A demonstration programme on Community Food Initiatives across the island of Ireland is looking for funding applications for projects that improve the availability and accessibility of healthy food for low-income groups at a local level, using a community development approach.

See Healthy Food for All, http://www.healthyfoodforall.com/content/view/58/42/.

(Source: CommunityNI)

Over 300 organisations participated in the first survey of pay and benefits in Ireland’s voluntary sector, commissioned by support body The Wheel (http://www.wheel.ie).

CommunityNI has a short overview of findings - the sector currently employs over 40,000 full-time and 23,000 part-time staff, with volunteers providing the equivalent of a further 31,000 staff.

Copies of the survey are available to voluntary organisations for fifty euros.

Organisations with initiatives that have used ICT or digital technology “to positively impact on socially disadvantaged or digitally excluded communities” are invited to enter the European e-Inclusion Awards.

The best entrants will be recognised and used as examples of good practice across the EU. Deadline 11th September see http://www.citizensonline.org.uk/e-inclusionawards_eu.

Acciòn Social, a Spanish NGO umbrella organisation, has launched ICONG - the Institute for the Quality of NGOs - to deliver and standardise quality control within the third sector in Spain.

Vita Europe news item at http://web.vita.it/vitaeurope/art.php?art=94515 (registration required).

Third sector news site VITA Europe has a couple of recent interesting articles - note you have to register first to access them:

– Various Eastern Europe countries have a tax measure such as the Citizen’s Vote in Hungary, which enables tax payers to transfer a percentage of their income tax to a social cause. Not always implemented successfully, and as much a cultural as an economic impact. Read the quick overview at http://web.vita.it/vitaeurope/art.php?art=93054.

– Yesterday (28th May) saw Neighbourhood Parties across France and beyond, an event only started in 1999 in a district of Paris. It aims to be fun but also help strengthen communities, promoting neighbours as the “third pillar of solidarity”. Maybe next year this will spread across the Channel? http://web.vita.it/vitaeurope/art.php?art=94194.

A Spanish foundation which supports volunteering through technology, Bip-Bip, has created a volunteer-matching web site with a difference - the most commitment it will ever ask for is 2 hours. While probably not unique (is there such a scheme in the US?), http://www.microvoluntarios.org is perhaps the first successful micro-volunteering site in Europe.

Volunteers can commit just a few minutes for microtasks such as translations, graphic design, internet support and editing. From Vita Europe (http://web.vita.it/vitaeurope/art.php?art=93867, registration required).

Support body The Wheel has launched a new site, ICTpoint at http://www.ictpoint.ie, to provide Irish charities with advice on how to harness computers and information technology to further their missions.

Of course there are one or two UK sector tech sites too, such as ICT Hub, http://www.icthub.org.uk, now run by NCVO ICT Development Services and the connected Knowledgebase, http://www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk.

GuideStar UK, the online database of charities, over the next year is to test the feasibility of extending the facility to include Northern Ireland charities and launching a standalone GuideStar Northern Ireland. It will take into account the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland expected to launch later this year.

The feasibility of developing national GuideStar systems in another 5 European countries is also being investigated by GuideStar International, with funding from the European Commission - see http://www.guidestareurope.org.

The European Commission has launched a Debate Europe project for EU citizens, enabling them to connect with each other and with the staff at the European institutions and give their views on topics reflecting the biggest challenges currently facing Europe.

English pages start at http://europa.eu/debateeurope/index_en.htm.

(Source: Charity Times)

Charity legislation is to be coordinated to achieve consistent regulation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, according to a report in Third Sector. Margaret Ritchie, social development minister for Northern Ireland, met Irish government ministers in Dublin recently to discuss plans to introduce common charity registers and regulators.

The legislative process on new charity law for both parts is about half-way through - the Republic’s Charities Bill 2007 page, NI Assembly Charities Bill http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/legislation/primary/2007/nia9_07.htm. Third Sector news item http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/787537/ (registration required).

A new pan-European radio station will start broadcasting from 31st March, Euranet (from European Radio Project). While it has received EU funding, the consortium of 16 radio stations from 13 member states will be editorially independent and jointly produce half hour news shows, weekly magazines and cover major European cultural events, across a number of languages.

A major aim is to inform young citizens about the European Union. http://www.ejc.net/media_news/european_radio_network_officially_launched/.

The Euclid Network, of European voluntary sector leaders, has welcomed proposals by the European Commission to make lobbying more transparent, but has called for greater clarification on how the plans will affect charities. Although NGOs are mentioned in connection with the register of interests, the proposed code of conduct does not include a specific category.

See Third Sector news item at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/784532/ (registration required) - Euclid Network is at http://www.euclidnetwork.eu.