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Led by Roger Davis of Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association, training will cover:
• Essential aspects of inspection and maintenance
• Accessibility of the playground to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act
• Different items of play equipment and surfacing
• Play for older children
• Management, legislation, standards and guidelines
• Funding Opportunities

Cost: £25 (£20 RAD Village Halls Service Members)
Limited places available - Booking essential

To book your place or for more information ring 01629 821928 or email h.faraday@ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk

www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk

Domestic Abuse Helpline Publicity Materials

To publicise the 'Stop Hurting Start Talking' campaign related to the extended 24/7 Derbyshire Domestic Abuse Helpline (08000 198 668) a poster, leaflet, sticker and drinks mat have been produced. These can be obtained for your organisation from Dan Zamoyski, Adult Care Dept, Adult Care Building County Hall, Matlock DE4 3AG; Email dan.zamoyski@derbyshire.gov.uk ; Tel 01629 531225, Ext 31225; Mobile 07790 818883.

Download Stop Hurting Poster

One East Midlands Health & Social Care Network

One East Midlands has produced a conference report for their Health & Social Care Event. There is also a report on last year's progress on the Health & Social Care Network and next steps for the network - www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/news.php?readmore=691

Rural Advocate Report

The Commission for Rural Communities have produced the rural advocate report - 'Tackling Rural Disadvantage'

Explaining Changes for Exempt Charities

The charity web pages of ICAEW, the accountancy professionals’ body, have an article on the changes for exempt charities still to take effect under the Charities Act 2006. It gives some useful background if you are unclear on where the concept of 'exempt' comes from, what exempt charities are, and how some will now need to register and some are to become excepted charities. www.ion.icaew.com/charityblog/19797

Basic Worker Rights Helpline

The new Pay and Work Rights Helpline from the Government can give callers (workers, union reps and employers) on 0800 917 2368 information and advice about the National Minimum Wage, Agricultural Minimum Wage, Working hour limits, Employment Agency Standards and Gangmaster licensing standards.

Online information for employers at www.businesslink.gov.uk/payandworkrights and workers at payandworkrightscampaign.direct.gov.uk/index.html From TUC information at www.tuc.org.uk/law/tuc-17880-f0.cfm

Disability, Health and Safety and Risk Assessments

The Health and Safety Executive is urging employers to make better use of its guidance on disability and health and safety, www.hse.gov.uk/disability/ There is material in large print and easy read format, giving ideas on how to do risk assessments involving disabled job applicants and employees with a minimum of fuss, plus links to information and financial grants. (Source: TUC Risks newsletter)

A New Clash Calendar Coming Soon

Calendar Check is being launched as a facility to help charities avoid planning (fundraising/volunteering) events that clash and has already got the backing of a range of prominent organisations. Registered charities are encouraged to upload event details now, before the official launch due on 12 May. Civil Society Media news item at www.civilsociety.co.uk/it/news/content/6507/ or go direct to www.calendarcheck.co.uk

Push to Take Charity Commission Services Online Continues

In an interview with Third Sector magazine, Executive Director of Charity Services at the Charity Commission, David Locke, talks about moving services online being key to the Commission continuing to improve its services despite shrinking resources. It still lacks addresses for 28% of charities, which it wants to tackle so it can do away with paper communication as soon as possible. Article at www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/998961/

Trade Union Launches Campaign to Eradicate Stress at Work

Unite, the largest union in the country and a strong presence in the voluntary sector, used 28 April's International Workers' Memorial Day to launch a year-long campaign to eradicate stress in the workplace. This will involve Unite reps surveying the 60,000 members in the not for profit sector and providing tools to take up the issues of stress with management. Unite news item.

Support to Develop Third Sector Consortia

Charity chief executives organisation ACEVO is supporting third sector consortium development, alongside Social Investment Business and Voluntary Action Sheffield, to enable consortia to bid for public service contracts. As well as training, there are packages of bespoke business development support available – see more details at www.acevo.org.uk/Page.aspx?pid=1859

Candidate for PhD in Third Sector Performance Management

A major new research programme on third sector performance measurement is being created by Cranfield School of Management and The Cranfield Trust. Funding has been made available for a student to study for a full-time PhD under the title 'Performance Management in the Third Sector', starting this September. For more details, go to www.som.cranfield.ac.uk/som/doctorates or download (pdf, 74KB). Initial interest has to be in by 28 May.

Approaches to Improving Numeracy in England

The latest report from New Philanthropy Capital is 'Count me in: Improving numeracy in England, a guide for charities and funders'. Details at www.philanthropycapital.org/publications/education/numeracy.aspx – registration required to download full report (pdf, 865KB).

Clarifying whether Funding is a Grant, Contract or SLA

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (www.hie.co.uk/strengthen-your-community.htm) has commissioned a 'briefing note' to clarify the definitions and legal implications of contracts, service level agreements and grants by public sector organisations in funding social enterprises to provide services. Download 'Contracts, Service Level Agreements and grants: understanding the differences' (pdf, 248KB) from www.senscot.net/view_res.php?viewid=9407. Note: we don't think there are any specific Scottish legalities here but do check first.

Understanding Feelings around Influencing Local Decision Making

Research undertaken by from Urban Forum, with Ipsos Mori and the Institute for Political and Economic Governance, has aimed to deepen understanding of whether people feel they can influence decisions in their local area. This is a popular National Indicator, chosen for 86 local area agreements.

'Citizens and local decision making: What drives feelings of influence?‘ is in pdf, 2.26MB. (From pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/news/)

Advice in British Sign Language

Citizens Advice has created a series of five films in British Sign Language (BSL). They give advice on employment, discrimination, debt and benefits, and are accompanied by 'Introducing your Citizens Advice Bureau' – how to contact them and what will happen when you get there. The films, written and presented by deaf employees and volunteer CAB advisers, are available on YouTube www.youtube.com/user/CitizensAdvice or see the dedicated page at www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/bsl.htm More background on Community Newswire, www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6716695

NCVO HR Masterclass: The Essential Employer

Thursday 27 May, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (9.30 am registration), NCVO, London

Whether you're about to recruit your first employee, recruiting more staff or unsure whether you have all the right contracts and HR policies in place, this one-day HR Masterclass looks at how you can meet your legal requirements as an employer.

You'll cover the key aspects of the employment relationship and how to recruit staff including what checks you need to do. You'll also look at how to induct staff into your organisation and what policies and procedures to have to help you if things go wrong.

This course is ideal for managers, advisers, trustees and chief executives of frontline, infrastructure organisations and support providers who wish to develop their understanding of these topics.

To find out more and book your place, visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/ncvo-hr-masterclass

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