eNews

Come and hear from nationally-renowned ICT projects and speakers at this one day conference commissioned by the East Midlands Infrastructure Steering Group. This conference is particularly relevant to:

front line third sector organisations including trustees and management committees
small groups
infrastructure organisations and in particular development workers
established and emerging social enterprises
funders
suppliers of ICT support from the third sector

Further details and a booking form are available at item3.org.uk

Small Environmental Grants

Action Earth provides grants of up to £50 to assist groups in England, Scotland and Wales in carrying out environmental projects by the end of July. Apply as soon as possible at www.actionearth.org.uk

Equalities and Human Rights on YouTube

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/EqualityHumanRights as part of telling people about its work. The channel will feature a range of video clips, including the series of stories 'Equally Different'. EHRC news item

Parenting Professionals' Resources

Parenting charity Parentline Plus has set up a dedicated site for professionals that work with children and families. As well as providing a central virtual space for all of the charity's policy work there are other features such as social networking. See www.parentlineplus.org.uk/forprofessionals

Volunteerism Research Round Up

IssueLab, which collates online non-profit research on social issues around the world, has its April round-up on Volunteerism. Currently linked from the front page at www.issuelab.org – you may need to go to the CloseUp archive in a while. You can also sign up for a monthly e-News for the latest site updates, www.issuelab.org/enews

Connecting Neighbourhoods

A new forum around the concept of connecting neighbourhoods using digital technologies has been set up by DC10plus; a local authority led social inclusion body. Connecting Neighbourhoods Forum is for the private sector, voluntary and academic stakeholders to collaborate, discuss and produce strategies and solutions. www.connectedneighbourhoods.org.uk

NCVO Spring Marketing Conference - 28th May, London

Are you involved in marketing or promoting your organisation? Join us at our spring Marketing Conference to find out how to make your marketing work better for you. Experts will share knowledge and experience on how to effectively engage with your audience. You will leave the conference with new ideas to help you build a stronger marketing function.

For more information and to book visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/marketingconf08

New Horizons: Funding and Finance for the Future
3rd June, London

Are you looking for new funding and finance opportunities for your organisation? NCVO's Sustainable Funding Project's Annual Gathering will show you how you can optimise income opportunities. It will give you the resources and practical tools you need to make sustainable funding a reality for your organisation.

Visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/SFP08 to book your place.

Charityfair 2008
Tues 10 and Wed 11 June 2008 – Central Hall Westminster

Charityfair is the biggest and best learning experience for the voluntary sector. After an extremely successful 2007, Charityfair returns to Westminster in 2008.

1,200 delegates and visitors are expected over the two days, attending a choice of over 80 workshops and visiting over 30 exhibitors in the resource area.

Don't miss out! Places are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis. Book your place now!

Short, snappy, highly practical one hour sessions presented by sector experts will leave you reinvigorated to face the challenges ahead. Session types include: Fundraising; Finance; Regulation and Change; Management and Leadership; Personal Skills; Volunteering; Information and Communication.

Charityfair makes you and your organisation stronger.

You can download the Charityfair 2008 brochure and book online at www.charityfair.org.uk

Charityfair 2008, Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP
Fax: 0207 391 4808.

For any queries about booking telephone 08450 77 77 07

Charity Technology Trust

Charity Technology Trust (CTT) is a registered UK charity (number 1073954) formed in 2001. It is the only UK registered charity devoted to improving charity efficiency using new technology. In addition to stimulating thinking on the use of new media, CTT has built a broad portfolio of e-communications and payments services used by over 350 charity clients.

CTT's main activities focus around fundraising and supporter management technology and it provides online fundraising tools, charity payment systems, internet based lotteries, e-communications and mobile applications. CTT also provides trusted and valued advice to a broad range of charities, including assistance with online fundraising, campaigning, CRM strategy development and supplier selection and project management.

CTT has partnered with the San Francisco-based non-profit technology capacity building organisation TechSoup, to bring you the CTX Programme which provides a range of donated technology products to eligible registered charities across the UK through the CTXchange donation portal at www.ctx.org.uk Further details on CTT, including case studies and contact details, can be found at www.ctt.org

Charles Hayward Foundation – New Guidelines

The Charles Hayward Foundation is a grant-making charitable trust which is located in the United Kingdom. They make grants to charities and charitable organisations which are registered in the UK.

They predominantly fund capital costs. Occasionally, project funding may be offered for start-up or development activities where these are not part of the on-going revenue requirement of the organisation.

The small grant scheme makes grants up to £5,000 only to charities with an annual turnover of less than £250,000.

In their other programmes, grant sizes are typically from £10,000 to £25,000 one-off grant. Where agreed, project funding may be granted for a maximum of three years in duration, and will be tapered downwards if appropriate. Project funding may be up to £15,000 per year over three years.

Check the website for further guidance within their guidelines including guidance on exclusions.

Enquiries to David Brown or Dorothy Napierala on 020 7370 7063 or 020 7370 7067
Hayward House, 45 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JU
Website: www.charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk/

Futurebuilders

A £215m fund has opened to all third sector organisations delivering public services. An extra £65m is released for not-for-profit organisations.

Offering loans-based investment packages, Futurebuilders provides flexible finance to organisations that are delivering public services or want to start contracting with public bodies, such as local authorities, primary care trusts or learning and skills councils. Established in 2004, the Futurebuilders Fund was originally only open to groups working in crime, community cohesion, children and young people, education and learning, and health and social care. From April 2008 it is extending its support to organisations working across all areas of public service delivery, including sport, recreation and leisure, environmental projects, waste and recycling, legal aid, and the arts.

Futurebuilders has already invested £121 million to more than 290 organisations third sector organisations including charities, social enterprises, community interest companies, voluntary groups and community organisations. Each investment package is tailored to meet the individual needs of the applicant and its proposal. Loans are offered at a standard interest rate of 6% and are often combined with grants and professional support to help build capacity for generating income and winning contracts.

To register your interest before the fund opens, or to find out more about how loan finance can help your organisation achieve sustainability, visit www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk or telephone 0191 261 5200.

College of the Peak Grand Designs

Feeling inspired by those eco self build programmes on the telly? Why not come along to Haddon Hall on Saturday and find out how to do it for yourself?

College of the Peak and Derbyshire Adult Community Education have joined forces with Haddon Hall to run a one day course in Walter Segal timber frame construction on Saturday 17 May.

In addition – as part of Adult Learners Week – local craftsman Tony Allen will be demonstrating ways of working with willow and offering visitors the chance try their hand at willow weaving.

Both activities are taking place on Haddon Hall’s overflow car park on the A6 Bakewell to Matlock road on Saturday 17 May, from 10am to 4pm.

Once you’ve learned how to build and put up a timber frame, why not follow it up with courses in straw bale building and lime rendering to complete you own eco self build. College of the Peak runs one day courses in all these traditional skills for just £55.

There are still a couple of places left on the timber frame building course this Saturday, but you’ll need to book quickly as numbers are limited.

For full details of all these courses – and more - ring: 01629 815749; email: collegeofthepeak@btconnect.com or visit our website at: www.collegeofthepeak.org.uk.

Introducing Social Firms Seminar

Wed 21st May at Bretby Conference Centre, Burton On Trent

This event will look at Social Firms as a model of social enterprise that focuses on creation of paid employment of disabled or severely disadvantaged people.

The day will cover:

• What is a Social Firm?
• What is the difference between Social Firm and social enterprise?
• How can a Social Firm be started?
• What are the key stages in Social Firm development?
• What tools and resources are available to help?

And to help with performance management for all organisations in the Third Sector (voluntary and community organisations, social enterprises and Social Firms), all delegates will receive information and a free copy of the Third Sector Performance Dashboard CD-ROM software.

The seminar is free of charge!

Email info@socialfirms.co.uk
Call 01737 764 021 with any queries to do with the event.

Places are limited, so book early!

eNews Bulletin from High Peak CVS

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Bulletin Contents - 12 May 2008

East Midland Regional ICT Conference Monday 16th June 2008