top  


 

  Linx  
LINX 470, 11 May
In this issue

NAVCA update

News

Jobs and contracts

Funding and awards

Recently published

Health and social care

Events

Receiving LINX

Advertising in LINX

To advertise your news, events and publications email linx@navca.org.uk

Paid adverts are available in LINX from £50 plus VAT.

Quick links

Our website

  

About NAVCA 

Copyright

Disclaimer

A Healthy Alliance

We are delighted to announce that NAVCA will be part of the Department of Health's VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance. This partnership is intended to help DH, Public Health England and NHS England work closely with VCSE organisations to promote equality, address health inequalities and help families and communities achieve and maintain wellbeing.
 
The VCSE Health and Wellbeing programme's objectives are to:
  • Encourage co-production in the creation of person-centred, community-based health and care which promotes equality for all
  • Enable the voice of people with lived experience and those experiencing health inequalities to inform national policy making and shape the delivery of services
  • Build evidence of sustainable, scalable solutions to mitigate and prevent inequalities impacting on health and wellbeing of communities
By being part of this alliance, NAVCA can ensure our member's voices are heard at a national and strategic level. It means that real issues affecting local communities across England are raised and positive local solutions are shared.
 
NAVCA joins a host of other VCSE organisations and consortiums in the alliance such as Age UK, NCVO, National Voices, Race Equality Foundation and The National LGB&T Partnership.

NCVO Almanac 2017

The charity sector is unlikely to experience an increase in donations or income from the government over the next few years, NCVO has warned. They made the prediction alongside the release of their UK Civil Society Almanac 2017, which covers the 2014/15 financial year and is based on analysis of financial data from a sample of more than 7,800 charities.
 
NCVO said earned income was the best prospect for future growth and that money from dormant assets, such as shares or bonds, should be used to help local charities.
 
It says that 90 per cent of the sector's £112.7bn of total assets - such as property, cash and investments - are held by just 3 per cent of charities, with the top 100 asset owners accounting for half of the sector's total. It says the vast majority of charities "have little reserves to speak of", which it describes as a "long-standing challenge".
 
Approximately 48 per cent of all charities are described as "micro", defined as those with annual incomes of less than £10,000, the almanac says. Another 34 per cent it categorises as "small", with annual incomes of between £10,000 and £100,000.
 
The almanac says that 14 million people volunteered at least once a month that year, with the highest rate in the 16 to 25-year-old group.

GE2017 Round Up

Here is the first of our weekly General Election 2017 round up for the voluntary sector. We have gathered together a few useful articles for you before any more leaks manifest themselves...

Manifestos
Politics Home is gathering election manifestos online , such as various sector bodies, and will include party manifestos (not in draft form) within the next week.

The LGA has published a 10-point manifesto for all parties ahead of the General Election, including:
  • Agreeing new devolution deals across all parts of the UK, including in rural and non-metropolitan areas
  • Ensuring councils have the funding they need to provide the vital services that communities rely on. According to the LGA, local councils currently face an estimated overall funding gap of £5.8bn by 2019/20
What charities need to know about campaigning in the 2017 general election
Most charities can campaign in the run-up to Theresa May's snap election, but must also be aware of rules about donations, hustings and canvassing. The Charity Commission has produced guidance which divides campaigning into two categories: non-political campaigning that raises awareness about an issue and political campaigning that aims to change legislation or policy.

GE2017: Three things you can do
Our member Macc has published three things your organisation can do over the coming weeks in the run up to the General Election including some useful tools to help you to do this.

Get the latest NAVCA news

NAVCA newsnews2
Newcastle CVS logo
No sign yet of a shared society in the North East
Sally Young, Chief Officer of our member Newcastle CVS states that northern charities are still struggling as a result of cutbacks in state funding.

Birmingham sector urges city council to reverse planned grant cuts
A group of Birmingham charities has called on the city's council to reverse plans to cut its entire grant funding for charities, which is worth approximately £2.7m a year. NAVCA member, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council said Birmingham City Council had proposed removing £5m of spending from its supporting people and third sector grants programmes, changes the BVSC said could adversely affect 20,000 people in the city.

A goodbye from me (Lucy)
Just a quick message to say this will be my last ever LINX. I am off to pastures new next week after two and a bit years with NAVCA. I wanted to say a  big thank you to all you lovely subscribers who have read and clicked on LINX - you were amazing! I am handing over the reigns to my colleague Barney - so expect a few more puns and obscure music references and less Star Wars and Doctor Who mentions. 

Newsnews2
Donating to charity 'can lead to further good deeds'
According to research commissioned by the Institute of Fundraising, almost two-thirds of those who donate to charity then take other 'positive actions'.
 
Library report too optimistic
A major report on libraries' future by the Carnegie Trust has been attacked as over-optimistic.  Library campaigner Tim Coates says that it 'seriously avoids the truth of what is happening'. Many libraries have been handed over to be community run.
 
Disability savings not made
The Office for Budget Responsibility has said that the Government's failed to deliver £4bn savings after cutting disability benefit. Forecasts initially predicted £13.6bn would be spent on disability benefits in 2018-2019 but now this figure is now thought to be £18bn.
 
GDPR: how charities should prepare for data protection changes
New regulations affecting fundraising, campaigning and volunteer management come into effect in 2018. In this article Daniel Fluskey, Head of Policy and Research at the Institute of Fundraising outlines what steps charities should be taking now to prepare for the changes.


JobsJobs and contracts
The jobs page on our website advertises the latest vacancies from our members to a wider audience. 
 
This service is free to members and £25 for everyone else. The ad will stay up until the expiry date and we will also tweet it to our faithful following and include it in LINX.  
 
Currently on the website are:
  • Development Worker: Funding and Business Development, Salford CVS
  • Administrator, Bournemouth CVS
  • CRM and Database Officer, Hackney CVS
  • Monitoring and Administration Worker, Paces Sheffield
  • Chief Executive Officer, Community Works
Also h ere's a quick guide to selling yourself when applying for a job in the voluntary sector.

CVS WhirligigAdvertise jobs and contracts here, on our website and through our Twitter page!
Just send details including a weblink to webedit@navca.org.uk.

fundingFunding and awards
The LINX funding section is brought to you by Community Matters Yorkshire.

A programme which prevented millions of meals going to waste, a scheme to train some of the world's poorest people to pump their own water, and a series of innovative restaurants in prisons are among 30 inspiring projects shortlisted for the Charity Awards 2017. 

The Grassroots/ Richard Weare Endowment fund
The Grassroots/ Richard Weare Endowment fund is made up of donations to the Government-funded Grassroots Grants programme (2008-2011), which increased donations by 100%. Deadline: 15 May
 
Dulux - Let's Colour
Open to community groups, charities and individuals who have the desire and determination to make a difference, Let's Colour Project is transforming grey spaces with colourful paint all over the United Kingdom.
 
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Social Justice
The Social Justice programme aims to help marginalised individuals and communities become integrated. They see integration as a two-way process in which society at large and specific communities adapt, understand and benefit.
 
Old Possums Practical Trust
Old Possums Practical Trust makes a number of grants each year to further the aims of the Trust: - to increase knowledge and appreciation of any matters of historic, artistic, architectural, aesthetic, literary, musical or theatrical interest.
 
Porticus UK
Grants of between 10,000 and 25,000 to support organisations working with the poor and the marginalised. Activities should reflect Christian responsibility and support for the Roman Catholic Church.

healthRecently published
Project management
Call for gender political representation league tables
Women make up just 33 per cent of local councillors in England, 27 per cent in Wales and 24 per cent in Scotland. IPPR's new report explores how best to increase female representation.
 
National Voices are gathering the opinions and experiences of people with long-term health conditions. People with long-term conditions have to spend a lot of time and effort managing the impact that those conditions have on their lives. We also know that being supported well to do this can be life changing. You can help create a powerful new statement about the importance of self-management and self-care, and how professionals and services should support you to manage your condition on a daily basis. Go to the National Voices website to find out more about the project, and to add your views using the comments form. Join the conversation on Twitter by tweeting @NVtweeting using #ImInControl.
 
Redefining neighbourhoods: a future beyond austerity?  
New Policy Institute has published a report into the declining spend by local authorities on 'neighbourhood services', the term their research identified as preferred by the public and professionals to group services like local environment, transport, libraries and sport.

The Big Lottery Fund has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Charity Commission that enables the two organisations to share information to prevent misconduct by charities. The document, signed by the BLF in February, outlines the relationship between the regulator and the grant-making body and will allow for joint operations to be carried out by the two bodies.
 
Acevo and the investment management firm Rathbones have released a free guide to financial governance for charity trustees. The guidance is aimed at trustees with no finance expertise and will be distributed to 15,000 trustees. The guide sets out what is expected from trustees in the governance of their charities' finances, and covers areas such charity accounts, tax, finding the right auditor and insolvency.
 
Nesta's new guide explores examples of open innovation in health from around the world. It analyses the ways that companies, governments, researchers and citizens are collaborating to improve the innovation process, from the way that problems are identified to how new products and services are created and then adopted by providers of healthcare.
 
No evidence SIBs are better than other models, study says
A study by the University of Oxford has found there is little evidence to suggest that social impact bonds lead to better outcomes than other commissioning models. The report, Social Impact Bonds: The Role of Private Capital in Outcome-Based Commissioning found that the presence of private social investment appeared to stifle the autonomy of third sector service providers to innovate and deliver according to their social mission. 

Back to top
healthBlogs
Blog image Here are the latest blogs we found this week whilst we prepare our application form for FBI Director...
 
Clinks' Hazel Alcraft discusses personalisation in the criminal justice system.
 
John Tizard says charities should engage in the general election to avoid being boxed in.
 
Martin Moore: Why do charities need a Fraud Response Plan?
 
Dan Sutch: How technology can help us sense challenges and solve them quicker
 
Daniel Fluskey: Giving to charity changes lives... for the donor
 
Three lessons from transforming mental health in Lambeth 

Back to top
recentlypubHealth and social care
NHS england logo
Simon Stevens has told a Kings Fund conference that no matter who wins the general election on 8 June, "there is no version of reality" where the NHS will change the priorities of the Next Steps for the Five Year Forward View.
 
The numbers of people waiting longer than they should for hospital care have hit a five-year high in England, figures show.

Back to top
recentlypubChildren and Young People
Rebecca Johnstone, a previous Children England employee, is researching service users' involvement in organisational governance with a specific focus on children and young people's charities. She is seeking feedback from charities irrespective of their current governance arrangements. A report with key findings will be published later this year.  Please complete her short survey Rebecca's research is for the William Plowden Fellowship.
 
Much needs to change for children
Like you, we want politicians to stop ignoring society's youngest citizens and address the big issues that shape their childhood. Use the #ChildrenAtHeart resources to join us in making sure this General Election doesn't ignore children again. Derived from England's Children: a manifesto, we've suggested
questions you can put to candidates in the General Election , to find out how they plan to help England's children. 

Back to top
eventsEvents
International Day against Homophobia Biphobia and Transphobia takes place on 17 May and this year's theme is Family. Find out what is happening near you on the IDAHOT 2017 website.

The Great Get Together
17-18 June, Everywhere!
This summer, be part of the biggest street party since the Jubilee - 'The Great Get Together'!  The Great Get Together is inspired by Jo Cox, who was killed on 16 June last year. Jo's killing was meant to divide us and the best response is to show how united we are. There is a groundswell of people who reject divisive politics and simply want to bring our communities together and celebrate all that unites us. This is our chance. Everyone is invited to get together with their neighbours to share food and celebrate all that we hold in common. It could be a street party or a shared barbecue, a picnic or a bake off. What matters is that we all have fun and bring communities closer together. Go to the website and sign up or find your local event.

26th June, York
This free inaugural meeting of the Yorkshire, Humber and North East Social Prescribing Network is for anyone who is interested in social prescribing, GPs, VCSE organisations, CCG commissioners, STP leads, public health and local authority leaders who are working to develop social prescribing programmes. The aim is to create a supportive network of collaborators who can work together, share good practice, ask for help, learn from each other and be part of building the social prescribing movement across health and care. This network is led by commissioners and practitioners across the region, supported by the National Social Prescribing Network (hosted by the University of Westminster) and NHS England.

6 July, London
Recently a survey said a third of the young people would worry about appearing weak if they sought help for their mental health worries, and most said they would not want to confide in anyone at all. Therefore increasing the understanding and awareness of mental health problems among young people should be a key priority. At this year's event, hear practical advice and guidance that will help improve access and outcomes, reduce inequality and implement The Five Forward View principles across Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Contact us
NAVCA, Floor 2 Churchill House, 6-8 Meetinghouse Lane, Sheffield, 
S1 2DP
Twitter: @navca

Registered charity no. 1001635, 
Company limited by guarantee, Registered in England no. 2575206, 
Registered office as above.