The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education is consulting on developing a National Alliance for voluntary and community organisations that provide adult learning and training in England. NIACE has funding from the UK Workforce Hub to pilot such a body.

Deadline for replies is 21st September. Online questionnaire at http://www.niace.org.uk/Research/Volsector/VCS-NLA/Default.htm, or email: lorraine.casey@niace.org.uk

The Commission on Unclaimed Assets, set up to propose what to do with money held by financial institutions that has been untouched by the depositors for a considerable period of time, produced its consultation paper recently (12th July).

A short Society Guardian piece by Matthew Pike, secretary to the commission, poses the issues around the proposed social investment bank well - one which could bring together funding packages from various sources and provide guarantees: http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,1817788,00.html.

Or see the CUA press info on ‘A Social Investment Bank’, with link to the report (in pdf format, 1.5Mb) at http://www.unclaimedassets.org.uk/press.php, banks reaction at http://society.guardian.co.uk/voluntary/news/0,,1819307,00.html.

Responses by 1st December.

A report from the Department of Health’s Third Sector Commissioning Task Force should encourage primary care trusts (PCTs) to consider local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations when commissioning health and social care services.

While Part I of the report, ‘No excuses. Embrace partnership now. Step towards change!’ has the phrase “It’s time to get on with it!” they are also asking for commissioners (and possibly others) to reflect on its conclusions and commitments and to send in responses. Start at http://www.dh.gov.uk/stakeholders, download (pdf format, 210kb) from http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/71/77/04137177.pdf, or see press release.

PAS 78, ‘Guide to Good Practice in Commissioning Accessible Websites’, commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission from the British Standards Institution, is now available to download (Word or pdf formats) at no charge from the DRC site at http://www.drc-gb.org/pas. Previously it had to be ordered from the BSI at £30 plus VAT.

From the same email update: RNIB’s Web Accessibility Consultancy recently launched a web accessibility blog: http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog.

FAME, the FrAmework for Multi-Agency Environments, which provides a theoretical framework and a series of practical tools and online support and solutions to support change and building multi-agency working, has launched a new graphical software tool.

‘The Demonstrator’ is designed to support partnerships in mapping out, visualising and developing a successful implementation strategy. http://www.fame-uk.org/news/article.aspx?newsID=28.

Government proposals for a Charities Commission and Register of Charities in Northern Ireland have been published.

At present there is no requirement for charities to register nor is there a regulating body for charities such as exists in England and Scotland.  This legislation will bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK.

A consultation period will run for 12 weeks, and it is hoped that proposed legislation woudl go to to parliament in late autumn. The legislation should be in place by late spring of 2007.

See Department for Social Development for consultation details.

The European Commission has threatened the Government with legal action for operating a tax system that it claims discriminates against foreign charities - from the Times, 10th July, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,200-2263907,00.html.

“The United Kingdom allows tax relief for gifts to charities, but only if they are established in the UK. Charities in other Member States are excluded from the relief and the Commission considers that this discrimination is contrary to the EC Treaty.”

If it does not get a satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice. EC press release.

Difficulties in the way the Licensing Act 2003 applies to village and community halls have been addressed by government proposals to remove the need for the appointment of a Designated Premises Supervisor as part of the alcohol licensing arrangements.

Rural community councils body ACRE has given this a cautious welcome, press release (pdf, 493kb), or see official press notice at http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=212309&NewsAreaID=2.

‘Before Signing On The Dotted Line’, a complete guide to the public service procurement process from finding the contract to preparing your tender, was published last Tuesday (11th July) by the Public Service Delivery Network.

It can be downloaded via NCVO’s web site, or see press release at http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/index.asp?id=2930.

Local Authority Health Profiles, designed to show the health of people in local authority areas across England, have been produced by Public Health Observatories and will be updated every year.

While the target audience is initially the local authorities and health services, more accessible Community Health Profiles will be available later. http://www.communityhealthprofiles.info.

The Community Organizing Toolkit, currently in beta (final testing), is an American set of resources that supports face-to-face training for residents and community leaders. Currently the focus is on ‘Doorknocking’ skills, as a community organising technique.

Written in Flash, the style may not travel too well but could give inspiration to a trainer or developer over here and intrigue community workers. http://www.organizinggame.org.

(Source: Klass notes)

David Cameron’s Chamberlain Lecture (in Birmingham) on communities last Friday (14th July) has some interesting ideas and viewpoints on the voluntary sector from the Conservative party leader.

The text of the speech is on the party’s web site. Some quotes:
“One idea is to create Social Enterprise Zones in the areas of the country which suffer most from deprivation and crime…..which attract government funding for the voluntary sector - and where there are less bureaucratic obstacles for community groups.”

and

“We need a government that is prepared to trust the third sector more. Sometimes that will mean letting go, taking risks, saying sometimes, we’re doing a lousy job rehabilitating drug users or helping excluded kids back into school - you have a go.

“And it will always mean - before taking any decision, before setting up any new bureaucracy - asking the question: what is the third sector, charities, voluntary bodies and social enterprises already doing and what more can they do?”