News
Faith to Engage London Update
Faith to Engage Yorkshire & the Humber Update
Please click below to read the latest news from the Yorkshire and the Humber region.
Faith to Engage East Midlands Update
Please click below to read the latest news from the East Midlands region.
Faith to Engage Update
Faithworks' Big Lottery funded Faith to Engage project is coming to an end in June this year. Encouragingly an independent evaluation of the project found that 87% of end users felt that they had benefited from its work.
In the coming months we will taking part in a number of regional events, publishing the research paper Faithfully Meeting Local Need and completing the project evaluation. As the FtE wraps up this year an independent evaluation is being carried and here are a few things you have have said about the project:
“Helped create very good channels for grassroots to engage with elected officials as well as faith leaders.”
Faith Forum, London
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87% felt that they had benefited from the work of the project, the biggest benefit was the opportunity given by events to share experiences and information.
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On average people found the project useful, scoring it 7.3 out of 10 (with 10 being most positie)
Benefits briefing
The effects of the changes
Benefit Changes Directing People To Advice Gauging The Effects Of The Changes
Upcoming Policy issues in 2013
The NCVO's Charlotte Ravenscroft highlights the following policy issues coming up for the voluntary sector in 2013? Including Welfare changes kicking in this April, the struggling economy, the Social Value Act and Gift Aid goes digital in April.
Benefit Changes
Are you ready for the new Gift Aid system?
HMRC is changing the way that Gift Aid repayments are made. From April 2013, a new online claims system will be launched, replacing the existing R68(i) form. The new online system will also be used for the Small Donations Scheme. For more info click here
Police & Crime Commissioners - Opportunity or Threat
Existing funding arrangements from local Community Safety Partnerships will end and the new PCCs will be able to access the community safety fund from 2012. New crime and disorder grants to fund or commission services from the VCS will be at the discretion of the PCC.
This could be an opportunity for the VCS that are active in community safety, working with victims of prejudice-based crime,supporting victims, reducing reoffending, working to address violence against women and girls, substance misuse and work with vulnerable young people. BUT only if this work supports the PCC new Police and Crime Plan in your PCC area. Each PCC will decide how these funds are used and from 2014 this funding will be part of the general policing budget and not ring-fenced in any way.
As a VCS organisation your relationship with your PCC is critical. Your ability to demonstrate the impact of your work is vital especially in making the link with your activities and services to the Police and Crime Plan priorities. The Safer Future Communities project has been set up by the Home Office to do just this, and support frontline VCO’s to prepare for these changes.
For equality groups and other marginalised groups it is really important that you are networked with the Safer Future Communities partnership in your area (see below), and that your voice is heard. Let us know at South West Forum or Equality South West if there are any barriers for you in participating in the network or contact Isabel Livingstone at CLINKS isabel.livingstone@clinks.org
South West Forum is currently offering a range of activities to strengthen the voice and influence of the voluntary and community sector, contact Deborah or Beverly on 01392 247901
Safer Future Communities project led by Clinks www.clinks.orgin partnership with NAVCA and other partners is set up to support frontline organisations to prepare for the PCC relationship and understand the new community safety funding landscape. There are networks in your area that provide information, support and training and can provide reasonable expenses to support your involvement.
See http://www.clinks.org/services/sfc for Policy Briefings and further information on the PCC changes.
Government departments publish their annual plans and progress reports
The Number 10 website has published government department business plans setting out priorities for the coming twelve months, specific reform actions departments will take and when, along with expenditure for each remaining year of the spending review period. For more info click here
Benchmarking the participation of women in the third sector
A recent report by Women Count: Charity Leaders 2012 has found that only 17-25% of the richest (by asset or by income) 100 charities have women Chief Executives even though 68% of the workforce is female. For more info click here.
Government maps out community action
DCLG has launched its Communities in Action map that gives examples of projects in Neighbourhood Community Budget pilot areas, and invites other projects to send in their details to be added to the map. To read more click here
FtE North East newsletter
The Faith to Engage North East May newsletter has been published. To read the newsletter click here
To read the past newsletters, please go to region's page 'In your region'.
FtE East Midlands newsletter
Faith to Engage East Midlands regional partner has published May/June 2012 newsletter. To read the updates in this region click here
To read the past newsletters, please go to the region's page 'In your region'.
How Faith Communities are Adapting to the Current Economic and Political Climate
The North West Forum of Faiths published a report entitled "How Faith Communities are Adapting to the Current Economic and Political Climate", compiled by Monsignor John Devine OBE.
To read the report click here
FtE London Capacity Building event
On Wednesday 18 April, the Faith to Engage London regional partner delivered, in partnership with London Church Leaders and Evangelical Alliance, the London Mayoral Hustings event at St James's Piccadilly; with Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone, Brian Paddick and Jenny Jones, and chaired by journalist and priest George Pitcher.
Hundreds were attended and there were hot debates between the audience and panels. Click here to read the article from the London Evening Standard.
FtE East of England newsletter
The Faith to Engage East of England regional partner has published April 2012 newsletter.
To read the updates click here
How to access European funding
It has been challenging for small organisations to get involved in European funding. However there are opportunities to get involved through European Structural Fund (ESF) community grants. Read the Guardian Voluntary Sector Network round up of advice from the experts on how to access funding.
Give it back George! Drop the Charity Tax
In the March 2012 budget Chancellor George Osborne announced a cap on income tax reliefs that will negatively affect charities and the philanthropists who support them. Find more about why it matters and join the Give it back George! Campaign
FtE East Midlands update
Faith to Engage East Midlands newsletter for January and February 2012 is published. To view this either click here or go to East Midlands page.
Job opportunities at Pecan
Pecan is a Christian charity and they are launching a new project called Moving On, funded by the Big Lottery Fund. This new project will work alongside young women (aged 15 - 17) on release from prison, to help them integrate into society and make positive choices for their lives.
They are looking for the following roles:-
- Project Manager (female) closing date: 20 February 2012
- Lead Coach Mentor (female) closing date: 20 February 2012
- Administrator closing date: 5 March 2012
- Coach Mentors (female) closing date: 2 April 2012
Welfare Bill defeat in the House of Lords
The government's plans to reform welfare were badly hit on Wednesday night, when their Welfare Bill suffered three defeats in the House of Lords.
On 11 January 2011 the government's plans to reform welfare and the benefit system were badly hit. Three aspects of the Welfare Bill were defeated in the House of Lords: these included benefits for disabled children and cancer patients, and time limits on employment and support allowance (ESA).
Ministers had planned to place stricter limits on who can claim ESA, which is currently paid to people who are too sick or disabled to work. They also planned to limit to one year the amount of time people could claim ESA without being means tested.
However, by voting for exemptions for cancer patients, young disabled people and an overall extension of the time limit, peers have set back those plans significantly. Attention this week will be firmly focused on further developments.
More information can be found at: BBC website and the Guardian website
Faith to Engage update
The Faith to Engage project is in its 4th year of the five year project. In 2011, the nine regional partners facilitated strong capacity building events across the country, each focused on their main aims of objectives in their region...
Funding Advice Seminars in NE
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and Faith to Engage North East regional partner have teamed up to organise two funding advice sessions in the North East region. This seminar is for any faith or belief organisation representitives who would like to find out more about BIG funding opportunities to support their projects. To find out more go to below links:-
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Tuesday 31 January 2012 click here for more information
Stockton-on-Tees Wednesday 1 February 2012 click here for more information
At Your Bidding
This is a guide for charity trustees about commissioning and tendering for public services, published by NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) in partnership with the Local Government Association.
To read the guide click here
Holding on by a shoestring
Tracking the impact of the cuts on voluntary groups in England's most deprived areas
This study is compiled by CUF (Church Urban Fund) and it looks at how church and faith-based projects in deprived areas are coping in the light of the spending cuts.
To read the report click here
Faith to Engage - Updates from East of England
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The East of England regional partner continues to concentrate on Mental health and Spirituality. Click here to read the latest updates from the region. |
Next Steps: funding opportunity at BLF
Supporting social investment in England: deadline 14 December 2011
The Big Lottery will award between £40,000 and £1million to help realise a range of specific and already well-developed social investment proposals. They are interested in funding:
•Investment ready proposals – to set up a social investment vehicle that will achieve outcomes for people in need.
•‘Nearly there proposals’– to complete the development of a social investment vehicle that will achieve outcomes for people in need
•Pilots – to test out a social investment concept and/or establish its feasibility
For more information click here
£5mil Near Neighbours Fund launched
Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has formally launched Near Neighbours - a £5 million government-funded programme bringing people together in diverse communities.
The Near Neighbours charity was created by the Church Urban Fund and the Archbishops' Council following the grant award by the Department for Communities and Local Government in February. It is co-ordinating work in Bradford, Birmingham, Leicester and London.
For more info click here
No Care Plan at the Inn
Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action in the field of housing and homelessness and they are inviting people to a talk on Thursday 8 December. The talk will explore the tensions between Christian and Statutory responses to the needs of homeless rough sleepers.
To view the invitation click here
Climate Week 2012
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Climate Week is Britain’s biggest climate change campaign, inspiring a new wave of action to create a sustainable future. You can help accelerate action on climate change by making Climate Week happen where you are. Ask an organisation or group you know to start planning an activity now for 12-18 March 2012. To find out more click here |
To read the Climate Week newsletter click here
Church Growth Officer vacancy in Derby
Organisation: Diocese of Derby
Deadline: 25 November 2011, 12 noon
Interview: 12 December 2011
Derby Diocese has advertised a new vacancy in Social Responsibility Department. A Church Growth Officer for Chesterfield Archdeaconry.
To find out more click here
Press Release from The Inter Faith Network
A press release from The Inter Faith Network on National Interfaith Week have been released on Monday this week.
To view click here
Job opportunity at Pecan
Pecan is a Christian charity based in Peckham and is looking for a new Finance and Office Manager.
To find out more about Pecan click here
To see the job advertisement click here
Solihull Together Fund Open
Small grants of between £100 - £500 are available for a charity or voluntary group who supports communities within Solihull Borough.
To find out more click here
Solihull VCSRG Election Results
The Solihull Voluntary & Community Sector Reference Group election took place last month.
To see the results click here
Response to the Riots Panel
On 28 September 2011, Oasis Charities Parliament and Faith to Engage gathered insights from members of the public, for submission to the ‘Riots Communities and Victims Panel’ set up by David Cameron and Nick Clegg, in response to the summer riots.
The Faith to Engage and Oasis Charities Parliament event saw over 200 young people, community activists and interested stakeholders come together to feedback to the panel on:
•What motivated the rioters to wreak havoc on the nation's streets?
•What will it take to bring lasting peace to our streets?
•How best can we tackle the root causes of the issues?
To read the paper click below link:-
Paper for Riots Community & Victims Panel 31 October 2011
Special SUSTAiN Alert for West Midlands
The Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) in Solihull is electing its Refrenece Group members.
Vote before 5.00pm on 31 October.
To find out more and/or to vote click here
Big Society and Inequality: what do you think?
WRC (Women's Resource Centre) and Voice for Change England are carrying out a survey to gather information from voluntary and community organisations focused on equality about what the Big Society means for you and your beneficiaries.
To find out more click here
To participate in survey click here
The Riots Panel visits
The Riots Communities and Victims Panel was set up by David Cameron and Nick Clegg in response to the riots this summer, August 2011.
The Riots Panel are currently travelling around the country to speak to people directly and to gather evidence.
To find out where next meetings are held please click here.
Free insolvency helpline and new HR service available
NCVO, in partnership with the Charity Finance Directors Group (CFDG) and insolvency experts MacIntyre Hudson and PricewaterhouseCoopers have opened up CFDG’s Insolvency Helpline to provide support and benefit to the wider sector. This helpline provides specialist support for Voluntary and Community Organisations in financial crisis free of charge.
For more information visithttp://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/free-insolvency-help-line
Analysing the charity sector spending cuts
As you may have seen in many media sources this month, NCVO has just published the 'Counting the Cuts' report detailing the impact of spending cuts. It contains lots of information and statistics and lists our recommendations to Government.
One fact from the report:
"The sector stands to lose £2.8 billion over the spending review period (2011- 2016)”
Read the report (pdf 428 KB)
Special Bulletin: NHS Future Forum continues – and it’s time to raise your voice
On 18th August 2011, the Government asked the NHS Future Forum to continue a new phase of conversations with patients, service users and professionals following its listening exercise on the proposals to modernise the NHS.
The NHS Future Forum, a group of health experts led by GP Professor Steve Field, will provider independent advice on four new themes:
1. Information
How to make information improve health, care and wellbeing
2. Education and Training
How to develop the healthcare workforce to deliver world-class healthcare
3. Integrated Care
How to ensure the Government’s modernisation programme leads to better integration of services around people’s needs
4. The Public’s Health
How to ensure the public’s health remains at the heart of the NHS
Big Society vanguards one year on
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published One year on: Snapshot of activity in vanguard areas. The report gives information on activity in the Big Society vanguards over the last year.
Young People and Inter Faith Engagement
IFN has produced a new e-resource about young people and inter faith engagement. The resource is based on display boards produced for Inter Faith Week 2010 to highlight the excellent work being done with young people and includes numerous photographic examples. It is hoped that the resource will be both a source of information and a visual teaching aid
This resource is free to download and is available in both high and low resolution in pdf format.
A £10million fund for charities and social enterprises
The UK government has announced a ten million pounds 'Investment and Contract Readiness Fund' to help charities and social enterprises develop the skills and infrastructure to win more capital investment and public service contracts, over 3 years from April 2012.
