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The government's programme of funding cuts and proposal to raise VAT will cost voluntary sector and civil society organisations £734m, according to figures from the Labour Party.

The cuts include:

• £340m from the cancellation of the Future Jobs Funds;


• £50m from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, which helps people from deprived areas back into work;


• £11m from the Youth Sector Development Fund, which works with disadvantaged youngsters; and


• £95m from the National Affordable Housing programme.

The figure also includes costs of £143m in irrecoverable VAT for the sector under the proposed increase of VAT to 20 per cent.

Labour said the cuts represented 6 per cent of the £12.8bn that the National Council for Vountary Organisations estimates voluntary organisations received from statutory sources in 2007/08.

Tessa Jowell, shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, said: "At the very moment that expectations are being raised, government action is damaging the ability of community organisations to deliver.

"With further spending cuts on the way, it is highly unlikely that civil society will become 'bigger' over the coming months and years."

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said: "Reducing the deficit is critical for the future of every part of our society. As with all sectors, the civil society will be affected by necessary reductions in spending."

Date: 15th September 2010

Time: 10:00-15:00

Location: OCN House, Lower Warrengate, Wakefield, WF1 1SA

Induction and Support for Providers running NOCN Qualifications

Target Group: All tutors, assessors and internal quality assurance staff who will have responsibility for PTLLS.

Content:

• Background to the Teaching Qualifications Framework


• Standards Verification UK (SVUK) Baseline Critieria for all providers


• Restrictions on learner entry


• An introduction to the Qualification Guide


• Mandatory assessment tasks and the Micro-reach


• The External Verification and Quality Assurance model

Cost: £75

To book onto the event, please complete the booking form and return it to Theresa Shaw at t.shaw@ocnyhr.org.uk no later than 9th September.

Download the Booking Form.

The Independent Challenge Group will provide advice to the Treasury on the 2010 spending review over the next month.

Curley is the only civil society leader appointed to the body. Other representatives on the group include key business and government figures, such as Douglas Flint, executive director, HSBC and Anita Charlesworth, chief information officer, Department for Culture, Media and Sports.

Mike Martin, Navca's chair, said: "With the public sector funding cuts already affecting many in the voluntary sector, it is reassuring that the Treasury has appointed a prominent, trusted representative from the sector to ensure all decisions from the review will challenged and discussed."

The spending review, which will set out the government's new spending plans for the years 2011-12 and 2014-15 is being highly anticipated by the voluntary sector who are wary of high level cuts.

The review is due to be published on Wednesday 20 October 2010 and the government has set out a detailed framework which will underpin the review.

The government spending criteria is dictated by the questions -

• Does the government need to fund this activity?


• Does the activity provide substantial economic value?


• Can the activity be targeted to those most in need?


• How can the activity be provided at lower cost?


• How can the activity be provided more effectively?- Can the activity be provided by a non-state provider?


• Can non-state providers be paid to carry out the activity according to the results they achieve?


• Can local bodies as opposed to central government provide the activity?

For a full list of members of the Independent Challenge Group click here.

The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has teamed up with brands such as Oxfam, Shelter and the Central Office of Information to provide best practice case studies in the use of search, and stress the importance of having a thorough strategy.

With 89% of active internet users relying on search engines, resulting in almost 2 billion searches per month in the UK it is now the cornerstone of consumes' online activity, and the toolkit is an essential for charity brands looking to boost their traffic, public interest and donations online.

The toolkit illustrates how for non-profit and charity campaigns there are a number of reasons why search marketing is so significant - in particular it can help generate donations, you can monitor results in real time and you can also use search to react immediately to emergency news stories or natural disasters when they hit.

Download: Search Toolkit for Charities & Public Sector - PDF (1165k)

As part of a national programme of events, Michael Fothergill, the WILLOW Project Manager, will be holding in Leeds to look at the new administration's proposals to support people who are furthest from the labour market into suitable and sustainable employment.

Wednesday 22nd September 2010
Venue: Aspire, Infirmary Street, Leeds
10.00 am to 1.00 pm

THE EVENT IS FREE AND LUNCH IS INCLUDED however booking is essential.

To book places please contact Andrew Perry at TSEN on 020 79870035 or e-mail mailto:admin@tsen.org.uk

The Government is committed to making it easier to run charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises. Reducing bureaucratic burdens will free-up time and resources for these organisations to make a difference in their communities and help mobilise the Big Society.

Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, said:

"This is a tough time for small civil society organisations and we want to make life easier for them. So I have asked for specific ideas on how we can thin the thicket of bureaucracy and regulation that too often gets in the way. I see it very simply. Every pound or hour we can save a small voluntary organisation is a pound or hour that could be better spent."

The taskforce will have a particular remit to consider the full range of burdens that fall on small civil society organisations. It will make recommendations about how red-tape should be reduced, including changes to legislation or processes that are needed. The taskforce will decide which particular areas it will focus on, but this might include: responsibilities of trustees and directors, employment law and contractual arrangements when civil society organisations provide public services.

Lord Hodgson, who has spent his career advising and working for SMEs, is currently President of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and as Shadow Minister in the House of Lords, led for the Conservative Party on the proceedings of the Charities Act 2006. He will be joined on the taskforce by: Andrew Hind, retiring Chief Executive of the Charity Commission; Lynne Berry, Chief Executive WRVS, David Tyler, Chief Executive Community Matters, Sir Graham Melmoth, retiring Chair NCVO and past Chief Executive Co-operative Group and David Thompson, Chair of Marstons PLC.

Minister for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk, said:

"We need to swing the balance back in favour of entrepreneurial spirit. We want to make sure that charities spend more time on their valuable work to support our communities.

"This taskforce will build on previous research into burdens on small business to look at how we can encourage more people to work together to improve their communities and help one another. Lord Hodgson has assembled a very strong team and I look forward to their recommendations."

Lord Hodgson, the Chair of the Big Society De-regulation Taskforce, said:

"I have accepted this role because I believe that the Government is serious about cutting the burden of red tape for civil society groups. I relish this opportunity to try to thin out the red tape that puts people off doing more for their communities and that holds back innovative small organisations from growth. I'm very grateful to the taskforce members who have volunteered the benefit of their significant expertise to this important work. I hope very much that the sector will not be backward in coming forward to identify areas where bureaucracy can be reduced and make practical recommendations for action - this is their chance."

Apart from making its own recommendations, the taskforce will also work with other initiatives, such as Lord Young's Health and Safety review, to help ensure that cuts to red tape are made in ways that are properly joined up and will consider or feed into related work, including:

• HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs review of bureaucracy associated with Gift Aid; and


• Home Office work on the criminal records and vetting and barring regime.

You will get a chance to see and learn about a range of technologies and resources that can make you work more effectively including:

Sessions on...

• Using MS Outlook effectively


• Just Giving - how to setup Gift Aid online for charities


• Joomla! - inspiration tips and tricks - open source content management system for websites

Free online tools such as...

• Tom's Player - create, collaborate and share Gantt Charts online


• Event Brite - simple but powerful tools to manage, promote, and sell out your event.


• Doodle - scheduling meetings and other appointments


• Google forms - create online questionnaires


• Dropbox - free storage on the "cloud"

Information sessions...

• No barriers - how disabled people use technology in the office


• Office 2010 - a quick look at it... is it for you


• Windows 7 tips and tricks

Speakers include:

• Simon Duncan - Yorkshire and Humber ICT champion


• Brian Teeman - co-founder of Joomla!


• Just Giving


• And more...

Book Online Now as places are limited.

Get a free domain and website: www.vrweb.org.uk
Get Support from Virtual Riders: www.virtualriders.org
Find out more: www.virtualriders.org.uk

Virtual Riders is a Big Lottery funded project delivered through North Bank Forum

As it prepares for a tough comprehensive Spending Review in Autumn 2010, the government has posed a series of questions to government departments to force them to focus on what services are essential and what can be cut. The questions are, in the words of one journalist, "brutal."

Yet if charities can successfully answer the questions being asked of Whitehall departments it could help them build a stronger case for survival. They might become more resistant to departments looking to make cuts. Their case could also be more compelling to local authorities. It could even help charities to build a stronger case for being scaled up, as discussed in NPC's recent report Scaling up for the Big Society.

In Proving your worth to Whitehall NPC shows that charities are capable of answering these Treasury questions, by providing an example of potential answers for Volunteers in Child Protection, a project run by CSV. The paper also contains a blank set of the Treasury questions and encourages all membership organisations to ask their members to answer them. By collecting these answers, NPC believes that memberships organisations can help to provide a more compelling narrative for the sector in the face of cuts.

'Charities are understandably nervous about prospects for public spending and many are facing cuts already. One hesitates to add to this anxiety. But if charities are to survive and even thrive in these tough times then they need to face up to all challenges. This means subjecting themselves to the same scrutiny faced by government spending departments.' Martin Brookes, Chief Executive

Download NPC perspectives: Proving your worth to Whitehall

Qualifications have already been developed in the QCF for assessing and assuring the quality of assessment. These will be available from awarding organisations from September 2010.

We are currently undertaking research to develop up-to-date role profiles for the learning and development workforce. The roles we identify will inform the development of the new qualifications for learning and development. The proposed qualifications will be taken to consultation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland through an online questionnaire and self facilitated groups, from Monday 23 August to Friday 10 September.

We will then revise the proposal in light of the consultation feedback, and publish awarding organisation guidance in September 2010. Awarding organisations can then develop and accredit qualifications. It is hoped that any new qualifications developed will be available early in 2011.

To find out how you can contribute please visit the consultation information section of this site.

In England the development of qualifications for the learning and development workforce can be seen as the first phase in developing a learning delivery and development qualifications framework. This framework will include qualifications for teachers tutors and trainers in the FE sector. The framework will include all qualifications available for learning delivery and development roles. It will help employers and practitioners to identify how qualifications can be used to support progression and career pathways. We are currently discussing the development of a similar learning delivery and development framework in Wales with DCELLS.

NIACE is also concerned that no conditions are attached to the granting of tax relief and that employers do not have to account for how, on what and upon whom it is spent.

As reported in last Friday's Times Educational Supplement (6 August 2010), Alan Tuckett, Chief Executive of NIACE, said:

"Tax relief is effectively a public contribution to private employer training expenditure and if £3.7 billion of revenue is foregone by the public purse, it is not unreasonable that the onus should be on employers to demonstrate it is being spent to good effect and is not simply exploited as a loophole by accountants."

"Tax breaks are a positive way of saying if you haven't got a history of investing, let's pay some of the expense. The problem with Train to Gain was it created the expectation that skills were the responsibility of the state."

"But tax breaks are not at all targeted. And look at all the rules that providers have to account for every thruppence-ha'penny from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and look at the freedom companies get for tax breaks, but in both cases it is money from the taxpayer to support skills."

"There is no doubt that you could use the money to get more benefit than it currently generates."

The paper does not argue that money spent by employers is not well-spent, but rather that without transparent reporting, it is not possible to know whether it might be better spent and whether relief should not be contingent on some conditions. The remainder of the paper adapts material published as part of the 2009 Independent Inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning to evidence the case.

Consultation seeking views about the future of the ‘right to request time to train' legislation and whether the right should be repealed, retained for large organisations or extended to small and medium sized organisations as planned.

The legal right to allow workers in businesses with more than 250 employees, to request time to take up relevant training came into effect from 6 April this year.

The Government has announced a review of all regulations in a bid to reduce burdens on business. This consultation aims to gather opinions on the right to request time to train and will feed in to the review.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is interested in hearing views on the regulation from employees, businesses and other interested parties.

Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning minister, John Hayes, said:

"Before we make any decisions about the future of the right to request time to train, it is important that we gauge views of the regulation and whether it is improving training opportunities for employees.

"We believe it is important that all regulations are properly scrutinised and we are therefore interested in hearing views on the future of this right and its role in promoting training in the workplace, which I see as vital to our economic success.

"I have asked my officials to ensure that this consultation is actively promoted to ensure that we get a broad range of views."

This consultation will be shorter than the normal 12 weeks as the Department previously consulted on the implementation of the right to request time to train in 2008. Main interested parties have been notified of this. It will close on 15 September to allow all representations to be made before the 17 September deadline for submissions to the next meeting of the Reducing Regulation Committee.

Visit the BIS web site to download the consultation

The minister for civil society and minister for business and enterprise said the six-strong team will be chaired by National Council for Voluntary Organisations president Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts and will comprise: outgoing chief executive of the Charity Commission Andrew Hind; chief executive of WRVS Lynne Berry, chief executive of Community Matters David Tyler; retiring chair of the NCVO and past chief executive of the Co-operative Group Sir Graham Melmoth, and chair of Marstons PLC, David Thompson.

"This is a tough time for small civil society organisations and we want to make life easier for them," said Hurd. "So I have asked for specific ideas on how we can thin the thicket of bureaucracy and regulation that too often gets in the way. I see it very simply. Every pound or hour we can save a small voluntary organisation is a pound or hour that could be better spent."

The taskforce will work through the "full range of burdens that fall on small civil society organisations" to reduce the red-tape constricting the sector, and will set the agenda for regulation amendments, producing a report for ministers by early 2011.

It will also incorporate thinking on other initiatives including Lord Young's health and safety review, the gift aid review and the vetting and barring regime.

Lord Hodgson notably led from the opposition bench for the Conservatives on the Charities Act in 2006 and is founder of Community Hospitals plc, the first listed UK acute care hospital company. He said:

"I have accepted this role because I believe that the government is serious about cutting the burden of red tape for civil society groups.

The taskforce will work through the "full range of burdens that fall on small civil society organisations" to reduce the red-tape constricting the sector, and will set the agenda for regulation amendments, producing a report for ministers by early 2011.

It will also incorporate thinking on other initiatives including Lord Young's health and safety review, the gift aid review and the vetting and barring regime.

Lord Hodgson notably led from the opposition bench for the Conservatives on the Charities Act in 2006 and is founder of Community Hospitals plc, the first listed UK acute care hospital company. He said:

"I have accepted this role because I believe that the government is serious about cutting the burden of red tape for civil society groups.

"I relish this opportunity to try to thin out the red tape that puts people off doing more for their communities and that holds back innovative small organisations from growth. I'm very grateful to the taskforce members who have volunteered the benefit of their significant expertise to this important work.

"I hope very much that the sector will not be backward in coming forward to identify areas where bureaucracy can be reduced and make practical recommendations for action - this is their chance."

Source: Civil Society Governance - 16/08/2010

28th & 29th September 2010

NEC Birmingham

In today's tough economic climate, the challenges have never been greater for Learning & Development.

A visit to the World of Learning presents L&D professionals with an invaluable time and cost-efficient opportunity to share experiences and learn from others how to best overcome the hurdles and ensure you are delivering the solutions the business needs to stay ahead.

The World of Learning Conference is unique. By combining extensive research with authoritative input from key industry figures, the conference programme provides an up-to-the-minute overview of the vital issues facing the senior L&D professional.

Featuring high-profile cases studies, interactive seminars and discussion forums, the World of Learning Conference programme concentrates on the current issues of most concern to L&D professionals. You will come away from the World of Learning Conference with genuine and inspiring solutions for your day-to-day and long-term business objectives.

For further information visit the World of Learning Conference 2010 web site

Book your tickets

The Charity Learning Consortium (CLC) will be exhibiting at the World of Learning Conference and Exhibition. Come and see us on Stand E125.

The CLC have teamed up with WOLCE and are pleased to offer 50% discount on delegate conference places.

To claim your 50% discount simply call the conference hotline number on 020 8394 5171, quoting CLCNON, to secure your discounted place Or click on the link below for more information:

http://www.charitylearning.org/news/charity_wol_news_events.html

In addition, Towards Maturity, the CLC’s benchmarking partner, has a seminar slot at WOLCE on Wednesday 29^th September (10.30am – 11am) where they will be providing an insight into the latest private, public and not-for-profit benchmarking survey results where over 400 organisations took part.

As a result of attending this session, L&D professionals will see the link between their actions and business benefit achieved, based on research across all industry sectors.

"This programme is part funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund". Third sector organisations who employ at least 1 member of staff may qualify for the 60% discount.

ILM - L4 Leadership Award

9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th September 2010 9.30-3.30/4.30pm

£235 full cost, £94 with 60% discount

This award has three mandatory units - Introduction to Leadership, Planning practical leadership activities & Developing leadership through practical activities. The teaching will be delivered over 4 weeks x 1 day per week and units will be assessed though a single work-based assignment.

ILM - L5 Understanding Social Enterprise Award

Date to be agreed in October 1 day a week for 4 weeks

Full cost £250, 60% discount cost £100

This award aims to develop the understanding of social enterprise by providing a contextual background to this sector for both managers and advisors. The teaching will be delivered over 4 weeks x 1 day per week and the units will be assessed through a single case study.

Please note this will be your last opportunity under the current contract with the Skills Enhancement Fund discount. Spaces are limited.

If you are interested in any of these courses please contact Liz Pickering on 01226 776000 ext 6118 or via email mailto:liz@afcl.ac.uk.

Please note Liz is currently on annual leave but will respond to emails

This survey (previously titled National Survey of Third Sector Organisations) was last conducted in 2008, and with over 49,000 organisations responding, gave a wealth of information that was used to help improve the environment in which the voluntary and community and social enterprise sector operates.

The survey has been renamed in order to provide a more straightforward title which better reflects the organisations surveyed. We have also learned from the first wave and made minor changes to refine some questions and make them clearer. However the content of the survey is the same as the first wave that went out in 2008, with the majority of questions being exactly the same, and therefore will provide data for comparison.

This survey is an opportunity for a wide range of organisations to put their views across to local decision-makers, and will help inform policy at a local and national level. The impact of the first survey has been significant, catalysing local action to improve the way local public bodies work with the voluntary and community and social enterprise organisations.

For further information about the previous survey click here

Specialist advisors and prominent sector representatives spoke on a wide range of topics relating to aspects of finance affecting the new civil society.

For those who were unable to attend, further information is available on the Unity Trust Bank web site.

Here you will also find a complete set of presentations from the event.

HLC is starting to keep a register of organisations that have a desire to work with them on contracts.

Register your interest so HLC know what skills partners have when writing tenders and funding bids.

Visit www.hlc-vol.org/p-reg to register your organisation

A workshop on how to use data to evidence the learner journey and its use in writing an evaluative and accurate SAR (Self Assessment Report).

Who is this particular session aimed at? Quality managers, curriculum leaders, team leaders and course leaders who contribute to an area or organisations self assessment process and report.

By the end of the session participants will be able to: recognise the importance of a clear SAR structure; use data effectively to underpin judgments; relate the SAR to the CIF; write evidence based judgments; grade areas of provision accurately; demonstrate capacity to improve; structure an effective quality improvement plan.

9.30 am to 3.30 pm

Price: £30 for HLC delivery partners (2 places only at reduced rate) and £95 all others.

For further details or to book a place email pattrickd@hlc-vol.org

Last year, 98 per cent of IfL members who declared their CPD had exceeded the minimum 30 hours (pro-rata) required.

Members can declare their CPD hours using an online self-declaration form at www.ifl.ac.uk/declare or using the IfL online personal learning space REfLECT.

On Tuesday 7^th September there will be a briefing session at Hull University Business School on Cottingham Road for anyone interested in finding out more about the two year part time Executive MBA. The session will begin at 2pm and be lead by the Programme Leader with further input from Andy Crossland Humber Learning Consortium Chief Executive, who is a recent Hull MBA graduate. Anyone interested in attending should e-mail stefano.revill@hull.ac.uk or call Stefano on 01482 463006.

The Hull Executive MBA is a prestigious, internationally accredited business degree offering education at an advanced level to graduates with at least three years' managerial experience. It is delivered on a part-time basis, generally over long weekends, to accommodate work commitments and allowing you to implement learning in the workplace as you progress.

The programme adopts a distinctive holistic approach to business and management, allowing you recognise and balance the strategic and functional needs within and outside of an organisation. It provides a rare opportunity to take a step back from the day-to-day workings of your organisation and allows you to interact and share experiences with managers from a rich variety of private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

Download the Executive MBA Brochure

This policy direction will require BIG taking into account the need to distribute money to projects that would assist people and local communities served by the voluntary and community sector in the UK.  Existing grants from BIG are not expected to be affected and decisions on which projects to fund will remain with BIG.

BIG's devolved expenditure in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not likely to be affected by this proposed new direction, as policy directions for BIG in these administrations are issued by the relevant devolved Minister.  The proposed policy direction would apply only to BIG's UK-wide non-devolved and England expenditure.

Responses to this consultation are invited until 29 October 2010.

Further information is available from http://www.culture.gov.uk/consultations/7313.aspx

Humber Technical Assistance have launched a new website based on HLC's virtuoso platform. The public facing website is designed to support and encourage ERDF bidding activity in the Humber area. HLC have also developed a secure members area to allow the partnership to communicate and share resources.

Find out more about Humber Technical Assistance by visiting www.humber-ta.org.uk

For Intermediaries and Front Line Workers

A fifth of adults in the UK do not have the basic numeracy (maths) skills needed for everyday life, such as household budgeting, working out their change during shopping, calculating credit card interest rates or helping their children with homework. This can have a dramatic effect on life chances and people with poor numeracy (maths) skills are twice as likely to be unemployed as those who are competent.

Maths4Us is a joint initiative between unionlearn, NIACE and National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (NCETM) to encourage people to tackle maths, take-up maths learning and have fun with maths. 

As part of the Maths4Us campaign we are offering free 2-hour maths taster sessions for intermediaries and front line workers in community settings. 

The taster sessions will help participants to feel positively about maths, providing them with the tools and confidence to encourage others to take up maths learning too.  (www.maths4us.org)

NIACE are seeking organisations who would like to host a free 2-hour maths taster session.  The sessions will be delivered by NIACE and will be available for delivery from mid-September 2010.

The taster sessions will introduce a range of engaging maths activities and provide participants with an enjoyable, stimulating mathematical experience.

Sessions will be offered on a 'first come first served' basis.  If you would like to host a session for your employees/colleagues/volunteers  or are interested in finding out more please contact:

Linda Dixon

Project Officer, LLN

Linda.dixon@niace.org.uk

0116 2047056

The LSIS Safeguarding e-learning resource began life in 2009 - and last year was accessed by more than 28,000 users.

Now, following a host of positive feedback from users, it has been reworked and improved ready to be relaunched on 1 August 2010.

Among those who gave such feedback was Carla Tudbury, the-learning Support Services Manager at ProVQ Ltd., a Work-Based Learning (WBL) training provider.

She said she had combined the online training with a one-day LSIS Safeguarding Facilitators workshop to identify the whole organisational approach to safeguarding which was required within her organisation.

It was this sort of feedback which enabled the development of the new e-learning resource which will be online next month at http://www.leadershiplearning.org.uk

Current registered users will be able to access it by using the ‘Free courses' option on the LSIS Leadership Learning Environment homepage. New users need to click on the ‘Register now' option.

Those presently undertaking the online training can take the current assessment until close of business on 31st July. It will then cease to exist in its current format.

LSIS insists the new version has not changed drastically. It has been made more current and the feedback gleaned on the original resource used to readjust some of the assessment questions.

Users have the choice of two assessments; one which can be undertaken after the first two modules of the course and a second assessment for those who wish to undertake all four modules.

What?

This conference follows on from last year's discussions on surviving in tough economic time. With the recent announcements of 25% budget cuts (or more...) the not-for-profit sector will need to look at innovative technologies to help with the bottom line. There has been more and more emphasis on cloud technologies for contact management, document storage, collaboration, distributed working, media and networking. Is this the future? Or just a flash in the pan?

We are currently talking to potential speakers and facilitators but are hoping to run sessions on:

* Tools of the trade - the technologies
* Planning for the cloud
* Project management - can cloud help?
* Change Management - how do you do to prepare for outsourcing
* Supporting distributed organisations and homeworkers
* Accessibility and the cloud
* Data protection
* Learning in the cloud
* Volunteers and the cloud

The conference will be a mix of debate, sessions, presentations and networking. This year we are introducing an "unconference" hour in the first day afternoon (see programme) where any participant can run an informal session which relates to the theme of the confernce. There is a slot in the morning to announce these sessions. We hope to arrange a social event at the end of the first day in a local hostelry.

Download the draft programme. Please note this may be subject to change and will be amended and updated as we confirm sessions.

Who?

The Conference attracts a wide range of people from those involved in supporting and developing ICT in small to medium sized not-for-profit organisations. These range from circuit riders, "accidental techies", ICT managers and professionals, freelance consultants to volunteers. In addition it also attracts senior managers, decision makers, trustees and the like who are interested in knowing more about how ICT can be used to deliver services more efficiently and effectively. Participants come from the charity, social enterprise and commercial sectors.

Dates and times - Tuesday 28 (9.30 - 16.45) and Wednesday 29 September (9.30 - 13.00).

Venue - The Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE11.

How much per attendee?

£100 + VAT - organisations with less than 6 FTE staff
£125 + VAT - organisations with 7-15 FTE staff
£150 + VAT - organisations with over 16 FTE staff

Book early and save money! A 10% early bird discount applies for bookings up to 13 August.

How do I register?

Registration is now open - please use the booking form.

For further details, where to stay and where to eat visit the LASA web site

This seminar highlights existing good practice in developing childminding to meet families' needs. It outlines some of the challenges that local authority childminding services can face, and offers suggestions for how your local childminding sector can play a key role in the childcare market, enhancing the childcare choices for local parents in order to help them take up work and training.

Despite some fall in numbers, 60,000 childminders still provide around a quarter of all childcare places nationally, and childminders constitute the largest sector of registered childcare provision in most local authority areas.

Quality is increasing across the profession, with 9 per cent of childminders rated ‘outstanding' by Ofsted in 2009. Over a third of childminders are currently qualified to Level 3, and about half are members of quality improvement networks and can offer the free Early Years Entitlement.

Despite all this, childminding is often overlooked when discussing childcare sufficiency. The purpose of this seminar, is therefore to show that childminding, with its unique qualities, can be the best solution to many sufficiency issues.

To book your place please download and complete the booking form

The voluntary sector, like any other sector, needs a skilled workforce in order to thrive and provide quality services, particularly in the face of rising demands about what it can and should deliver.

A National Skills Strategy is a crucial tool for supporting a skilled workforce.

Be part of developing that strategy. The consultation is open now.

There are several ways you can help to develop the national skills strategy.

1. Fill in the online consultation

2. Join in the discussions on the discussion board

3. Tell us about the examples of good skills development for the voluntary sector that you know about by emailing us.

4. Join us at one of the regional roundtables. The dates for the regional roundtables are:

1 September, East Midlands - Leicester
2 September, Eastern Region - Cambridge
7 September, South West - Taunton / Exeter
10 September, North West - Manchester

They are open by application only. If you would like to apply for a place please email us giving your name, organisation, role and contact details.

Our ideas so far for the national skills strategy for the voluntary sector are published in the National Skills Strategy framework. This sets out the research we have based our ideas on, four priority skills areas this research suggests that we need and our ideas for the delivery principles that will help ensure the sector has access to good quality skills development.

For information about the recent policy announcements that affect skills in our sector read The voluntary sector skills landscape.

Please encourage your colleagues and other people in your networks to get involved.

The more views we have the more the skills strategy will be able to represent the diverse interests and needs of our sector.

This change can come about through the everyday actions of one individual, many people pulling together, a local company that cares about their wider community or the thoughtful investment of resources.

The awards are fun, informal and inclusive.

The four award categories are:

• Everyday Impact Award


• Influencer Award


• The Great Giving Funders Award


• Life Time Achievement Award

Social Change Award Winners 2009 - The winners in each of the four categories were announced at the Social Change Awards Ceremony which took place on Thursday 26 November 2009 at the Charity Centre. Find out who are the DSC Social Change Award Winners 2009.

To find out everything you need to know about the awards, follow the links below:

What makes these Awards different from all the rest?

What are the Awards Categories?

The Winners and prizes for 2009

There are two nomination deadlines 3 September and 10 September 2010. For further details visit the DSC Social Change Awards site

If you have any further questions please email: awards@dsc.org.uk

The new draft Single Equality Scheme sets out how the Skills Funding Agency will meet its duties as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Once the consultation is complete on 6 September 2010, the full three-year scheme will be published later this year.

Individuals and organisations are being encouraged to give their views on how learner equality can best be achieved. By visiting http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/funding/consultations those affected by and interested in the work of the Skills Funding Agency will be able to answer consultations questions and help shape the final scheme.

If so, the University of Hull's Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector programmes are an excellent way for you to develop and update your teaching skills whilst exploring current ideas about education and training.

On offer are:

• University Diploma in Teaching English (ESOL and Literacy) and Maths in the Lifelong Learning Sector


• Certificate in Education


• Professional Graduate Certificate in Education

For more information contact:

Admissions
Centre for Educational Studies
University of Hull
Cottingham Road
Hull
HU6 7RX

Phone: 01482 466216

Email: admissions-ces@hull.ac.uk

Website: www.hull.ac.uk/ces/courses

Changes following the general election on 6 May have affected the landscape of the Learning and Skills Sector in many ways - with increases in apprenticeships, cutbacks in higher education and the abolition of key organisations for example. The role of evidence for education, and of the research on which it is based, grows steadily in importance. As decision-making becomes more distributed, reliable knowledge needs to be created and used in every locality.

A promising sign is the continuing development of resources to support practice-based research. LSIS Research Development Fellowships and Institute for Learning Hewett-Driver bursaries are continuing in 2010 and the research area on the Excellence Gateway is developing steadily. LSRN is gaining strength, with convenors now in place in every region; and formal recognition for research engaged colleges is being provided by the National Foundation for Educational Research.

In this our fourth conference with NIACE, LSRN is building on the format of last year to showcase practice-based research and to provide opportunities for all those interested in research or Research and Development (R&D) in this large and varied sector to engage with each other. In addition to keynote presentations, we have ensured that there will be time to hear from major research centres as well as practice-based projects and a strand of workshops on engaging with research.

The fee has been reduced by 35% to £100 per person from last year to enable delegates to attend the conference. The event is designed to offer practitioners the opportunity to present their research and to share the outcomes of their scholarly activity and will be of interest to all those working in the Learning and Skills Sector, particularly

• teachers, learning support staff


• tutors, trainers and other practitioners,


• managers, researchers and policy developers.

Call for Contributions

The planning group invites contributions to the parallel presentations. In addition to presentations of the outcomes of research or R&D projects, we welcome presentations that address capacity building and impact, for instance:

• practitioner engagement with research or R&D


• collaborative working


• increasing the influence of research findings


• action research and its role in improving practice.

Guidelines for the content and format of presentations and process of submission of contributions can be accessed at:
http://www.niace.org.uk/campaigns-events/events/evidence-for-practice

All submissions should be sent to: ursula.wallace@niace.org.uk using the template provided in the brochure and on the website by Thursday 16 September 2010. The decision of the selection panel will be emailed by Tuesday 28 September 2010.

Award for best papers

The LSRN will be continuing the tradition of awarding a prize for best research paper along with runner-up awards. Entry to the award is restricted to participants working in or for institutions within the Learning and Skills Sector.

This year we will be including an opportunity to present a 'poster' in the engaging with research slot. There will be a £50 prize for best poster based on votes cast on the day. Please use the submission template to indicate whether you would like to display a poster rather than make a presentation.

NB: All presenters will be required to register for the conference and pay the conference fee of £100 by Thursday 7 October.

For more information, to download an application form or to reserve a place online, visit the NIACE website: http://www.niace.org.uk/campaigns-events/events/evidence-for-practice

Enquiries to Ursula Wallace, Tel: 0116 204 2833 / E-mail: Ursula.wallace@niace.org.uk

1. MBA for the Voluntary sector

Cranfield School of Management and The Cranfield Trust* are delighted to offer scholarships for candidates working for a European charitable, voluntary organisation involved in issues of poverty, disability or social exclusion.

Programme: Executive MBA

Value: £31,000 (full tuition fees)

Number of awards: 2

Scholarship details: To be considered for one of these scholarships you should submit your MBA application between 1 September and 31 October.

To find out more please visit the Cranfield School of Management website.

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2. PHD opportunity

An opportunity exists for a student to assess the environment for performance management in the UK voluntary sector and to map the performance tools currently in existence, in order to provide a directory of available resources for charities and other non profits.

In addition, the student will conduct a number of case studies of voluntary sector organizations to understand the processes of performance measurement in these organizations.

Together these will enable the development of tool and techniques for non profits to develop performance management activities as a key part of their overall organisation management.

For further information please download the overview document.

As a community group or social enterprise we know you're brilliant at getting people to work together and make a difference. We're brilliant at helping you make your project self-sustaining and showing you how to raise (and pay back) the money you need. The eight (completely free) workshops (shown below) are open to anyone from charity or community groups who wants to learn about short and long term sustainability, and funding sources other than public grants and donations. Charity Bank is the UK's only regulated bank that is also a registered general charity. We're the only bank that uses 100% of our depositors savings to support charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises that address societys needs.

Scarborough Falsgrave Road Community Centre - 10th September 2010
Rotherham Voluntary Action - 16th September 2010
Harrogate CVS - 23rd September 2010

Contact Jane Thompson at HANA to book a local place on 01482 491177 or email Jane Thompson

For bookings elsewhere please email Charity Bank