The Power of Information Taskforce is running a competition on behalf of the government, calling for ideas on improving the way public information is used/communicated, Show Us a Better Way (http://www.showusabetterway.co.uk). £20,000 is on offer to develop the best ideas to the next level.

Various new or previously invisible public information streams are being made available especially for use in the competition. Examples of what they are looking for include Fix My Street (http://www.fixmystreet.com) or http://www.farmsubsidy.org, which compiles obscure information from across Europe. Due to run to end of September.

The long awaited community empowerment White Paper was published by the Communities and Local Government Department last week (9th July).

The stated intention in the first paragraph is “to pass power into the hands of local communities. We want to generate vibrant local democracy in every part of the country, and to give real control over local decisions and services to a wider pool of active citizens.” Go to the main page for ‘Communities in control: real people, real power’ or download the full White Paper (pdf, 1.72MB) from http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/886045.pdf.

The largest single programme proposed is a £70 million Communitybuilders fund, to help community organisations grow and thrive, which is jointly funded with the Office of the Third Sector and should begin in Spring 2009 - http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/080709_community.aspx. Also see Consultation section above. Detailed reactions from sector bodies were still to come at newsletter production time.

Community asset transfer pilot schemes were also announced - the West Midlands press release for example is here: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=373357&NewsAreaID=2. ‘Managing Risks in Asset Transfer: A Guide’, practical guide to help local authorities and community organisations more effectively manage the risks involved, has also been published, http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/managingrisks.

Freedom of Information legislation in Scotland could be extended to cover organisations carrying out public services that are a function of a public authority. The idea is at an early stage, with discussions with interested parties, and a final decision would be taken only after full consultation.

Scottish Government news item at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/06/30080541.

Recently highlighted on Nonprofit Online News, but not that new, is ‘Third-Party Nonviolent Intervention - Curriculum and Trainer’s Manual’, from Training For Change.

The first half (the curriculum) can be downloaded from http://www.trainingforchange.org/content/view/111/33/index.html.

A training programme, funded by the Financial Services Authority, has been developed specifically for those working with young people that are, or at risk of being, not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The one day course is taking place around the UK. More information is on the Young People and Money web site, http://www.youngpeopleandmoney.co.uk.

(Source: CommunityNI)

A coalition of groups is launching on 24th June to lobby more effectively on the issue of child poverty in Northern Ireland.

Groups involved include Barnardos, BBC Children in Need, Children in Northern Ireland, Disability Action, Gingerbread, NCH, NICCY, Parenting Forum, Rural Community Network, Save the Children, Shelter.

Further information from Anne Moore, phone 028 9043 1123, email: a.moore@savethechildren.org.uk

A diverse group of national organisations have come together as the Rural Social Justice Coalition to help improve the lives of the most disadvantaged people in rural areas. It launched at Acre’s Rural Life Conference recently.

See http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/rsjc/overview for more details.

(Source: xpress digest

The National Assembly for Wales is now streaming on the web video from plenary sessions and committee meetings, both live and recorded. The infrastructure is designed for peaks in traffic during key debates, allowing thousands of visitors to view content simultaneously. http://www.senedd.tv. (Source: Kablenet.com)

In Westminster, it is the independent MySociety which has been adding video of debates and speeches to the written records on the TheyWorkForYou.com site. As they don’t have much funding, help is wanted in matching up video of the House of Commons from the BBC with the text records of Hansard - apparently it is a strangely addictive task. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/video/.

Ofcom is consulting on the criteria and process for considering changes to a community radio station’s key commitments which form part of its licence.

Closing date 21st July, http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/regulation_cr/.

Two revamped web sites with a youth focus. The British Youth Council is at http://www.byc.org.uk, with a Resources Centre including various How To’s (in pdf format) on running a youth organisation, including being a trustee, at http://www.byc.org.uk/view.php?parent_id=154&content_id=293.

The National Youth Agency’s Information Centre is at http://www.nya.org.uk/information/100320/informationcentre/. Recently published in NYA’s Youth Action and Engagement series is ‘Building intergenerational relationships’, with five case studies in a range of settings - download (pdf 872KB) from http://www.nya.org.uk/youthactionandengagement.

Northern Ireland’s Civic Forum, involving ten sectors of civic society (including business, trade unions and the voluntary sector), was set up as a consultative mechanism on social, economic and cultural issues. It lapsed during the devolution suspension and is now up for comprehensive review. Views on how such a Forum might contribute to good government and on other models of civic partnership are invited.

Sector body NICVA’s news item at http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/020608_Civic_Forum_review says “There is no appetite in our sector for a return of the Civic Forum in its previous form”.

Information and how to respond (by 29th August) at http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/civic-forum-review.

Third Sector minister Phil Hope is calling on voluntary organisations to give their views on the Draft Legislative Programme for the next parliamentary year, stressing the importance of the sector’s response on the eighteen proposed new laws (see earlier news item).

Cabinet Office news item has links to the Programme and consultation (ending 6th August).