eNews

Grants of between £500 and £15,000 are available to charitable organisations involved in progressive projects aimed at helping the homeless make a better life for themselves.

As funding is restricted to the region in which it is raised, potential applicants are advised to contact StreetSmart directly to ensure that the scheme operates in their area and that they are eligible for funding.

Applications must be made between 1 Dec and 31 Dec 2009.

www.streetsmart.org.uk/apply-for-funding.php

Age Concern Winter Celebration Grant Imminent Deadline

Age Concern and Help the Aged's Winter Celebration Grant scheme awards grants of up to £500 towards the cost of winter celebrations, outings and one-off events in the UK for older people.
See: www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/08D1C0F9EA804291B35B0DAE63BA5134.asp

Eligible activities may include:

theatre trips;
day trips;
parties; and
dinners.

Applications are invited from voluntary or charitable clubs for older people in the UK whose annual turnover is less than £50,000. Applicants do not have to be a registered charity, but must be a properly established group to qualify for funding.

The deadline for applications is 11 December 2009.

ESF Community Grant

The ESF Community Grants programme is designed to assist small not-for-profit groups based in and run by people from the community they support. The aim of providing small grants is to give community groups an opportunity to access funding, through a simplified process, to undertake activity that helps engage and progress disadvantaged individuals in positive community work. Projects should provide an opportunity for them to develop their confidence and skills and be more able to take advantage of further opportunities that help them progress towards the labour market.

Advice on project eligibility, help with application development and the submission of the application is available on a one-to-one basis or alternatively you can book an appointment at one of the surgery sessions listed. We are seeking applications that are requesting approximately £5k for a project that will be ready to start on 1 March 2010 at the latest and must be completed by 30 September 2010.

15 December 2009 – Derby City Surgery (venue to be confirmed)
10.00 am – 2.00 pm: 20 minute appointment slots available – please contact John Buxton to book your appointment

17 December 2009 – Erewash Surgery at Erewash Voluntary Action
1.00 pm – 5.00 pm: 20 minute appointment slots available – please contact Erewash Voluntary Action to book your appointment on 0115 850 8860

22 December 2009 – South Derbyshire Surgery at South Derbyshire CVS
2.00 pm – 4.30 pm: 20 minute appointment slots available – please contact South Derbyshire CVS to book your appointment on 01283 219761

For further details, please speak to John Buxton on Derby (01332) 265963.

UnLtd Level 2 Awards

£15,000 Cash and Support New Round of Funding
Expression of Interest forms available from Fri 26 Feb 2010

Level 2 Awards are unique! UnLtd are looking for inspiring people who have innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing communities, wider society and the world.

UnLtd encourage applications from inspiring individuals who can clearly articulate a compelling vision to bring about social change. We are seeking those entrepreneurs with the ambition, determination and drive to really deliver their exciting project! UnLtd expects to be able to add value to every project we fund, so we need to be convinced that our investment of time and money is necessary.

For more details please visit: www.unltd.org.uk

Plain English Guide to Data Protection

A guide to data protection law accredited by the Plain Language Commission has been published by official regulator the Information Commissioner's Office. 'The Guide to Data Protection' gives practical advice to those with day-to-day responsibility for data protection, taking a straightforward look at the principles of the Data Protection Act and helping organisations safeguard personal data. View online or download pdf (602KB) at www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection_guide.aspx

The Whats and Hows of Setting up a Community Interest Company

Society Guardian's series Charities and the Law continues with an all round explanation of the Community Interest Companies legal model from a solicitor at Bates Wells and Braithwaite.

Employment Status Indicator

HM Revenue and Customs online Employment Status Indicator tool enables you to check the employment status of an individual or group of workers – whether they are employed or self-employed for tax, National Insurance contributions or VAT purposes. www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/esi.htm

Social Marketing Conference: Changing Public Behaviour Through Communications

27 January, London

Charities across the UK are beginning to use social marketing techniques to change people's behaviour and achieve their objectives. Join us at this conference and find out how your organisation can do the same. Essential for anyone involved in influencing behaviour through campaigning, marketing, communications or policy.

To find out more please visit www.charitycomms.org.uk/social_marketing

Research into Community Ownership

Detailed research into the community ownership and management of assets has been commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Such assets could include buildings, land, financial assets and energy generation facilities, owned by community organisations, charities, community interest companies, co-operatives or other mutual organisations anywhere in the UK. A short online survey is an important part of this research, at www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=uPy8gMyFpX4uydHQwYFrfw_3d_3d Deadline 18 December.

Concern at Impact of Music Licensing Exemptions Repeal

Sector umbrella organisation NCVO has expressed concern at the disproportionate impact the proposed repeal of licensing exemptions around playing recorded music in public will have (from April). It has produced a briefing on the new music licensing rules, explaining the impact and the difference between PRS and PPL licensing. See NCVO item.

Regulation and Charities

The Charity Finance Directors' Group has published a short position paper on 'Regulation and Charities', looking at the regulatory regime around tax, returns and funding. In pdf, 108KB, from www.cfdg.org.uk/cfdg/influencing_lawandregulation.asp

Working with Local Councils on Green Issues

'Green Up! Five ways of working with your council on sustainability: a practical guide for community and voluntary groups' has been published by the Community Development Foundation. The "plain English" guide explains how community groups can use everything from Local Area Agreements to Sustainable Community Strategies to get their work supported, and explains the jargon often used by local councils. www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/publication?id=142955 (Source: Defra Third Sector blog)

Showcasing Third Sector Innovation

Innovation Exchange, the innovation broker for the third sector, has published 'Growing innovation from the third sector' describing projects it is supporting in the areas of support for excluded young people and independent living. They range from start-up social enterprises to household name charities. Download (pdf, 1.14MB) via innovation-exchange.org/blog/next-practice-programme/ (Source: Bubb's Blog)

How Organisations Put Their Values into Practice

Values can be seen as a defining feature of the sector and as a central driving force for individual organisations. NCVO and Community Links have a new report building on the latter's Inquiry into the Values of the Third Sector, looking in more detail at how organisations put their values into practice. 'Values into Action: how organisations translate their values into practice', pdf 292KB, at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/sites/www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/files/Values_into_Action.pdf

eNews Bulletin from High Peak CVS

Visit highpeakcvs.org.uk/enews for past bulletins

Contact High Peak CVS to subscribe / unsubscribe
or to send in news items for the eNews Bulletin