Bulletin Contents - 21 April 2009

High Peak CVS Membership Survey – Yours Views Needed

Volunteers and the Law Training

Derbyshire is Diverse - Are You Sure You Are?

Community Service Proposals for Young People

Blindness Charities Move Closer Together

Advice Centres to Put Their Case More Effectively

A Manifesto for Young People

Government Funds for Campaigning

Futurebuilders Looking for Partners to Help Sector Win Contracts

Funding for Trustee Training

Keeping Young People Safe from Bullying

Piloting New Complaints Procedure

Information from Campaigning Conference

Net Surfing Can Increase Productivity

High Peak CVS Membership Survey – Yours Views Needed

High Peak CVS recently sent out a membership survey to all the organisations on its database.  To date, the response has been low, and therefore the deadline has been extended to 11 May.

To ensure High Peak CVS continues to meets its members needs and requirements, and is able to assess its impact, please take 10 minutes out to complete this questionnaire.  It can be also be downloaded from highpeakcvs.org.uk/survey

Appreciation is expressed

Free Volunteers and the Law Training

27th April 9.30am - 4pm at DeDa (Derby Dance)

27th May 9.30am - 4pm at The Dome at Buxton

24th June 9.30am - 4pm at Chesterfield Library

These one-off events are a fantastic opportunity for those who work with volunteers to gain up-to-date, relevant information about volunteers and the law.  It is vital that groups are aware of the law relating to volunteering and how it affects their day to day work. There have been a number of cases where organisations have fallen foul of the law – make sure you don’t make the same mistakes.

You don’t need any legal knowledge and there will be ample opportunities to ask questions about your own group, club or organisation and to get help and support. Relevant to everyone whether you are involved in a small community group or a large established organisation.

Topics: volunteers and contracts, insurance, equalities, CRB and lots of other issues.

Registration from 9.30am. Lecture will be held from 10am – 4pm.

Tea/Coffee & Biscuits provided. Participants will need to provide their own lunch, this can be purchased nearby.

For further information and to book a place either call 0115 850 8860 or email lee@erewashcvs.org.uk. Download Booking Form

Derbyshire is Diverse - Are You Sure You Are?

FREE half day Equality and Diversity Event for voluntary/community/third sector organisations in Derby and Derbyshire

Thursday 4 June 2009 9.30am - 1.30pm
Coney Green Business Centre, Clay Cross, Chesterfield, S45 9JW. 

How much do you know about Equality and Diversity? Why does it matter? What practical steps can your organisation take to make sure it genuinely reaches all sectors of the local community?  We will also launch 3D's Equality and Diversity Toolkit.  Buffet lunch provided and there will be a 'market stall' for attendees to share equality and diversity information and materials.

The event is free and open to voluntary/community/third sector organisations in Derby and Derbyshire.  Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first served basis - so book early.  To reserve your place please complete and return the booking form attached.

For more information contact Kerrie Fletcher, 3D Manager.  Telephone 07827 852107 or e-mail: k.fletcher@derbysrcc.org.uk

>> Download Flyer and Booking Form

Community Service Proposals for Young People

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has floated plans for young people to be required to undertake community service, to be included in the Labour Party's next manifesto, building on citizenship studies in the 14 to 16 curriculum.  Clearer details may emerge in a few weeks or so.  See his article in News of the World.

Blindness Charities Move Closer Together

Charities RNIB and Action for Blind People (AfBP) have stepped up their cooperation with a formal partnership arrangement.  AfBP will take on all regional service provision, with the RNIB's regional teams moving offices, and RNIB will look after national activity.  See Third Sector news item at www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/897944/ (registration required).

Advice Centres to Put Their Case More Effectively

Third Sector magazine reports that the advice network AdviceUK is bringing in the National Coalition for Independent Action to help its members "engage forcefully" with politicians and funders.  The coalition will bring together advice agencies in four areas of the country and help them influence funders, local councillors and MPs.  News item at www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/898299/ (registration required).

A Manifesto for Young People

The Coalition for Young People, which includes National Youth Agency and UK Youth Parliament, is calling for more investment to create "excellent" facilities for young people in their community, subsidised public transport for under-18s and help, information and advice for all young people, reports Children and Young People Now.  Read the news item at www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/898341/ or download the manifesto (PDF 1.62MB) www.nya.org.uk/files/137757/FileName/CYP_Demands2.pdf

Government Funds for Campaigning

Capacitybuilders is to manage the Government's Campaigning programme recently announced by Liam Byrne, Minister for the Cabinet Office.  Three quarters of a million pounds will be given in packages of grants and support services over two years to up to 30 small organisations to strengthen their ability to campaign for change.  Further details will be announced later this spring.  The media response has been varied, but NCVO declares itself "delighted" (www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/briefings/?id=13512).  Official news item, read ActionAid view in The Guardian or go to Capacitybuilders info.

Futurebuilders Partners to Help Sector Win Contracts

Futurebuilders England, the sector investment body, is looking for partners to join a pilot consortium to compete for major public service contracts.  The aim is to test the efficiencies and economies of scale that this approach could bring, pooling expertise and resource for the core services associated with tendering for contracts.  Find out more details.

Funding for Trustee Training

Charity Trustee Networks has a news item on how organisations can get up to a thousand pounds towards training for board members and senior managers.  At www.trusteenet.org.uk/news/receive-1000-funding-help-your-organisation-grow

Keeping Young People Safe from Bullying

A suite of guidance on preventing bullying by/of young people has been produced by Department for Children, Schools and Families for use outside the school environment. 'Safe from Bullying in youth activities' can be downloaded from Every Child Matters, which also has links to the other guidance.

Piloting New Complaints Procedure

The Charity Commission has published a report summarising a full evaluation of a new Complaints and Customer Feedback Pilot, which ran to the end of December 2008, www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/cpilot.asp

Information from Campaigning Conference

Information from NCVO's National Campaigning Conference, which looked at embracing future opportunities as well as protecting against uncertain times, has been captured online at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/events/archive/2009/?id=12674

Net Surfing Can Increase Productivity

Surfing the net at work for pleasure actually increases our concentration levels and helps make a more productive workforce, according to new University of Melbourne research. Based on a study of 300 workers, they say "People who do surf the Internet for fun at work - within a reasonable limit of less than 20% of their total time in the office - are more productive by about 9% than those who don't." News item at uninews.unimelb.edu.au/news/5750/  (Source: Nonprofit Online News and others)