The latest Capacitybuilders newsletter provides a reminder that Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme is currently open to applications, and closes at the end of June. This can provide grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies for public sector buildings and charitable bodies.

Details at http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk.

The fifth year of the Centre for Social Justice Awards is open for entries, to recognise effective poverty fighting groups from across the UK, with a kitty totalling £50,000.

To enter “Simply describe in 500 words how your organisation makes an exceptional contribution to tackling poverty” by 17th March, plus any supporting evidence. See http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/awards.

Draft National Occupational Standards (NOS), for those in the workforce tackling domestic abuse/violence, have been developed by Skills for Justice.

An online consultation runs to 5th February, see http://www.skillsforjustice.com/template01.asp?pageid=612. News item on CommunityNI.

PRS and MCPS, the bodies which administer performing and mechanical reproduction licences for music and have been operating as the MCPS-PRS Alliance, are rebranding as ‘PRS for Music’. The licensing system remains the same.

More information at http://www.prsformusic.com. (Source: Commedia list)

Northern Ireland umbrella body NICVA has produced a briefing paper on Charities Act (NI) 2008, providing a brief explanation of the main provisions, associated commentary and an outline of the implementation timetable.
http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/180109-charity-law-paper.

CommunityNI also reports that the Department for Social Development has started the process of making appointments to the new Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Details of the posts can be found in CommunityNI news item, closing date 20th February.

It has been confirmed that the package of measures recently unveiled by the government to address the cash flow, credit and investment needs of small and medium businesses is available to social enterprises and other third sector businesses.

The Office of Third Sector news item includes an outline of the funds available and a link through to further information.

The Scottish Government has announced that a project to develop, promote and support the use of a standard form for measuring social return on investment is underway.

It is being run by a consortium led by Forth Sector and SROI UK with various partners and is complementary to the Office of the Third Sector funded project which will have responsibility for the standardisation of the approach to using SROI.

News item reproduced by Senscot at http://www.senscot.net/view_art.php?viewid=7774.

A Safeguarding Adults Alliance has been established by over fifty organisations, with the likes of Mencap, Action on Elder Abuse, the United Kingdom Home Care Association and local Age Concern groups. The Alliance is seeking a statutory basis for the work of adult protection in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

See Community Newswire at http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=5401954, download the press release (rtf/Word format, 135KB), or email: campaigns@elderabuse.org.uk for further information.

NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) was due to meet Northern Ireland’s social development minister, Margaret Ritchie,  on 22nd January to discuss its proposals for a white paper on the relationship between the voluntary sector and government in the province.

Amongst the issues they want addressed in such a document is the auditing burden from multiple public funding sources and an updated Northern Ireland Compact.

See Third Sector news item at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/874217/ (registration required), and no doubt NICVA’s own news pages shortly, at http://www.nicva.org.

A Funding Commission is being set up by umbrella body NCVO to map the various funding streams available to the voluntary sector. It will also look at how these could change, whether they are adequate or need to be improved, and whether any new ones are needed.

The commission will be officially launched at NCVO’s annual conference on 18th February. See Charity News Alert, http://www.professionalfundraising.co.uk/home/content.php?id=1631

The amount of additional money that the government ought to provide to help voluntary sector services survive the current economic situation has been the subject of differing views from sector umbrella bodies.

NCVO has come up with the figure of a minimum of £100 million, while chief executives body Acevo had previously called for a £500 million emergency fund for charities. NCVO’s figure, amongst other things, includes £12 million to help with mergers, funding direct costs, local support and a matchmaking web site.

See their press release at http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=12452, or Third Sector news item at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/channels/Finance/Article/874925/ (registration required).

The Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards for 2009, recognising people who have made an outstanding contribution to their community, is now open for entry.

Deadline 3rd April, see WCVA information at http://www.wcva.org.uk/volunteering/index.cfm?sub=10&display_sitetextid=2135.