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This annual event gives you the opportunity to discuss your funding requirements with one of the Foundation’s Grants Coordinators, in an informal half hour one-to-one session that is tailored to meet your needs.

These sessions can cover discussion of projects and which of the funds administered by the Foundation is suited to your project, help with developing applications you are currently working on, hints and tips for applying for funding in general.

There are ten half hour slots available throughout the day, there are five sessions between 10am and 12noon followed by a further five sessions between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

To book an appointment please contact Lindsay Sowter on 01773 514856 as soon as possible as places are limited.

If you know of any other community group you think could benefit from meeting with DCF please pass the details on. Surgeries are also being held in other areas of the County:

Erewash - March 17
Amber Valley - February 11
Bolsover - February 2
Derbyshire Dales - Bakewell - March 15
- Ashbourne - March 3
Derby City - March 9
South Derbyshire - TBC
Chesterfield - February 15

If demand is high DCF may consider holding additional sessions, so if you are unable to make the dates set please contact us for more information.

Financial Inclusion Derbyshire Project Manager Vacancy

32,000 pa, 37 hours per week, 2 year contract

An exciting and unique opportunity has arisen to combat financial exclusion in Derbyshire. This new post is based at Rural Action Derbyshire in Wirksworth, although the post holder will report to a partnership of public, private and third sector agencies all working together to implement the new Financial Inclusion Strategy for Derbyshire.

The successful candidate will have substantial experience of partnership working at a strategic level and the ability to:

develop and drive the implementation of the strategy across a wide range of agencies
identify services and initiatives aimed at maximising financial inclusion
raise awareness of financial inclusion issues
develop partnerships
develop toolkits and working practices/procedures to ensure future sustainability of activity in the area

Applications packs to download from the Rural Action Derbyshire website. Alternatively, email Emma Simpson at e.simpson@derbysrcc.org.uk or call 01629 824797.

Closing date: 10am Thurs 26 Nov
Interviews: Friday 18th December 2009

Village Halls Quality Standards Scheme Training

Saturday 5 December 2009 - 9.30am to 3pm
at Ashford-in-the-Water War Memorial Hall

Hallmark 1 - This involves issues to do with Charity Administration and Management. It assesses whether the hall is complying with the requirements of its charitable status.

The workshop is aimed at management committee members/trustees of village or community halls; either to find out how to run a well managed hall or to check that they are already doing so!

The training is for both new and existing committee members and will provide the framework for good practice in charity administration and management.

At the end of the day delegates will have:

Developed their understanding of how and why the Hallmark scheme operates
Learnt the necessary standards to achieve Hallmark 1
Further developed their skills as charity volunteers
Received support for those halls that lack confidence to enter the scheme

Hallmark is a standards scheme which has two main benefits:

It provides funders and other organisations interested in village halls with a benchmark for a well managed hall
It gives village hall volunteers confidence that they are running the hall in the correct way

Over 230 halls in England have achieved Hallmark 1 since the scheme was launched by ACRE in March 2007.

www.derbyshirercc.org.uk

Equality Impact Assessment Seminar

7 December 2009 1.30-3.30pm
at Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS

Do you work for a local infrastructure organisation, or an organisation that provides support to other organisations in the North West region?
Do you support local organisations involved in work around equalities and diversity?
Do you work with your Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and other public sector bodies e.g primary care trust?
Do you want to influence the decision-making process in relation to equality and diversity in your Local Area Agreement and LSP?

NAVCA, in partnership with National Equality Partnership is holding an interactive seminar. Bursaries are available to cover fees and travel. You will also be able to obtain an new exciting publication (Keeping It Legal: Using public law to secure your rights). Book now for this seminar as places are limited!

You can read more about the event and book your place.
Further details contact events@navca.org.uk or call 0114 278 6636

Empowering the Voluntary Sector Workshops

A one day workshop exploring how to use the principles of public law to challenge unjust and unfair decision making by public bodies

Many organisations find it difficult to balance the need to work with public bodies and to challenge unfair practice. Empowering the Voluntary Sector workshops delivered by NAVCA provide clear information and guidance to help you to make appropriate challenges.

The aim of the workshops is to equip third sector organisations to use the principles of public law and the Compact to negotiate effectively with public bodies. Issues covered on the day include how to deal with unfair funding cuts and consultation and how identify if a public body's decision-making processes are lawful.

Open to all team members, staff and volunteers, from third sector organisations who are funded by, or seeking funding from, public bodies.

The workshops focus on the experiences of participants, both organisational and personal, in dealing with public bodies and help to identify how to prevent and resolve disputes to the advantage of the third sector.

DERBY Tuesday 1 December 2009 - Book by 16 Nov
Community Action Derby, Charnwood Street, Derby DE1 2GT

CHESTERFIELD Wednesday 27 January 2010
Friends Meeting House, Ashgate Road, Chesterfield S40 4AG

9.00 am to 4.30pm (workshop starts at 9.30 am prompt)
£35 per person including resource pack and lunch

For more information and a booking form, contact:
Diane Scott, 3D Administrator
Telephone: 07920 202595
E-mail: d.scott@derbysrcc.org.uk
Or download forms from the 3Dwebsite: www.3dsupport.org.uk

Modernisation Fund Investment Available for Limited Time

If you have experienced increasing demand for your services as a result of the recession or you need to strengthen and modernise your organisation in response to the current economic climate, then the Modernisation Fund could be for you. The Social Investment Business are calling attention to the fact that investment agreements should be made by December 2009 - the fund closes end of March 2010.

Low Carbon Building Programme Phase 2

Free Seminars: Help to Go 'Green' with Extended Grant Funding Now Available

A series of free half-day events being held around the UK – find out how to go ‘green’ through the extended grant funding now available.

The courses are designed for local authorities, housing associations, schools, hospitals, charitable bodies and community organisations.

Regional events:
Nottingham – 18 November
Manchester – 19 November

At the events, get an update on:

microgeneration technologies and how they can reduce carbon and fuel bills;
grant availability, and how to apply;
renewable energy tariffs; and
case studies

Grants of up to £200,000 per site are available to help you gain the benefits of renewable energy technologies

To book your place visit www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk/events

DFID Community Linking Programme

Your Chance to Get Involved

Do your volunteers have a community link with a developing country?
Is there a community group in your area with an overseas link that would benefit from funding and support?
Would you like to help shape a brand new DFID programme?

The new DFID Community Linking Programme will offer funding, support and learning opportunities to community groups that are linked with a community group in a developing country.

VSO is carrying out a Baseline Survey to map linking activities across the UK and to identify future programme support, and would like as many local groups as possible to be involved in shaping this programme. The findings of the survey will be available to the public from February 2010. The survey is only open for one more month so you can go straight to it at www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB229P53DDJRH

Volunteers Not Protected by Disability Discrimination Law

An Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that volunteers are not protected by the Disability Discrimination Act, as they are not covered by the term "occupation". While the legal concept of employment is well established, this case brought by a volunteer adviser for Mid Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau was the first test of the scope of "occupation". The solicitor representing the CAB, from Bates Wells Braithwaite, said the outcome was in line with previous decisions that maintained that laws designed to protect employees did not apply equally to volunteers. Charity Finance news alert at www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=3277

Inquiry into Rights of Volunteers Coming Soon

Volunteering England is to open an inquiry which will "take a considered look at a range of issues related to the legal status of volunteers" soon. VE is currently putting together the terms of reference and the membership of the group that would lead the inquiry, and the full announcement is due on 18th November.

See Third Sector news item at www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/949968/

Quick Explanation of Charities and Trading

Another in The Guardian's articles on 'Charities and the Law' takes a look at Charities and trading, clearing up a number of common misconceptions in the process, www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/03/charities-trading-questions

Revised Guide to Tackling Work-Related Stress

A web-friendly version of the Health and Safety Executive's 'How to tackle work-related stress: A guide for employers on making the Management Standards work' has been published. Download (pdf, 187KB) from www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg430.pdf

Occupational Standards in Mentoring and Befriending

In conjunction with the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, Skills for Justice are developing National Occupational Standards and a Vocational Qualification for Mentoring and Befriending in the community. The project will focus specifically on the mentoring of offenders and those most at risk of offending. The draft Standards and Vocational Qualification are now available for UK wide consultation. See Skills Third Sector news item or go direct to www.skillsforjustice.com/MBNOS Responses by 8 December.

Charity Tax Issues to be Addressed by Revenue and Customs

HM Revenue and Customs has met with the Charity Finance Directors' Group and a group of finance directors from leading charities to discuss current taxation issues faced by charities. Issues covered included sponsorship restrictions, raising the exemption limit for low-level trading and VAT on shared services. Imminent online filing requirements for charitable companies were also raised. HMRC response is awaited. CFDG news item at www.cfdg.org.uk/cfdg/press_release_021109.asp

Official Document on Third Sector and the Natural Environment

Compact Week is currently underway (2nd to 8th November) and Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission have produced a 'Joint Third Sector Statement'. This follows on from commitments made last year by the government's environment department Defra. Our suggested download link is www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/112743.aspx

Government Responds to Committee Criticism of Changeup and Futurebuilders

The government has published its response to the Public Accounts Committee's report, 'Building the Capacity of the Third Sector', which was quite critical of the first years of the ChangeUp programme and Futurebuilders Fund from the Office of the Third Sector. The Cabinet Office appears to have agreed with all recommendations. Part of a larger document (pdf, 328KB) at www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm77/7717/7717.pdf - the relevant section starts at page 62 (of 95).

'Members Only' for Volunteering Help

From 1 November, Volunteering England's Information Service by phone and email became exclusive to its members. There are still useful resources on the web site, www.volunteering.org.uk/resources/information/ although again some of it is only for members.

Understanding Legal Issues in Public Sector Contracting

A guide to commissioning and procurement law for third sector organisations has been jointly published by NCVO and NAVCA. It aims to help voluntary groups understand the legal and practical issues of public sector contracting. 'Pathways through the Maze - a Guide to Procurement Law', written by Anthony Collins Solicitors, can be downloaded from www.navca.org.uk/localvs/lcp/news/maze.htm or www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/pathways

How To Make Information Accessible

A guide to producing easy read documents

The challenge for infrastructure organisations is how to ensure that written materials are produced in a format and language that is easily understood by people with learning difficulties. National Equality Partnership commissioned CHANGE, a leading national organisation led by disabled people, to produce a guide to producing easy read documents.

Download a copy of the guide as a PDF .

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