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DEVELOP & GROW Enhancing Community Support -
29/07/10 E-Bulletin
The top section of this bulletin gives you news,
information and updates relevant to the voluntary & community sector in general,
if you would like to view news and
information from your local area please either scroll down to the bottom or click on the relevant link:
The Community Channel - Free
Television Advertising for Your Group!
The Community Channel, an initiative of Media Trust,
is the UKʼs only TV station dedicated to highlighting issues from the community,
voluntary and charitable sector, both locally and internationally. The Channel
is aimed at the general public and seeks to inspire them to become engaged in
the work of the sector, or to publicise the work of organisations to viewers.
Weʼre available 24 hours a day on both SKY (ch. 539) and Virgin TV (ch.233) and
3 hours a day, between 5am-8am, on Freeview (ch.87). Our website
www.communitychannel.org also
shows a wide range of videos on demand. Each month around 600,000 viewers watch
the Channel. The Channel and the website are free for community, voluntary and
charitable organisations. How Can Your Organisation Get involved? If you have a
video, no matter how long or short that you think the Channel could show contact
Adam Perry adamp@mediatrust.org to
discuss further, equally, if you are at a stage where your group is thinking of
creating video I am happy to provide guidance and can direct you to our
filmmaker's guides so that they can avoid some of the more common pitfalls. If
you donʼt have a video our website has a feature that enables you to post news
about campaigns, call for volunteers or donors, or simply let people know more
about your organisation. Check out
www.communitychannel.org/yourspace for more info. We also regularly run
campaigns and seasons on the Channel - amongst many others this year we have
already supported Small Charity Week, Refugee Week and Mental Health Action
Week, as well as broadcasting seasons on Climate Change and Environmental
themes. Each season or campaign has its own factsheet and we are always looking
for organisations to include, so keep an eye on the website for information
about which seasons are coming up and please get in touch if you would to be
included. More help - Media Trust also provides resources to help organisations
market and promote themselves. Visit www.mediatrust.org and check out Media Matching and Community Newswire. For
all information about any of the above visit www.mediatrust.org
or
www.communitychannel.org and follow the relevant links. Alternatively
contact: Adam Perry on
adamp@mediatrust.org or call 020 7217 3642.
Not Sure How to Make Videos?
The Media Trust's Volunteer Film-making scheme is
still open for applications, up to Monday 2nd August. It matches professional
film-makers with small charities (up to £2 million turnover) to create short
promotional films at a fraction of the normal cost. See
their website, or get an application form via 020 7217 3628 or
volunteerfilmmaking@mediatrust.org. And Finally, a fun and innovative way a
school in Amesbury has been raising money for their chosen charity with a music
video – and it even got featured on the BBC website!
Watch their video on YouTube.
Hours of Work
The CIPD has updated its factsheet entitled "Working hours and time
off work". It covers: * trends in working hours in the UK, * the effects of long
hours working, * the legal position, * holidays, * special leave and * the CIPD
viewpoint.
Click here to view.
Helping Prevent Charity
Scams and Fraud
The Charity Commission has been working with the Serious Organised
Crime Agency (SOCA) to identify scams or fraudulent activity which could affect
the charitable sector. They have produced some brief advice to help charities
tackle website spoofing, mass market fraud and 'boiler room' fraud.
Find out
more here.
Tender Support Project
NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) has
extended the availability of the
Tender Support Project. Local voluntary and community sector organisations
anywhere in England can use the project to improve their ability to bid for
public service contracts.
National Citizen Service
Pilots Announced and Open for Bids
Pilots for a National Citizen Service for young people have been
announced by the Prime Minister, and are expected to provide about 10,000 places
for 16-year-olds next summer. Stuart Etherington at NCVO welcomed this and
pointed out that "the initiative has been developed in collaboration with
voluntary organisations and is a good example of how the sector can play its
part in delivering the Big Society".
Volunteering England reaction, or
Number 10 news item. A detailed specification for the pilots will be
published on 2nd August
on the
website, with an invite for potential providers to submit bids - or see
page with current fullest details.
Abolition of Charity Music
Fee Exemption Delayed
The removal of the charity exemption from music licensing charges
(those levied by Phonographic Performance Limited) has not been actioned, as had
been anticipated, before Parliament's summer recess. The Intellectual Property
Office, which has responsibility here,
is quoted by Third Sector:
"The government is considering the issue and speaking to interested parties" but
would not comment on a new timescale. NCVO and others have been lobbying,
see their take.
Involving Local Councillors
in Community Campaigns
A joint publication from bassac and Urban Forum, 'Local Action: The
Handy Guide to Communities Working with Councillors', shows how councillor
involvement is key to the success of local community projects, with case studies
and top tips from activists.
Bassac news item, download (pdf,
2.38MB) here.
UK charities can receive a donation of Microsoft
software, including Office 2010 and Windows 7, through CTX (subject to
eligibility). They are one of a number of major technology companies, including
Cisco and Symantec, who use CTX to manage their donation programmes in the UK.
To see the full range of donors, available products and how to apply for a
donation, go to www.ctxchange.org.
Acas Advice on the Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act will become law in October 2010. It
replaces previous legislation and ensures consistency in what you need to do to
make your workplace a fair environment and to comply with the law. To help
employers and employees understand the changes Acas has produced
guidance on the The Equality Act. You may also like to have a look at the
list of courses that Acas is running in the South West to help employers
with employment law and employment relations issues.
Don’t Miss These FREE Informal
One-to-One Advice Clinics for Social Enterprises
If you run a social enterprise or established
community organisation and need good advice to develop your ideas further, here
is an opportunity for a one-to-one chat with one of our qualified advisors. 17
August - Stroud, 13 September - Gloucester, 11 October - Salisbury, 8 November -
Cheltenham, 6 December - Trowbridge. Appointments can be booked for one hour
between 10am and 4pm. For more information and to make your appointment contact
Marie White:
marie.white@co-active.org.uk. 0845 519 5759. This service is delivered
by Co-active on behalf of Business Link.
Charity Bank's Preferential Loan
Rate for Charities and Community Groups
Charity Bank is offering charities and community
groups a preferential rate for new loans drawn before the 31st December 2010.
Charity Bank is a not-for profit bank that offers affordable finance to third
sector organisations, including those that might not be able to borrow from
commercial lenders. The preferential rate being offered is a reduction of
0.5%p.a. on its standard interest rate. Interest rates depend on size, type and
length of loan but typically vary between 5.5% and 7.5%. Since 1995 Charity Bank
has made loans of £120 million to over 830 charities, social enterprises and
community groups that reach 3,500,000 people through their work. For more
details, or to see if loan finance is right for your organisation please contact
Charity Bank’s loan team on 01732 774050 or visit
www.charitybank.org/loans. For details of Charity Bank’s savings accounts
visit
www.charitybank.org/savings.
Understanding the Tories
Jonty Olliff-Cooper is a former advisor to David
Cameron now working for the Demos. This clip which, although pre-election, still
does a good job at introducing the different groups that make up the
Conservative party and perhaps helps readers to understand and consider how they
can strategically engage. Download it at:
YouTube
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