Scotland’s new First Minister, SNP leader Alex Salmond, has restructured Cabinet posts and ministerial responsibilities, subject to parliamentary approval (Update since this was written - this has been given).
Announced on Wednesday (16th May), from the details given in the Scottish Executive’s news release (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/05/16161147) “voluntary sector and the social economy, community business and co-operative development” are in the brief of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Development (John Swinney).

The other cabinet posts are Education and Lifelong Learning (Fiona Hyslop), Health and Wellbeing (deputy Leader Nicola Sturgeon), Justice (Kenny MacAskill), Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead), with some ministerial areas e.g. Europe and Culture (and lottery funding), coming under the First Minister’s wing.

SCVO will presumably have more of interest to voluntary organisations soon, http://www.scvo.org.uk.

There are concerns that the ‘Review of Safeguards to Protect the Charitable Sector (England and Wales) from Terrorist Abuse’ announced by the government last week could be “placing a veil of suspicion” over charities as a whole and damage public trust and confidence. National umbrella body NCVO has issued a press release - see http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=4992. Third Sector reports Martin Hearson, of the aid agencies network Bond, as saying “There’s a risk charities will feel obliged to spend too much time and money on the requirements suggested in the report.”

The Charity Commission, which would be expected to carry out additional checks, has welcomed the review and will be making a detailed response after taking soundings on its approach with the charity sector - news release at http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=283563&NewsAreaID=2. A Charity Finance news item gives an overview of what their work might entail, such as overseas visits to confirm that charitable funds are being properly spent - http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/charitynewsalert/issue29/terrorism.asp.

The government sees this action as needed to ensure that charitable donations are kept as safe as possible. The review consultation document is available, in pdf format, at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/Charities_consultation.pdf, with responses needed by 2nd August. Home Office summary news item at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/terror-charities1.

From HM Revenue and Customs Charities News page:

The detailed guidance notes for charities about charitable expenditure have been completely revised, updated and re-titled to reflect the provisions introduced by FA06 concerning the treatment of non-charitable expenditure and transactions with substantial donors.

“Where a charity’s income and gains are not applied solely to charitable purposes, its exemption from tax may be restricted.” http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/guidance-notes/annex2/annex_ii.htm.

Scottish charity regulator OSCR is consulting on draft guidance for charities which may wish to reorganise, following the publication of the Charities Reorganisations (Scotland) Regulations 2007.

These come into force from 31st May but OSCR suggests that charities that lack sufficient reorganisation powers in their constitutions may wish to wait until after the consultation has finished and new guidance issued. Download the draft, pdf, 576kb.

Acevo, the chief executives body and England’s sector umbrella NCVO are talking about possible cooperation. They have previously had some notable disagreements, such as how far charities should be involved in the delivery of public services.

NCVO has recently announced that it is to invest more in leadership services for members, so coordination on policy and service provision looks sensible.

More in Third Sector item (registration required) at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/656000/.

NCVO has combined the Compact Advocacy Programme and Compact Voice project “to strengthen the voluntary sector’s work on the Compact”, the agreement with government at various levels covering its relationship with voluntary organisations.

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/compactadvocacy/?menuId=122.

Small charities with an income below £100,000 may be able to get a bursary from NCVO to attend this year’s party conferences in the autumn and also get a chance to air issues directly with a minister or senior MP. Eligible organisations need to explain why they wish to attend a party conference, what they would ask if they were in a meeting with an MP and the policies or changes they would like to see.

The deadline for applications is 2nd July. See http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/partyconfbursaryscheme, contact Sultana Begum on 020 7520 2505, or see Charity Finance news alert at http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/charitynewsalert/issue28/smallcharities.asp.

The offer is to 30 small charities and is open to non-members of NCVO.

Easy Converter, a desktop application to convert Word and pdf documents into accessible structured html web pages, has been launched by Northern Ireland software company RiverDocs.

It costs 399 pounds, see http://www.riverdocs.com.

(Source: E-access bulletin)

The Learning and Skills Council, which handles funding for adult education and training in England, is to make a worker in each of its regional offices responsible for championing the cause of voluntary sector service providers.

This is part of an effort to improve relationships with the sector, following some rocky times including NCVO asking a government minister to intervene in legal action by LSC earlier this year.

More in Third Sector magazine, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/655999/ (registration required).

The minutes of the latest meeting of UK Regulators’ Forum, which includes the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland and OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator)  can be accessed in pdf (30kb) on OSCR’s web site.

It’s a quick read of interest to anyone with a remit across Britain, and it suggests that a joint leaflet giving advice on fundraising might be produced in the autumn, and tax issues are likely to be the focus of the next forum (in London mid July).

Third Sector reports that fifteen charities and social care organisations are working together to try to achieve major reform of the funding system for older people’s long-term care. The Caring Choices coalition is holding debates around the country in an effort to get the government engaged in discussing the coming funding challenges.

News item at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/653053/ (registration required) or see the new coalition web site at http://www.caringchoices.org.uk.

A review on how the status of social care might be raised, undertaken for the Department of Health by Dame Denise Platt, has generally been welcomed by the voluntary sector.

The report includes recommendations for a ‘Skills Academy for Social Care’ to develop skills in leadership, commissioning and management across the whole social care sector, including public, private and voluntary organisations. The wide ranging proposals also cover establishing a Research Centre of Excellence, information dissemination, qualifications and registration.

See reaction from chief executives body Acevo, or download the report.