National News
This page holds information concerning national issues.
Information for organisations effected by the current banking issues
The Charity Commission has published information for charities, who may be concerned that their savings and reserves may be impacted on by the 'credit crunch' and the associated banking issues. The information below has been copied directly from the Charity Commission's web-pages for ease of reference and can be found on their website here.
Advice and information for charities who may have money invested in Icelandic banks can also can also be found on the Charity Commission website by clicking the following link.
Information for charities who have invested in Icelandic banks.
We have been informed by the Charity Commission that they will publishing new information and advice as and when they receive it, therefore we recommend you check their website regularly. Published on the 9th October 2008 by the Charity Commission.
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Three Year Funding to be the Norm for the Third Sector (UK)
Voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises all stand to benefit from new Government guidance to ensure every Whitehall department offers three year funding to third sector organisations in all but exceptional cases. The guidance document, published jointly by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in the Cabinet Office and the Treasury, sends a clear message across Government that, where appropriate, funding for the third sector must be for a minimum of three years.
Throughout the next three years, departments will have to report their progress to the Minister for the Third Sector by the end of October, who will in turn report that progress to the Treasury and to Parliament as part of the annual review of the Compact.
This is the first in a series of concrete steps towards making three year funding the norm rather than the exception. The reassurance of not losing funding from one year to the next will assist aims to help third sector organisations to be:
• more sustainable – to engage in longer-term planning, borrowing and investment
• more innovative – with more time to develop and demonstrate the impact of new services and activities
• provide better value for money – reducing time spent on year-on-year fundraising, freeing up staff to concentrate on delivering long-term outcomes
For further information visit: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/080903_funding.aspx
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Consultation on Public, Patients, and other interested parties views on Additional Uses of Patient Data
NHS Connecting for Health, an agency of the Department of Health, has commissioned Tribal Consulting to independently collect and analyse the views of interested parties about how patient information held by the NHS should be used for additional purposes. Patient information is mainly used to provide care and treatment. This consultation is focusing on additional uses, such as planning, research, audit and management.
Views are sought from the general public, patients, and NHS staff, care services, ethics, research and development (R&D), researchers and professional bodies. This will be done through a series of workshops being held across England and a survey that can be completed online at http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/susconsultation, in writing, or on the telephone (please ring 07717 881633 or 0161 902 1100).
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Charitable Incorporated Organisations
The consultation on Charitable Incorporated Organisations has now been published. This can be read at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/Consultations/current_consultat ions/cio.aspx
Appendix G has the answer to how it is proposed that organisations that are currently Charities and Companies can convert.
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Direct Payments
The government will be consulting on regulations relating to direct payments.
Direct Payments are crucial to achieving the Government's aim to increase independence, choice and control for service users and their carers through allowing them the opportunity to arrange their own personalised care.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 extends the availability of direct payments to those people who lack capacity to consent to their receipt. In addition, the government is also reviewing the current exclusions to receiving direct payments for those people who are subject to various provisions of mental health legislation in light of the modernisation of mental health law brought about by the Mental Health Act 2007. The government is now consulting on regulations to these two changes. You have the opportunity to respond to the Consultation.
Find below documents relating to the consultation:
Consultation Document.
Easy Read Consultation Document.
Consultation Response template
Draft Statutory Instrument.
Impact Assessment
The closing date for responses is 11 November 2008.
To respond partners/individuals etc can do so by:-
1. Post - address is, Department of Health, Social Care Policy and Innovation, Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships Directorate, Area 118, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG.
2. E-mail : extendingdirectpayments@dh.gsi.gov.uk. Please can you forward any comments by email no later than Friday 24th October 2008.
Further information can be found by visiting the DoH website as below. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/index.htm
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IS COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION WORKING IN YOUR AREA?
Urban Forum is teaming up with NAVCA to run a series of events about community representation. There will be four events across England – starting in the South West in November – giving members the opportunity of examining different models of community representation to take back to their own areas. In order to make the events as successful as possible we need your help. Do you know of any particularly successful models of community representation that could be presented at these events?
Email nick@urbanforum.org.uk with your examples.
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Third Sector Peer Coaching Programme for Learning and Skills
NIACE is once again seeking Third Sector Peer Coaches. This is to expand the existing team of Coaches for the LSC-funded support programme for Third Sector providers of learning and skills. Please note that the closing date for applications is Monday 15th September at 12 noon.
advertjob descriptionApplication form
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Changes to financial thresholds for charities
The government published its response to the consultation 'Financial Thresholds in the Charities Acts - Proposals for Change' as this newsletter was being compiled. The recommendations will be introduced in secondary legislation by the end of the 2008/09 financial year. Basic details in the news release at http://preview.tinyurl.com/6pshu4
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Communities in control: real people, real power
The Government has published its white paper setting out proposals to deliver a fundamental shift in power, influence and responsibility into the hands of communities and citizens. http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/communityempowerment Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has an empowerment blog at: http://haveyoursay.communities.gov.uk/blogs/hazelblears-empowerment
Urban Forum has published a briefing on the paper, available via: http://www.urbanforum.org.uk
The Local Government Association's briefing is at: http://digbig.com/4xejf or http://www.lga.gov.uk
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Performance Hub guides
Please have a look at the series of five Performance Hub guides. These focus on a different topic providing a ready made analysis of the future changes we are likely to see in the coming years; they are:-
Future Focus 1:funding
Future Focus 2: volunteers
Future Focus 3: new technologies
Future Focus 4: local democracy
Future Focus 5: social attitudes
Each guide poses some strategic questions to help you think through how these likely future changes could affect your organisation, and how you can prepare for them. All organisations can become more successful by spending some time improving their understanding of the likely future external pressures they will face, and using this information to help make strategic choices and plan ahead.
Author: Natalie Williams and Megan Griffith, NCVO Third Sector Foresight
Published: March 2008
Publisher: NCVO
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SROI: A tool for triple bottom line management
In May, the Office of the Third Sector announced funding for the development of an Social Return on Investment (SROI) standard and at the same time a network of practitioners, SROI-UK, was launched.
Eva Neitzert, a researcher at nef (the new economics foundation) which pioneered SROI in the UK, explains that SROI is: "Most simply put, SROI is a tool for measuring and communicating the social, environmental and economic value that an organisation creates. Monetisation has been shown to be a powerful way to communicate with funders and policymakers. For example, using SROI we were able to show that every pound invested in an employment training programme for young ex-offenders generated £10.50 in social value."
To find out more about SROI contact Eva at eva.neitzert@neweconomics.org or on 020 7820 6375, visit the nef website and download the updated SROI guide or visit the SROI-UK website: http://www.sroi-uk.org
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Safer Children in a Digital World
On 24 June 2008 a cross-Government Action Plan was published which sets out how the recommendations of the Byron Review will be implemented. In her groundbreaking report Safer Children in a Digital World, published in March 2008, Dr Tanya Byron set out a number of recommendations to improve children's safety when they use the internet or play video games. This Action Plan sets out how Government, its partners, industry and the third sector will work together to create a safer online world.
It can be downloaded from http://www.dfes.gov.uk/byronreview/actionplan/.
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Simplifying VAT partial exemption rules
HM Revenue and Customs has launched a consultation on ideas to simplify the VAT partial exemption rules, inviting comments on the three partial exemption areas identified as simplification priorities by businesses: standard method, de minimis rules and Capital Goods Scheme.
For further information see the HMRC Brief at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/briefs/vat/brief3008.htm, or go direct to the consultation document, http://ma.gnolia.com/zukeqazisc.
Charity Finance Directors' Group is encouraging responses and has a briefing note via http://www.cfdg.org.uk/cfdg/inf_con_partialexemptioncaptialgoods.asp.
Responses required by 30 September.
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Online filing for 2008 open
The Charity Commission's online service is now accepting Annual Returns / Updates for financial years ending in 2008 (assuming that the period has completed, of course). You need to have registered for a password first
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/ common/Onlineservices.asp
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New Guidance on CRB Checks for Volunteers
The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) has published guidance to help organisations that use volunteers to be clear about when they do and don’t need to carry out Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on volunteers. The guidance will help cut unnecessary red tape and responds to concerns voiced by the voluntary sector that potential volunteers can be put off if they are asked to undergo a CRB check without good reason. You can access the guidance and find further information on the OTS website.
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Morgan Inquiry
The Morgan Inquiry into young adult volunteering has published its report. It calls for:
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the introduction of a flexible day off for accredited volunteering
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releasing young adults from employment or academic commitments
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Department for Work and Pensions to recognise volunteering as a legitimate route into employment
and to amend Jobseekers’ Allowance rules
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the development of a government accredited volunteering skills award that would be universally recognised by employers and further/higher education institutions,
*the consolidation of information available to potential volunteers.
For further information and to download the report visit:
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First sector, not the third sector
The Conservatives have published a Green Paper setting out the priorities of a Conservative Government for the sector. The proposals included replacing the Office of the Third Sector with an 'Office for Civil Society', giving central government employees time off to volunteer; a "one-stop funding portal" for statutory grants, and an "improved version of the Compact".
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) have welcomed the green paper's commitments to multi-year strategic funding and contracts that focused on the desired outcome rather than the process. They believe their priorities will help to ensure that the sector are no longer seen as the third sector, but the first sector.
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=9196
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Socially responsible bank is first to market in funding community projects transferred from local authorities
Unity Trust Bank has today announced the launch of its new Community Asset Transfer (CAT) loan account, the first of its kind in the UK. The inspiration behind the CAT account is to provide much-needed assistance to voluntary and charitable organisations which have been transferred assets from local authorities or other public bodies. The CAT account is designed to help in the purchase or refurbishment of such assets and allow organisations the cash injection often required for them to provide well-managed and well-maintained facilities to the local community.
For more information regarding the CAT loan account, please visit www.unity.co.uk/CAT or email CAT@unity.co.uk
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Minister calls on the third sector to speak out
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, today called on charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises to give their views on the Draft Legislative Programme (DLP). In a speech to the National Council for Voluntary Organisation's (NCVO) Sustainable Funding Projects Annual Gathering, the Minister stressed the importance that the Government places on the Third Sector's response to the DLP consultation which includes proposals for 18 new Bills.
For further information see:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=369354&NewsAreaID=2
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Next year's draft legislation
'Preparing Britain for the future: the Government's draft legislative programme 2008-09' was published on 14 May.
The four themes of the 18 bills and other non-legislative actions are:
• Making the most of your potentia
l• Personalisation and Improvement of Public Services
• Economic Stability and
• Handing Power Back to the People.
You are invited to have your say on what the Government’s priorities should be. Read more online at http://www.commonsleader.gov.uk/output/page2391.asp, or download the full document (pdf, 428KB), from http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm73/7372/7372.asp. Responses by 6 August.
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Updated working standards for fundraisers
The updated National Occupational Standards for Fundraising have been approved and published. These are relevant if raising funds is a role you perform or manage and whether it is the focus or a small part of your working remit.
Details on the Workforce Hub site at http://www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk/fnos08.
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Draft national strategy on participatory budgeting
Communities and Local Government CLG has a draft national strategy on the Government's plans for all English local authorities to use participatory budgeting by 2012. Closing date for comments is Tuesday 10 June 2008. Participatory budgeting: have your say - on the Communities and Local Government website http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/participatorybudgeting
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Researching how to consult the third sector
A research project commissioned by the Office of the Third Sector is looking at effective and innovative consultation with the third sector in England. Due to report by the end of October 2008, key questions are
* How can government most effectively consult with third sector organisations?
* How can it reach organisations normally under-represented in government consultations?
* Are there specific ways in which consultation with the third sector differs from other government consultation?
For more information about this project email karin@involve.org.uk or call 020 7632 0123
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Charities Evaluation Services leads new National Performance Programme
Charities Evaluation Services (CES) will start a major 3-year programme to expand the support on performance management available to third sector organisations across England. This programme is funded by Capacitybuilders and takes over where the Performance Hub left off.
Performance management is about working effectively and efficiently, and achieving the best possible results for users. The National Performance Programme will support and strengthen the effective work being done by local and specialist infrastructure. It will hit the ground running with a range of services including training and mentoring for development workers on performance topics and online support. Work due later in the year includes support on environmental sustainability, tailored work with BME support organisations, and guidance on how to communicate 'impact'.
Details of this programme will be available via the CES website over the coming weeks, with course dates available from 7 April.
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Capacitybuilders
Capacitybuilders is pleased to confirm that all nine of the national support services’ (NSS) started running on 1 April, with six lead agencies receiving some early money to make sure they are in a position to hit the ground running. Further information about the activities of the nine workstreams and how to contact them is now accessible via www.improvingsupport.org.uk
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Paid fundraisers must say how much they get paid from 1 April
The rules are changing with regard to the law that will obligate fundraisers to give more information in future. This is part of the new Charities Act and obligates professional fundraisers – including any contractors working on your behalf - to make a statement regarding their fundraising costs. From 1 April this year, fundraisers who are paid to raise money will be required to say up front to potential donors how much of each donation will go to charity and what proportion goes towards their own wages.
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Charities Working With Business
With the publication of the Office of the Third Sector’s guidance for professional charity fundraisers, commercial participators need to ensure compliance of updated regulations by 1 April 2008. Charities working with commercial participators can use this guidance together with the Institute’s ‘Charities Working With Business’ Code of Fundraising Practice to meet both legal requirements and best practice. Corporate partnerships can prove lucrative for both parties, for example in terms of income, brand awareness and public relations. However, without careful preparation they can bring conflicts.
Firstly, both businesses and charities need to demonstrate due diligence in establishing relationships – what are the motives for the relationship? Do your values and ethics match? Are there any potential conflicts of interest?
It is important to establish conditions of the relationship at the outset - the brand value of the charity will need to be considered when stipulating the use of the charity logo. Expectations of each partner’s role need to be ascertained as well as ownership of copyright, events, services etc. Targets should be set that are achievable as well as criteria that can measure the success of all areas of the relationship.
Relationships with commercial participators need to be reviewed to ensure they meet the new requirements. Charities could also use this opportunity to ensure that they are making the most of the relationship and meet the best practice standards as laid out in the Code. Further information is available on the:
http://fundraisingstandardsboard.createsend5.com/t/1/l/nyhhk/gdrliud/
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/080221_fundraisers.aspx
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One month to go till £215m fund opens to all third sector organisations delivering public services
Futurebuilders England, the government-backed investment fund for the third sector, is gearing up to open its doors next month [April] to organisations working across all areas of public service delivery.
Offering loans-based investment packages, Futurebuilders provides flexible finance to organisations that are delivering public services or want to start contracting with public bodies, such as local authorities, primary care trusts or learning and skills councils.
Established in 2004, the Futurebuilders Fund was originally only open to groups working in crime, community cohesion, children and young people, education and learning, and health and social care. From April 2008 it will extend its support to organisations working across all areas of public service delivery, including sport, recreation and leisure, environmental projects, waste and recycling, legal aid, and the arts.
Megan Meredith, External Affairs Director at Futurebuilders England said:
“With only one month to go until the Futurebuilders Fund is extended to cover all public services we’re urging not-for-profit organisations to get ready to apply.
“With an extra £65m on offer from 1 April – bringing the fund total to £215m – we’re particularly looking for organisations that want to improve or expand their services and will ultimately earn income for these services through public sector contracts.
“We’re excited by the opportunity to open the fund into new markets and look forward to the interesting proposals this expansion will bring.”
Futurebuilders has already invested in over 250 third sector organisations including charities, social enterprises, community interest companies, voluntary groups and community organisations. Each investment package is tailored to meet the individual needs of the applicant and its proposal. Loans are offered at a standard rate of 6% and are often combined with grants and professional support to help build capacity for generating income and winning contracts.
To register your interest before the fund opens, or to find out more about how loan finance can help your organisation achieve sustainability, visit www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk or call 0191 261 5200.
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Charity television on its way
NGO TV is aiming to "become one of the most important factual channels on Sky Digital TV", having received its Ofcom licence. It will broadcast documentaries, news and talk shows about charities and international development, hopefully from later this year, and will share some content with the Community Channel. A little more information and contact details at http://ngotvchannel.com
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ISA
In Autumn 2008 there are going to be significant changes to the responsibilities of employers and volunteer managers who have staff who work with children and/or vulnerable adults. The new arrangements which will be overseen by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) will be administered by the CRB. These changes have been developed in response to one of the recommendations of the Bichard Inquiry into the Soham murders which said that “new arrangements should be introduced requiring those who wish to work with children, or vulnerable adults, to be registered. The register would confirm that there is no known reason why an individual should not work with these clients.”
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Financial Threshold changes for charity reporting and accounts
The Charity Commission and Office of the Third Sector are consulting on raising the thresholds for financial reporting, such as the submission of annual accounts and Trustee Annual Reports (TAR). If you are a small charity or represent small charities, the changes would particularly effect you, and we would very much welcome your views. NCVO will be responding and has produced a short briefing and online questionnaire which are available on the NCVO website
For more information, please email Annie Collart or telephone 020 7520 2559. This consultation closes on 31 March 2008
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Survey launched to improve ICT training in the Third Sector
A North East survey of ICT training needs set to shape future provision. A major survey has been launched to assess the ICT training needs of people working in the Third Sector in the North East. The North East Third Sector ICT Survey is being conducted by voluntaryskills.com, on behalf of VONNE (Voluntary Organisations Network North East). The survey will identify current ICT training needs and barriers to learning in the sector, which will help develop future training and support programmes in the region.
"Recent research has suggested that ICT training is a problem area in the voluntary and community sector and that many people don’t access it even when courses are offered free of charge. We'd like to use the North East Third Sector ICT Survey to find out if this is really true, and if so how we can improve future training and support programmes in the region, in response to what people really want rather than what trainers think they need." Paul Lancaster, voluntaryskills.com Project Manager. Anyone working in the Third Sector who would like to share their views on ICT skills and training is invited to do so by the 3rd March 2008 deadline by completing the survey online at: www.voluntaryskills.com/ictsurvey
Surveys can also be sent out through the post or completed over the telephone by calling a member of the voluntaryskills.com team on 0191 261 6009. As an added incentive to complete the survey there is a chance for one lucky person to win £20 worth of shopping vouchers for a store of their choice.
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Charity Law Update
A presentation was given by the Dickison Dees Charity Legal Department at an event organised by VONNE on the 5th February. The presentations are available to download.
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Asset Transfer latest
The Department for Communities and Local Government has made a further £2million available to assist with the transfer of assets from public to community ownership. A further 14 pilot areas have been announced, including Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead (North Tyneside was selected as one of the original 20 pilot areas). For more information, visit the CLG website, here.
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Online recruitment by and for the sector
Goodmoves, the third sector recruitment site which originally covered Scotland and recently branched out to Wales, now also covers England. Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations now partners with Wales Council for Voluntary Action, The Big Issue and NAVCA to provide this service. http://www.goodmoves.org.uk.
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Enhancing networking in local communities
Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published its findings 'Local Links - developing active networks in local communities', looking at pilots from Common Purpose to improve neighbourhood networking, support, skills development and information sharing for local decision-makers and active citizens in four Yorkshire areas.
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/2184.asp.
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Volunteering needs fundamental shake up
The final report of the Commission on the Future of Volunteering was published on Monday (28th January). The headline from 'Manifesto for Change' launch is that "red tape, unnecessary CRB checks and failure of the voluntary sector to genuinely respond to society’s diverse needs are discouraging willing volunteers".
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Community Assets Programme
The Big Lottery Fund has completed the initial assessment of applications to the £30 million Community Assets fund.
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Northern Rock Foundation
Northern Rock Foundation has today announced the final details of its Third Sector Trends Study – an innovative research programme on the scale, dynamics and needs of the voluntary and community sector in North East England and Cumbria.
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Engaging Young People through 'Sound'
In December 2007 , Making Music launched a new programme to help voluntary music groups and community musicians engage with young people, families and their local communities.
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Working Neighbourhoods Fund
The Government has announced the areas in England that will receive a share of the new Working Neighbourhoods Fund.
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Do you need Volunteers in 2008 ?
Business in the Communities employee volunteering scheme, North East Cares, is looking for new volunteering opportunity's for team challenges in 2008.
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Northern Rock Foundation's plans for 2008
The trustees at Northern Rock Foundation have developed plans for the year ahead.
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