‘Amazing People’ is a new initiative to match up community organisations in South Yorkshire with potential volunteers and business partners, set up by South Yorkshire Open Forum.

News item from South Yorks Times, http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/news/Initiative-aims-to-link-up.4010855.jp, or go direct to http://www.amazingpeople.org.uk.

Baring Foundation’s Strengthening the Voluntary Sector programme for 2008 focuses on strengthening the independence of advice and advocacy organisations in the cities of Bristol, Coventry, Manchester or Sheffield or in the counties of Kent or Lincolnshire.

Applications by 30th June 2008. http://www.baringfoundation.org.uk/News.htm

Compact Voice is inviting those working in voluntary organisations to take part in focus groups on sector independence. These will look at whether the Compact agreement between government and the sector is fulfilling its commitment here, and if the Compact can be used more effectively.

The focus groups are in London on 24th April and 2nd May, in Birmingham 25th April, York 1st May (morning or afternoon). Lunch and travel costs will be provided. Contact Stefan Simanowitz at NCVO, email: stefan.simanowitz@ncvo-vol.org.uk or phone 020 7520 2486.

UPDATE: The focus groups dates have been changed to   London on Tuesday 20th May (2pm - 4pm) and Friday 6th June (11am-1), York on Thursday 22nd May (am/pm) and Birmingham on Thursday 5th June (am/pm).

Sheffield Community Enterprise Development Unit has set up a blog to disseminate findings from work they are doing for the Finance Hub on ‘Get Ready for that Local Authority Contract’.

Quite a few case studies are already online at http://contracting.wordpress.com.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published its findings ‘Local Links - developing active networks in local communities’, looking at pilots from Common Purpose to improve neighbourhood networking, support, skills development and information sharing for local decision-makers and active citizens in four Yorkshire areas.

http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/2184.asp.

The first foundation degree in sustainable communities in the UK is starting in January, developed by Sheffield Hallam University with the Academy for Sustainable Communities. Target students include people working in the voluntary sector or community activists keen to progress and benefit their local neighbourhoods.

See http://www.ascskills.org.uk/pages/learning-and-skills/foundation-degree.

OpenSourceCommunity, created by a partnership of 5 grassroots organisations in Hull, makes a variety of their own ‘real life’ sample documents available. These vary from funding bids, including business plans, to policies, job descriptions and forms.

Others are able access these or add their own once they have registered on the site. At http://www.opensourcecommunity.net.

The TUC has published advice to safety representatives on health and safety in flooded areas, which will be of interest to other workers too. Has links to further online advice. http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-13550-f0.cfm

The next regionally based round of applications for community radio licences has been announced for North Wales and Northwest England. It opens on 25th July, with forms required back by 30th October.

The current deadline is 26th June, for applications from West  and South Yorkshire and the Humber.

See Community Media Association’s ‘Get Your Licence’ information at http://www.commedia.org.uk/getyourlicence.

The newly formed Yorkshire & Humber Regional Parks Forum is after people and organisations with an interest in parks and open spaces.

The forum aims to champion quality and the sustainability of green spaces throughout the region. Voluntary sector contact is Steve Hyde, email: steve_hyde@lineone.net

Networking for Green Space Practitioners in the Public and VCS

The newly formed Yorkshire & Humber Regional Parks Forum (YHRPF), are asking for people with a vested interest in parks and open spaces to come forward and be a part of a regional forum which is intent on improving the quality of life for the regions residents, and enhancing the visitor experience, by championing quality and the sustainability of green spaces throughout the region.

After only several meetings of the Forum, the coming together and the pooling of a collective green space mindset, has produced some very useful insights for those attending from the Public Sector (PS) and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS); such as the identification of the use of Section 106 money and the new Government arrangement regarding its future administration.

If you are a part of a friend’s of a park group, or you are a member of a local authority, your opinions and input to the Forum is most welcome, and indeed essential if we are to obtain a true perspective and improve on the condition of our regions green spaces and their governance.

Undoubtedly answering one question will determine your next action; can you really afford to miss out on this opportunity to share best practices with some of our districts most innovative green space leaders?

If the chance to discuss your issues with others of a similar mindset is not enough incentive, then surely the selection of topics for future discussions and the adopted direction of the Forum; combined with the occasional introduction of a high profile guest speaker, may help to change your mind.

For further information on becoming a member of the Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Parks Forum please contact: Sarah Moore - Project Officer (GreenSpace) 01189469065 or by email to sarah@green-space.org.uk or for VCS contact Steve Hyde 07883046881 or email steve_hyde@lineone.net.

Ofcom has published dates for the next two sets of its regional approach to the second round of Community Radio Licensing.

The North and North East England (including North Yorkshire) opened last week (3rd January), running to 27th March, and West and South Yorkshire and the Humber is open from 4th April to 26th June.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/tlproc/.

(Info from Community Media Association)