NCVYS STRATEGIC INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 448

17 July 2009

Seminar proposals and exhibitor deadline extended for NCVYS Annual Conference

The deadline for seminar proposals and exhibition space applications for the NCVYS Annual Conference has been extended until 31 July. Our flagship event - ‘Stormy weather and silver linings: building resilience in young people and the sector' - will take place on 4 November 2009 in London. The event will explore positive approaches to dealing with the current state of flux in our social, political and economic environments, and look at opportunities available to young people and the sector for social inclusiveness, participating in decision making and generating financial stability.

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=591

Extended services subsidy

Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo has announced the regional breakdown of £167m to boost out of hours services offered in schools. The money is part of the extended services subsidy which has been allocated £8.5m in 2008-9; £40m in 2009-10 and £167m in 2010-11. This is to help reach the target of every school offering out of hours activities by 2010.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0136

REACH progress report and guidance for BME voluntary organisations

Communities and Local Government (CLG) has published a progress report on the five recommendations of the REACH report into raising the aspirations and attainment of black young men. There is also a new guidance document providing information for black and minority ethnic voluntary and community organisations and a summary of findings from experimental research on the impact of role models.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/reachupdatereport

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/reachguidance

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/reachmessages

Value of infrastructure - increased demand for sector support services

A report published by Capacitybuilders shows that 78% of third sector support providers have experienced an increase in demand for their services over the past 12 months. Of the 289 services surveyed, many indicated concerns about longer term funding with 47% of providers expecting to see decreases in income over the next three years. 71% are considering or implementing increased collaboration as a result of this and 38% expect to see an increase in earned income, reflecting a growing interest in a more enterprise-based business model.

http://www.improvingsupport.org.uk/resources_by_topic/building_resilience/uploaded_resources/news/br_179__new_report_impact.aspx

Big Lunch launches Young Film-Maker's Competition

In association with v, Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, Shooting People and BOOM!, the Big Lunch - the summer community lunch event taking place this Sunday 19 July - has launched a competition aimed at young people 16-25 to make a short film of up to 6 minutes, about local life before, during and after The Big Lunch. The prize is £1000. Some funding from v may be available to help you make your film. The deadline for film submissions is 1 September 2009.

http://www.thebiglunch.com/latest-news/detail/2

Consultation on promoting the learning mobility of young people in Europe

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on how to give young people in Europe more and better opportunities of going abroad for learning, studying or volunteering. The Commission's Green Paper on young people's learning mobility includes questions on what obstacles to mobility do we have to overcome and how can organisations work in partnership to promote learning mobility. The consultation ends on 15 December 2009.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/news/news1553_en.htm

Education, employment and training

The Speaking Out project by NCVYS and Children England, has published its latest briefing paper setting out the current policy and legal context around children and young people; education, employment and training; and the children and young people's voluntary and community sector. It gives case studies of good practice currently taking place, research findings and considers possible implications for the sector.

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/blogs.php?act=view_topic&id=129

Schools White Paper   

NCVYS has produced a briefing on Government's schools White Paper. The briefing provides a summary of the Paper and highlights the importance of partnership work between local authorities, schools and the voluntary and community youth sector. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of young people's wellbeing in the implementation of proposals within the Paper.

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=273

T2A Green Paper on young adults in the CJS - joint consultation events

The Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A) has published a Green Paper entitled ‘A New Start' setting out a radically different approach to young adults in the criminal justice system which is proportionate to their maturity and responsive to their specific needs. The proposals will be open for consultation until 9 October 2009. NCVYS and T2A will be hosting three free consultation events and travel for small organisations will be reimbursed. The consultation events will be held in Bristol (26/08), Manchester (10/09) and London (23/09).

http://www.t2a.org.uk/consultation

How research by young people influences public policy - online survey for third sector

The Office for Public Management (OPM) is currently looking at how research carried out by young people influences public sector policy and services. They are keen to hear from leaders and practitioners about experiences of young people doing research including: the range, scope and impact of research by young people being done by public and third sector organisations around; and the perceived priorities for the future of young people's research. The deadline is 17 August.

http://www.opmsurveys.co.uk/YoungPeoplesResearch09/involvingcyp.htm

ESF Case studies on developing skills and job prospects

Delivered through the Department for Work and Pensions, the European Social Fund website has published a series of new case studies of projects that are using the fund including examples of young people improving skills and job prospects through the fund.

http://www.esf.gov.uk/case_studies/index.asp

Central government and VCS shadowing opportunity

CLG, the NCVO Policy Forum and Compact Voice are offering a work shadowing initiative where staff in central government and the voluntary and community sector will be paired up to spend a day in each other's organisations. This is open to all VCS staff in England and will be relevant to those who have regular contact with central government departments and are looking to improve how they work with, and influence, civil servants. The deadline for applications is 7 August 2009.

http://www.ncvo-consult.org.uk/survey.asp?s=01250183188116235

Youth Access research on unemployed young adults and IAG

New research by Youth Access indicates that, even before the downturn, over 2 million 16-24 year olds, many of them not in education, employment and training, experienced serious rights-related social welfare problems every year - yet fewer than half managed to obtain advice. Youth Access has published two new reports, which are intended to support policy makers, commissioners and providers in planning youth advice and counselling services according to robust evidence of need.

http://www.youthaccess.org.uk/publications/

Manifesto for childhood

The Children's Society has published its Manifesto for a Good Childhood calling on all political parties to make a clear commitment to improving children's lives in any new administration they form. The manifesto calls for political parties to: put children's well-being at the heart of UK public policy; prioritise the interests of children who face the greatest disadvantage; and include children as valued citizens in reforms for democratic renewal.

http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/whats_happening/media_office/latest_news/17492_pr.html

Coverage of the Shine House of Lords debate and ‘Lording It' documentary

The House of Lords debate held during Shine Week 2009 will be screened on BBC Parliament this Saturday 18 July from 9-10.30pm. The 'Lording It' documentary, which follows the journey of Linda (ENVOY member), Theo and Abbey as they take their concerns about modern day living to the youth-led debate, will be aired on Community Channel on Tuesday 28 July at 8am and 8pm. A trailer is available online: http://www.communitychannel.org/index.php?option=com_rnvideoarchive&task=view&vidclip=807&Itemid=139

Debate: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament

ENVOY member Sabian has posted a blog about his views: http://articulated-one.livejournal.com/941.html

New CYP report on youth clubs - Somewhere to Belong

Clubs for Young People has published a new report - ‘Somewhere to Belong: a blueprint for 21st-century youth clubs'. The report finds that 44% of CYP groups see themselves as small, voluntary clubs 'struggling to survive'. It argues that the absence of youth club facilities is itself a cause of youth crime and cites research in which 70% of young people say they believe peers get involved in crime out of boredom. The report calls for greater local authority funding for small youth clubs, arguing that these clubs offer a clear way of addressing the root causes of anti-social behaviour.

http://www.clubsforyoungpeople.org.uk/blueprint/index.html

Segregation in schools

According to a report by the Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo), some schools are becoming increasingly segregated, deserted by white parents if they find their children becoming outnumbered by pupils from ethnic minorities. The study, which focused on 13 local areas, found that although parents interviewed wanted their children to have a mixed education, they also wanted their children to be with others from a similar background. iCoCo says that councils should consider allocating school places using lotteries in some inner city areas to address this problem.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jul/10/segregation-race-schools

Every Family Matters report

The Centre for Social Justice has published ‘Every Family Matters' - a review of family law in Britain.  Building on the centre's analysis of family breakdown in Breakthrough Britain, the report argues that marriage is critical to a stable society and should be more robustly supported by government.

http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/

Latest crime statistics from the BCS

The British Crime Survey (BCS) has released new figures showing that overall crime remains stable, with crime recorded by the police showing a 5% decrease compared with 2007-08 with a 10% fall in offences against vehicles and in criminal damage. Violent crime has also remained stable: overall, 3% of adults had experienced a violent crime in the last year with young men aged 16 to 24 being the most at-risk group (13%).

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/crime-statistics-2008-09

Criminal Records Bureau reduces fees and new Business Plan

From 1 October, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) will be reducing the fee for standard disclosure checks from £31 to £26. The Enhanced CRB check will remain at £36. For more detailed information on CRBs and the new scheme, contact NCVYS's Safeguarding Officer, Chris Brewster at chris@ncvys.org.uk.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/crb-reduces-fees

New CRB Business Plan for 2009/10: http://www.crb.gov.uk/media/news/new_crb_business_plan_200910.aspx

25 winners of £11 million for third round of YSDF

The DCSF has announced funding for 25 third sector organisations to deliver positive activities to young people over the next two years. This is the third round of the Youth Sector Development Fund; with small community organisations now joining the larger Pathfinders and medium sized second round organisations funded last year.

http://ysdf.ecotec.com/index.asp?pID=13

National Social Enterprise Awards launched

The Social Enterprise Coalition has launched the Social Enterprise Awards in partnership with the Office of the Third Sector, DCSF, CLG and other partners. Social enterprises can compete in three categories and winners can receive up to £5,000 as well as business support packages and a national media platform to promote themselves. The application deadline is 28 September 2009.

http://www.socialenterpriseawards.org.uk/pages/socialenterpriseawards.html

Equality and diversity grants for children's voluntary organisations

Children England in co-operation with the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is offering children's voluntary sector organisations the opportunity to apply for a small grant to develop and promote innovative practice in the field of equality and diversity. There are a total of 10 grants available of up to £2500 per organisation. The closing date for applications is 1 September 2009 with all activities to be delivered by 31 December 2009.

http://www.mandbf.org.uk/news/newsinfo/article/4470/40/

Raising the participation age to 18

Children transferring to secondary school this September will be the first who will need to continue in education or training until they are 18, following the passage of the Education and Skills Act last year. DCSF has produced an updated booklet, available from September, to help new Year 7s with the transition, and explain the choices ahead.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/news-and-communications/news/140709nimovingupbooklet/

Evidence base in mentoring and befriending

The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation has published a series of research summaries showing the evidence base which demonstrates the impact of mentoring and befriending within different sectors including for young people in or leaving care; asylum seekers, refugees and migrants; intergenerational activity; mental health; and youth violence.

http://www.mandbf.org.uk/resources/research/

Climate Projection tools and training

The Government has launched new Climate Projection tools that are available to anyone in the third sector. The projections will tell you what you can expect in your locality in the future in terms of temperature, rainfall, water levels and more at any time over the next 100 years. Free training in the use of the projections will be held in Reading on 28 July. More information on the tools is available on the Defra Third Sector Blog.

http://www.bookwhen.com/pip

http://blogs.defra.gov.uk/3rd-sector/2009/07/climate-projections-training/

Young Muslim Leadership Network recruiting

The Young Muslim Leadership Network seeks to engage young people to discuss topical issues affecting young Muslims and the general Muslim Community. They are recruiting young Muslims in London and Birmingham aged 16-21 to discuss issues that affect the Muslim youth and community and which may contribute to the alienation of these groups in the wider community. The work will inform resources to be used by peers, as well as teachers in mainstream education, police and youth workers by August 2010. The closing date for applications is 31 July 2009.

http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/main/news.php?n715

THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Stop the Rain Tax lobby of parliament

The Scout Association organised a lobby of parliament this week, as part of their Stop the Rain Tax Campaign. There were more than 200 participants including over 80 MPs and representatives from the Scouts, the Church of England, Community Matters, CCPR and NCVYS as well as speakers Huw Irranca-Davies (Minister for water) and Philip Fletcher (Chair of Ofwat). The Scouts have issued an ultimatum to Ofwat to revise their guidance or they will press for legislation to stop the rain tax and reform Ofwat to make it socially responsible.

http://www.scouts.org.uk/cms.php?pageid=2053&pagenotlive=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhxy1O8jgn8

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8150000/newsid_8154300/8154334.stm

Building the Capacity of the Third Sector report

The Public Accounts Committee has published its report on Building the Capacity of the Third Sector. Edward Leigh MP, Chairman of the Committee said that those responsible for ChangeUp and Futurebuilders ''failed to follow even basic good practice in programme and project management''. He said that most of the £80 million ChangeUp funding intended to be spent over three years had to be spent in a rush, in a single year. However, both programmes have made some impact. ChangeUp has led to better partnerships between local support providers. http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/committee_of_public_accounts/pacpn090716.cfm

To view the Government's response: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/090716_pac.aspx

Graduate Job Prospects

Following a question by Lynda Waltho (Lab, Stourbridge), the Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, David Lammy led a debate on graduate job prospects in the coming months.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090716/debtext/90716-0002.htm#09071650000031

Apprenticeships

George Howarth (Lab, Knowsley, North and Sefton, East) led a debate in Westminster Hall on apprenticeships citing the excellent achievements of Knowsley council's apprenticeships scheme and looking at how similar initiatives can be applied across the country.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090715/halltext/90715h0010.htm#09071568000005

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

Lord De Mauley (Con) led a debate in the House of Lords on the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill focusing on the clauses about education for those detained in youth accommodation.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90716-0010.htm#09071659000208