Are you working in a leadership or management role in a social enterprise or the third sector? Do you aspire to be a senior manager or Chief Executive in the next five to ten years? If so, the Social Enterprise Academy’s 20:Twenty – Journey to Succeed programme could be for you. Following on from the success of their 20:Twenty Summer programme, from 20th to 23rd January 2009 up to 25 of Scotland’s future leaders in social enterprise will come together for a residential course at Eddleston, near Peebles.

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13 November 2008
© Rural Gateway

Futurebuilders England will continue to support third sector organisations facing financial difficulties during the recession, Jonathan Lewis, its chief executive, said this week. He said the Government-backed investment fund would give financial support such as loans to organisations that had long-term potential but faced short-term difficulties. Futurebuilders would also provide practical advice and guidance on business opportunities and planning for leaner economic times, he told Third Sector.

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12 November 2008
© Third Sector

The recession will offer opportunities as well as threats to charities that are prepared to make investments, according to charity finance professionals. The possible benefits of the economic downturn included the chance to hire high-calibre staff, snap up cheap property and take advantage of lower advertising rates, they said. Quinton Seeman, a resourcing adviser at Save the Children, said the current conditions gave charities a “once-in-a- generation opportunity.”

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11 November 2008
© Third Sector

Quarterly analysis of the 28,000 or so expressions of voluntary activity (essentially voluntary organisations) in Wales, including by classification (46 categories, 21 forums, and coverage (national, regional, local).

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10 November 2008
© WCVA

Simon Berry, ruralnet|uk’s long standing CEO, is taking a secondment with Defra to work on the delivery of their Third Sector Strategy and Greener Living Fund, launched on Monday. Simon, who is well-known in the sector for promoting networking and collaborative approaches and for his work with carbon-saving initiatives in rural areas, will be working with Defra part-time until the end of this year. He will take the position full time at the beginning of 2009. He will be taking long experience in the Third Sector - with charities, Social Enterprises, co-ops and community groups - to help Defra take forward this vital work. Board member Helen Cherry said, “Simon has always been passionate about strengthening rural communities and promoting innovative approaches. He is committed to helping organisations and the people they serve adapt to tackle climate change. This secondment will take his skills and experience in ‘joining-up’ front-line groups and forging cross-sector partnerships to the heart of Defra.” Simon launched the Rural Community Carbon Network over a year ago, to map groups working on climate change and help them to exchange experience. ruralnet|uk and Defra have worked on a variety of joint initiatives, including the Community Broadband Network, early initiatives to counter the impact of Foot and Mouth, engaging communities in harnessing the power of online information and the subsided place scheme at the ruralnet|uk annual conference for community representatives.

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10 November 2008
© ruralnet|uk

Umbrella body Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations has expressed its disappointment on charity regulator OSCR’s latest stage of its public benefit Rolling Review - see last week’s news item. SCVO says that “the OSCR ruling suggests that it is possible for an organisation to allocate as little as 8 per cent of income to providing public benefit and still be classed as a charity”. SCVO’s briefing and policy position or read Third Force News (reproduced by Senscot) at http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7629

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5 November 2008
© VoluntaryNews

In NCVO’s 90th year, our flagship Annual Conference will examine how uncertain economic times and a potential change in government presents us with many challenges, but also with opportunities. Join us to explore the voluntary and community sector’s role within civil society and to identify those issues which will matter most to the people and communities we work with in the future. Date: Wednesday 18 February 2009. Time: 10am to 4:45pm. Venue: The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SD.

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5 November 2008
© NCVO

A survey published today shows that the potential to get young people giving to charity by text message is much greater than previously thought. Nearly two fifths (38%) of 25-34 year olds and nearly a third (31%) of 16-24 year olds said they would be likely to give to charity via text message, but only 5% of all people surveyed said they had given by SMS in the last month with 25-34 year olds most likely to have done so (11%). 58% of people said they were “put off” by current charges. The 16-24 age group send on average 13 texts a day and 28% of them said that they would like to receive free info from charities if they had given permission. The survey, undertaken by nfpSynergy, was commissioned by a coalition working to break down barriers to fundraising and donating by text. The coalition is led by Joe Saxton of nfpSynergy, on behalf of the Institute of Fundraising (IOF), and Hannah Terrey of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). They are inviting charities to get involved in further research into the potential SMS has for charities. Saxton said: “This latest research shows that, whilst the fundraising potential of SMS texting may be substantial - not least amongst the young, many donors find current costs, just for collecting donations in this way, prohibitive. By striking the right balance, mobile phone operators, charities and donors can all benefit. This is a very real issue, not least as charities seek to more effectively engage with modern technologically mobile lifestyles, and with younger donors. We look forward to opening up a whole new way of giving to brand new audiences.” Terrey said: “Charities are missing out because the potential of text donations isn’t realised. We need to encourage the next generation to start giving small amounts now and in a way that suits their lifestyle. We would really like to hear from more charities who have run text campaigns or are interested in using SMS for fundraising in the future.” For further information contact joe.saxton@nfpsynrgy.net or hterrey@cafonline.org

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5 November 2008
© CAF

A flagship employment scheme is facing a severe funding cut due to changes announced this week in the way the working neighbourhoods fund (WNF) is calculated. Brent was chosen as a beacon council for its pioneering approach to worklessness in the London borough via the Brentin2Work scheme, but the initiative could be in jeopardy if the shake-up goes ahead. DCLG this week said it planned to tighten up the third eligibility criteria for WNF to ensure it is targeted where it is needed most. The changes could also signal a shift in emphasis, from worklessness back to unemployment. WNF will now be based on new population data from the 2007 census, which is measured against the employment rate. Revised data will ensure the most up to date information is used and will widen the range of councils which now qualify.Those councils entitled to full funding will receive extra money and two councils currently receiving transitional funds – Enfield and Lewisham – will now receive full funding. However, two authorities – Brent and West Somerset – will no longer be eligible. Andy Donald, assistant director of regeneration at Brent Council, said: ‘Our ratio of employed people is now too high. We have deep concentrations of worklessness but we now just miss out on the fund. Our regeneration is predicated on employment. We spend £3-4m each year on employment.’ The changes will not affect funding for the 2008-9 period, but will come into force in 2009-10. Brent will see its WNF fall from £2.8m to £1.4m in 2009-10, while its third year funding – almost £3m – will be cut to just £500,000.

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6 November 2008
© NewStart

Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he is considering a number of measures to protect the voluntary sector in the wake of the potential loss by charities of up to £200m in collapsed Icelandic banks. Brown was responding to a question during Prime Minister’s Questions from Nick Hurd, the shadow charities minister. Hurd asked: “Will the Government introduce measures to support that vital sector before it has to start cutting services to the people most vulnerable to a deep recession?”

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6 November 2008
© Third Sector