NEWSLETTER 25-2-10

11. Official employer guidance on fit notes
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Guidance for employers on the use of the 'fit notes' system, replacing sick notes from 6th April, has been published by the Department of Work and Pensions. There's a signpost page at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/fitnote/ (for GPs and employees as well as employers).

12. Time off for religious holidays and observance
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Sandy Adirondack's Legal Update (http://www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm) points out that the autumn Employment Law Update from Bates Wells and Braithwaite has a good summary of the issues, law and good practice on managing time off for religious holidays and observance, http://www.bwbllp.com/Updates/Detail.aspx?UpdateID=251&Location=1&ID=0.

13. Accounting for Heritage Assets
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The new Financial Reporting Standard 30: Heritage Assets comes into effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 1st April 2010. Heritage assets are "those tangible assets with historical, artistic, scientific, technological, geophysical or environmental qualities that are held and maintained principally for their contribution to knowledge and culture". While the FRS does not apply to unincorporated charities preparing receipts and payments accounts, the Charity Commission recommends that in this case the scale and nature of any significant heritage assets held and the public's access to them should be explained in the annual report.

Charity Commission background at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/investigations/sorp/acc_heritage.asp or go to SORP Information Sheet 3 http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/investigations/sorp/infosheet3.asp.

14. Time to check new rateable valuations
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New rateable values on all non-domestic properties, used as the basis for business rates, come in from 1st April. These values are calculated by the Valuation Office Agency, which is urging businesses to check their details are correct, at http://www.voa.gov.uk/valuation. (Registered charities should of course be getting rate relief, but not always 100%)

15. Slow moves on the Charitable Incorporated Organisation
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Third Sector reports that the new legal form for charities, the Charitable Incorporated Organisation, has been delayed again and is not now expected to be available until late 2010 or early 2011, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/985397/. Note that Scotland has its own version, the SCIO, with the consultation on implementation closing tomorrow (26th February), http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/16181221/0.

16. Explaining Electoral Commission registration
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It is the turn of Society Guardian to publish a piece on charities, campaigning and elections. This goes into more detail about when Electoral Commission registration might be required under the under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA). Written by a partner at Bates Wells and Braithwaite solicitors. (Not sure why we put the Third Sector article under E-Resource last week)

21. Skills that third sector apprenticeships should impart
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Skills Third Sector is consulting on a framework which will set down the skills and knowledge that apprentices in third sector organisations should gain while training on the job, http://www.skills-thirdsector.org.uk/qualifications_training/apprenticeships. Online survey responses by 28th April, with a chance of an Amazon token.

22. Comment on draft manifestos
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Two of the election manifestos mentioned under News are in draft and inviting comments - Wales and Northern Ireland. See the links given below.

23. Strengthening the Voice of the Black Minority Ethnic Third Sector
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A major national survey of the Black Minority Ethnic Third Sector is under way. It will inform the creation of a wide suite of resources and directories to help collaboration for funding and delivery, policy work and work with mainstream organisations. Complete 'Strengthening the Voice of the Black Minority Ethnic Third Sector' on SurveyMonkey by 30th April, via http://bit.ly/svpsurvey. (Source: Voice4Change England E-Alert)

24. Views wanted on Social Return on Investment technique
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NCVO wants to collect a variety of views on Social Return on Investment (SROI), the technique that measures the social value of an organisation and converts it into pounds and pence. Seasoned practitioners, novices and those who have never even heard of it can complete the online survey on the usefulness of the seven principles of SROI, with a chance to get an electronic bonus in return.

25. Improving access and provision of sport and recreation facilities
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An independent inquiry into sport and recreation facilities in the UK aims to come up with a range of recommendations to improve provision and access. Its definition of such facilities ranges from state-of-the-art lottery-funded facilities to canal towpaths and local bowls clubs. Information at http://www.facilitiesinquiry.org.uk, closing date for evidence 31st March. There's a 'five minute' questionnaire at http://www.facilitiesinquiry.org.uk/YourViews with more electronic enticements. (Source: ACRE headlines)

31. National sector organisations issue manifestos
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All four of the national generic sector umbrella bodies have produced manifestos for the imminent general election.

-- The chief executive of England's NCVO set out his vision of the "good society" at its annual conference earlier this week (23rd February). The accompanying manifesto has six basic themes: climate change, strong democracy, good public services, an active society, financial security/fairness for all, and an enabling environment. Specific requests of government are
* A new Community Day bank holiday.
* Local assets, such as community centres and town halls, to be transferred to communities where they would otherwise stand empty and neglected.
* All workers to be offered five days paid leave each year to carry out volunteering roles.
NCVO news item, Civil Society Media gives more detail, at http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/6086/.

-- In Northern Ireland, NICVA has issued a draft manifesto and is inviting comments by 10th March. The policies called for in the draft include:
* Put in place a robust framework for relationships between government and the sector.
* Standardise funding procedures across government departments.

-- Scotland's SCVO launched its voluntary sector manifesto at The Gathering event last week. 'Doing things differently' lays out the economic value of the sector, how it makes a difference to society and how the voluntary sector does things differently. Policy requests include:
* Ensure that contracts to deliver public services last for a minimum of five years.
* Support the development of policy based on our frontline experience of delivering services.
Download in pdf, 537KB, or news item at http://www.scvo.org.uk/scvo/NewsAndEvents/ViewArticles.aspx?f=h&al=t&pid=9876.

-- Wales Council for Voluntary Action outlines its draft manifesto in its Network Wales bulletin 398 (issues up to 397 online at time of writing). One request not spotted elsewhere: no price rises above inflation for CRB checks for paid staff in voluntary organisations. WCVA member organisations are invited to comment by 8th March.

Both NICVA and NCVO explicitly support the Robin Hood (or Tobin) tax on banking transactions, to generate money to tackle poverty and climate change. And all want to see improvements in Gift Aid and irrecoverable VAT. Civil Society Media rounds up some other sector manifestos at http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/indepth/content/6087/.

32. Exploring the potential of the sector in public health
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Charity chief executives organisation ACEVO has set up a Commission to report on the third sector's role in improving the nation's public health. Its draft terms of reference are "to explore the third sector's potential role in public health in this country, and the steps that need to be taken to realise that potential" and it is due to report back in May or June. News item at http://www.acevo.org.uk/Page.aspx?pid=1704.

33. Working together to help children sooner
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The Children's Workforce Development Council is promoting a range of tools to support 'integrated working': working better together to get help for children and young people sooner rather than later. See http://alltogetherbetter.cwdcouncil.org.uk/integrated-working/. Umbrella body NAVCA is working alongside CWDC in the initial phase, http://www.navca.org.uk/news/alltogether.htm.

34. Anti fraud strategy for Scottish charities
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Scotland's charity regulator OSCR has published its strategy to combat fraud in the sector. It is urging charities to report any fraud even if cases have already been dealt with, as such information provides "valuable intelligence" (as reported in Third Sector, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/985329/). For the full strategy (pdf, 111KB) see the relevant news item at http://www.oscr.org.uk/CurrentNews.aspx.

35. Charity Banking Forum
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Following a meeting hosted by Charity Finance Directors Group with representatives from the Payments Council and banks, which looked at the implications of the phasing out of cheques, a Charity Banking Forum is to be set up. Meeting twice a year, this will create a dialogue between CFDG members and the banking industry on a range of issues of mutual interest and concern, with the possibility of joint projects. CFDG news item, http://www.cfdg.org.uk/cfdg/press_release_230210_01.asp.

36. Employment impact claimed for shift to contract culture
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A study by a senior research fellow at Cardiff University's school of social sciences says that the huge shift in the relationship between charities and government since 1997 was "a revolution every bit as far reaching as the privatisation of nationalised industries under Margaret Thatcher", according to a report in The Guardian. The study was commissioned by the public services union Unison, and Third Sector's news item concentrates on the impact of competition with the private sector on employment relations in voluntary organisations, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/985335/.

37. Volunteer of the Year Wales
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This year's Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards are open for nomination until 23rd April. The five categories are adult, young people (under 25 years), trustee, green volunteer and groups, http://www.wcva.org.uk/news/dsp_news.cfm?newsid=1443. (The official link http://www.wcva.org.uk/voy is currently on 2009.)

38. Charity of the Year Scotland
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The Scottish Charity Awards recognise innovation and excellence in five categories: Community Action, Campaign of the Year, the Partnership Award, Charity Champion, and Charity of the Year. Deadline 9th April, http://www.scvo.org.uk/scvo/NewsAndEvents/ScottishCharityAwards.aspx.

PDF note: to be able to read pdf files, download Adobe Reader from http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/readstep2.html, for accessibility matters see http://access.adobe.com. Or for an alternative, try Foxit Reader.

51. Volunteering around the London Olympics
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Volunteering England has issued a policy briefing on 'Volunteering and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games'. It gives brief notes for volunteering organisations on the state-of-play in the development of national-level strategies, programmes and activities for volunteering at and around the 2012 Games. In pdf, 51KB.

52. Making an impact with children and young people in trouble with the law
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New Philanthropy Capital's latest report explores youth offending and highlights some of the innovative and promising ways that charities are helping young people to stay out of trouble. Aimed at charities and funders it highlights areas where investment could create the greatest impact. Download 'Trial and error: Children and young people in trouble with the law' (pdf, 1.7MB, registration required).

53. A clearer analysis of lessons from the Obama campaign
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A more considered (and relevant) analysis of Barrack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign than many earlier ones has been written by Duane Raymond on the Fairsay e-campaigning website. He starts off by explaining that its not just about effective use of technology. 'How to Campaign like Obama' at http://fairsay.com/blog/how-to-campaign-like-obama.

54. Using information to take action
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Ten Tactics for Turning Information into Action is an independent film that explores how rights advocates use information and digital technology to create positive change. It documents inspiring info-activism stories and uses the lessons to create advice for others. BBC News item at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8416785.stm, or go direct to http://www.informationactivism.org for trailer and featured tactics. (Source: www.netsquared.org)

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