Social Audit Network has produced ‘Really Telling Accounts’, a report on a Social Accounting and Audit Research Project. This explores to what extent social accounting and audit has been used by social economy organisations in the North East of England, Cumbria, Merseyside and Scotland, and includes a set of recommendations. Available as a pdf, 767KB - note that the links to appendices don’t work. This will also be part of the SAN conference on 7th November in Edinburgh, http://www.socialauditnetwork.org.uk/PAGE1text.htm.

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29 September 2008
© VoluntaryNews

This Viewpoint reviews some of the key proposals in adult social care of the last ten years from an equity perspective. It uses the analysis to argue that we can develop practical policies that are informed by clearly stated equity principles which serve to ensure that the most disadvantaged groups of people are treated more fairly.Download: http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/pdf/2292.pdf

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25 September 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

This Round-up evaluates the strategic and policy context for housing development and neighbourhood renewal. The authors argue that integrating different housing tenures is an important prerequisite for developing ‘housing of choice’, but that there are many other aspects of sustainable communities which need to be given equal weight. Download PDF:http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/housing/pdf/2295.pdf

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25 September 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Current UK house-building projections fall ‘significantly short of requirements’ and will result in increased overcrowding, homelessness and social exclusion, according to the Town and Country Planning Association. The first independent study to map new projections for population growth with housing supply reveals a need for an extra 17,000 new homes each year. The government has set a target to build an additional three million homes by 2020, (214,000 each year), but latest population figures suggest at least 231,000 homes per year will be needed.
Revised population figures, released in 2007, estimated the population of England to be almost three million higher than previously predicted by 2026.

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24 September 2008
© NewStart

Plans to improve migration statistics have received the backing of the government. Local data, such as national insurance numbers, GP lists and council tax records, will be used to help improve estimates of population and migration. Cllr David Rogers, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “The news is a victory for the LGA’s long-running campaign to improve migration statistics. However councils still need more funds to meet the pressures of migration.”

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24 September 2008
© LGA

The annual gathering of the Development Trusts Association in Leeds on 15th September saw the launch of the important research findings ‘Bearing Fruit: Good Practice in Asset-Based Rural Community Development. The study examines the experiences of seven rural Development Trusts to ‘see what works’. Importantly, the report identifies 10 specific characteristics of successful initiatives and focuses on the attributes of the people who are the driving forces within the Trusts. Amazingly, these individuals shared a great many of these traits! This report will be an important talking point for the growing number of rural Development Trusts and social enterprises as more and more rural communities assume responsibilities for service delivery and the transfer of assets into community management. A copy of the report can be downloaded from: http://rural.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/files/rural/DTA-Bearing%20Fruit%20.pdf

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24 September 2008
© Carnegie UK

The JRF’s recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern ‘social evils’ on the theme of ‘a decline in values’. Anthony Browne argues that, in the face of an unprecedented and unsettling decline in values, discussing the problem and its causes is the first step towards making things better. Download the report: http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/pdf/2279.pdf

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24 September 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

This guide is published jointly by NAVCA, IDeA and Urban Forum with the support of the National Empowerment Partnership to provide information on how local authorities work and what they are responsible for. It is designed to help people understand what their council does and help community groups have a greater say in local decision making. It provides essential information to help citizens and groups make the most of opportunities to influence decision-making and hold their council to account.

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13 September 2008
© NAVCA

The National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations has published a new guide for people involved in governing children’s charities. Governance for Children, which was funded by the Governance Hub, sets out the role of charity trustees and provides a range of practical suggestions. Maggie Jones, chief executive of the NCVCCO , said: “The task of governing charities may not be easy, but it could not be more important.” For more information visit: http://www.ncvcco.org/index.php?page=36

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10 September 2008
© Sarah Finley, Third Sector Online

A report offering guidance to councils on how to measure their communities’ wellbeing has been published by the Centre for Wellbeing at the new economics foundation, and the Young Foundation. Launched at this week’s local wellbeing conference, organised by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), the report highlighted the successes of Hertfordshire, South Tyneside and Manchester city councils, in pioneering approaches to promoting wellbeing. For more details visit www.youngfoundation.org.uk/node/782

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11 September 2008
© LGA