Voluntary Sector News
Studying hospice relations with NHS
A research study examining how well Primary Care Trusts and charitable hospices work together is being undertaken by the Commission for the Compact in partnership with Help the Hospices.
It will look at different local relationships, explore successes to date and remaining challenges through anonymous case studies. Findings are due out in September. Commission for the Compact news item.
Rural Social Justice Coalition launches
A diverse group of national organisations have come together as the Rural Social Justice Coalition to help improve the lives of the most disadvantaged people in rural areas. It launched at Acre’s Rural Life Conference recently.
See http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/rsjc/overview for more details.
Legal help for Charity Tribunal cases
A specialist panel of lawyers is being set up within the Bar Pro Bono Unit (http://www.barprobono.org.uk) to ensure that every appellant to the Charity Tribunal has the chance of legal representation. With charity law being quite specialised, there is a need to expand and formalise arrangements with specialist lawyers.
See Third Sector news item for more, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/817594/ (registration required).
Guidance on discipline and grievance
The employment relations body Acas has now issued draft guidance to accompany its new Code of Practice on discipline and grievance.
The code has been revised to reflect changes being made to workplace dispute resolution due to upcoming employment law, and has also been streamlined to 12 pages. The guidance is more detailed and somewhat longer.
While this is only draft, the importance of the Code is such that it is worth taking into account. http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2080.
Training advice for volunteers and employees
As announced in November, the government funded Train to Gain service, which provides specialist advice to employers on training and skills needs, now covers volunteers as well as paid workers.
A sector specific guide to Train to Gain has been produced by the Learning and Skills Council, and can be downloaded from http://www.lsc.gov.uk/whatwedo/employer/VCS.htm, or direct link to pdf, 943KB, http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/national/nat-traintogainandthethirdsector-jun08.pdf.
Volunteering in the criminal justice system
The government’s independent volunteering champion Baroness Neuberger is seeking views on volunteering in the criminal justice system.
This follows her first report on volunteering in health and social care, and Plaza Publishing news alert last week quoted her as saying that this second review was proving to be “more complicated”. Responses by 1st September - the Office of the Third Sector news item includes some specific questions.
Parenting projects to get bridging funds
Children and Young People Now reports that up to eight million pounds is to be used to give voluntary sector parenting projects supported by the government’s Parenting Fund more time to get long-term funding from local authorities.
Funding for second round projects was due to end this month (June 2008), but they could now continue to March 2009. http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/817560/.
Celebrating projects which bridge cultures
The Awards for Bridging Cultures has been launched to celebrate local schemes and projects, run by community and voluntary organisations, that build bridges between communities. The ABCs aims to showcase this work, raise awareness of the wide range of activity and encourage applicants to share their learning.
“Winners will receive publicity for their scheme, financial rewards to invest in their projects and the opportunity to become leaders in their field.” Applications by 1st October, http://www.bridgingcultures.org.uk.
(Source: Voluntary Arts England newsletter)
Greening your event
The ‘Our South West’ web site has a guide to reducing the environmental impacts of conferences and seminars, which now includes a ‘Greener Events Guide Checklist for Outdoor/Community Events’ (small pdf).
See http://www.oursouthwest.com/SusBus/gevents.html#companion-guides
(Source: Acre Alert)