The Network Wales Awards are open for nominations of organisations which have excellent communications activity or are taking steps to be more sustainable/green organisations.

WCVA Chief Executive Graham Benfield OBE said: “Voluntary organisations across Wales are becoming more innovative and doing exceptional work that can sometimes go unnoticed.

“The Network Wales Awards is a new initiative that will collectively showcase the work of the third sector in Wales, highlight the progress the sector is making and recognise the achievements of outstanding organisations. We hope people involved with voluntary organisations will take the time to make a nomination.”

For more information and a nomination form, contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329, email: help@wcva.org.uk, or see Network Wales Awards online.

A capacity-building alliance involving a number of disability bodies is receiving £4.2 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s BASIS (Building and Sustaining Infrastructure Services) programme over the next 3 years.

Led by Scope, Disability LIB will be officially launched on 28 February and aims to help groups by improving their management and organisational systems.

Plaza/Professional Fundraising news item also mentions the other BASIS grants, at http://www.professionalfundraising.co.uk/home/content.php?id=820&pg=2&cat=2.

The National Learning Alliance, being set up to give a national voice for third sector learning and skills providers, is to get three years of support from the Learning and Skills Council. It will build on existing networks and seek to influence national policy.

Plaza Publishing news item at http://www.plazapublishing.co.uk/nationalearning.html.

Local third sector support organisations are to be enabled to help groups respond to the opportunities in the government’s new Children’s Plan by national umbrella body NAVCA.

NAVCA has received funding from the Children’s Workforce Development Council which will see it set up an email network (CYPNet) for third sector workers with an interest in children and young people’s issues, small grants to support training and sharing of good practice and an event in March. More at http://www.navca.org.uk/news/childrensplan.htm.

Third Sector magazine highlights that under the new charities legislation for Northern Ireland, establishing a charity register for the first time, charities registered in England, Wales or Scotland would be exempt from full registration.

This is in contrast to the recent Scottish requirements. http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/778352/ (registration required).

See previous news items for more background and links.

 Chorley.

The event will allow you to talk to 40+ organisations who supply ICT services to the voluntary sector in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire. Funded by the ICT Hub and the Five Counties Partnership. See NW ICT Champion site.

Scottish umbrella body SCVO is urging the voluntary sector to contact MSPs over attempts in the Scottish Parliament to pre-empt proper discussion on the use of dormant bank account money. A motion to use this for social and environmental purposes last week was withdrawn at the last minute to allow more time for debate. (From Third Force eNews)

Meanwhile, an amendment is to be tabled in the House of Lords which would mean that in England the proposed Social Investment Bank would share the money raised from dormant accounts equally with youth services. See Third Sector news item at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/778336/ (registration required). In Northern Ireland, NICVA is convening a roundtable discussion on the issue 31st January - http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/events/key/170108DormantAccountsEvent.

The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill is due to reach report stage in the Lords on 29th January, and it then goes to the Commons. http://www.commonsleader.gov.uk/output/page2155.asp.

Compact Voice national network has set up an online forum using the Ning social network platform, to share thoughts on Compact issues, concerns and priorities at a national level.

You need to register on Ning to join in - http://compact.ning.com.

Our Place is a new networking and resource site for people who work in broadening access to heritage, put together by English Heritage. http://www.ourplacenetwork.org.uk.

The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services has published ‘Careers Guide: Highlighting careers in the voluntary and community youth sector’ mainly for young people considering working in this diverse sector.

Download the pdf (396kb) via http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=283.

NCVO, the English umbrella body, has produced a briefing on the official consultation around proposals to change the financial thresholds for charities on submitting annual accounts and reports.

Consultation closes 31st March. http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/policy/index.asp?id=7780.

A government consultation on informal adult learning is running to 15th May, with its own web site at http://www.adultlearningconsultation.org.uk. Press release at http://www.dius.gov.uk/Press/15-01-08.html.

Views are sought on the proposed Home Access programme that aims to ensure that every family with 5 to19 year old learners in England has access to learning where and when they need it, through access to ICT resources and support at home. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1522. Respond by 2nd April.