Following consultations, the General Social Care Council has made recommendations to government on the next phase on social care worker registration. They want domiciliary and residential social care workers to be added to the Social Care Register as the next priority, which would include specified training requirements.

News release.

The Charity Commission web site has a new page bringing together commonly used forms with guidance notes on completing them.

Titled ‘Apply for it’, at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/common/applyforit.asp.

An online forum set up by the Hayden Phillips Review of the Funding of Political Parties is open to all to discuss the issues. It is currently planned to run until September, with specific topics highlighted over a week or two.

See http://forum.partyfundingreview.gov.uk.

The Fundraising Standards Board’s draft Donors’ Charter is open for comments until 1st September.

Visit http://www.fsboard.org.uk/donors-charter.aspx.

The ‘review of the future role of the Third Sector in social and economic regeneration’, part of the Treasury’s Comprehensive Spending Review, is under way.

While there is only the London consultation event on 18th September left from the original official set (see http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/policy/index.asp?id=2777), details of other events in September run for local organisations are on the NAVCA web site at http://www.navca.org.uk/events/treasuryreview.htm.

Otherwise see the Treasury’s questions and how to respond.

Northern Ireland umbrella body NICVA has now produced a briefing paper on the draft charities legislation issued by the Department for Social Development (see item, 18th July). The web page also has links to details of events being held on the proposed law reform.

Consultation runs to 13th October.

The latest allocation round of the Invest to Save - Inclusive Communities Budget (ISB, total funds of £13.5 million) focuses on forging stronger partnerships between local authorities and the third sector in the development of innovative approaches to service delivery and building fairer communities. The aim is for projects to deliver cash-releasing efficiencies.

Apply by 27th October - see http://www.isb.gov.uk/hmt.isb.application.2/.

The second round of the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund is open to faith-based groups whose work promotes understanding and dialogue. The priorities for the £4.5 million available are capacity building and inter faith activity. Closing date 1st November.

News release at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2223 or go direct to web site of fund administrators CDF

The Microsoft Community Learning Awards will give £2,500 plus software to 30 winners. Entry is open to community groups and registered charities in the UK which are seeking funding for IT skills projects for disadvantaged young people and adults in their area. Deadline 27th September. See http://www.ukcommunityawards.com.

The new round of BT Community Connect opened on 16th August, with over 1300 awards up for grabs by groups who can demonstrate how a PC and internet connection would benefit their work and local community.
http://www.btcommunityconnections.com.

The recently released 2005 Scottish Household Survey findings include:
- One in five adults say that they gave up time in the previous 12 months to help as a volunteer for a charity, club, campaign or organisation.
- Volunteering is more common among those who are self-employed (24 per cent), working part time (25 per cent) and among higher income households (35 per cent, more than £40,000).
News release at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2006/08/03100533 links to the report.

The first IT Volunteer Awards for Voluntary and Community Organisations aim to celebrate groups and individuals who have made innovative use of ICT involving volunteers. For details see http://www.it4communities.org.uk/it4c/AwardNomination06.jsp.

Closing date 11th October.

Voluntary sector fundraisers (paid or volunteer) can apply for one of ten OU Business School scholarships worth £500 each towards the cost of studying the 6 month ‘Winning Resources and Support’ course, which can lead to the Certificate in Fundraising Management.

Apply by 8th September. http://www3.open.ac.uk/media/fullstory.aspx?id=9292.