eNews

Groups and organisations interesting in applying for the next round of cash available from the ‘Small Grants Pot’ are invited to do so before the closing date, 31 May 2008. They can apply on-line at www.highpeak.gov.uk, download and send in a completed application form from the website or call High Peak Borough Council’s Customer Services team on 0845 129 7777.

>> News from the Small Grants Pot

Central Area Forum - Shaping the Future of High Peak

7-9pm at New Mills Secondary School on Thurs 15th May

Come and have YOUR say on local priorities.
Informal surgery with councillors from 6.30pm

Topics for discussion include:
Housing - how and where we live
Transport and Access - connecting people and places
Jobs and the Economy - making a living in the High Peak
Climate Change - tackling global warming
Buildings and Landscape - protecting our environment
Regeneration - improving what we have

If you would like to submit a question, require transport, or have any other special requirements please contact
0845 129 77 77, e-mail Policy@highpeak.gov.uk
or visit www.highpeak.gov.uk

Development Worker Vacancy

Volunteer Centre Glossop
(28 hours per week. Salary £21,412 pro rata (pay award pending)

This exciting new project will support Third Sector organisations in the Glossopdale area. Working with organisations who involve volunteers, supporting their development, we are looking for a dedicated worker to join our team. If you have the drive and enthusiasm to shape and develop a new project then we would like to hear from you.

This post is funded by Tameside and Glossop PCT.

Curther details at vcglossop.org.uk/index.asp?ID=180

Community Networker – Health & Social Care

Based in Ashton under Lyne, Tameside

36 hours per week, £23,749 - £25,320

Tameside 3rd Sector Coalition (T3SC) is working to build a strong, diverse and influential voluntary & community sector for Tameside.

Working as part of our Health and Social Care Team, this exciting post will focus on strengthening voluntary & community sector engagement in the Health agenda. The post holder will lead on the continued growth and development of the Tameside Health Network and provide support to health and support groups to raise their profile, and increase their capacity to influence service delivery locally.

The successful applicant will have the skills to reach out and work creatively with individuals, groups and local communities to increase levels of involvement; excellent organisation and communication skills; a solid knowledge of health structures and will be committed to quality and equality in practice.

For more information and an application pack, please call T3SC on 0161 339 4985, download from our website at www.t3sc.org or email Helen.tallents@t3sc.org . Closing date for completed applications is mid day on Friday, 23rd May. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place on Wednesday 4th June. Please note that CV’s will not be accepted.

Display Screen Equipment Advice

HSE's FAQ (frequently asked questions) on Display Screen Equipment (VDUs) has been updated. It covers issues such as ‘How can I protect my eyes?’ and ‘How do the regulations apply to work with laptops?’ www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/vdubreaks.htm

ACAS Website Relaunched

The website for ACAS, the employment relations experts, has been revamped with new features. This should make it easier to find their useful advisory material and guidance, for employees and employers, along with regional contacts and services. www.acas.org.uk

Fair Play for Children

Proposals in the Government consultation ‘Fair Play: A consultation on the play strategy’ to make public space more child-friendly include placing a stronger focus on spaces for play in the planning system and supporting local community ownership of space suitable for play. Respond by 18th July.
www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1543

Creative Media Workforce Survey

Skillset, the sector skills council for creative media, is running a Workforce Survey to help them target training programmes and initiatives. They are keen to get a good response from smaller and independent organisations. Closing date 30th May. www.skillset.org/research/workforce_survey/article_6587_1.asp (Source: CMA)

Examining Human Rights in Britain

An inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to find out how human rights works in Britain has set its terms of reference and is now in the 'gathering evidence' phase, to 21st June. www.equalityhumanrights.com/humanrightsinquiry
More News items are added during the week at www.voluntarynews.org.uk

Quality and Capacity in Volunteer Management

Research launched at Volunteering England's National Convention calls on the Government to focus on the quality, not just the quantity, of volunteering opportunities. Based on a survey of 1,382 volunteer managers, 'Management Matters: a national survey of volunteer management capacity' found that although lack of resources was a major issue, over a quarter of managers of volunteers said they would not want more volunteers even if they were given additional funds. VE news item, or download the report (pdf, 650KB)

Charity Commission Chair's Online Video

Third Sector magazine has published online a video interview of Charity Commission chair Dame Suzi Leather by Editor Stephen Cook. Readers ask questions on film or via him, covering the usual suspects of the new public benefit rules on education and religion charities and other recent hot topics, but interesting to hear her reply direct, rather than written about. Twenty minutes, wmv format, www.thirdsector.co.uk/webtv (registration required).

The Charity Pensions Maze

The second Charity Pensions Maze report, produced by Charity Finance Directors' Group in association with Barclays, focuses on some of the current pensions’ risks facing charities and explains the challenges created by a less stable economic environment and continuing regulatory change. This will only really be of interest to charities running their own pensions schemes. Barclay’s news item with link to report at www.newsroom.barclays.com/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=1343&NewsAreaID=2 Note: you may need to prompt your web browser to recognise the download as a pdf (1.7MB).

Adobe Discounts for Charities

Are you a charity looking for software? Adobe offer charities discounts of up to 65%. Whether your organisation needs to deliver services, spread a message, or raise funds, Adobe has software that can help – and the ideal program to make the software affordable.

Adobe has extended its charity offering which means charities can now buy: Adobe Boxed products at discounts of up to 65%; Adobe licensing under the Education Transactional Licensing programme (TLP).

Boxed products available include: Design Premium CS3 – Deliver innovative ideas in print, web, and mobile design Web; Premium CS3 – Redefine the extraordinary in web design and development; Production Premium CS3 – Put ideas in motion with the total post-production solution; Photoshop Extended CS3 – Discover new dimensions in digital imaging; Dreamweaver CS3 – Design, develop, and maintain standards-based websites and applications; Master Collection CS3 – Design across media.

TLP is available to charities which operate on a not-for-profit basis and whose aim is one or more of the following: Relief of poverty; Advancement of education; Advancement of social and community welfare; Advancement of culture; Advancement of the natural environment.

Contact your preferred Adobe Authorised Reseller for more information: Jigsaw – telephone: 0870 730 6868
Phoenix Software – telephone: 0845 265 1265
Micromail – telephone: 00 353 (0)21 4515590
Pugh – telephone: 01974 200217
Website: www.charitytimes.com/pages/ct_e_newsalerts/adobe/index.htm

European Union Grants Directory

The annual European Union Grants Directory is available on CD-Rom, or the Internet it contains details of over 400 grants available from the European Commission. The 2008 directory contains information from the European Commission’s budget presented in an easy to read format.

Grants range from £3,000 and cover a range of activities: racism, women’s issues, the environment, child protection, education, training, the disabled, human rights, energy, transport and more.

The EU Grants Directory 2008 contains outline details of grant regimes offered by the European Union for organizations throughout the world. The European Union's 2008 budget covers a wide range of expenditure. The comprehensive Directory will contain the extracted details of the vast range of subsidies available from the Community (excluding agricultural guarantee payments).

The CD-Rom version costs £49.99 and the Internet Download £35.99
Website: www.europeangrants.com/directory.html

Non-charities can Claim Gift Aid

By David Ainsworth, Third Sector, 19 March 2008

Small public benefit organisations that do not have charitable status can claim Gift Aid, according to guidance from the Office of the Third Sector. Published as part of the recent Budget, the guidance says donations to small groups such as community associations and playgroups can be funnelled through umbrella charities that have the power to make grants to them.

Donors will be able to give to voluntary groups through such bodies, which will claim 28p Gift Aid on each pound donated and pass it on to local groups.

The move could help thousands of small organisations to claim back an extra £6m, estimates Kevin Curley, chief executive of community associations umbrella body NAVCA.

"We feel this is a very positive step from the Government," he said. "It's not new legislation, but it's very little known and it needs to be made apparent to everyone.

"Gift Aid is an important source of cash for the voluntary sector. For a small organisation, we could be talking about just a few hundred pounds, but that could make a huge difference at a local level and let them do a lot of things."

Curley said that NAVCA's members would probably be able to pass the money to small groups without any administrative costs.

"We've got 360 local organisations that already provide a lot of help and advice to their members, and I expect this would just be added to the services they provide," he said. "These organisations have a track record of getting grants to their members who don't have charitable status, so this is very familiar territory for them."

Original article: www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/FinanceBulletin/793936/Non-charities-claim-Gift-Aid/088D700884F1DB4B1265D7E2A09FECAE/?DCMP=EMC-FinanceBulletin

Heritage Lottery Fund – New Simpler Application Process

The Heritage Lottery Fund has introduced new application material for all its programmes. A new website section provides all the information you will need to choose the right grant programme for your heritage project.

Online pre-application advice forms and application forms are now available for the following programmes: Heritage Grants (grants of £50,000 or more); Your Heritage (grants of between £3,000 and £50,000); and Young Roots (grants of between £3,000 and £25,000 for young people celebrating heritage).

If you know which application form you require and wish to start the application process you can do that online. Once you have created a log on you can edit your current application form, or review your current application form online. You will be able to see a list of all of your cases with HLF. This includes pre-application enquiries, first and second round applications and live projects. To access these you will need your unique reference number. All application material and guidance is also available to download in PDF form.

You can still apply for a Your Heritage or Young Roots grant under the old programme until 30th June.

For more information about any of the programmes please visit their website: www.hlf.org.uk/English/HowToApply/

Social Enterprise Business Models

Invitation to Tender for the provision of a strategic partner to develop and test social enterprise business models, to deliver preventative and practical independent living services across Derbyshire (two year contract).

The creation of this partnership will contribute to the achievement of one of the strategic goals of the Council Plan 2005-2009, namely: to improve the health, wellbeing and choices of older people and vulnerable adults; supporting them to live independently. Adult Social Services is keen to develop a planned, consistent, yet innovative approach to the provision of preventative and practical independent living services for all Derbyshire residents.

We are seeking applications from organisations with extensive experience in working with both Social Enterprises and other not-for-profit organisations to establish and successfully grow these types of organisations. Tenders will be selected on the basis of experience, capability and quality. Short listed applicants will be asked to make a presentation to the selection panel. Interview for short-listed applicants will be held on Thursday 19 June 2008. The funding available for this work is expected to include the costs of engaging a full-time professional and their on-costs, over the two year period.

Closing date and time for submission of tender: 11 00 am on Wednesday 4 June 2008

Applicants wishing to receive a tender pack (e format available) should contact : Fiona Worrall, Contract Manager, Adult Social Services Department, Derbyshire Social Services, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG, telephone 01629 532191 or email fiona.worrall@derbyshire.gov.uk. Applicants must provide their name, organisation, telephone and email details.

Administration Support at Amber Valley CVS

Salary £18450 per annum + 5% non-contributory pension

Directorate Administration Support

We require a highly skilled person for this important and challenging post. The successful candidate will be capable of supporting a senior management team and possess a high level of administration skills. The role will require handling of confidential information relating to work of the Chief Executive and Board of Directors. In addition your skills will support the organisations administration team who currently control our financial management systems, maintain HR records, process payroll, organise events and compile new documentation and systems.

Hours of work 37 hours per wk
Holidays 6wks, pro rata + bank holidays.
Based in Ripley

Please telephone 01773 512076, or email admin@avcvs.org for application pack.
Closing date: 9am 27th May 2008
Interview date: 4th June 2008
Previous applicants need not apply

DCC Race Equality Scheme

Derbyshire County Council is reviewing its Race Equality Scheme which sets out how we ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally when they get in touch with us, use our services or are employed by us. We’d like to know what you think about our plans and a draft version of the Scheme is now available for comment. You can download the document from www.derbyshire.gov.uk or if you want a paper copy, please contact Emily North, emily.north@derbyshire.gov.uk, tel 01629 580000 ext 7408. The closing date for comments is 25th July 2008.

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