eNews

High Peak now has its own dedicated handy van service making it safer for older and vulnerable people to live in their own homes. This service offers householders fire risk assessments, security checks, energy efficiency advice and practical household tasks.

The need for the handy van service was identified following widespread consultation with older people and a number of organisations across the county. Derbyshire County Council is part-funding the scheme, with other money coming from the Regional Housing Board, following a successful joint bid by all the district and borough councils. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has also played an important role in the scheme, supplying all eight of the new vans as well as insuring, taxing and maintaining them. The service will also pay for the cost of fuel.

All handy van staff will be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau and the scheme has funding initially for two years. It will be free to people aged over 60 and those who have been referred because they are vulnerable or at risk. To ensure as many people as possible have a chance to use the handy van services, households will be restricted to two visits per year.

Whilst the County Council will oversee the Handy Van’s operation, agencies in each area in partnership with the district and borough councils, will run them on a day to day basis.

If you need the Handy Van services contact the Buxton Volunteer Centre on 01298 23970 or drop into the centre on the Market place, next door to Sainsburys.

Launch of LEADER Funding will Help Develop Rural Economy

£1.9m funding provided by the European Union and Defra is now available until 2013 to help develop the Rural Economy.

Micro-enterprises and land based businesses within the Peak District Rural Action Zone (RAZ), covering large parts of Derbyshire Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands and High Peak, will be able to apply for funding to help them diversify their interests and become more sustainable thanks to the launch of Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership’s (DDEP) new LEADER funding.

LEADER will be co-ordinated by the Local Action Group (LAG), which comprises 15 public, private and voluntary sector representatives, all with local knowledge and expertise. Local members include Councillor Tracey Critchlow, Farming Life Centre Manager.

Over the next few months, the focus will be on helping the land-based sector to diversify into non-agricultural activities, particularly within the food and drink, creative industry and environmental sectors. Eligible projects will have a value of at least £7,000 and could include applications for funding towards the cost of feasibility studies, market research, start-up capital and revenue costs, product development and refurbishment projects.

Alongside this, LEADER funding will support the creation and development of micro-enterprises and social enterprises. New start-up businesses and existing businesses employing less than ten people will be able to apply for match-funding grants to help set-up and market a new business venture, develop local products or refurbish and convert a property for business use. To be eligible for funding, businesses must have a focus on local products or services and deliver clear economic benefits, particularly on job creation.

In the future, grants will also be available through LEADER for projects and businesses that will contribute to tourism in the area; enhance and develop rural heritage; projects that help raise skills and address specific skills gaps in rural provision; and activities that improve access to key rural services.

The LEADER approach has a cross cutting theme of ‘growing greener enterprise’ and will therefore give priority to any proposals that make use of environmental technologies and/or renewable energy solutions and those that integrate environmental management and resource efficiency principles into their proposals.

For further information about the LEADER project and grant eligibility, visit www.DDEP.co.uk. Alternatively e-mail Amanda.Brown@ddep.co.uk.

Awards for Bridging Cultures

The Awards for Bridging Cultures (ABCs) are launched for the first time. Funded by the Baring Foundation and delivered by the Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo), the ABCs will reward grass roots, community and voluntary organisations for local schemes and projects which promote intercultural dialogue and understanding. It will also reward public and private sector organisations for initiating and supporting such schemes.

For more information - www.bridgingcultures.org.uk/researchnet/abc

DDEP Grants

DDEP currently has Invitations to Apply for Grant Funding for both revenue and capital projects. These cover both DDEP’s main programme and the remaining allocation available to the Peak District Rural Action Zone (RAZ) up to March 2011. Whilst the priorities identified are relevant to the RAZ, projects will be prioritised which demonstrate clear fit with the specific actions in the RAZ Action Plan 2008-11 ( available on the website) and address gaps in current provision. Emphasis will be placed on developing rural-market town linkages and activity in Market Towns.

Woodland and Hedge Laying Course

Time is running out to apply for a place on a College of the Peak’s new Woodland Management course – and its autumn hedge laying courses.

The Woodland Management course runs from Friday 10 October to Sunday 12 October and costs just £165 for three days. The course will show you how to coppice, make charcoal, turn wood on a pole lathe and make willow hurdles.

There’s a choice of two hedge laying courses – a two day taster course for just £110, on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October or a five day accredited course from October 27 to 31, costing £250. The qualification will allow you to go out and work as a qualified hedge layer.

For further information and an application form contact: Vanessa Swetman, College of the Peak, Manor Barn, Over Haddon, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1JE, or telephone 01629 815749 or visit the website at: www.collegeofthepeak.org.uk.

DCC Training for Youth Groups

DCC provides FREE training for groups/organisations that are working with or supporting children and young people.

Writing a Tender for Children & Young Adult Services

4 Nov 2008 - 10am-1pm at Bakewell Agricultural Centre

Tips on putting together a tender
Heard from a successful tenderer
Contact details of where to go for help

Speakers:
Naomi Compton – Head of Service, Partnership & Commissioning
Sandra Pink – Derbyshire CAN
Sue Howard – Manager, Volunteer Centre Buxton

£20 with lunch

Booking Form:
www.highpeakcvs.org.uk/events/WritingSuccesfulTender-BookingForm-Nov08.doc

Action For Sick Children Conference

Friday 10 October 2008 9.30 - 4.00pm at University of Warwick Scarman House

The conference will be relevant to all those interested in the standards of health services for children and young people in their own area.

More - www.highpeakcvs.org.uk/events/ActionSickChildrenConference-Oct2008.doc

NCVO Strategy and Impact Website

This new website aims to help you to:
know where you are going and how well you are doing;
grow by achieving even more for your users or cause;
show your successes and communicate your plans.

A friendly introduction to strategic thinking and planning, and how to know where you are going and how well you are doing. Fairly basic but some useful stuff tucked away (although one or two missing links and it's slightly messy when browsing using our standard font size).

www.strategy-impact.org.uk

Social Enterprise Development Worker Vacancy at Age Concern

37 hours pw £28,000 pa (two year project) based in Heanor

To lead the development of a strategic partnership between Derbyshire County Council and Age Concern Derby and Derbyshire to support the creation of a thriving social enterprise sector delivering practical independent living services to vulnerable adults. This exciting work will involve strategic development, innovative work with existing and emerging social enterprises and ultimately to improve the quality of life for vulnerable adults.

For a job application pack please contact:
Age Concern Derby and Derbyshire,
29A Market Place,
Heanor,
Derbyshire.
DE 75 7EG
Tel: 01773 768240 (+ answer-phone)
Email: administration@ageconcernderbyshire.org.uk

Closing date 20th October

Vacancy: Director of Funding & Community Engagement

at Regeneration East Midlands in Nottingham

Salary £30,000 - £35,000

Full details at - www.regenerationem.co.uk/content/view/374/2/

Closing Date: Wednesday 15th October

An Employer's Guide to Mediation

'Mediation: An Employer's Guide' is a new publication from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Acas which champions mediation as an effective way of organisations avoiding ending up at employment tribunals. It draws on a comprehensive survey of CIPD members and case studies (which included Salisbury Cathedral as a small/medium-sized charity).

Acas news item at www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2103 or download (pdf, 486KB) from www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1364

Change to Conflicts of Interest Under Company Law

From Sandy Adirondack's Legal update: Under provisions of the Companies Act 2006 coming into effect on 1st October, there are statutory duties to avoid conflict of interest, not accept benefits from third parties and declare an interest in transactions with the company. Certain potential conflicts of interest would need to be approved by company members or the board of directors, which could include for instance a local authority councillor on the board of a local organisation. For companies in particular also subject to charity law, the implications are still a little unclear, but for preliminary information see www.sandy-a.co.uk/managing.htm#codir-conflict

NCVO Job Shop

www.ncvo-jobshop.org.uk is the first point of call for anyone looking for a job in the voluntary or social enterprise sectors. It provides a cost-effective recruitment solution for voluntary organisations, and NCVO members save 10% on advertising rates. To find out more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/recruitment

Framing the Compact Debate

Compact Voice, the body charged with representing the voluntary and community sector in England on the agreement with government, has produced a pack to support participation in the debate on the Compact.

'Framing the debate on the future of the Compact' is in pdf, 76KB, at www.compactvoice.org.uk/module_images/Framing%20the%20Debate2.pdf and an online questionnaire is at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/compactquestionnaire Respond by 10th November.

The Commission for the Compact's discussion document (pdf, 47kb) is at www.thecompact.org.uk/shared_asp_files/GFSR.asp?NodeID=101783 It has also just published research findings, 'The State of Independence: A research study into independence and the Compact'. This finds that while The Compact has created an environment which encourages and supports central government departments to respect the independence of the third sector, there are still challenges ahead. News item.

Changes in Online Information on Charities

With the threshold for submitting annual accounts to the Charity Commission changing shortly to £25,000, the online database GuideStar UK has announced that it will continue to capture and display information from all Trustee Annual Reports and Financial Statements it receives, regardless of size. A simple method will be provided to voluntarily submit accounts electronically. Plaza Publishing news alert item www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2221

Plaza Publishing also reports that the new format official online register of charities expected this autumn will have colour-coded highlighting of charities that file their accounts late. www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2220

Social Enterprise Seen as Worthy but Inefficient

Research into current levels of understanding and awareness of social enterprise, carried out for the Office of the Third Sector, has revealed a high level of confusion. In those surveyed, when asked to pick out social businesses from a list of candidates the largest number chose Comic Relief or Childline, rather than the likes of Eden Project or Big Issue. And the sector is seen as vague, woolly, worthy, small and inefficient.

See Social Enterprise magazine news item, www.socialenterpriselive.com or the OTS short summary which has a link to a presentation (PowerPoint style) of the findings.

Community Investment for Social Benefit

A publication for Co-operatives UK written by consultant Jim Brown 'Community Investment – using Industrial and Provident Society legislation' gives an overview and practical guide for activists, advisors and professionals on the use of community share issues. As the first paragraph says, communities investing capital in business ventures serving a social or community purpose is not a new phenomenon, but the Fairtrade movement saw the start of the modern use of IPS legislation.

See www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/welcome.asp?id=2397 or download the publication (pdf, 2.6MB) direct.

A Guide to the UK PR and Lobbying Industry

A new booklet provides a snapshot of the PR and lobbying industry in the UK, documenting the tactics used by leading firms on such issues as nuclear power, science, food and local government. A section looks at the dangers of companies trying to co-opt voluntary groups – see Third Sector news item at www.thirdsector.co.uk/Article/846348/ (registration required). Published by Spinwatch, which monitors such activity, more information at www.spinwatch.org or download 'Spinning the Wheel' (pdf, 470KB) from www.spinwatch.org/images/spinning%20the%20wheels.pdf

Cracking the Sector Code

Voluntary Arts Network has a new Briefings sheet on 'Voluntary and community sector jargon', explaining some of the most common terms and acronyms used. Pdf, 171KB, www.voluntaryarts.org/uploaded/map7823.pdf

Worker Coops Blog

A blog aimed at those in Worker Co-operatives has been started by John Atherton, worker co-op development officer for Co-operatives UK, www.workerco-operatives.blogspot.com

Charity Awards

Social Change Awards from Directory of Social Change. Individuals and organisations other than charities can also enter – Everyday Impact Award, the Influencer Award, Investing in Social Change Award and the Public Body Award. Nominations by 17th October, www.socialchangeawards.org.uk

Magazines

NCVO's bi-monthly members magazine VS is now Engage, with more pages and related web content. www.beengaged.org

Design and Print

Russell Press, started by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation in the 1960s, specialises in printing services for the not-for-profit sector. www.russellpress.com

Successful Fundraising - 8th October, NCVO, London

In these uncertain economic times, this one day conference will provide you with practical advice to help maximise your organisation's fundraising potential.

For more information go to www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/fundraising08

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