Bulletin Contents - 26 February 2008

Volunteer Programme Launched for 10th Anniversary

Community Money Matters

Redistributing Surplus Items

Redundancy Factsheet

Microsoft's DesignIT Competition

Online Collaboration Facilities for Charities

GiftEase – Software to Process Gift Aid

Goodmoves

fit4funding Training Prospectus

Ministry of Justice Consultation on Third Sector Strategy

Vacancy: Business Development & Funding Director

International Women's Day 2008

CWDC Induction Standards

Rights of Disabled People

Volunteer Programme Launched for 10th Anniversary

Glossop Women’s Aid (GWA) is this year celebrating the 10th anniversary of  setting up of their CAMEO club – the Come and Meet Each Other club – formed by volunteers to give informal support to women re-building their lives following domestic abuse.  Building on the invaluable support of their current volunteers, Glossop Women’s Aid is also marking this anniversary with the launch of a new programme of volunteering opportunities open to people across the whole of High Peak, thanks to funding from Lloyds TSB.

Volunteers have always had a hugely important role within GWA.  We know that in addition to the specialist advice and support services which we offer, sometimes what women and children really appreciate is just someone with the time to sit, listen and chat about life on an informal social basis.  Women who have left abusive relationships often find themselves living in a new area where they don’t know anyone and they can understandably feel lonely and isolated.

The volunteer programme is offering people who wish to volunteer the opportunity to be trained in one of the following roles:

• as a Next Steps volunteer helping women settle in to their new area and begin to make new friends;
• as an Outreach Support volunteer based in our Advice Centre;
• as a children’s play volunteer in our Refuge; or
• as part of the publicity team which operates across High Peak raising the profile of Glossop Women’s Aid.

All volunteers will be provided with full, accredited training and support and no previous experience is required.  Opportunities exist in all towns across the High Peak.

For further information contact either Jo, Volunteer Coordinator at GWA on 01457 890907 or gwa@f2s.com or the Volunteer Centre in Glossop on 01457 865722.

Community Money Matters

Community Accountancy Self Help and Community Matters have produced Community Money Matters, a ‘comprehensive guide to financial management and accounting for small charities and community organisations’.  Written from experience by a community accountant, the 200 plus pages can be downloaded (879kb pdf) from www.communitymatters.org.uk/resources/docs/Moneymatters.pdf

Redistributing Surplus Items

In Kind Direct, the charity that redistributes surplus products from businesses to member voluntary organisations (not necessarily registered charities), is dropping its annual registration fee following operating savings.  Do note that often the material is in huge packs or batches, and can go fast.  See www.inkinddirect.org

Redundancy Factsheet

Personnel professionals' body CIPD has updated its introductory factsheet on Redundancy.  It makes suggestions for managing and responding to workplace change flexibly and handling the situation sensitively as well as covering basic legal aspects. www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/emplaw/redundancy/redundancy.htm

Microsoft's DesignIT Competition

Microsoft's DesignIT competition is being run again this year, offering IT professionals the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise and creativity by transforming the technical infrastructure of a charity of their choice, or picking up a project from NSPCC, Leonard Cheshire, Global Action Plan or Fauna and Flora International.  Applications by 21st March – www.microsoft.com/uk/designit. Meanwhile, Computing magazine looks at last year's winning project for the Alzheimer's Society.

Online Collaboration Facilities for Charities

A current thread on Charity Web Forum (groups.yahoo.com/group/charitywebforum/) about online collaboration tools has thrown up a UK based service, Huddle, which provides more or less full facilities to registered charities at no charge.  No reports on how good it is yet, but worth a look, www.huddle.net/why-huddle/huddle-for-charities/

GiftEase – Software to Process Gift Aid

GiftEase is a state of the art intelligent system that enables charities to claim Gift Aid meticulously, efficiently and with minimum risk to charity administrators and finance officers.  It decreases the risks present in a comprehensive and ongoing re-assessment of each donor's gift, gift after gift, after gift.  

A non-qualifying gift one month may become a qualifying gift a year later... what manual process can achieve that?  GiftEase achieves this by taking information and verifying it against GAVE (Gift Aid Validation Engine). GAVE establishes relationships between data and makes intelligent decisions on behalf of the charity administrator.

For more information contact GiftEase – telephone 01622 842540, email info@gift-ease.co.uk or see the website www.gift-ease.co.uk

Goodmoves

The three national local infrastructure associations, NAVCA, SCVO and WCVA, have launched goodmoves.org.uk – a multimedia recruitment advertising service and careers hub run by and for the not for profit and voluntary sector.

To celebrate this partnership, goodmoves.org.uk is offering the first 100 job adverts posted will be free.  If you would like more information please call Michelle Emerson directly on 0114 289 3957, or if your organisation has a vacancy to advertise please go to their website for further information of how to advertise – www.goodmoves.org.uk

fit4funding Training Prospectus

Apart from producing a newsletter and providing ‘Help and Advice’ on their website – www.fit4funding.org.uk – fit4funding also offers training for funding advisors and funders as well as groups.

fit4funding has just published a new training prospectus of courses they can present and run for your group.  It can be downloaded from their website – fit4funding.org.uk/assets/uploads/files/f4fprospectus.pdf

Details of the charges for running these courses are available at – fit4funding.org.uk/cib_services/cib_training/

If you want a hard copy of the prospectus please email infor@fit4funding.org.uk with your full details and postal address.  If you are interested in any of the courses please contact Chris Hollins on 01924 239063 or email chris.hollins@fit4funding.org.uk

All events appear in the website diary and a full training programme of events can also be downloaded from www.fit4funding.org.uk/training_programme.php

To make enquiries about training events please contact Beverley Poppleton or Wendy Goddard on 01924 239063 or email info@fit4funding.org.uk

Ministry of Justice Consultation on Third Sector Strategy

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation on their draft third sector strategy.  The MoJ is keen to engage better with voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises and other third sector organisations.

This consultation document aims to improve relations between the third sector and the various different parts of the MoJ.  The benefits of improved relations will hopefully lead to MoJ services that are better than now and more cost-effective, whilst retaining impartiality.

Responses to the MoJ consultation should be received by 20th March 2008 – www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/071220_moj.aspx
or www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp3307.htm

Vacancy: Business Development & Funding Director

at Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire

Salary: £31,000 with contributory pension

The person: You will be an ambitious and dynamic professional, educated to degree level, with a track record in business development and fundraising.

The role: You will lead the Trust's fundraising and major bids to a variety of funding partners, and will assist in the planning of new services and programmes. You will negotiate new contracts with corporate and public sector organisations, and will take principal responsibility for the development of the Trust's Derby City programme. Your duties will include the development of new environmental and regeneration projects.

Closing date: 5th March 2008.

Interview date: 19th March 2008.

For further information and an application pack, visit the website at www.gdd.org.uk

International Women's Day 2008

10am-4pm Saturday 8th March 2008
Darwin Suite, Assembly Rooms, Derby

The theme for this year’s event is ‘What’s Your Next Move?’ - Career, Hobbies, Training, Family, New Venture.

This event will be one where women attending can try new and exciting opportunities either for the first time or again, if you wish.  The event is for women and girls of all ages.  There will be goodie bags for women and children, taster sessions, and refreshments.  The event is FREE.

For further information, please contact the Derby Women’s Centre on tel: 01332 341633.

CWDC Induction Standards

Thu 28 Feb 2008 9.30am –12.30pm
at  Belper Football Club, Belper

The conference is on the CWDC Induction Standards and the morning will also include a presentation on the Independent Safeguarding Authority and the implications it will have on CRBs and why it has come into being.

There will also be information available from Derbyshire Safeguarding Children’s Board on their training.

If anyone would like to book a place they can call Amber Valley CVS on 01773 512076.

Rights of Disabled People

A petition about the Rights of Disabled People in relation to the UN Convention is available to be signed by supporters. 

Don't forget to respond to the email that will be sent to you.

The petition has under 2000 signatures at the time of writing - whilst over 44,000 have signed a petition to make Jeremy Clarkson Prime Minister!