Research into current levels of understanding and awareness of social enterprise, carried out for the government’s Office of the Third Sector, has revealed a high level of confusion.

In those surveyed, when asked to pick out social businesses from a list of candidates the largest number chose Comic Relief or Childline, rather than the likes of Eden Project or Big Issue. And the sector is seen as vague, woolly, worthy, small and inefficient.

See Social Enterprise magazine news item, http://www.socialenterpriselive.com, or the OTS short summary which has a link to a presentation (PowerPoint style) of the findings.

The Scottish Parliament has a new version of its Freedom of Information disclosure log, at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/apps2/corporate/FOI/, with direct links to online information and documents which have been released in response to a request.

“This development, which gives everyone instant access to information released under FoI, highlights the Scottish Parliament’s ongoing commitment to openness and transparency.” Kable news item.

A significant new article on the American nonprofit software resource site Idealware is ‘The Perfect Fit: A Guide to Evaluating and Purchasing Major Software Systems’ - and they do mean major.

How to find software options, evaluate them, make a good decision, and then purchase the system in a way that protects you. http://www.idealware.org/articles/purchasing_major_systems.php.

Research which aimed to build a picture of the nature and range of opportunities for graduates in the voluntary and community sector has led to a booklet ‘Career pathways for graduates into the voluntary/community sector’ for advisers and also for students and graduates at universities and Higher Education Institutions. Could also be a useful resource for others who want an overview of jobs in the sector.

A large (4.12MB) pdf download available from http://www.hecsu.ac.uk/hecsu.rd/research_reports_273.htm.

(Source: UKVPM list)

A workbook about how to create a learning and development plan for a third sector organisation has been produced by sector support umbrella body NAVCA.

The Get Skilled Workbook is aimed at those working with local groups, and can be downloaded from http://www.navca.org.uk/services/learningopps/skild/getskilled - workbook is 1.59MB pdf, with worksheets in Word format.

(The workbook is based on ‘A Practical Guide to Planning Training and Development Strategies’ by Greater London Enterprises and Gowland Taylor Associates.)

Social Audit Network has produced ‘Really Telling Accounts’, a report on a Social Accounting and Audit Research Project.

This explores to what extent social accounting and audit has been used by social economy organisations in the North East of England, Cumbria, Merseyside and Scotland, and includes a set of recommendations. Available as a pdf, 767KB - note that the links to appendices don’t work.

This will also be part of the SAN conference on 7th November in Edinburgh, http://www.socialauditnetwork.org.uk/PAGE1text.htm.

With the threshold for submitting annual accounts to the Charity Commission changing shortly to £25,000, the online database GuideStar UK has announced that it will continue to capture and display information from all Trustee Annual Reports and Financial Statements it receives, regardless of size. A simple method will be provided to voluntarily submit accounts electronically. Plaza Publishing news alert item http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2221.

Plaza Publishing also reports that the new format official online register of charities expected this autumn will have colour-coded highlighting of charities that file their accounts late. http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2220.

A Viewpoint report published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation looks at early findings from work carried out by the Development Trusts Association, which aims to explore the extent to which local, community-based development trusts can contribute to efforts to tackle poverty.

It argues that community-led enterprise organisations can act as a driver for positive change, creating a self-help and problem-solving culture, and helping individuals move out of poverty. http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/housing/2299.asp

The National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations has published, with help from the Governance Hub, ‘Governing for Children: A beginner’s guide to governance in the children, young people and families voluntary sector’.

There are focused real-life examples of particular relevance to any committee members of smaller organisations involved with children. Download in pdf, 1.59MB.

The national minimum wage rates are updated from 1st October to: Workers aged 22 and over - £5.73 per hour; Workers aged 18-21 - £4.77 per hour; Workers aged 16-17 - £3.53 per hour.

http://www.berr.gov.uk/employment/pay/national-minimum-wage/index.html.

From 15th September the HMRC Charities telephone helpline (0845 302 0203.) has changed its opening hours to 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday. “This will allow staff more time to deal with customers who communicate with us in ways other than by telephone”.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/helpline-update.htm.

From 22nd September, 104,000 charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises across England will receive the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations. Carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector, it is designed to measure the quality of support for the third sector in every local area.

As well as being part of the new local government performance targets, it will provide information to enable local improvements in sector support. OTS news item, and a dedicated survey web site at http://www.nstso.com.