The proposal from NCVO to set up a ‘civil society assembly’ (see earlier news item) has had positive reaction from some key organisations outside the narrow voluntary sector.

Charity Finance News Alert quotes Trade Unions Congress general secretary Brendan Barber: “Trade unions make an important contribution to civil society, and the TUC would make an equally important contribution to the debate about its future” and a spokesman from the National Housing Federation said the idea was “something we would warmly welcome”.

While welcoming the idea, the Directory of Social Change warned against the danger of government treating it as the sole sector voice.

News item at http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=1164.

A Global Volunteer Management Survey, which closes on 1st March, has already had a good response but would welcome more. Results will be used to identify trends and issues, and develop resources.

The survey is likely to take 20 to 30 minutes to complete online, at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=uMVVKktGh7sljHSG3932Rg_3d_3d.

A survey to identify current ICT training needs and barriers to learning for the voluntary sector in north east England is being carried out by voluntaryskills.com, which will help develop future training and support programmes in the region.

It can be completed online, at http://www.voluntaryskills.com/ictsurvey, or phone 0191 261 6009 - there is a draw for £20 worth of shopping vouchers.

Closing date 3rd March.

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have published a joint statement on the requirements for ‘definition clauses’ (defining the meaning of the words ‘charitable’, ‘charitable purpose’ or ‘charity’) in the constitutions of bodies seeking charitable status in Scotland and also wishing to apply for charity tax relief.

This should “provide reassurance in an area where there has been some uncertainty”, but “No immediate action will be required on the part of existing Scottish charities.”

From Sandy Adirondack’s legal update: The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Killing Act comes into effect from 6th April, making it possible for a governing body member or senior manager to be prosecuted without having to show they were the ‘controlling mind’ behind the action.

While Sandy’s fuller explanation of the law does conclude by saying that the “provisions are unlikely to make much difference to voluntary organisations”, it is still worth checking why at http://www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#manslaughter.

The Advocacy and Policy Change issue of Harvard Family Research Project’s “Hard-to-Measure” Evaluation Exchange series (from Harvard University) explores the problems of evaluating activism. The 32 pages, dated Feb 2007 but just highlighted by Nonprofit Online News, topics include What’s Different About Evaluating Advocacy and Policy Change? and What does monitoring and evaluation look like for real-life advocates? Pdf format, 531kb, from http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/content/eval/issue34/spring2007.pdf.

Update: Another American report on evaluating social change highlighted by Nonprofit Online News. According to NON, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Guide to Measuring Advocacy and Policy is both accessible and smart. A chunky (in size and concepts) pdf, 2.43MB, via http://www.organizationalresearch.com/sample_publications.htm.

The Mentor UK CHAMP awards will recognise projects in England, Scotland and Wales that help prevent children and young people of 14 and under from misusing alcohol. Category winners will get a combination of money and consultancy support.

Entries by 20th April. http://www.mentorfoundation.org/about_mentor.php?nav=3-27-34-150.

The Northern Ireland Assembly committee considering the Charities Bill has had an extension to 27th June so that it can consider more than 40 submissions and look at several issues in greater detail. This puts back the timetable somewhat, with late summer as the earliest for the legislation to be brought in.

More on this announcement at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2008-02-12.5.1, more information on the Charities Bill at http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/General/key/141205CharReform.

(From NICVA eNews)

One Planet Living Awards from B&Q will see products to the value of £1,000 to £10,000 going to environmental or community organisations, sports clubs etc. to help regenerate local areas, support environment/energy saving, natural habitats/wildlife or local culture/heritage projects.

Applications by 28th March - http://www.diy.com/awards.

(Source: Fundraising UK)

A new range of work based awards, providing accredited qualifications and opportunities to learn and develop skills in volunteers management, has been launched by Volunteer Development Scotland. The programme consists of two Customised Awards set within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and a Professional Development Award.

All three will be available during 2008, with Coordinating Volunteers starting in Stirling on 21st February. See http://www.vds.org.uk/NewAwards.aspx.

(Source: Third Force eNews)

Newly available on the Governance Hub web site (http://www.governancehub.org.uk):

•  Trustee Voices - articles by trustees on trustee issues. Pdf, 1.83MB, at http://www.governancehub.org.uk/docs/Trustee%20Voices%20-%20FINAL.pdf.

•  Brochure of Governance Hub resources (which are in print or for download, but no direct links given), PDF, 1.49MB.

Manifesto for Change, the report of the Commission on the Future of Volunteering, is now available in print on request (to UK addresses) using this form.