A letter from Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark to all local authority leaders was sent on 4th February 2011. It encourages authorities to continue to support the voluntary sector and small firms. 

 

 

NAVCA's Empowering the Voluntary Sector (EVS) project has published its latest newsletter examining some recent cases where public law and Compact have been successfully used to challenge decisions made by public bodies to make unfair cuts to local organisations. 

 

 

Nick Hurd, minister for civil society, has voiced concern about the charitable sector's "creeping dependence" on the state and says the government will not let charities become "semi-attached agents of the state."

 

Source: www.civilsociety.co.uk

 

 

Hull City Council at its meeting on 24th February will consider the new ONE HULL Partnership Strategy 2011-2014.

 

'Hull the friendly city'

If approved this will replace the existing 2008-2011 Sustainable Community Strategy. It keeps the 2020 vision and sets out a series of ambitions for the Partnership to work towards. 

 

 

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a Plain English guide to the Localism Bill. 

 

 

Two consultations have been launched - a Community Right to Buy - assets of community value (to enable community groups to nominate and potentially bid for local amenities and buildings if/when they come up for sale) and a Community Right to Challenge (the power for communities to challenge and bid for the running of local services where they feel they'd do a better job). The consultation will be running until May 3rd, 2011. 

 

 

The Localism Bill is in its public committee stage. In this stage of the Bills progress through Parliament it is subject to a line-by-line examination and amendments are discussed and voted on.

 

NAVCA's Real Power for Communities website is tracking the progress of the Bill through this stage.

 

 

Both NAVCA and Hull CVS have submitted their responses to the Office for Civil Society's consultation on infrastructure services.

 

We would like to thank those groups who contributed to this consultation at short notice. 

 

 

Liverpool, one of the government's four Big Society 'vanguard areas', has withdrawn its support for the programme saying the government's spending cuts make it impossible to continue. 

 

 

Croydon Council has launched a temporary �100,000 Big Society Fund in response to fears that the increasing commissioning of services from charities disadvantages small local community groups. 

 

 

The Health and Social Care Bill was backed by 321 to 235 at its second reading on 31 January. The Bill, which includes plans to establish HealthWatch at both national and local levels still has further Parliamentary stages to go through. 

 

 

Following on from last years, highly successful Caring with Confidence dementia sessions, they are to be run again at Bransholme Health Centre starting on 14th February 1.30pm-4pm. If you look after a family member or friend with dementia come along to one or more of the sessions.

The refreshed 'Carers Group Session' programme is a series of free, flexible, fun and informative sessions that can be completed at local venues across Hull, or with packs at home. Sessions look at areas of caring, such as communicating skills, coping techniques, money and looking after your own health and wellbeing alongside other issues which have emerged due to government changes. People can do one session or more, depending on which sessions they feel will benefit them most. 

 

 

Hull City Council and the Humber Sports Partnership would like to invite your club / community sports group to take part in the Humber 2011 Audit of sports activity taking place in Hull. 

 

 

Centre 88 has supported office accommodation available to rent to voluntary and community groups and social enterprises. Rents are fully inclusive of rates and heat/light and lettings are noegotiated on the basis of a hassle free quarterly licence. 

 

 

Is there such a thing as Hullness? Is it possible to find the spirit of a place in its streets and houses and open spaces? And, if it is possible, what is the spirit of place for Hull? To really find out what Hullness means, the people of Hull themselves need to tell us. 

 

 

Holderness Road United Reformed Church have Office/Work space available on the first floor of their building. 

 

 

Hessle Road Network is looking for donations. If you have any unwanted gifts that they could use to help with fundraising for their new Youth Centre then please get in touch.