Latest FSB survey results show decrease in trade and increase in costs for small businesses. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has sent results to the Bank of England of a snap poll demonstrating the devastating impact of the credit crunch, and is calling on its Monetary Policy Committee to cut interest rates this Thursday. Figures released today from the FSB poll reveal that a majority of small businesses have seen their operating costs increase and trade reduced in the last year while most would back a reduction in interest rates by the Bank. Over 80 per cent of respondents said their costs had increased in the last year and 46 per cent had seen a decrease in trade. When asked about increases in the cost of finance such as loans and overdrafts, 40 per cent said they had seen increases in such facilities from the clearing banks. A worrying 51 per cent had seen an increase in their payment times from invoicing to full payment and this reflects the FSB’s concern that large companies are improving their cash flow on the back of their smaller suppliers.

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6 October 2008
© FSB

Graham Russell, CRC Director of Practice, will be taking part in a discussion group on ‘Debt Advice, money guidance and credit unions’ as part of this year’s Northern Financial Inclusion conference. CRC have been working to promote good practice for financial inclusion in rural areas through our Quids In campaign. We’re also taking the rural lead on DWP’s Financial Inclusion Champions Initiative. The Rural Financial Champion will will seek to achieve high level outcomes across three main areas: Helping people to manage their money day to day; Helping people to plan for the future and cope with financial pressure; Helping people to deal with financial distress. Visit the Northern Financial Inclusion conference website to find out more about the event: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/HEA/financialinclusion/96380.htm

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6 October 2008
© Commission for Rural Communities

A publication for Co-operatives UK written by consultant Jim Brown ‘Community Investment - using Industrial and Provident Society legislation’ gives an overview and practical guide for activists, advisors and professionals on the use of community share issues. As the first paragraph says, communities investing capital in business ventures serving a social or community purpose is not a new phenomenon, but the Fairtrade movement saw the start of the modern use of IPS legislation. See www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/welcome.asp?id=2397, or download the publication (pdf, 2. 65MB) directly: www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/images/cme_resources/Public/Community_Investment_using_IPS_legislation.pdf.pdf

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6 October 2008
© VoluntaryNews

Unity Trust Bank plans to open what it claims is the first dedicated social banking operation in Northern Ireland. The bank, which caters for charities and social enterprises, has appointed Amanda Brobyn as development manager to pioneer new services in the province. Brobyn, a former business banking manager at Abbey, will attempt to increase the bank’s client base in Northern Ireland.

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24 September 2008
© David Ainsworth, Third Sector

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has written to the Chancellor, Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) requesting full protection for banked charity funds in the event that a bank fails.The letter asks for the proposal of full compensation for deposits of charity money to be included in the FSA consultation on changes to the FSCS compensation limits that will take place in the autumn.

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© Charities Aid Foundation

20 August 2008

Five in six people are more likely to give money to a charity if it has an investment policy consistent with its own objectives, according to a new survey from the Ethical Investment Research Service. Eiris , which provides independent research into the social, environmental and ethical performance of companies, said that more than 90 per cent of people in the survey believed that every charity should have an ethical investment policy.

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11 August 2008
© David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online

Those working for charities are to be offered financial guidance at a forthcoming seminar, it has been revealed. Due to be organised by accountancy firm PKF, the London advice session will see charities receive advice on Gift Aid, Pay As You Earn systems and VAT. In addition, those attending the seminar will be given tips on how to save money and comply with various legal requirements. The seminar is free and takes place on Tuesday September 9th at the firm’s Farringdon Place office. Among the speakers at the event will be PKF director of VAT Debbie Jennings and Philip Fisher, who is partner of employment tax and rewards.Senior manager of corporation tax Sarah Campbell will also be offering advice to third sector bodies at the seminar.

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25 July 2008
© jobsgopublic

Over one million people are benefiting from 419 new non-charging cash machines installed in low-income areas throughout the UK in the last 18 months, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Kitty Ussher MP and Treasury Select Committee Chairman, John McFall MP announced today. This substantial progress is the result of a joint initiative between HM Treasury and the ATM working group, chaired by John McFall. Kitty Ussher and John McFall announced that: 419 new free access cash machines are now operating in low income areas; A further 143 locations for free access cash machines have been identified and are planned for end- 2008; These 562 free cash machines will benefit around 1.3m residents who as a result will not have to pay charges or to travel outside their community to withdraw cash; and work continues to ensure there is a free access cash machine in every identified target area.

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17 July 2008
© HM Treasury (National)

Our new report ‘Rural Financial Poverty: Priorities for action’ shows that the proportion of rural households in relative poverty rose from 16% to 19% between 2004 and 2007 - the equivalent of 1.6 million people in 2007. Around 20% of children and pensioners in rural areas were living in poverty in 2007, as well as one in six working-age adults. The increasing proportion of children living in poor working households and the dramatic rise in the proportion of pensioners living in poverty are particularly striking. ‘Rural Financial Poverty: Priorities for action’ provides a rural perspective to help inform policy makers and practitioners working to reduce financial poverty. It presents the latest statistical evidence of the scale and depth of rural financial poverty and recommends priorities for action to guide their work. Download as PDF: http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/CRC%20Rural%20Financial%20Poverty.pdf

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16 July 2008
© Commission for Rural Communities

More than four-fifths of people working in the Republic of Ireland’s voluntary sector are women, according to the first survey of sector pay and benefits in the country. The survey of more than 300 organisations found that 82 per cent of full-time workers and 85 per cent of part-time workers are women. Those figures compare with a UK workforce that is 69 per cent female, according to the NCVO’s 2007 Voluntary Sector Workforce Almanac.

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17 July 2008
© Paul Jump, Third Sector Online