The November edition of the ICT Hub Newsletter has a Regional Update on ICT issues in the East Midlands by Tony Okotie of High Peak CVS. Tony says "There are a number of very active voluntary sector projects and organisations providing a range of IT services in the region, although there are still significant gaps in some areas ... many of the projects feature the concept of social enterprise quite heavily – that they will be sustainable through chargeable work.

"In Derbyshire, ChangeUp has provided funding for an IT development worker who has been providing health checks, IT strategy and policy advice, developed an IT strategy for the sector in the county and created a local suppliers directory. ... Our web design social enterprise activity continues to be very successful, delivering both a significant surplus to High Peak CVS whilst at the same time providing a valuable service to small, local voluntary sector groups who would otherwise not be able to afford it.

"At a regional level, the active projects are talking about the role of regional co-ordination: whether it is needed and, if so, how this can be provided and resourced. Personally, I think it is vitally important – one of the failings is that there has been no concerted or formal attempt to network projects across the region, to share learning and avoid duplication or to help support areas to develop new projects. Regional co-ordination between ICT projects would also give us a stronger voice with the regional development agency and other statutory sector partners, enabling us to help shape policy for the benefit of the sector as a whole".

High Peak CVS Training Programme

The role of Treasurer - Wed 22 Nov 2006 9.30am to 12.00
The role of treasurer can seem over burdened and very isolating. This workshop will aim to lighten the burden; it will focus on the Treasurer’s responsibilities, report writing, involving other committee members, practical bank reconciliation. An ideal workshop for Treasurers new and old, also open to other committee members to gain a better understanding of the position of Treasurer and discover why it is one of the most difficult roles to fill.

You're only selling one thing.......yourself - Thu 23 Nov 2006 9.30am to 4.30pm
This session is for people who make either part or all of their living from the arts. It’s a sad reality that no matter how much we want to distance our art from the cold reality of commercialism, we have to make a living. Selling the idea of an exhibition, handling an event or making a sale can often seem harder than the creative process itself.

More information and book online at www.highpeakcvs.org.uk/training/events.asp

Volunteering Derbyshire Development Officer Vacancy

37 hours per week (15 months funding)
NJC Scale 6 pt 26 £20,895 + pension
Secondments will be considered.

Derby CVS are looking for an individual who is enthusiastic and committed to developing volunteering. You will be facilitating the development of the Volunteering Derbyshire Network of eight Volunteer Centres. Your aim is to support the development of the Network into a strategic platform, within a quality framework, and to promote and develop volunteering across Derbyshire.

Derby CVS is one of the first Volunteer Centres in the region to achieve quality accreditation and from this position you will be working to ensure the same services are available across the county.

Application deadline:
12 noon on Friday 24 November 2006
Interviews week beginning 27 November 2006
For an application pack write to Recruitment, Derby CVS, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby DE1 2GT, enclosing a large (A4) 50p SAE or visit the jobs section at www.derbycvs.co.uk

Breathing Places Programme

Phase two of the Breathing Places programme is now open to a wide range of organisations including voluntary and community organisations, schools, town and parish councils, and statutory health authorities. Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available for:
- Plants and trees
- Equipment
- Signage, pathways and other ways of ensuring good access
- Professional fees - so you can get expert help
- Research costs
- Volunteer expenses

The Breathing Places grants programme is a small grants programme developed in partnership with the BBC, designed to provide funding for small groups who want to improve access to or create a new Breathing Place - for people and wildlife.

Phase two has now been launched with £4 million available across the UK, but the deadline for applications is the 13th December 2006.

For further details and to get an application pack visit the website biglotteryfund.org.uk and select the Breathing Place programme, or call the helpline on 0845 410 20 30. The Breathing Places brochure can also be downloaded from the BBC website bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces

Volunteer Centres Modernisation

Volunteering England has called for substantial investment in the modernisation of volunteer centres in its submission to the Treasury Third Sector Review. NAVCA has supported this call in its own submission to the Treasury.

Volunteering England has suggested that there should be one accountable body for volunteer centres in each two-tier or unitary authority with a range of local delivery points. NAVCA agrees that in some counties there is a need to reduce the number of separate volunteer centres. Both Volunteering England and NAVCA are agreed that the existing providers, in consultation with their funders, will make the decision about how best to deliver volunteering infrastructure functions across the two-tier or unitary area.

The Memorandum of Understanding between NAVCA and VE makes it clear that neither organisation seeks to impose any particular structure. Whether volunteer centres are independent or integrated within local infrastructure organisations is a matter for local determination.

Balance - New Business Analysis Tool for the Social Sector

Balance is an online business performance analysis tool, suitable for use by the voluntary sector, especially those looking at the social enterprise business model. The tool moves away from number crunching and concentrates on measuring an organisation from the perceptions of the people involved. The tool takes about an hour to use and provides an instant snapshot of strengths and weaknesses and then offers strategic developmental advice through a downloadable action plan. For more information visit www.socialenterprisebalance.org

Support Agencies Favour More Entrepreneurial Approach

Voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisations in Greater Manchester want to dramatically increase the amount of earned income they generate in the next three years, according to a recent research report. However, 87 per cent of the organisations interviewed believe that they have a skills gap regarding business orientation and only 40 per cent could pay the market rate for critical items of business support.

Andy Wynne, co-ordinator of Manchester Progressive Enterprise Network, who carried out the research, said: "We urgently need to bridge the gap between the pressure on the sector to move towards more entrepreneurial activity and the limited capacity of hard pressed voluntary sector organisations to make the necessary adjustments in culture and approach".

The research was carried out in the context of three inter-related policy agendas: social enterprise, the voluntary sector infrastructure review, and voluntary sector service delivery. Downloaded a copy of the report at www.mpen.org.uk/publications.htm.
Further information from Andy Wynne: 0161 273 1763 email andyw@bridge-5.org

Charities Bill Becomes Law

The Charities Bill received Royal Assent last week and is now law. The Act can be downloaded at www.opsi.gov.uk/acts.htm. The Government will soon be publishing an implementation plan, setting out when it expects to bring each provision into force.

Good Practice Examples

NAVCA is collecting examples of good practice that its members have been involved in. This could be large projects with significant resources and paid workers, or small pieces of work. They are looking for innovative projects and ideas that have made real differences to local people and communities. Stories can be shared via their website at: http://www.navca.org.uk/localvs/goodprac

SKiLD Winter Training Programme

The SKiLD Winter Learning Programme has a Calendar of training events and articles on the following:
- Development Workers Competency Framework
- SKiLD Training courses
- SKiLD and Workforce Hub Training courses
- Kit Yourself Out mini conference
- New Year - New Challenge - New Training
- National Funding Advisors Training Organisations Consortium
- Performance Hub Regional Training
- Performance Hub Action Learning Sets

GuideStar UK Forum

GuideStar UK has launched the Charity Forum, a free online community where you can read and post topics of interest about charities and the voluntary sector. http://forums.guidestar.org.uk

Risks of Risk Management

New Risk Management research has found that fear of litigation and excessive risk management is causing a real barrier to volunteering. Volunteering England is calling for excessive risk management to be challenged, arguing that it stops potential volunteers from coming forward. A Risk Toolkit has been produced: How to take care of risk in volunteering: a guide for organisations.

Events

HPBC Community Fund Grant Consultation

Tue 28 November 7.30 pm at High Peak CVS

The draft funding policy for voluntary and community groups will be discussed at this special meeting. Since April High Peak Borough Council has been reviewing the way it gives grants to voluntary and community groups. A draft funding policy has now been produced based on the soundings that have taken place, including the July meeting in Whaley Bridge that the CVS organised. This policy will go before the HPBC Corporate Select Committee on the 13 November and will then be out for consultation.

IT, Accessibility and your Organisation - Awareness Event

Tue 28 Nov 2006 at Derby CVS, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby

Disability Discrimination Act Presentation
Informal networking
Introduction to Accessibility Champions
Low cost no cost solutions
Workstation Assessment:
Posture & Position Demo
Ask the Experts Session

To book a place at this event please contact Nicola Dinsdale 01663 736432.

Hands On! Youth Project: Charity Fashion Show

Thur 30th November 7.30pm at Glossop Town Hall

Glossop VC young volunteers (aged 12 - 21) are purchasing outfits from local charity shops, customising these outfits and modelling them on a catwalk. They are working with all of Glossop's charity shops: Cancer Research, Help the Aged, Marie Curie, Oxfam, Willow Wood.

This is to raise funds for and awareness of these 5 important charities, and also to raise the profile of charity shops as a realistic shopping option for young people. This will be a high profile community event, and other local organisations are making contributions to the evening.

If you wish to purchase tickets contact Volunteer Centre Glossop at 73 High Street West, phone 01457 865722.

Using an Outcomes Approach

Friday 1 & 8 December 9.30-16.30 at Odd Fellows 32 Charnwood St, DLDC, Derby

Two day training event around effective planning using an outcomes approach. An outcomes approach ensures you monitor and evaluate your activates in a way that clearly shows the contribution they are making to the client group, therefore enabling you to become more effective in achieving your aims; by keeping you focused on your aims and on your client target group & identifying what works well and what could be improved.

Please book with Sabina Talib, Learning Development Advisor, 01332 265965

'I Can Can You ?'

Sat 2 December at Glossop Town Hall 11am - 1pm

DCIL event show casing Local Disabled Peoples Art and Creative Works. They invite any disabled person or group that produces art or any form of creative works to display at the event, also any organisation (not for profit) working by, for or with disabled people who would like to promote there group or service or volunteering opportunities. Please contact Elaine Hill High Peak Project Officer on 01433 623 596 or by e-mail elaine@dcil.org.uk or hope@dcil.org.uk.

Contracting For Social Services

Mon 11 December 9.30am-3.30pm at Bradbury Community House, Glossop

The session will cover:

- The reasons for using procurement as a means of delivering services for the future.
- The differences between commissioning and contracts
- The knowledge needed to make a bid
- Getting ready to tender for work with Derbyshire Social Services
- Information on sources of help

Organised by Links, The Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Council For Voluntary Service and Action Limited, Tel 01246 274844, Email linkscvs@btconnect.com

"Collaboration is best…?" Conference

Tue 12 December 2006, NCVO London

This conference will explore collaboration within the sector: partnership working between two or more voluntary or community organisations. It will encourage participants to think creatively about how collaboration can help their organisations. It will explore exciting new developments in the use of collaboration, and show you what has worked elsewhere. It will look at what it can achieve, how to do it, and how not to!

Book online at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/collaborateconference

Kit Yourself Out

Mon 26 Feb 2007- Kit Yourself Out - Mini-Conference (Peterborough)

A chance for development workers and advisors who support voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, to try out and play with a wide range of kits, tools and ideas to help them work well with groups.

- Launch of SKiLD’s competency framework
- Showcasing nine different kits, tools and ideas
-Two development worker clinic sessions
- Supporting Performance Awards and drinks ceremony
- Development Worker Deal or No Deal!
-Two regional satellite meetings

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