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30 hours a week, current salary £29,728 pro rata plus 5% contribution to pension to work on two projects funded until September 2012 by the Big Lottery Fund BASIS programme

Project 1 – Funding Advice Service. The Adviser will provide advice on funding and income generation to the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover; and

Project 2 – Derbyshire Contracts Advice Network. The Adviser will support the VCS on contracts throughout Derbyshire, “walking with” the applicant through the tendering process and advocating for improvements in procurement practices with commissioners.

We are looking for someone with enthusiasm and drive; proven business and financial skills; and the ability to understand and explain complex processes and regulations. You will have the ability to develop good working relationships, be able to work on your own initiative with or without supervision and be able to plan a varied and heavy workload. You must be able to use IT.

You will be based in Chesterfield but must be able to travel widely throughout Derbyshire and work occasional evenings/weekends.

For an information pack and application form, ring 01246 274844 or email linkscvs@btconnect.com

Closing date: 30 March 2009
Proposed interview date: 21 April 2009

Derbyshire Aggregates Levy Grant Scheme (DALGS)

Applications for DALGS grants are invited for projects to be carried out in 2009/10. £224,000 is available for distribution. The closing date is 18 May 2009.

To qualify applicants must be able to show that extraction of aggregates has had an adverse impact on their area, and that their project will benefit the local community.

This year applications are particularly welcome which incorporate measures to reduce the impact of climate change (e.g. by improving energy efficiency, reducing water consumption or by using recycled materials) and from groups that would help to generate a thriving voluntary sector.

Application forms and revised guidance notes can be downloaded at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/community/lottery_funding/aggregates_levy

The main point of contact for information on the grants is Derbyshire Environmental Trust -Tel 01629 585314, Email det@derbyshire.gov.uk.

Two Exciting New Developments in Third Sector Research

Come and learn about two exciting new developments in third sector research and find out how sector practitioners can benefit from them

GMCVO is hosting an event for the voluntary and community sector in the North West to introduce:

the new Third Sector Research Centre which will broaden the evidence base by conducting research about and with the sector; and
the Manchester Metropolitan University based capacity building cluster which will aim to involve VCS organisations in research on active citizenship and community empowerment.

At this event you will have a chance to:

find out what the Third Sector Research Centre and the capacity building cluster will be doing and how your organisation can benefit from this work;
tell the Third Sector Research Centre about research that would be useful from your organisation’s perspective;
find out about capacity building opportunities;
network with representatives of both institutions and learn what engagement opportunities exist as these new bodies proceed with their work; and
hear from voluntary and community sector organisations that have benefited from either using academic research or conducting their own research.

Confirmed speakers include:

Pete Alcock, Director of the Third Sector Research Centre
Andri Soteri-Proctor, Third Sector Research Centre Research Fellow
Carol Packham, Taking Part Capacity Building Cluster, Manchester Metropolitan University
Hannah Berry/Carolina Oteyza, Gender and Participation Unit
Neil Walbran, Health Partnership Project Officer, GMCVO
Anthony Travis, Transport for Communities

Cost: Attendance is free, but an administration charge of £10 will be applicable in the case of non-attendance of registered participants.

Bookings: sue.barrett@gmcvo.org.uk or telephone 0161 277 1001
Event details: susanne.martikke@gmcvo.org.uk or telephone 0161 277 1031

Sustainable Communities Act Introduced

The Government has introduced the Sustainable Communities Act to give people the opportunity to come up with proposals to improve the place where they live.

High Peak Borough Council wants to invite local residents, groups and organisations to put forward proposals on improving the place where they live. Anyone can suggest a proposal – this could be individually or on behalf of a group, for example a residents and tenants association or a voluntary/community group.

Full information about the Sustainable Communities Act can be found at: www.highpeak.gov.uk/neighbourhood/sustain

To read the press releases go to:
www.highpeak.gov.uk/news/press/2009feb1620.asp

Celebration Event - Children and Young People's Network

Thurs 23 April 2009 9am-1pm
at Aston Court, Midland Road, Derby (opposite the Train Station – parking available)

You are invited to join in celebrating the achievement of the voluntary sector.

Guest speakers include:

Andrew Flack, Director of Children and Young People’s Services;
Hazel Lymbery, Acting Director of Derby City Partnership; and
Mike Garner, Listening Services for young people in Derby and Derbyshire.

There will be the opportunity to showcase your work and network.

Refreshments and lunch provided

Please confirm you attendance with Steph Gulliford on 01332 372245 or email cypn@derwentsteppingstones.co.uk

Thinking About Future Funding of the Sector

The Funding Commission has been set up by NCVO to ask and address "where the money is likely to come from for voluntary and community organisations over the next ten years and the opportunities and challenges that exist.” Consultant David Carrington has written a 'think piece' outlining the issues – read a Charity Finance news item at www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2654 or download the document (pdf, 507k).

An online questionnaire to capture thoughts or suggestions on current and future funding issues, to inform the work of the Funding Commission, is at www.ncvo-consult.org.uk/survey.asp?s=01228080039152235 Runs to 13 May.

Providing Smaller Charity Reports Through Guidestar

The income threshold for registered charities having to submit their Annual Reports and Accounts to the Charity Commission increases from £10,000 to £25,000 shortly. GuideStar UK is planning to enable charities under the new reporting threshold to continue to make their reports available to the public by uploading them to the GuideStar website directly, helping with visibility to funders too. They are inviting views about this initiative, by email to GuideStar UK director Lewis Temple: ltemple@guidestar.org.uk (From GuideStar February e-bulletin).

Draft Secondary Legislation on Dormant Accounts Law

The Government is consulting on secondary legislation needed to set up the Dormant Accounts scheme, which will channel abandoned cash in bank accounts to good causes. The two statutory instruments extend the scope of the Financial Services Authority's regulation and place disclosure requirements on smaller opted-out building societies. Closing date 12 May.
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_dormant_accounts_scheme.htm

Championing Volunteers In the Criminal Justice System

Baroness Julia Neuberger, the Government's Independent Volunteering Champion, is calling for more offenders to be able to volunteer as part of their rehabilitation. Her second report, in the series examining the role of volunteers and volunteering in public services, highlights the valuable contribution that thousands of volunteers make to reducing crime and re-offending, delivering justice and bringing about safer communities. Office of Third Sector news item, or download the report, 154KB pdf, at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/124076/volunteers%20in%20cjs.pdf

As part of the Government response to the report, Justice Minister Shahid Malik has been appointed 'Volunteering Champion' to give a voice in Government for volunteers in the criminal justice system. News at www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease030309a.htm

Delivery of Modernisation Fund to Help Sector Through Recession

The Modernisation Fund element of the Government’s 'Real Help' action plan to help the third sector through the recession is to be managed by a partnership of the Futurebuilders and Capacitybuilders agencies. Futurebuilders will offer loans (between £30,000 and £500,000) to larger third sector organisations with a turnover of £750,000 or more, mainly to support mergers and connected financial and capacity issues - see Futurebuilders information.

Capacitybuilders will be launching a programme in the early summer offering smaller grants to third sector organisations with a turnover of under a million pounds to help explore the benefits and meet the costs of collaboration, merger or restructuring - Capacitybuilders info.

Help in Leading Organisations Through Challenging Times

Chief executives support body ACEVO has launched an advice and support web portal to help its members lead through these challenging times. Recession Support has sections on Finance, Managing your organisation, CEO development and more, at www.recessionsupport.org.uk

Funding for Infrastructure Development

The BASIS programme from the Big Lottery Fund has awarded almost £50 million to provide support to the sector across England. This includes over £700,000 for the Investing in Social Enterprise Expansion project to grow and develop the infrastructure of the social enterprise sector through business and peer support. And there's just under £750,000 to NCVO for its Value of Infrastructure Programme, based on five themes: awareness and skills; common outcomes framework for infrastructure; evidence of 'what works'; funders and infrastructure value; and supporting objectives. BLF news.

Twittering On

England sector umbrella body NCVO is now actively 'twittering' – providing short updates from a whole range of activities across the organisation – at twitter.com/ncvo

TweetMinster has been established to make it easier to connect the public with politics, focused on Members of Parliament and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates using Twitter, tweetminster.co.uk

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