7th October 2011
VCS Assembly News Update 7 October (Issue 72)
In this issue:
1. News
2. Dates for Your Diary
3. Funding News
4. Consultations / Help Needed
5. Compact
6. Career Opportunities
7. Important Reminders
Printed Version Attached:
7th October 2011 VCSA Newsletter Issue 72 (3031.5KB)
1. News
Open Public Services White Paper - West Midlands' Cross Sector Response
As discussed in issue 71 of the VCS Assembly newsletter - A Public Service White Paper was published on the 11th July. This response has arisen following a cross sector discussion held in the West Midlands convened by West Midlands Councils, a voluntary organisation of all 33 local authorities in the West Midlands. Please find below the response.
WMids Cross Sector Response (70KB)
VCS Assembly has a new Shropshire Graduate
Recently the VCS Assembly Coordinator put in a bid for a Shropshire Graduate to be placed within the VCS Assembly team. We are please to announce that David Fairclough has joined the team for the next six months until late March 2012. David's first task will involve him communicating effectively with the VCS Assembly members and to learn about the great work that its members do. I am sure you will all welcome David to the Assembly and look forward to meeting
him.
David will be taking over the day to day duties of the VCS Assembly newsletter with immediate effect. Therefore if you have any positive stories regarding 'joint working' that have benefited the community he would love to hear from you. His email address is david.fairclough@shropshire.gov.uk or you can call him on (01743)252 295 (Wed-Thurs).
VAT returns to go fully electronic
HM Revenue and Customs has issued a 'VAT Notes special supplement' on the move to online filing of VAT returns and electronic payments for virtually all VAT businesses from April 2012.
They will write to relevant organisations in February 2012 to give details of the changes and support available, but its best to plan now if this applies to you.
VAT Notes (57.44KB)
Volunteers, interns and the minimum wage
Updated official guidance has been produced on the payment of the National Minimum Wage for work experience staff and interns, and the web pages also cover volunteers and voluntary workers in relation to the minimum wage. Business Link short web link is http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/nmw - the volunteers section is towards the bottom of the list.
Plus a reminder that the rates of NMW go up from 1st October - current and new rates are available from the same source.
Annual Report 2010-11 (446.54KB)
2. Dates for Your Diary
The SIXTH Rainbow Film Festival . . .One week to go !!
Friday 14th to Sunday 16th October 2011
at the Old Market Hall Cinema, Shrewsbury
Full EVENT GUIDE - Click on 2011 RFF
For more information and bookings click on: http://www.rainbowfilmfestival.org.uk/
Volunteer management - A course which provides an introduction into good practice in volunteer management
Venue: Community Council Training Suite
Date: Monday 31st October.
It will serve as a starting point for people who have an ongoing responsibility for supporting, supervising and co-ordinating the work of volunteers.
Contact Lorraine Smart at the Community Council of Shropshire on 01743 237880 or email lorraine.smart@shropshire-rcc.org.uk
West Midlands European Network is running a number of training sessions and seminars concerning ERDF. Please find below their training/seminar for October 2011. These informative seminars will look at the current ERDF priorities and recent changes to the programme administration. They will also include a brief introduction to Europe 2020 and the UK's National Reform Programme.
ERDF UNPACKED
Thursday 6th October - Stoke-on-Trent, The Bridge Centre
Wednesday 12th October - Wolverhampton YMCA
Thursday 20th October - Coventry, The Hope Centre
Thursday 27th October - The Marches Ludlow Conference Centre (venue TBC)
All seminars: 9.30 - 12.30pm
Please contact Ted Ryan, Event Coordinator at West Midlands European Network, Unit F5, The Arch, 48 - 52 Floodgate Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SL, Telephone: 0121 683 8890, Mobile: 0797 440 7015
www.wmeuronet.co.uk/training/events-programme-autumn-2011
'Dangers - in the virtual playground' - Addressing new risks for children and young people - Sexting, Grooming and Disinhibition effect '
Specialist Keynote speakers on Child Sexual Abuse. Conferences hosted by Stop it Now! West Midlands. Choice of two dates at top conference facilities with free parking, hot lunch and delegate resource pack. Be the first to see new showcase production of Escape 2 by Saltmine Theatre Company.
Please see attached flyer with conference information and attached booking form to reserve your place. We anticipate demand to be high so please book now to avoid disappointment. We would appreciate if you could take a minute and forward this e-mail to any partners or organizations who you feel would benefit from attending.
The Stop it now! Team look forward to meeting you at the Conference
Stop It Now!Conference Details (2034.67KB)
Martine McFadden - Project Manager, Stop It Now! Black Country and Birmingham
Tel: 01384 561775, Black Country & Birmingham, C/O Barnardo's, Blantyre House, 4 Barrack Lane,
Halesowen , B63 2UX
Transversal Study Visits
Deadline for applicants: 14th October 2011
This programme is open to education and vocational training specialists and decision makers so people from all areas of education and training can take part, including voluntary sector and non-governmental organisations. The benefits of participating in a study visit are numerous and include enhancing your CPD by learning about new practices and approaches in education and vocational training, exchanging expertise with other professionals, and networking.
The next deadline for applications is 14 October 2011 for study visits taking place between March and June 2012. The application form and the catalogue with study visits can be accessed on the transversal website.
For more information email studyvisits@uk.ecorys.com
NCVO Trustee Conference 2011, 31st October 2011
31st October 2011, 09:30 - 17:00.
Here are a few of this year's highlights:
Choose from a range of practical workshops from how to deal with difficult board members through to managing the fallout from enforced change.
Hear from some of the sector's most inspiring leaders, including Martyn Lewis CBE, Chair of NCVO who has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in trusteeship and Martha Lane Fox, the Government's Digital Champion who founded lastminute.com.
Bookings now open for joint ACEVO and NCVO Localism Conference in Birmingham - 09 December 2011
The Coalition Government's Big Society agenda has signalled the end of centralised, top-down decision making. In its place, a new era of localism has been signalled, with an emphasis on empowered and engaged citizens, local decision-making and accountability. That's the policy: but what's the reality?
At this conference we will look ahead and discuss how localism is evolving both outside and within the sector. You will hear from government ministers, policy makers and innovators in localism who will give you the knowledge and experience to tackle localism head on. Find out more at: http://www.localismconference.org.uk/
MIDLANDS CHORALE
Conductor Oliver Walker with The Concert for Clara Orchestra Leader Julia Johnson present:
Some Messiah!
Some Enchanted Evening!
A Concert for Clara - proceeds to Rett Syndrome research
Sunday 6th November 7.45pm
Shrewsbury RC Cathedral, Town Walls
Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace: Supporting Mental Health and Combating Sickness Absenteeism
Central London, Tuesday 11th October 2011
KEY SPEAKERS:
Bill Gunnyeon, Director for Health, Work and Wellbeing & Department for Work and Pensions
Graeme Henderson, Head of Health and Work, Department of Healthhttp://publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/BJ11-PPE.php
Legal Master Class: Public Service Contracts
Tuesday 11th October 2011: 10am
A one day master class designed for experienced procurement staff and providers covering exclusive and specialist legal training in procurement and contract risks and clauses. This event is jointly delivered by NCVO and TPP Law solicitors.
Venue: NCVO, London
Master class: Consortia for Contracts
Thursday 13th October 2011. 10:00am
A one day master class for commissioners, procurement staff and providers actively looking at consortia to deliver services.
Venue: NCVO, London
Beyond the Welfare State: an NCVO / ACEVO debate
Wednesday 16th October 2011. 2:00pm
A free debate on the future of publicly funded services.
Location: Central London venue, TBC
3. Funding News
Opportunities for paid placements
The World of Difference UK programme gives 500 people the chance to work for a UK charity of their choice in paid placements funded by the Vodafone Foundation.
As well as full-time two month placements, this year people can consider a part-time placement over a four month period (minimum of 15 hours per week). Applications should be made before 4pm, 22nd November, and placements must start between 28th February and 5th March 2012. Find out more at http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk.
Social enterprise financial awards spreading slowly
The Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards are being rolled out in stages - September in Tyne and Wear/Northumberland, mid-September in Birmingham and the Black Country, October in Merseyside, with the Awards reaching the whole of the UK in 2012. They are targeted at established social enterprises, with two or more years of trading, that have ambitions to develop their business but need a financial boost to help them realise their ideas. http://www.santanderseda.co.uk.
Learning from unsuccessful grant applications
New guidelines on how charities can learn and benefit from unsuccessful grant applications and how grant makers can help unsuccessful applicants has been published by the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Cass Business School. This is based on qualitative research funded by the Charities Aid Foundation. Press release, or download 'The Art of
Refusal: Promising Practice for Grant Makers and Grant Seekers' in pdf, 529KB.
Government funding round-up
The Community Action Against Crime: Innovation Fund encourages creative new approaches to tackling crime, encouraging voluntary and community groups to work with their community safety partnership to tackle local crime problems. "Applications from grassroots community activists who are not traditional recipients of government grants are encouraged", by 1st December, http://www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/crime-innovation-fund.
New fund to encourage giving
The Office for Civil Society has launched a £10m fund aimed at supporting ideas to increase 'the giving and exchange of time, assets, skills, resources and money'. The Innovation in Giving Fund (to be managed by NESTA) will give out individual awards of £50,000 to £150,000. Applications deadline is 12 Noon on the 14th October.
Read about the bidding criteria here: http://www.nesta.org.uk/library/documents/IIGCallForIdeas.pdf
4. Consultations / Help Needed
Shropshire Disability Network needs your votes!
Shropshire Disability Network is hoping you might be willing to help them with a vote in the NatWest CommunityForce awards, which are worth £6000. SDN is in the running for this area, but if they could have your vote it would really help. And £6000 would do so much to help them expand their work!
So please spend a few minutes voting for them. Here's how to do it:
1. Enter this address into your web browser: www.natwest communityforce (the address looks odd, but it does work)
Click on the top item, which will bring you to the home page of Natwest CommunityForce.
2. You will need to register with basic details (your email address, a password and answers to a few simple tick-box questions). They will send you an email saying your registration has been accepted you can then place up to three votes, one of which we hope will be for Shropshire Disability Network.
3. Click on the 'Projects' tab. To the left of the map is a list. In 'Search' at the top of the list enter this postcode: SY3 6BN. Then click on Elderly & Disabled. This narrows your search down as much as possible and it is easy to find our application among the two or three available options.
4. If you are unable to access the site to vote, contact CommunityForce helpline on 0800 2100 246. People with hearing and speech impairments can use Minicom 0800 0155 545.
e-Safety Training Audit
It is important that the SSCB e-safety subgroup has an overview of the e-safety education and training that takes place across Shropshire as well as understanding what more we can do to help staff in schools, colleges and in non-school settings.
To help us achieve this we are asking agencies to complete a very short audit by clicking on the link below. Once we have the responses the SSCB e-safety subgroup will provide some general feedback to all those who have taken part and use the results to plan future training provision. Please aim to complete the audit by 1st November 2011. Please visit the link below to take part.
http://bit.ly/nzNR5N
Username - esafety
Password - Tuesday19
If you have any questions then please email lisa.charles@shropshire.gov.uk
5. Compact
Compact Week is fast approaching - 7th November 2011
Compact Week is an annual campaign held to promote the Compact, the longstanding agreement that sets out shared commitments and guidelines for partnership working between government and the voluntary sector.
The week engages voluntary organisations, government departments, local authorities and other public sector partners working with the Compact locally or nationally.
This year's Compact Week takes place from Monday 7th to Friday 11th November. Various events and activities take place across England throughout the week.
This year's theme is 'Local Knowledge is local power'.
The VCS Assembly will be promoting Compact week in a variety of ways over the next month so stay tuned!
6. Career Opportunities
Narthex Sparkhill are a faith based a charity set up by St John's Church. They have been awarded a 5 year grant, funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund, to establish and run a food bank in Sparkhill Birmingham.
Narthex Centre provides services to support people in crisis, of all ages, faiths and ethnic origin in the deprived Sparkhill, Sparkbrook and Springfield areas of Birmingham.
The heart of their work is to improve the quality of life for people through the provision of social welfare, recreation, education and personal development.
Narthex Centre in Birmingham has vacancies for the following posts:
For more information on two vacancies provided by Narthex Sparkhill please visit the Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership website: http://shropshirevcs.org.uk/site/home/vacancies-in-the-voluntarycommunity-sector-in-shropshire/
7. Important Reminders
News Items
VCS Assembly launches new email
The VCS Assembly Coordinator has been receiving an increasingly high volume of emails. The vast number of emails received each day means it has been difficult to deal with all enquires quickly. Many apologies if you have been affected by this. Please telephone 01743 252740 if you need support with any issues or have any unresolved queries. In order to address this problem a new email address has been set up that may be monitored by others (support has been drawn in
from the Council's Partnership Team). The new email address is: VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk
Assembly Performance Survey - Please Help!
The VCS Assembly and Shropshire Council are working together to try and adopt a new approach to performance, focused on outcomes and ensuring reporting is proportionate to value/scale etc. A questionnaire has been developed designed to cover a range of issues relating to performance. The results will be used to ensure that any new approach is based on comments and feedback from the wider VCS Assembly membership. To date the number of responses has been low. Please do your best
to respond to ensure future developments are in line with your organisation's needs.
Please click on the below email to open the Survey.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/vcsperformancemeasures
If you have any questions relating to the survey please email VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk
Could you be a Rockspring Supporter?
The Ropckspring Centre in Ludlow needs you! If you are able to help them in any way or to offer any donations to help them raise funds please contact the Rockspring Community Centre. For details of events, activities and what the RockSpring Centre offers please click the PDF below.
Rockspring Supporters Final (226.05KB)
Funding
West Midlands Low Carbon Economy Programme
MEA has recently won a significant amount of funding to deliver the Community Strand of the West Midlands Low Carbon Economy Programme, and is partnering with Localise West Midlands. The funding runs until December 2011 and will help third sector and community groups from across the region develop sustainable energy projects and install renewable technologies. If this of interest get in touch with Simon Ross on 01743 277106 simon@mea.org.uk
Homelessness Transition Fund Launched
The Department for Communities and Local Government has launched a £20 million fund to tackle homelessness in England. Grants of up to grants of £250,000 are available to protect and enhance essential services for single homeless people.
The deadline for applications is 30 September 2011. See:
http://www.homeless.org.uk/fund
Events
http://www.shropshirevcs.org.uk/
Demonstrating impact - what it's all about
One day 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 11 October at Reviive, Unit 4, Knight's Park, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury SY1 3AB
Contact rosemary@furniturescheme.co.uk or rosemarycollie@yahoo.com
Consultations
New policy directions for Big Lottery Fund
A government consultation has opened on proposed new policy directions for the Big Lottery Fund. One potential funding priority is "strengthening and increasing the capacity of the social investment market". There is some sector concern that the principle of "additionality", where lottery funding is distinct from government funds, is being weakened. Third Sector news item at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/article/1086082/
Deadline 18th November
Consultation page:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/big-lottery-fund-consultation-proposed-policy-directions
Consultation: Housing Benefit reform
The government has launched a consultation on proposals to change the way Housing Benefit helps those living in supported housing within the social and voluntary sector with their rent. They are seeking views to inform their policy development as they look to re-design the way in which Housing Benefit helps with the higher rents sometimes faced by those needing support to live independently, such as the elderly or those with disabilities. You can
respond on-line and to send a formal response, you will need to register and log in.; this will allow you to return later to edit your response. This consultation is open until 9th October 2011.
https://interactive.dwp.gov.uk/housing-benefit-reform-supported-housing
Compact
Survey results on local Compacts
Compact Voice has published the results of a comprehensive survey into the state of local Compacts in England, the agreements between the public and voluntary sectors. This is the first in what is intended to be an annual exercise to improve understanding and engagement.
http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/news/2011/08/16/research-indicates-88-local-areas-support-compact
Compact Awards 2011 Launched by Compact Voice
The Awards will highlight and recognise outstanding examples of partnership work between voluntary and community organisations and the statutory sector and provide an opportunity to recognise commitment to Compact principles and achievement as a result of implementing Compact-working. Compact Voice is inviting all those involved in Compact groups to consider nominating a person or group as an example of best practice around delivering better partnership working.
www.compactvoice.org.uk/awards
Winners will be announced during this year's Compact Week which takes place from Monday 7 to Friday 11 November 2011.
Shropshire VCS Assembly Updates available
Compact working is still going well in Shropshire and the partnership groups established to tackle priority issues are meeting bi-monthly. To encourage influence from all VCS Assembly members, all meeting papers are published on the internet. See the latest update:
http://shrop.net/2shropnet/AToZOfMini-sites/V/VoluntaryCommunitySectorAssembly/PartnershipWork2011
As usual please send details of any events, news items and other opportunities you would like to share with others. Also, don't forget to send in your success stories of 'partnership working' which has benefited the community in some way, we would love for them to get published in the next newsletter!
Best wishes
David Fairclough
VCS Assembly Officer (Shropshire Graduate)
Telephone 01743 252 295
Email: VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk
Website: www.2shrop.net/shropvcsassembly