A government consultation asks whether elections should be moved from the traditional Thursday to the weekend and whether this will make voting more accessible and encourage a higher turnout.

Runs to 26th September, http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease240608a.htm.

The Awards for Bridging Cultures has been launched to celebrate local schemes and projects, run by community and voluntary organisations, that build bridges between communities. The ABCs aims to showcase this work, raise awareness of the wide range of activity and encourage applicants to share their learning.

“Winners will receive publicity for their scheme, financial rewards to invest in their projects and the opportunity to become leaders in their field.” Applications by 1st October, http://www.bridgingcultures.org.uk.

(Source: Voluntary Arts England newsletter)

An online reference manual to help local authorities work with charities has been developed by the Charity Commission in liaison with the Local Government Association, the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) and the Commission for the Compact.

Unfortunately this has been produced (at least for the time being) in PowerPoint format, creating accessibility and usability issues, requiring further pdf downloads from within PowerPoint to access some information (and even then the VolResource entry has its link mangled). Oops. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/enhancingcharities/toolindex.asp.

The ‘National Hubs Joint Publications Guide’ brings together information on all the publications produced by the six hubs of expertise over their short life.

The pdf download is quite large (2.68MB) and unfortunately most references to publications which are themselves downloadable don’t give direct links, or even to the relevant hub publication section. It is still a useful list to have - http://www.improvingsupport.org.uk/downloads/nh-joint-publication-guide.pdf.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the RSA, raises some strong points in ‘Questions for the third sector’, a short article for Society Guardian, covering performance and accountability, mission, independence and engagement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jun/04/voluntarysector.

This year’s Compact Awards are open for nominations, aiming to “celebrate excellent partnership working”. Categories range from local through regional to national.

Details at http://www.thecompact.org.uk/information/101448/101423/about_awards/.

The tenth year of Enterprising Solutions Awards is open for entries from the UK’s best and most innovative social enterprises. As well as Best Social Enterprise and Best New Social Enterprise, there is a new Social Enterprise in Schools award.

Apply by 1st July - http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/CMS/page.aspx?SP=2072.

The search is on for the £30,000 winner of Gordon Brown’s ‘Nobel Prize of the Charity World’

The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust has today put out the call for nominations for the 2008 Beacon Prize. Together with the Government’s Cabinet Office, the Charity is urging people throughout the UK to nominate individuals who have made a significant charitable contribution in giving time, money or skills to a specific cause. With awards in 5 categories and additional regional prizes for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the winners will be invited to attend a gala evening in London where the overall prize winner will receive £30,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

Beacon’s former Chair and Broadcaster, Martyn Lewis CBE notes: “The Beacon Prize, described by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown MP, as ‘the Nobel Prize of the charity world’, aims to encourage a culture of giving in the
UK by uncovering and recognising extraordinary achievements in the world of charity.

“Beacon has had a remarkable response to last year’s Prize nomination scheme, revealing stories of extraordinary individuals who have worked to make a difference, be it locally or on a global scale. Each in turn represents the Beacon belief in the strength of individual philanthropy and we are confident this year’s nominations will highlight the work of many more yet unnamed heroes who have given so much in the name of charity.”

Do you know someone who deserves a Beacon Prize?

Perhaps a young person who their time and talent to help others?

Or a person with energy and originality, transformed things in their community?

Or someone who has used their skills to help transform a charity?

Has someone you know created an idea that has changed people’s lives?

Whatever your story Beacon wants to hear about it. Categories for nomination include Leadership, Community Builder, Creative Giving, New Initiatives and Young Philanthropist.

If you’d like to nominate someone for the Beacon Prize 2008, please visit www.beaconfellowship.org.uk for a nomination form. Alternatively, you can email enquiries@beaconfellowship.org.uk or telephone 020 7203 8291. Nominations close on 1^st July 2008.

The Catalyst Awards are looking for inspiring stories of people who help their community by using social technology, especially ideas that others might be able to use for themselves. Two examples given are Liftshare (http://liftshare.com) and The Nag (http://thenag.net).

There are ten categories - see http://www.ukcatalystawards.com for details.

The tenth year of the New Media Awards, from the New Statesman, is open for entries.

Categories include Community activism (providing tools for their community to join together, communicate and find information), Innovation (recognises social technologies, people or organisations that make an impact and improve society through the use of new media technology), democracy in action.

Nominations close 1st June. Comment on entries or make your own at http://www.newstatesman.com/nma/nma2008/nominate.

A bicycle recycling project and a flat pack furniture workshop that provide employment to homeless people are among fifteen organisations that have been chosen to compete in the Spark social enterprise competition, supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

All the finalists will receive coaching to help them develop their social enterprises to help more homeless people into training, volunteering and jobs, with a chance for a share of half a million pounds too.

News item at
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/716425?version=2.

This year’s Wales Volunteer of the Year Award, recognising people who have made an outstanding contribution to their community, is open for entries up to 28th March. See WCVA information at http://www.wcva.org.uk/volunteering/index.cfm?sub=10&display_sitetextid=2135.

Nationwide’s Community Awards, recognising volunteers, have been extended to include Heritage. Closing date 28th April.