete Alcock of the University of Birmingham, in a joint venture with the University of Southampton where Professor John Mohan will be Deputy Director.

Alcock says "its purpose is to conduct research and analysis to strengthen the evidence base for the entire third sector, including charities, social enterprises and small community organisations.” There will also be two capacity-building clusters based at University of Lincoln and University of Middlesex, the latter focusing on social enterprises.

American Lessons to Help Community Land Trusts

Senscot has a report from a guest lecture by John Emmeus Davis, a leading figure in the US community land trust movement at Salford University, organised by Community Finance Solutions. It is hoped that lessons from the States will help CLTs grow over here. Article at www.senscot.net/view_art.php?viewid=7610 or Community Land Trusts website at www.communitylandtrust.org.uk

NHS Online Health Information in One Place

The two primary national websites for the National Health Service, NHS Choices and NHS Direct (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) are joining forces from the end of October to provide a comprehensive front door to online health information and services at www.nhs.uk News item at www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Recentstories/DH_089559

Government Funding for Three Years

Government departments are to make three year funding the norm for third sector organisations. Charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises all stand to benefit from new guidance published by the Government, ensuring every Whitehall department offers three year funding to third sector organisations in all but exceptional cases.

The guidance document, published jointly by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in the Cabinet Office and the Treasury, sends a clear message across Government that, where appropriate, funding for the third sector must be for a minimum of three years.

Throughout the next three years, departments will have to report their progress to the Minister for the Third Sector by the end of October, who will in turn report that progress to the Treasury and to Parliament as part of the annual review of the Compact.

This is the first in a series of concrete steps towards making three year funding the norm rather than the exception, and – with the reassurance they will not lose funding from one year to the next – aims to help third sector organisations to be: more sustainable – to engage in longer-term planning, borrowing and investment; more innovative – with more time to develop and demonstrate the impact of new services and activities; provide better value for money – reducing time spent on year-on-year fundraising, freeing up staff to concentrate on delivering long-term outcomes.

While the Government is keen to ensure three year funding is the norm, there are instances where shorter-term funding may be more appropriate; for instance, if a department is funding one of events or for very specific pilot projects.

Download Three Year Funding – guidance for government departments from website: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/080903_funding.aspx

Unity Trust Bank Fundraising Bridging Loan

Building projects are often delayed whilst charity and voluntary organisations complete their long-term fundraising programmes.

The Unity Trust Bank Fundraising Bridging Loan enables building work to commence with loan repayments being made as your fundraising income is received.

If there is a shortfall at the end of your fundraising programme, this is converted into a term loan repayable over a time period to suit your organisation.

For more information on the Fundraising Bridging Loan either:
Email: us@unity.co.uk
Telephone: 0845 1553355
Postal address: Unity Trust Bank plc, Nine Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HB
Website: www.unity.co.uk/information/100969/101857/101859/fundraising_bridging_loan/

Charity Commission Online Service

The Charity Commission online service is now available to all charities. The new online service provides a number of benefits to you as charities, as well as your supporters, donors and the general public.

These include:

A system that reminds you that your Annual Return is due and lets you send it online along with your accounts and Annual Report. You can also view and print the document for your own information before you send it. For smaller charities, equivalent annual information update services, tailored to your needs.
The ability to update your registered details without the need for writing to the Commission. For most charities, all your information is on one screen. These revised details will be shown on the Register of Charities within one working day.
A secure messaging service allowing you to send messages or ask for advice electronically, as well as being able to send documents to the Commission online.
Immediate confirmation that a charity's information has been received safely and securely through a secure password.
A system that is available at a time to suit you.
A responsive system allowing up-to-date information onto the Public Register more quickly. Charities will be able to present their work more quickly to supporters and donors through the publication of their accounts and Information Reports on their website.
A secure environment where messages or documents sent under this system cannot be tampered with.
Online guidance and help screens within the system and a dedicated helpline for queries – telephone: 0845 300 0197 (8.00 am to 8.00 pm weekdays and 9.00 am to 1.00 pm Saturdays).
Stay in touch with developments. Online Registration will also follow later this year.

A password for the service can be sent via email to the 'Commission use' email contact you have given to the Commission. If you haven't been given an email contact, a password will be posted to the named charity contact address.

Website: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/common/OnlineservicesInfo.asp

Green Grants Machine

Green Grants Machine is a free directory containing information on over £1.2 billion of funds available to help you: - purchase hybrid fleet vehicles; install solar panels; introduce a recycling scheme in the workplace; or to invest in green packaging to name just a few. More information can be found at www.greengrantsmachine.co.uk.

Parenting Fund

The Parenting Fund is now open and is looking for charities and ‘not for profit’ organisations undertaking parenting support work where parents, families and children face significant challenges. The closing date for applications is 12 December 2008 and funding is for two years starting in April 2009. For more information on the above rounds, please go to www.familyandparenting.org/ParentingFundHome.

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