NCVYS STRATEGIC INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 456

11 September 2009

NCVYS social networking site for the voluntary and community youth sector

NCVYS has launched a social networking site - an online forum for its virtual communities of interest. The ‘NCVYS Community' will enable members to interact virtually, post questions and receive instant feedback through discussion forums, post events, share information about projects and resources, share experiences, as well as chat in real time directly through the site! The forum will be particularly useful to those in the NCVYS network who may not always be able to attend meetings but will still be able to interact virtually. The site will host NCVYS's communities of interest for those interested in particular areas of work like the environment, infrastructure development and faith-based youth work.

www.ncvyscommunity.ning.com

Young Partners Award 2009

This is a final reminder for nominations for the Young Partners Awards 2009. The Young Partners Award ceremony celebrates young people's involvement in decision-making within voluntary and community organisations and projects. If you know of an organisation that works with, and for, young people, why not nominate them? Winners will receive cash prizes, certificates, promotional opportunities and free membership with NCVYS. The closing date is Friday 18 September 2009.

http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?page=272

Raising the participation age

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has published Moving Up, a booklet for the cohort of young people who entered year seven in September 2009. This will be the first intake required to continue in education or training until 18. It is intended to explain this change, outline the options for learning and support, and help smooth the transition from primary to secondary education.

http://publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00826-2009&

Support for foster carers

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has issued guidance aimed at foster carers and their families. The guidance discusses what happens when an allegation is made against a foster carer and what support is available. It is also hoped that it would be useful for childcare workers involved in investigations of foster carers, looked after young people, their advocates and birth families.

http://publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00860-2009&

Consolidation of charity law

The Office of the Third Sector has launched a consultation on the consolidation of charity law. The draft Consolidation Bill brings together provisions on the main legislation on charities in England Wales into a single piece of draft legislation. Views are invited on the revisions that have been made to the structure of the existing legislation and to modernise the drafting of that legislation, as well as on the draft Bill. Deadline for responses is 4 December 2009.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/090910_charityconsolidationconsultation.aspx

Transformation Fund projects

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has announced projects that have received money from the £20 million Transformation Fund, which offers grants for more than 213 innovative informal adult learning projects in England. The projects aim to improve mental health, physical well-being, active citizenship and community cohesion, as well as providing a stepping stone towards further learning, qualifications and employment. Projects include a partnership between Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, Merseytravel, Urbis and a National Trust property which will create ‘learning journeys' for young people 19-25,

http://www.bis.gov.uk/20m-kickstart-learning-revolution

Modernisation Fund

HM Government has announced that voluntary organisations that received bursaries for advice worth £1,000 from the Government's Modernisation Fund will be able to bid for grants of up to £10,000 from Monday 14 September. The fund is being delivered by Capabitybuilders and is for charities with annual turnovers of between £150,000 and £750,000 working in health and wellbeing, advice and guidance, and training and skills. About 500 grants are expected to be made at the end of November. Deadline for grant applications is 9 November 2009.

http://www.modernisationfund.org.uk/grants/index.html

Social Enterprise Access to Investment (SEATI) programme

The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) have launched the Social Enterprise Access to Investment (SEATI) programme. NESTA and the OTS have developed the year-long SEATI pilot to find, and test, new ways for social enterprises to gain the advice and support they need to access new forms of growth finance.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/seati.aspx

Inter Faith Youth Trust Grants

The Inter Faith Youth Trust, in conjunction with the Inter Faith Network and the Department for Communities and Local Government, is offering youth groups across the UK the opportunity to apply for funding (£200-£500) to run events and projects during Inter Faith Week in November. Projects that receive funding must involve young people of different faiths or provide learning about different faiths and beliefs. Deadline for grant applications is 2 October 2009.

http://www.ifyouthtrust.co.uk/

Sustainable Development Commission tender

The Sustainable Development Commission is seeking expressions of interest from suitably experienced organisations to undertake a review of evidence linking positive outcomes for young people with sustainable development, including a communications campaign to deliver key messages about sustainable development to the youth sector. Deadline for expressions of interest is 23 September 2009.

http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/tender-opportunities.html   

BingoLotto

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is a partner in BingoLotto, along with the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR). 20% of the sales price of every BingoLotto Gamecard will go to voluntary and community organisations across the UK as unrestricted funding. As part of the launch, the team at BingoLotto are offering NCVO members the chance to win £1,000.

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/whatwedo/?id=7826

Time for Action update

The Greater London Authority has published its Time for Action Update Report. The update follows the Mayor of London's consultation on the original Time for Action document published in November 2008, which set out the Mayor's vision for tackling youth crime in the capital. The Update Report will be available on the Mayor of London website on Monday 14 September.

http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/crime/timeforaction/

Big Lottery Fund reports

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) has published two documents following its major consultation which saw 3,500 responses to an online survey. Big Thinking - Our Strategic Framework to 2015 and What You Told Us have been released simultaneously to show how the consultation responses informed the new strategy. Big Thinking outlines the principles which will inform BIG's approach to funding in the UK for the next six years and is based around three themes: community learning and creating opportunity; promoting community cohesion; safety; and promoting well-being.

http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/bigthinking

Regional Young People's Commissioning Roadshow

Following on from the National Young People's Commissioning Forum held in May 2009, a series of Regional Young People's Commissioning events will take place from 15 October to 6 November 2009. Delivered by the Youth Sector Development Fund and the Commissioning Support Programme, the events will be free to attend and will cover the commissioning and provision of effective positive activities for young people in each region. Commissioners and providers will be able to network and develop a solutions-focussed dialogue. NCVYS members are encouraged to attend.

http://www.commissioningsupport.org.uk/news__events/national_events/positive_activities_roadshows.aspx

Play4Life

Children across the UK will have access to £2m worth of free indoor play under a scheme launched by the Play Providers Association. The Play4Life scheme is helping to deliver the active side of the Government's Change4Life campaign, which is promoting healthier lifestyles among children. ADVERTISEMENT

Parents can find their local participating play centre on the Play Providers and can claim free play on visits until the end of this month.

http://www.playproviders.org.uk/play4life

External recognition for volunteers

The Scout Association is reviewing its external recognition options for volunteers and would like to hear about your experiences or successes this area. For example, can your volunteers gain external recognition for training they do in their volunteer role? For further information contact Rosie Shepherd, Programme and Development Adviser for The Scout Association. T: 020 8433 7149.

Rosie.shepherd@scout.org.uk

Ministerial shadowing opportunities

As part of the Youth of Today programme of opportunities, the UK Youth Parliament is giving away 480 free opportunities for young people, aged 13-19, to spend the day with a Government Minister. Young people will get to go where the Government Minister goes, see what they see, do what they do and see what it takes to be a leader. This truly is an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity.  

http://www.theyouthoftoday.org/shadow-government-minister

Young Foundation internship

The Young Foundation is looking for a young person, 19-25 years old, to assist it in the running of The Youth of Today, which includes giving out its second round of investments of the fund and in developing research publications and a website. The internship will take place over the autumn and is unpaid, but lunch and travel expenses would be covered. The young person must live in London. Deadline for applications is 10:00, Wednesday 16 September. For further information please contact Caroline Donald.

caroline.donald@youngfoundation.org

Fairbridge training

Fairbridge Training will be showcasing their training programmes at the Times Education Show 2009 at Olympia London 2-3 October 2009. Visit stand G24 to find out about further training opportunities.

http://www.teachingexhibitions.co.uk/Exhibitions/TES%20Teaching%20Exhibition/TES%20Education/2009/Visitor/

THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Parliament is currently in recess. The House will next sit on Monday 12 October 2009.