VolResource Newsletter 357

11. Charity accounts independent examination guidance update
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The Charity Commission's Guide for Trustees and Examiners on the Independent Examination of Charity Accounts now has separate comprehensive guidance for independent examiners. ("Independent Examination is a form of external scrutiny of accounts specifically designed for charities ... a lower cost option for the 95 per cent of charities whose income and assets fall below the statutory audit threshold.") http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/news/cc31and32news.asp.

12. New Gift Aid declaration forms
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The model Gift Aid declaration forms for charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) have been updated to reflect the change in the basic rate of tax from 6th April 2008. Downloadable from http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/forms.htm.

13. Maternity leave changes
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People Management magazine has an overview on the changes in maternity leave law effective from 5th October. Employees on maternity leave are now entitled to the full range of company benefits throughout their leave.

21. Voices for Change Cymru
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Third sector organisations across Wales have been invited by sector umbrella body WCVA to join Voices for Change Cymru, which aims to bring grassroots experience into the scrutiny processes of both the National Assembly and local government. The initial response has been good but they would like to hear from even more. A questionnaire asks for brief organisation details as well as which issues you have an interest in. http://www.voicesforchangecymru.org.uk.

31. Political reshuffles change charity faces
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The reshuffle of Cabinet posts by Gordon Brown over the last week was limited, but has had wider impact on posts beyond the Cabinet table. Phil Hope has moved on from being Minister for the Third Sector (to a ministerial job at the Department of Health) and has been replaced by Kevin Brennan, MP for Cardiff West, previously at the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Meanwhile the Conservatives now have Nick Hurd, MP for Ruislip-Northwood and son of former foreign secretary Lord Douglas Hurd, covering the charities position. The previous holder Greg Clarke is to shadow Ed Miliband (a former third sector minister himself) at the new Department of Energy and Climate Change - the bare bones new web site is at http://www.decc.gov.uk. Plaza Publishing news alert at http://www.professionalfundraising.co.uk/home/content.php?id=1507.

While we are on politics, your editor found a Guardian comment piece (8th October) on the Conservatives 'discovery' of social capital a helpful insight in to how the party Is now approaching the role of community and charity organisations, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2008/oct/08/tory.social.policy.

32. First public benefit assessments under Charities Act 2006
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The Charity Commission is beginning to assess the public benefit of some charities operating in areas for which the presumption of public benefit has been removed under the Charities Act 2006. As well as assessing whether the individual charities meet the public benefit requirement, wider themes and points of interest for the sector will be identified. The first group to be assessed includes religious charities, fee-charging residential care homes and fee-charging schools. The Commission has also published summaries of responses to its recent public benefit consultations. News release at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/news/pbresponse.asp, consultations page at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publicbenefit/default.asp. Plaza Publishing news alert item at http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2292.

33. Changes to Scottish disclosure checks
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The Scottish Government has announced proposals "to better safeguard vulnerable groups and put an end to 'needless bureaucracy' which can deter volunteers from helping Scotland's children". This would end multiple checks and create one Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) register. The proposals will be introduced through secondary legislation in the Scottish Parliament next year, and a date for the scheme to go live is promised to be announced well in advance, to give groups adequate time to prepare. Official press release at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/10/06102415, or see CYP Now bulletin, http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/851227/.

34. Support for party conference bursaries for small charities
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NCVO's bursary scheme, enabling small charities to attend the political party autumn conferences, has proved a success and is to be expanded for next year. Five different groups attended each of the three main party conferences this year - read some of their feedback in the NCVO press release at http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=10908.

35. Sector research centres launch
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The Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy, funded by the Office of the Third Sector, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Scottish Government and the Carnegie UK Trust, officially began its research programme last week. Plaza Publishing news alert at http://www.professionalfundraising.co.uk/home/content.php?id=1500, or go to the Centre's web pages at http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/philanthropy/.

Mentioned in earlier newsletters, the Third Sector Research Centre opened on 1st September, "dedicated to world class research that analyses, maps and develops further understanding of the sector". A temporary web page can be accessed at http://www.tsrc.org.uk, and the official launch is 23rd October.

36. Joining together against poverty
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Get Fair, a national campaign calling for an end to poverty in the UK by 2020, has been created as a coalition of organisations. More than fifty children and older people's organisations, refugee and disabled groups, housing groups, faith and community groups have already joined. More details at http://www.getfair.org.uk.

37. Futurebuilders abolishing application form
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Sector investment fund Futurebuilders England is changing the way it works from 1st November, when it will no longer have an application form. If you are planning to apply using the online form, this should be done by 5pm, Friday 31st October, as after that the form will no longer be accessible. http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/content/Applying.aspx.

38. Empowering women in Scotland
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Women's groups projects in Scotland which support and empower women aged over 16 can apply for awards of up to £5,000 from the Women's Fund for Scotland. This has been given £110,000 by the Scottish Government to distribute in 2008/09. Apply by 12th December, http://www.scottishcf.org/grantsforwomen. (Source: Third Force eNews)

PDF note: to be able to read pdf files, download Adobe Reader from http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/readstep2.html, for accessibility matters see http://access.adobe.com. Or for an alternative, try Foxit Reader.

51. Funding information in the south west
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A new web site from Charities Information Bureau South and West makes its funding information database accessible via a simple registration system. The advice service online extends to the whole of the south-west of England (previously limited to fundraisers in Wiltshire, Swindon, Bath and north-east Somerset). See http://www.cibsouthandwest.org.uk.

52. Online directory for N Ireland social enterprise
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The Big Black Book is a new online trade directory for social enterprises across Northern Ireland, http://www.bigblackbook.org.

53. Involving beneficiaries and users in campaigning
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NCVO's Campaigning Effectiveness team has developed a resource to support and inspire involving users in campaign work. "Involving those who you represent and placing them at the heart of your campaigning is not only positive and desirable but a can be a source of legitimacy and accountability that strengthens your campaigns." There's a range of case studies, tools, research, Q and As, and more make up Count Me In, http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/campaigningeffectiveness/index.asp?id=10370.

54. Who receives EU funds?
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The European Commission has launched a Financial Transparency System website and search engine giving access to details of who receives EU funds managed directly by the European Commission and its executive agencies, http://ec.europa.eu/grants/search/index_en.htm. PublicTechnology.net news item.

55. Improving online information about the Compact
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The web site run by the Commission for the Compact has been tweaked, with a new discussion forum, an event section and a monthly newsletter update. We also think the navigation has been improved, with better links to local Compact information across England. However, it can currently be a little slow while the servers get upgraded, http://www.thecompact.org.uk.

We accept limited 'paid for' job ads: a guaranteed web site spot and trailing, plus basic details here. See http://www.volresource.org.uk/jobs/1.htm for opportunities/details.

** Newly listed: Volunteer Development Worker and Training Officer for Conflict and Change (London E2); Director for Amaze (Brighton); Toy Library Worker at Hackney Family Backup.