New Third Sector Minister appointed

The former parliamentary private sectary to Gordon Brown, Angela Evans Smith, has been announced as the new Minister for the Third Sector in the latest cabinet reshuffle.

Smith, MP for Basildon and former member of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), will replace previous minister, Kevin Brennan, who is set to join the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, headed by Peter Mandelson.

A prominent and active supporter of charities, Smith is a patron of a number of organisations, including the Captive Animals Protection Society, the Burned Children’s Club and Basildon Women’s Refuge, and cites a range of causes including animal welfare, child protection, employment, youth issues and employment as key personal interests.

Pledging to continue to promote and recognise the “vital role” of the Third Sector in today’s society, Smith said:

“As a Government we need to ensure that the right advice, support and financing is available […].  I will drive forward the Government’s support for a thriving third sector and champion the innovative and dedicated work of those of you who serve in the sector.”

Third Sector members have warmly welcomed Smith’s appointment, with Acevo chief executive, Stephen Bubb, claiming it marked a “promotion for the sector”. 

Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, was also replaced last week following her resignation from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).  She will be succeeded by the former secretary of state for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham.

Source: Cabinet Office

£70 million fund to help tackle migration issues

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith have this week unveiled a new fund to help communities tackle migration issues.

 

The Migrants Impact Fund will provide up to £70 million over the next two years and is intended to alleviate short term pressures placed on communities and local service providers such as councils, schools, the NHS and the police. 

 

Whilst the government is keen to acknowledge that migration is important and will bring about long term benefits for the UK economy, it is also aware of its impact on local communities.

 

The Fund will be sourced from an extra levy economic migrants will be asked to pay in addition to their normal visa application fee.

 

Funding will be allocated to all regions throughout England.  Local authorities will administer the financial support to innovative local projects that can demonstrate effective solutions to migration issues whilst also benefiting already existing community services.

 

For further information visit:

 

http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/

 

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1180107

 

 

Source:  Department for Communities and Local Government

 

Empowerment Fund launch leaves some from sector unhappy

Last week’s launch of the government’s £7.5 million Empowerment Fund has caused a stir amongst some third sector organisations.

 

The Fund, which will run from 2009 – 2012 and will support approximately 25 – 30 organisations with grants of between £250,000 – £500,000, has outraged smaller voluntary and community organisations because of its financial thresholds.

 

According to the Fund’s criteria, only charities with an annual income of at least £400,000 are eligible to apply.  These measures mean a whole host of valuable and entirely competent voluntary sector groups will miss out on a chance of funding and the opportunity to work towards community empowerment- simply because of their income size.

 

Charities and voluntary groups had warned the Communities and Local Government department during a consultation back in September that implementing the thresholds would disappoint the sector and claimed that the steps could “increase disparity” and “limit innovation and new approaches”.  The government, however, insists that limiting the number of eligible applicants will ensure the Fund makes a more “meaningful impact”.

 

For further information visit:

 

J4bCommunity:  http://www.j4bcommunity.co.uk/default.aspx

 

Communities and Local Government: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1005709

 

Source: Third Sector

Blears announces new Empowerment Fund

This week Communities secretary Hazel Blears, speaking at the Acevo conference, invited applications to the eagerly anticipated £7.5 million Empowerment Fund.

 

It has been claimed that the Fund, intended to offer support to charities, community and voluntary groups and social enterprises across England, will play a vital role in helping local communities and the third sector to weather the credit crunch storm. 

 

The programme will fund organisations that work with local people to “empower communities” and “drive change”.  Activities eligible for support include community involvement in planning, the promotion of community leadership and the development of social enterprises.  The Fund, in line with the aims and objectives of the government’s Communities in Control campaign, will give real people a voice and will ask them to have their say on local services such as libraries and local amenities such as town halls.

 

The Empowerment Fund will run from 2009 – 2012 and will support approximately 25 – 30 organisations with grants of between £250,000 – £500,000 over three years.

 

For further information on eligibility criteria and the selection process, visit:

 

 http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/thirdsector/

 

Source: Communities and Local Government

20.10.08 (1)

Blears announces ‘One-Stop Shop on Cohesion’ site

 

This week will see the launch of phase one of a new interactive, searchable internet site intended to provide expert advice and useful resources for those involved in establishing more resilient and cohesive communities.

 

The website, developed by the Institute of Community Cohesion (ICoCo) and supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government, is aimed at policy-makers, practitioners and organisations that work closely with communities throughout the country.

 

The portal will be continually updated and will include good practice information, case studies, guidance notes, toolkits and policy documents.  The site is also intended to be a forum for discussion and is keen to provide opportunities for useful information exchange and problem solving on topics such as managing migration and overcoming community tensions.

 

The portal was created in response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion report, Our Shared Future, which sets out to advise the government, local authorities and the public, private and voluntary sectors, on how best to build united, healthy communities. 

 

For further information visit:

 

http://www.cohesioninstitute.org.uk

 

Source: Department for Communities and Local Government

 

16.10.08 (2)

Blears calls for ideas from local communities…

 

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has called upon local authorities to talk to central government about how best to serve local communities.

 

This week, Blears, as part of the Sustainable Communities Act, has invited local authorities to submit proposals on how central government can help improve local areas – economically, socially and environmentally.

 

According to Blears, the call is intended to encourage local authorities and local communities to start talking and thinking about how to make their local area a better place to live.  Ideally, the ideas and proposals that are submitted will provide local solutions to a wide range of important issues including climate change, the economy and social exclusion – and allow local communities to have an all-important say in their future.

 

Source: Communities and Local Government

26.09.08 (3)

Time off for community volunteers!

 

An announcement this week from Communities Secretary Hazel Blears could see a big boost in volunteer numbers across the sector.

 

Plans to refresh the list of activities that entitle people to take time off work in order to offer their services as volunteers could see more and more people getting stuck in to community projects or charity work in their local area.

 

Currently only school governors, magistrates, members of health bodies and police authorities are entitled to time off to carry out volunteer duties.  The latest citizenship data, however, suggests the nearly three quarters of all UK adults participated in at least one day of volunteering in their community in 2007.

 

Blears’ plans follow the lead of a number of major companies such as HSBC and Unilever who already run active volunteering policies which encourage their employees to get involved, allowing them to not only give something back to their community but also to build and develop their own skills base.

 

These proposed changes can only be good news for voluntary and community groups, who often rely heavily on unpaid local support, as more and more volunteers are able to get their hands dirty…

 

Source: Department of Communities and Local Government

 

 

23.09.08 (1)

Call for local authorities to co-operate with communities

 

The success of the government’s new asset transfer unit, in place to encourage the handing over of disused public buildings to communities and community groups, currently hangs in the balance.

 

Led by the Development Trusts Association (DTA), with support from the Local Government Association and Community Matters, the programme is set to launch in January across 60 local authorities in England.

 

According to Hazel Blears, Communities Secretary, speaking this week at the DTA’s annual conference in Leeds, the unit should be set to accelerate asset transfer following its introduction but local authorities and community organisations must work together in order for it to be a success.  She spoke of the establishment of a “long-term relationship” between the two, in order to forge a “hard-headed business model that works”, if the programme is going to be effective.

 

Despite these concerns, many local council workers and members of local voluntary groups are hoping this programme will see communities benefit from the credit crunch – by allowing them to acquire valuable and sustainable communal assets.  And with an ongoing trend of less private sector interest in public property, the voluntary sector could be set to take even more control of local services and facilities…

 

Source: New Start