NCVYS STRATEGIC INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 427
20 February 2009
National Body for Youth Leadership (NBYL)
Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and Young People, has unveiled the seven successful organisations awarded the contract to make up the NBYL, these include the National Youth Agency and the British Youth Council. The NBYL will deliver a diverse offer to young people looking to develop their leadership, confidence and self esteem. This will include shadowing opportunities with Ministers; internships with local leaders and a fellowship programme offering young people the chance to develop their leadership skills in a range of settings, enabling them to act as role models and mentors to their peers.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0034
Real Help for Communities
NCVYS has published a briefing paper on HM Government's Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises which pledges £42.5 million to help the sector deliver extra help during the global economic downturn. The paper highlights possible implications for the third sector and includes how NCVYS plans to support members, and the wider sector, through this difficult financial period. NCVYS has also written to Ministers at the Office of the Third Sector and the Department of Children, Schools and Families, recommending that support for organisations to become ‘investment ready' should be extended throughout the third sector, not just provided for social enterprises.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=361
Child poverty consultation
As part of the Speaking Out project, NCVYS and Children England want your views on the Department for Children, Schools and Families consultation ahead of the proposed Child Poverty Bill. The consultation calls for more accountability and higher expectations, where Government, devolved administrations, local government, charities, unions and families themselves work together to end child poverty. Speaking Out has produced a briefing paper summarising the consultation and will be submitting a response on 11 March 2009. Further information on how you can feed in your views is available on the NCVYS website.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/blogs.php?act=view_topic&id=102
Alcohol guidance
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has issued new draft guidance for young people about alcohol consumption. NCVYS would like the views of 11 to 25 year olds on the guidance to inform a response to DCSF. A short poll is on the NCVYS website. Deadline for completed polls is 20 March 2009.
http://www.ncvys.org.uk/polls.php?act=view&id=32
Sure Start Children's Centres
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has published Sure Start Children's Centres Survey of Parents 2008, a cross-sectional survey of expectant parents and parents/carers of children aged 0-5 years old which looks to inform the development of the Full Evaluation of Children's Centres. Nine out of ten parents who use Sure Start Children's Centres are happy with the service they receive, but a minority of parents were unaware of their local service.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/projectinformation.cfm?projectId=15333&type=5&resultspage=1
Police powers and gangs
The Centre for Social Justice has published Dying to Belong: An In-depth Review of Street Gangs in Britain. The report recommends that tough new control orders, Gang Activity Desistance Orders (GADOs), aimed at breaking up violent teenage gangs are introduced. GADOs would be aimed at gang leaders and backed by serious penalties, possibly imprisonment.
http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/
Commissioning guidance
The Commission for the Compact has issued new implementation guidance designed to facilitate better working relationships between commissioners of services in national and local public sector bodies and third sector organisations. It identifies current Compact principles and demonstrates where and how they can be applied to commissioning to deliver better outcomes and improve performance. It also highlights those Compact principles relevant to third sector organisations involved in commissioning.
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/information/100016/103956/compact_commissioning_guidance_published/
Single Equality Bill
The proposed single equality bill could lose the support of black and minority ethnic voluntary groups unless they are consulted on the legislation. The Winning the Race Coalition, established by Voice4Change England and Race on the Agenda, has called for a meeting with Harriet Harman, the leader of the House of Commons, to discuss the Bill, which consolidates various pieces of discrimination legislation. Among other recommendations, the Coalition wants an explicit legal duty to make sure public contracts are only awarded to private and third sector organisations that provide equal opportunities.
http://www.rota.org.uk/pages/WhatsNew.aspx?#H1
Commissioning event
navca and Community Matters are hosting Commissioning: frameworks, tools and resources, London, 4 March 2009. The event is for community organisations and local infrastructure organisations providing services for children and young people. Participants will consider how small, local, third sector organisations can continue to deliver children's services in the new funding climate. Deadline for bookings is 25 February 2009.
http://www.communitymatters.org.uk/events/
Do it 4 Real
The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) has launched its 2009 volunteer programme, Do it 4 Real (Di4R), funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The YHA needs around 75 volunteers to help fun summer camps for young people (10-19 years old). A volunteer opportunity is available for every week at every YHA centre running a Do it 4 Real Camp from 19 July - 29 August 2009. This year the Camp themes include action adventure, performing arts and urban vibe. There is also a new Future Leader Camp for 17-19 year olds, as a stepping stone for those who are too old for Camp and too young/inexperienced to volunteer or work for Di4R.
http://www.doit4real.co.uk/ |
