The consultation on Capacitybuilders ‘Destination 2014′ strategy for funding the development of the voluntary sector infrastructure and support (following on from ChangeUp) received a good level of response.

They have put together some initial feedback on the main themes from the process and the next steps at http://www.capacitybuilders.org.uk/info/story/default.asp?item=61. A revised version of the strategy will be launched at their Annual Conference on 3rd July.

Northern Ireland’s voluntary sector umbrella body NICVA has set up an ‘Assembly monitor’ web and weekly email service, to help organisations build relationships with, and influence the decisions of, their newly elected representatives.

Insights into lobbying, guide to committees and business updates and more via http://www.nicva.org//index.cfm/section/article/page/ni_assembly_monitor_2007.

‘ABC: An Introduction to KM’ (Knowledge management) is a recent article on the CIO web site recommended by Nonprofit Online News. Note that the internal page links don’t work. http://www.cio.com/article/print/40343.

The evaluation of the Neighbourhood Support Fund (NSF) shows that community organisations can work very effectively with young people, even those most troubled or at risk, and make a tangible difference to their lives.

A summary of the evaluation ‘Community organisations and young people - the benefits of working together’ can be downloaded from Community Development Xchange, pdf format 24kb, http://www.cdx.org.uk/news/odds/nsfsum.pdf.

The government’s Quirk Review has published its report ‘Making Assets Work’ which looks at encouraging community management and ownership of local public assets (buildings and land) across England. As widely trailed, it finds that there are no substantive barriers to prevent councils transferring assets into community management or full ownership. Powers already exist for this but many are not fully aware of them, or are not using them to full benefit. The report gives a vision that in 2020 “Grass-roots community organisations work alongside social entrepreneurs, and local government and the wider public sector make ever better use of public assets.”

However, the Local Government Association said that councils are relatively small holders of land and assets, and compared with the NHS, government departments and others public bodies have little left to offer - press release at http://www.lga.gov.uk/PressRelease.asp?lsection=07&id=SXD624-A7842F06.

The government’s implementation plan is due to be published on 22nd May, although New Start magazine already reports that there will be £400,000 for 20 pilot partnerships to push ahead with 40 significant transfer projects over the next 12 months. Communities Department news release at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2421; Making Assets Work can be downloaded from http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510515.

There were a number of announcements last week connected with the Hampton review on regulatory reform, including the establishment of a Local Better Regulation Office. The government is also consulting on a code which will require regulators to focus their work on the areas of highest risk - responses by 15th August.  http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/reform/hampton/latest.asp.

‘Changing neighbourhoods: lessons from the JRF Neighbourhood Programme’ is a report on the impact of a ‘light touch’ approach to supporting groups at neighbourhood level across 20 very different organisations working in a range of different national and local settings.

A summary is on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation web site at http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/housing/2031.asp, along with links to download or order the full report.

A short Urban Forum (http://www.urbanforum.org.uk/new/index.html) policy briefing on the Office of the Third Sector £80 million Small Grants Programme for community groups, announced in the Budget, says that only about £6 million will be allocated this financial year (2007-08), with the size of grants likely to be between £500 and £5,000.

A further update should appear on the OTS web site at the end of May: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/.

The Media Trust and The Society of Editors have been commissioned by Joseph Rowntree Foundation to produce guidance for the media to support good practice in reporting on poverty.

You can contribute your views by attending one of a series of workshops in June and July or filling in a short questionnaire at http://www.mediatrust.org/training-events/reporting-poverty.

The UK Workforce Hub has got new funding, from the Sector Skills Development Agency, to carry out a review and redevelopment of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for both Fundraising and Management of Volunteers.

The fundraising review has already started, with the other to follow in the next month or so. For more, see
http://www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk/DisplayPage.asp?pageid=11128.

The new vetting and barring scheme, which will make major changes to the organisation of lists of people banned from working with children or vulnerable adults, is now expected to be phased in from October 2008.

More on Sandy Adirondack’s Legal Update at http://www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#vettingandbarring, or see the information at Every Child Matters, http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/vettingandbarring - the ‘Vetting and Barring Scheme Overview’ link goes to a reasonably well produced 366kb PowerPoint presentation.

Official ‘Guidance on new measures to outlaw discrimination on grounds of religion or belief in the provision of goods, facilities and services’ has been published (online only) by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

As previously noted here, these regulations came into effect on 30th April. It covers issues such as liability and the limited exemptions - duties are similar to those under other anti-discrimination laws. From http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510068.