‘Voluntary Sector and Volunteering’ is a new certificate course from University of Derby which gives an appreciation of volunteering and awareness of the voluntary sector. Designed to be studied mainly online with limited attendance at the University.

Course details for the Certificate in Campaigning, a modular course organised by Westminster Explained and the Campaigning Effectiveness Programme (based at NCVO), are at http://www.effectivecampaigning.org.uk.- previous web address given (in June) was incorrect.

Closing date for applying for the first presentation is 31st August - see http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/ce/index.asp?id=2881 for details including costs.

NCVO’s latest VS magazine has an interview with the new chair of the Charity Commission, Dame Suzi Leather.

Available online at http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/vsmagazine/features/?id=3025.

National organisations wanting to post volunteering opportunities on the Do-It web site will be charged as from 30th September. Initial fees will include a training session.

This is part of making the National Volunteering Database sustainable. http://do-it.org.uk/needvolunteers/nationalorganisations.

Note: VolResource accepts volunteering vacancies for free, but we can’t cope with huge volumes!

The Department of Work and Pensions has announced that in future people on benefits who are volunteering will have lunchtime meals treated as an expense that can be claimed back without impact on benefits. However, this change from the position stated in the recently published guidance ‘A guide to volunteering while on benefits’ is not immediate - they say “We will be working closely with charities and volunteering organisations over the coming weeks and months to implement the changes quickly and smoothly as possible.”

Volunteering England had been planning to run a ‘Lunch Expenses Protest Week’ (w.c. 14th August). News items from them and DWP are currently linked from VE’s front page, at http://www.volunteering.org.uk.

The One World Trust and BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development) with support from The Baring Foundation are undertaking a study to look at ways through which feedback methods such as complaint and response mechanisms can enable UK development NGOs working overseas to increase accountability to beneficiaries.

The initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of complaint mechanisms for affected communities; it will result in the publication of a practical resource guide for development NGOs with details on how they can establish complaint mechanisms.
If you are interested in these issues or have a relevant experience that you would like to share, please contact Monica Blagescu at the One World Trust on 020 7766 3465 or email: mblagescu@oneworldtrust.org
Information about the project is now available at www.oneworldtrust.org

The British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) has launched its call for entries to the 2006 Awards for Community Inspired Regeneration. These awards celebrate best practice in community inspired and led regeneration in urban and rural areas across the United Kingdom.

Sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the awards are a celebration of outstanding grassroots regeneration projects; the schemes that address local issues and as a result are raising community spirit and improving quality of life.

The closing date for entries to this year’s awards is 21 September 2006. Entries will be considered in two categories, those projects that employ full-time paid staff and those that have no full-time paid staff. For further information visit http://firsthand.bura.org.uk or contact BURA (tel: 020 7539 4030 or email: awards@bura.org.uk).