A reminder that community-based organisations are being invited to apply for funding to install renewable energy technologies (such as wind turbines and solar panels) and energy saving measures (such as roof and cavity wall insulation) in their buildings.

The Community Sustainable Energy programme is particularly keen to receive more applications for projects in the East Midlands, London, North East, North West and Yorkshire.The next application deadline is 7th August, http://www.communitysustainable.org.uk.

From ACRE headlines, http://www.acre.org.uk/resources_publications_headlines19june09.html.

Third Sector magazine reports that conservation charity BTCV has called for a debate on an industry standard for volunteer brokerage. Those involved in the activity, such as BTCV, CSV and volunteer centres, should debate whether a code would be useful. This could have guidelines on the cost of brokerage and the extent to which brokers should be obliged to inspect volunteering workplaces.

More at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/914809/ (registration required).

A short guide to support campaigning by community and voluntary organisations is based on findings from 8 regional events. It shows why campaigns matter to the sector, even if they aren’t always given that label, what support bodies can do to help, and some useful pointers, such as a 90 minute work-out on how to plan a successful campaign. Definitely some good stuff.

‘Campaigning is OK! they may not always like it, but it gets things done’ is available from various sources - for instance see news item at http://www.e-c-a.ac.uk/news/63/ or download (pdf, 1.69MB) http://static.novas.org/files/campaigningisok-456.pdf.

Every Action Counts, the campaign to get community organisations to take action to help the environment, has produced a short guide giving practical advice “to help you weave sustainable actions through your existing governance processes and the activities of your board”. It includes exercises, tips, checklists and lessons from direct experience.

Download (pdf, 591KB) from EAC publication page, http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/en/fe/page.asp?n1=230&n2=281, and note that as the project has now closed, the web site is only due to remain active until the end of June.

The sixteen members of the government’s new Third Sector Task Force on climate change, the environment and sustainable development have been announced.

The task force aims to develop a vision and action plan for wider third sector involvement in these issues and to identify how government and the third sector can work together. The spread of organisations represented includes the likes of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, British Red Cross and Wildlife Trusts.

DEFRA news item at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2009/090512b.htm.

A new ‘Community Planning Information Pack’ provides information on the implementation of Northern Ireland’s Review of Public Administration, including the new council structures and the introduction of Community Planning at local government level.

Published by Community Places (previously Community Technical Aid), the news item includes how to request a copy, or see http://www.communityplaces.info/commplanning.html.

Sustain, the national alliance for better food and farming, has created a new web site to provide information about food co-operatives, http://www.foodcoops.org, including how to set one up. Food co-ops vary, but are basically about pooling individual buying power to access good food in bulk at affordable prices.

(Source: Co-operatives UK)

Charity chief executives body ACEVO has published ‘The Sustainability Challenge: Implications for Chief Executives in the Third Sector’, to help leaders implement environmentally sustainable practices in their organisations, “delivering on our long-term responsibilities to those we work with and our supporters”.

To access the 1.14MB pdf download you have to get past a ‘captcha’ which requires cookies (so not accessibility compliant).

The Sheila McKechnie Foundation, which works to equip campaigners with the skills they need to change the world, is open to applications for its 2009 awards.

The winners will have shown commitment to a cause and a desire to create change (or stop change that will make things worse), and are supported with mentoring, coaching and shadowing decision makers.

Apply by 30th June, http://www.sheilamckechnie.org.uk/showSub.php?id=116&page=3.

A Third Sector Task Force on Climate Change, the Environment and Sustainable Development is being set up by NCVO and Green Alliance on behalf of the government’s environment department Defra.

This is part of Defra’s Third Sector Strategy and presents an opportunity for organisations from across the sector to come together and harness their potential to tackle climate change and build sustainability. Up to 12 voluntary and community sector members of the Task Force are now being recruited, who will need to represent a wide range of interests and organisations.

For more information on how to join, see http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/policy/index.asp?id=13206. Defra news item at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2009/090323a.htm.

The Scottish Information Commissioner is encouraging voluntary organisations to make greater use of the Freedom of Information Act in their campaigning work.

Speaking to The Herald newspaper, he said “It is a surprise to me and others that the voluntary sector makes very few appeals to me. It is surprising given not just the size but also their function, which is often to question authority or provide alternatives to what is mainstream.” (CAF news item at http://www.cafonline.org/Default.aspx?page=17187.)

A new resource section on the Commissioner’s web site provides a short guide to making FoI work, including how it has been used already, http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/voluntarysector/.

A new set of National Occupational Standards for Campaigners is to be developed by the UK Workforce Hub.

Campaigning is a key activity for voluntary and community organisations, but there is a strong suspicion that much campaigning effort currently being undertaken is inefficient and ineffective. Developing working standards aims to help set a benchmark for good practice.

The three month consultation started on Monday (2nd March). For information see http://www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk/component/content/article/502 (or start at http://www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk/nos).