Findings from a survey on strategic planning in third sector organisations, ‘Tools for strategic planning: what works best’.

Research report on ‘Use of outcomes measurement systems within housing and homelessness organisations’ includes key recommendations.

A senior research analyst for New Philanthropy Capital, a charity that provides tailored research and advice on effective giving, provides ideas on how voluntary organisations can measure and analyse their results. See article on Futurebuilders.

Phase 3 of the Big Lottery Fund’s Breathing Places programme (UK wide) aims to 1) increase the number and range of people making use of, and helping to develop and maintain, breathing places, and 2) make a lasting improvement to the natural environment of new and existing breathing places.

Grants of £1,000 to £10,000, http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_breathingplaces.htm.

‘Learning to Lead: Ten Ways to Develop Your Leadership Skills’ is the first publication from the Third Sector Leadership Centre.

The full 58 page document can be downloaded as a rather large pdf (8MB) via http://www.thirdsectorleadership.org.uk/DisplayPage.asp?pageid=10861, or same link to read a few paragraphs on each of the ten ways (such as mentoring or secondments) along with some video clips and case studies.

In an article on Futurebuilders web site, the Director of the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning explains the core activities of the programme.

This covers training for public sector purchasers of services and winning “hearts and minds”, plus improving bidding capacity in the third sector.

See Futurebuilders site.

The first foundation degree in sustainable communities in the UK is starting in January, developed by Sheffield Hallam University with the Academy for Sustainable Communities. Target students include people working in the voluntary sector or community activists keen to progress and benefit their local neighbourhoods.

See http://www.ascskills.org.uk/pages/learning-and-skills/foundation-degree.

Research to discover what extra financial value is added when third sector organisations undertake waste management is being carried out on behalf of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

The results will inform DEFRA policy. As Plaza Publishing news alert reports, this is believed to be the first time a Whitehall department has sought to measure the difference between third sector and commercial sector service delivery.

News item at http://www.plazapublishing.co.uk/defra.html.

A Commission for Youth Social Enterprise is being launched by 21 young social entrepreneurs. They presented its manifesto to Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband on 15th November. http://www.thebigboost.org.uk/template.php?ID=28&PageName=whatsnew.

The successful bids to establish the UK’s “first independent, multidisciplinary and academically based” Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy have been announced.

The main hub will be run by a team at City University, with the three spokes involving other universities. The Centre is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council, Office of the Third Sector, Carnegie UK Trust and the Scottish Government.

Plaza Publishing news item at http://www.plazapublishing.co.uk/givingresearch.html, or OTS news release at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/071107_philanthropy.aspx.

Following the publication of the Local Transport Bill, which will allow community bus services to employ drivers rather than depending solely on volunteers, the Community Transport Association and Big Social Invest are to help with funding for community transport enterprises to deliver new services.

Third Sector on the funding, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/766475/ (registration required), or see Regen Daily for more on the upcoming changes in the law, http://www.regen.net/bulletins/Regen-Daily-Bulletin/News/765909/.

The Charity Commission has launched a dedicated unit to provide support and expert advice to faith-based charities.

News release at http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=329242&NewsAreaID=2, or see the Faith and Social Cohesion Unit pages at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/faithsc.asp.

The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill, which will enable unclaimed assets to be invested for community purposes, was published shortly after its announcement in the Queen’s Speech.

The full text and notes can be found via the Leader of the House of Commons web site at http://www.commonsleader.gov.uk/output/page2155.asp, and an Office of the Third Sector news release connects to the previous consultation and the government’s response, at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/071114_assets.aspx.