09.10.08 (1)

Emergency support for sector?

 

This week Acevo chief executive Stephen Bubb has urged both Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling to take urgent action in order to secure the future of the voluntary sector.

 

Troubled by the economic downturn, Bubb has demanded that the government fork out £500 million of emergency financial support for the sector and has insisted that they be represented on the newly-formed National Economic Council.  According to Bubb, it’s not just the banks that should be receiving the government’s help and attention during this time of economic turmoil, especially as charities and community organisations look set to play a key role in helping everyday people manage the effects of recession. 

 

Not everyone in the sector seems to agree with Bubb’s strong opinions, however.  Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, dismissed Bubb’s request for emergency financial support, but did assert that the local voluntary sector will now need to shift its priorities in order to weather the credit crunch storm – working more closely with local government and focusing more of its activities on issues such as poverty, debt, homelessness and advice services.

 

Source: Third Sector

02.10.08 (2)

Future of volunteering firmly on the agenda

 

Organisations from the voluntary sector, government and business are set to begin putting their heads together to discuss the future of volunteering.

 

A wide range of organisations, including the RSPB, Time Banking UK, the Office of the Third Sector and the National Trust, will work together in order to put into practice some of the suggestions made by the Commission on the Future of Volunteering, which began in March 2006.

 

Volunteering England will set the ball rolling by investing up to £100,000 in six action teams throughout the country.

 

It is hoped this initiative will take great strides towards making volunteering a cornerstone of British society – a recent political hot topic which can only be beneficial to the voluntary and community sector.

 

Source: Third Sector

25.09.08 (2)

Councils made Clear!

 

As a voluntary and community group are you often puzzled by the seemingly intricate workings of your local council?  Confused by its structure and unsure where responsibilities lie?  Don’t know who to contact and who can help?

 

Well, a new publication produced by Urban Forum could make everything that little bit clearer!  The text, How your Council Works: A Handy Guide for Community Groups, is your new one-stop-shop for answering any council conundrums!

 

Out now and available to download at:

 

http://www.urbanforum.org.uk/pubs/index.html

 

 

Source: Voluntary News

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