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Receiving LINX | |
Do you rely on getting LINX forwarded to you? Sign up to receive LINX direct.
For more details of how to subscribe to our print newsletter 'Circulation' see the publications pages of our website. |
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Advertising in LINX
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Paid adverts are now available in LINX from £50 plus VAT.
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 NAVCA events and training | |
Executive coaching, mentoring and training for chief officers and senior managers
Tailored workshops on commissioning and procurement
Workshops on using public law and the Compact to negotiate effectively with public bodies
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Trainers and Consultants Direct
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Trainers and Consultants Direct is an easy to use service for voluntary organisations and community groups looking to contract a consultant or trainer.
Bringing in the outside expertise of a consultant can solve problems and help to improve processes, products and profitability. Trainers and Consultants Direct holds profiles of individuals and consultants who have experience of working with charities, voluntary organisations and community groups.
PS: Don't forget to send any tender alerts to tcd@navca.org.uk for circulation all subscribers.
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Empowering the Voluntary Sector advice line
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Concerned that a cut to your funding was made disproportionately, without consultation or unfairly? The Empowering the Voluntary Sector project offers free advice to organisations who feel that a decision to cut their funding was made in a non-Compact compliant way or has breached public law.
Contact us on 020 7520 3161 or evsadvice@ncvo-vol.org.uk for instant advice to your organisation, for direct support in challenging decisions or just to find out more about how we can help you. Organisations in North Yorkshire and York recently called us for help and as a result got a much better outcome, See the NAVCA website for the full story.
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Zurich provides comprehensive insurance and risk management solutions designed for charities and the voluntary sector through a unique collaboration with Tennyson Insurance. |
Need help with commissioning and procurement?
Whether you are a Chief Officer, commissioning specialist or general development worker, contact NAVCA's Local Commissioning and Procurement Enquiry Service.
Call us: 0114 289 3989 |
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Copyright
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Copyright NAVCA 2012. We are happy for LINX:
LINX is not to be:
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made available publicly on websites
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forwarded wholesale to large mailing lists of members without permission
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used for commercial purposes.
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Disclaimer |
Organisations, publications, events, campaigns and services mentioned in LINX are not necessarily endorsed by NAVCA. Please note that NAVCA is not responsible for the content of external websites - opinions expressed on these sites do not necessarily represent those of NAVCA.
We are happy to receive brief items for LINX, but reserve the right to refuse any item which contravenes our 'Statement of Values' .
We also reserve the right to edit or shorten items.
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Local elections message
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 Local Elections were held across many parts of England last week. As the results were still coming in on Friday, Joe Irvin wrote to all NAVCA member chief officers to remind them of the importance of building a relationship with newly elected politicians and new council leaderships.
In his message, Joe said, "there is no substitute for 'striking while the iron is hot' in order to establish a relationship, ensure the local voluntary sector is in their thoughts and overcome any reservations. And as charities, and practical people, we work with them all regardless of their political complexion."
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CORE 2012
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Get the most out of your products and services
The effective marketing of your products and services is vital to your organisation's success.
The marketing your services workshop at CORE 2012 will help you identify different products and services you can develop, audiences to target and key promotional techniques.
If you are a chief officer or senior management team member, CORE is your essential space to come together, share ideas and shape new strategies for your organisation.
Find out more about CORE 2012.
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Small Donations bill
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 Yesterday's Queen's speech included the Small Donations bill. This bill will allow charities to claim top-up payments similar to Gift Aid on small donations totalling up to £5,000 a year without individual paperwork. It will put in place the legislation needed to make the support for small charities first announced by George Osborne in his 2011 Budget possible.
Neil Cleeveley, Director of Policy and Communications, said:
"NAVCA is delighted to see the Small Donations Bill in the Government's legislative plans. This measure to get top-up payments similar to Gift Aid for small cash donations could make a significant difference to thousands of local charities."
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Get the latest NAVCA news
| For latest NAVCA news see our website especially our News pages.
Follow @NAVCAnews on Twitter
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| NAVCA Update | |
Need help developing consortia?
 Interact, our new package of support for consortium development, can help. It includes fast paced and interactive training days designed to give you an introduction to developing consortia. These are a chance to learn about different models, see how to facilitate their development and leave with the practical tools you need. From as little as £50 (plus VAT) per person
Big Squeeze annual survey 2012
This is the fourth year of LVSC's excellent annual Big Squeeze survey, which looks at the impact of the recession and public spending cuts on London's voluntary sector and the people who use their services. Please encourage any groups in London to take part (and if you are outside London, this survey may give you ideas about doing your own). In previous years, reports summarised the survey results and included recommendations for policy makers, commissioners and LVSC. Their previous surveys led to changes in policy, revision of funding decisions and increased awareness of London's VCS's work.
Early Intervention Foundation appoints CEO
The EIF, of which NAVCA is a member, has appointed Professor Sonia Blandford to be the interim CEO. Graham Allen MP says, "we are delighted to have someone of such high calibre joining our already strong team at this key moment".
navcaboodle
 navcaboodle is the online place for NAVCA members to share, learn and ask. This week a question about standard contracts for personal budgets has been asked.
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| News | |
Criminal Records Bureau checks: Revised and enhanced identification checking guidelines
 The CRB have announced revised and enhanced identification checking guidelines. These guidelines are effective from 28 May. There is a three month implementation window, after which they must be followed. This has implications for any organisation that checks staff and volunteers via the Criminal Records Bureau. There will be a reduced list of acceptable documents and for some people an external identity verification service will need to be used. The details of this external check have not been announced and it is unclear whether this will be an additional cost. As is currently the case, applicants unable to establish their identity under the procedures will need to have their fingerprints taken. It is currently unclear whether the number of people asked to provide fingerprints will increase.
VAT on listed buildings
Civic Voice is asking voluntary sector organisations to join a campaign to ask the Government to reverse its proposed decision to remove "VAT relief on alterations to listed buildings". They have produced a briefing and epetition.
Protection of Freedoms Act
The Home Office has published details of the implications of the Protection of Freedoms Act. The Act includes provisions around issues such as DNA retention, fingerprinting of children in schools and regulation of CCTV. It also replaces the Vetting and Barring Scheme and creates a new Disclosure and Barring Service to oversee "a scaled-back barring regime focused only on roles working most closely with vulnerable groups".
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Jobs
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Crawley CVS is looking for a Development Worker, someone who is motivated and enthusiastic with experience of capacity building organisations in the voluntary and community sector. Closing date 28 May.
Richmond Council for Voluntary Service has an exciting new strategic post to lead and deliver the project plan to provide an innovative accommodation model for the voluntary and community sector in Richmond upon Thames, as part of the Transforming Local Infrastructure programme in the borough. Deadline for application: 14 May. Further information: Accommodation Services Manager - TLI Richmond.
Community Action Southwark is seeking an experienced and dynamic Policy and Research Officer with a proven knowledge of the third sector to join their team. Not only will you have expert insight into the key public sector policy issues, including regeneration and those pertaining to the provision of statutory Children's services, but you will share their commitment and enthusiasm for involving service users in policy development and for delivering their mission to empower their members to develop and grow. Closing date 11 May.
Voluntary Action North Somerset (VANS) are recruiting to two new posts
- Programme Manager - Transforming Local Infrastructure. Salary: £30,011 fte. Hours: 30 per week until 30 September 2013
- Volunteer Centre Manager. Salary: £26,276 fte. Hours: 25 per week until 30 September 2013
Closing dates for both posts 25 May. For more details email frederique.wigmore@vansmail.org.uk
 Advertise your Job here!
The offer of free job adverts has proved popular with members, so we are intending to continue it. Just send details including a weblink to webedit@navca.org.uk
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| Funding and awards | |
May Match Fund
 At 9am on Monday, May 14, Localgiving.com launches its May Match Fund in selected areas of England. The May Match Fund is a catch-all name for two match funds. The Social Action Match Fund, is worth a total of £625,000 in grants from the Office of Civil Society and will be delivered in three tranches. The first tranche, worth £170,000, launches this month with 10 Community Foundations across the UK participating, each managing a pot ranging from £10,000 to £30,000.
Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust awards grants to UK registered charities for projects undertaken in the UK. Deadline 1 June and then 1 November.
McDonald's community football Kickstart grants
McDonalds have made £75,000 available through their Kickstart grant scheme, supporting community football. Football clubs applying need to be recognised by the FA, and have at least one team at or below junior level.
Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund
The Department of Health's Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund (HSCVF) will be launching its third local grant scheme in late spring 2012. The local grant scheme 2011 funded 51 projects across England. The HSCVF is a comprehensive funding programme that provides a combination of grant funding and tailored support to organisations, aimed at enhancing their capacity and ability in the health and social care field.
 Nationwide Small Grants Programme The Nationwide Small Grants Programme offers grants of between £500 and £5,000 for projects which tackle financial exclusion affecting disadvantaged groups and/or which address housing issues & homelessness among vulnerable groups. Beneficiaries can be either older people over 60 or survivors of domestic abuse. Deadline 14 May.
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| Health & social care |
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New Chair of Health Education England
Sir Keith Pearson has been confirmed as Chair of Health Education England. Sir Keith, currently Chair of the NHS Confederation, will head up Health Education England, the organisation that will provide national leadership to the new system of education and training in healthcare, when it is established in June 2012.
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| Recently published | |
Audit calls for closing of the 'Big Society gap'
An audit of Big Society by Civil Exchange has found that The Government's Big Society initiative must target poorer communities and young and ethnic minority people, working in genuine partnership with the voluntary sector, if it is to succeed. The Audit also found that small, local voluntary and community organisations find it hard to gain Government contracts, as tendering practices seem to have an implicit bias toward larger organisations, mainly in the private sector.
Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012
Social Enterprise UK has produced a short guide to the Public Services Act 2012.
Over-looked Communities, Over-due Change
'Over-looked Communities, Over-due Change: how services can better support BME disabled people' is a new report from Equalities National Council and Scope that presents new, wide-ranging evidence about disabled people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and recommends how policy-makers, local authority commissioners, and service providers can improve BME disabled people's access to services.
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| Learning & development | |
BIS research
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have commissioned research into voluntary sector engagement and participation in learning and skills. Although there has been joint working with the sector, there is little quantifiable data to demonstrate the value of this involvement. This research is designed to address this. If you wish to take part contact john.harris@tsnla.org.uk
Every Business Matters
NAVCA is running free training and information days to guide development workers and staff working and volunteering in voluntary and community groups who support children, young people and families through the business planning process. The content is suitable for development workers in local support and development organisations and staff and volunteers working in voluntary and community groups.
- Every Business Matters, 17th May,Newcastle
- Participatory business planning workshop, May 16th, Croydon
- Every Business Matters, 12th June, Tameside
- Business Planning training, Jun 12th, Nottingham
- Bespoke consultancy support -please contact us to arrange a date
 Helping you challenge unfair funding cuts
Over the past six years NAVCA's Empowering the Voluntary Sector project has delivered workshops and a free advice line that have helped local voluntary and community groups to not only successfully challenge disproportionate cuts but also to build relationships with local public bodies.
To find out more about how these workshops can help you negotiate effectively with public bodies on issues such as funding cuts, policy change consultations and local authority decisions concerning the provision of services, contact terry.perkins@navca.org.uk
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Case studies
NAVCA delivered a series of Action Learning Sets on child poverty. Case studies on all of these are available on our website. One case study focuses on coastal communities, as whilst doing this work, similar issues and areas of concern emerged from the sessions in relation to the issues faced by children, young people and families living in these communities.
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Policy, consultation and research
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Save The Women's Library
Campaigners have launched a petition urging education secretary Michael Gove to prevent cutbacks to London Metropolitian University's Women's Library. It already has more than 7,500 signatures. You can sign the petition and follow the campaign on Twitter @SaveTWL
The Compact Voice annual survey closes on Friday
The survey will help Compact Voice gain an understanding of the issues, challenges and successes experienced by local Compacts across the country, and will help inform their future work and campaigning. The survey takes just 5-10 minutes to complete, and they're offering the chance to win an Amazon Kindle to everyone who enters.
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| Events | |
Financial Ombudsman Service training sessions for community and advice workers
The Financial Ombudsman Service is the official body set up by law to resolve disputes between consumers and financial businesses. The ombudsman service is running a series of free training sessions across the UK, giving community and advice workers an opportunity to learn more about the service and how it might help their clients. The training sessions cover:
- role and powers - which complaints the ombudsman can consider, past work and current trends
- decision making process - how the service resolves disputes and settles complaints
- the ombudsman's approach to complaints about unaffordable lending and the treatment of consumers in financial difficulties
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Contact us
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NAVCA
The Tower, 2 Furnival Square, Sheffield S1 4QL
Registered charity no. 1001635, Company limited by guarantee, Registered in England no. 2575206, Registered office as above.
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