Pioneering research, mapping the size and scope of the children and young people’s voluntary and community sector carried out for umbrella bodies NCVCCO and NCVYS, reckons that one in three of the total voluntary sector workforce is employed in this area. However, the limitations of the data available is also highlighted, particularly with regard to smaller organisations.

The research, by a team from University of Hull, is part of Speaking Out, a partnership between the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations and the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services. Download the summary or full version of ‘Every Organisation Matters’ at http://www.ncvcco.org/index.php?page=635.

The Public Administration Select Committee of the House of Commons has published the “first ever” select committee report on the third sector, ‘Public Services and the Third Sector: Rhetoric and Reality’.

The three points highlighted by the committee are
- No compelling evidence to support Government claim that sector provides public services in distinctive ways.
- Report also notes gap between rhetoric of “transformation of services” and reality that sector’s involvement still on small scale.
- Committee suggests “intelligent commissioning” the key to discovering if sector has something truly distinctive to offer.

The committee chair discusses this in Society Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jul/09/voluntarysector.policy, and Charity Finance has a good round-up at http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2086. PASC press notice or read the report (web or pdf versions - PASC Eleventh Report) via http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmpubadm.htm.

Infrastructure body NAVCA has welcomed the report, but says that “in parts their thinking appears a little behind the time”, http://www.navca.org.uk/news/pasc.htm. More reaction still to come, no doubt.

A new report ‘Our Creative Talent’ from the Culture Department looks at the size, make-up and impact of formally organised voluntary and amateur arts groups. There are nearly 50,000 groups across the country with a total of 5.9 million members.

The document (after a little delay) is available online, via  http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/5234.aspx, or read news item at http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/5235.aspx.

A research study for the Commission for the Compact is looking at how eight central government departments are observing their commitments to respect the right of third sector organisations to campaign and exercise their independence. Interim findings was to be presented at the Sector Independence Day event in London on Friday (4th July). Compact news item.

See the Compact Voice site for information on the “Its Our Shout” campaign around voluntary organisations taking responsibility for upholding their independence, http://www.compactvoice.org.uk.

A thriving third sector has been recognised as a high priority for nearly two thirds of top tier local authorities in England. In drawing up a shortlist of 35 ‘National Indicators’ on which they will be measured (out of the set of 198), 62 per cent chose to include one or both of the two third sector indicators: NI6 - participation in regular volunteering; or NI7 - creating an environment for a thriving third sector. Society Guardian has a short item at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jul/02/voluntarysector.localgovernment, or see the Office of Third Sector news item. The latter quotes the chief executive of Acevo (the chief execs body) saying “The take up of these indicators is far better than I expected.”

You can find out what local priorities in your area have been negotiated with government at the Local Priorities site, http://www.localpriorities.communities.gov.uk/. See Podnosh blog for a few comments on how helpful this is, or could be.

After four years the government’s State of the Sector Panel, which they used as a sounding board on various issues, is to close. There will be a series of four reports published this year outlining some of the key findings from the 4 years, covering Activities, resources and engagement with beneficiaries; Collaborative working and infrastructure organisations; Engagement with Government bodies and use of the Compact; Human, capital and organisational resources. The government will continue to “build the evidence base on and for the third sector”, with a new survey of sector organisations to run this autumn and in 2010. Office of the Third Sector news at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/080630_sosp.aspx.

Meanwhile, the panel of the new Third Sector Advisory Body, set up to provide government ministers with clear and authoritative advice on policy regarding the third sector, has been appointed. OTS details, or see Governance news item http://www.charitygovernance.co.uk/home/preview.php?id=319.

The Welsh Assembly Government has re-affirmed its commitment to the Partnership Agreement designed to strengthen its relationship with the third sector. Third Sector magazine reports that the document, signed recently (26th June) with representatives of Wales Council for Voluntary Action and County Voluntary Councils, commits the government to five-year funding and pledges that the umbrella bodies will provide infrastructure support to charities and voluntary organisations across Wales.

WAG news item http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/presreleasearchive/2346744/?lang=en, Third Sector http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/824364/ (registration required).

An NHS Wales Volunteering Network, to bring together people interested in volunteering in hospitals and in the local community with staff to identify opportunities, has been launched this week (30th June). A partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government, NHS and WCVA, it “will ensure a uniform approach to volunteering across Wales with the sharing of best practice”. News item.

‘Think Research: Using research evidence to inform service development for vulnerable groups’ is guidance for professionals who have direct responsibility for designing, commissioning, providing or managing services for vulnerable groups.

It has been published by the Social Exclusion Task Force in partnership with Barnardo’s, Research in Practice and the National Foundation for Educational Research. Available via Cabinet Office SETF pages: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_exclusion_task_force/think_research.aspx

A thirty million pound Scottish Investment Fund is being set up by the Scottish Government to help trading charities and social enterprises increase their turnover or become financially sustainable. It will provide a mixture of loan/repayable finance and grant funding to mature established social economy organisations who have been trading successfully for at least three years. Official news item at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/06/18150321, or see fund manager Social Investment Scotland’s information, including a pdf download (61KB) of the Investment Strategy.

As reported by Charity Finance (http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=1993), organisations at an earlier stage of development will be able to apply to the separate Third Sector Enterprise Fund, which will have £12 million over three years available in amounts of up to £100,000. Details are to follow in the next few months.

The Scottish Government has also published ‘Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan, 2008-11′ to “help to create the right conditions in which an enterprising Third Sector - including social enterprises - can thrive, enabling the Third Sector to play a full role in the development, design and delivery of policy and services in Scotland.” This is a large pdf, see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/15300/Actionplan for introduction and link.

The Social Development Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly met away from Stormont for the first time last week, visiting the offices of Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, with over 50 representatives from the sector having an opportunity to see how it operated.

NICVA gave a presentation on the tight funding situation with government efficiency savings squeezing services. More in NICVA news item at http://www.nicva.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/assembly_committee_nicva.

A research study examining how well Primary Care Trusts and charitable hospices work together is being undertaken by the Commission for the Compact in partnership with Help the Hospices.

It will look at different local relationships, explore successes to date and remaining challenges through anonymous case studies. Findings are due out in September. Commission for the Compact news item.

The Institute for Volunteering Research published a number of research bulletins for Volunteers’ Week, based around Helping Out: the 2007 national survey of volunteering and charitable giving.

Titles include ‘Managing for success - Volunteers’ views on their involvement and support’, ‘Regular and occasional volunteers - How and why they help out’. See What’s New page, http://www.ivr.org.uk/whats-new.htm.