FREE HelpDesk
0800 2 798 798

Public Policy Update - October

share on Facebook

News

Conservative Green Paper and the Future of the Compact

NCVO are currently consulting on the Conservative Green Paper and the future of the Compact, we would welcome your views on both of these issues. You can complete the Compact consultation online before the end of October and our initial response to the Conservative green paper is also available on our website.

We will be discussing the green paper at forthcoming events such as the NCVO Autumn conference in Manchester on 7 November and the NCVO Political Conference on 27 November. If you would like to respond directly please email Ann Blackmore, Head of Policy or telephone 020 7520 2477.

If you are holding an event and would like a member of the Public Policy Department to come and discuss either of these issues please email Alison Evans or telephone 020 7520 2473.

Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy launched

The Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy (CGAP) was launched on 1 October 2008. It is composed of a cross-national ‘hub’ (NCVO, Cass Business School & Edinburgh University) and three ‘spokes’, involving five universities and NCVO.

The Centre’s mission is to build a better understanding of charitable giving and philanthropy for donors, charities and policy-makers. For further information visit the website.

Community Infrastructure Levy

The Community Infrastructure Levy (“the Levy”) is a proposed levy on development. In principle, it will apply whether or not there has been any increase in site value as a result of the granting of planning permission. The amount of levy to be paid will be based on the cost of local infrastructure needed, and the owners of land will be required to pay this levy to local charging authorities. NCVO, the Charity Tax Group (CTG), the Charities’ Property Association, the Churches’ Legislation Advisory Service and lawyers Bates Wells and Braithwaite are working with Members of the House of Lords to secure an exemption from this levy for registered charities. If the Government does not table its own amendment, Lord Cameron, a crossbench peer, will table an amendment to exempt charities in the week commencing 6 October, and we are working with Lord Cameron to achieve cross party support for this.

A full briefing is available on our website (PDF 67KB) - for more information please email Helen Donoghue at CTG.

Taking forward Communities in Control

In July, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published the Empowerment White Paper, Communities in Control, (an NCVO briefing is available). DCLG have begun to consult on a number of the proposals within the White Paper - a full list of their consultations is available on their website. NCVO has recently responded to the consultation on expanding the membership of DCLGs Third Sector Partnership board, the consultation on the draft prospectus for the new Empowerment Fund and the consultation on improving local accountability.

NCVO has also responded to the Audit Commission's current consultation on the plans for the Comprehensive Area Assessment.

If you would like to discuss any of our work in this area please email Dhara Vyas or telephone 020 7520 2412.

Charitable Incorporated Organisation - publication of secondary legislation

The Office of the Third Sector and Charity Commission have published the draft secondary legislation and model constitutions required to complete the legal framework for CIOs. Details of the proposals and legislation documents are available on the OTS website.

A public consultation will run for three months and NCVO will be producing a briefing on the issue. For further information about NCVO’s work in this area or to send in your comments, please email Elizabeth Chamberlain or telephone 020 7520 2559.

Charity confidence in an uncertain economy

NCVO's third Charity Forecast report will be launched on 6 October. It is based on a survey of over 200 charity leaders - Chief Executives and Trustees - and shows their plans and confidence for the next 12 months. Find out if charities plan to increase their workforce, collaborate more or compete more, and if charity leaders believe that the worsening economic climate will be a negative force for their own organisation.

To buy your copy of the Charity Forecast survey report, visit our website. The report is supported by Chantrey Vellacott DFK.

Dormant Accounts Bill

The Dormant Accounts Bill’s second reading takes place on 6 October. NCVO has prepared a briefing for MPs (PDF 20KB) ahead of this.

If you would like to discuss our work in this area or have any comment please email Louisa Darian or telephone: 020 7520 2475.

Policy skills survey: Key findings

Our recent policy skills survey received 127 responses, which was fantastic! The findings will be used to develop the policy forum events programme for 2009.

For a summary of the survey’s key findings and recommendations, please email Nicola Gilbert or telephone 020 7520 2465.

Count Me In – involving beneficiaries and users in campaigning

After consulting with campaigners from across the sector, Campaigning Effectiveness have developed a resource to support and inspire you in involving those you represent in your campaign work. It draws on lessons from real campaigns including Speaking Up, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Merton Parents for Better Food in Schools.

Visit the Count me in web pages for further information.

Sustainable Communities Act comes into force in October - please get involved

The Sustainable Communities Act is a new law that NCVO campaigned for as part of the Local Works coalition. It gives community groups, citizens and councils the ability to make central government do more to create thriving communities. Full details are available on the localworks website or you can contact the Co-ordinator, Steve Shaw on telephone 020 7278 4443. The coalition letter (PDF 625KB) that will be sent to all council leaders in October is also available on the website.

National Survey of Third Sector Organisations

Organisations across England are being invited by the Office of the Third Sector to take part in the first National Survey of Third Sector Organisations. The survey will measure the quality of support in every local authority in England. Questionnaires were sent out in mid-September.

Revamped ESRC website

The Economic and Social Research Council have revamped their website, its third sector webpage now provides a wealth of information relevant to voluntary and community organisations including research summaries and factsheets as well as case studies on various ESRC schemes and details of the ESRC third sector engagement strategy.

Consultations

The Future of the Compact - tell us your experience and what you think.

The Commissioner for the Compact has been asked to consider options for the future of the Compact. This includes discussions with the VCS until the end of October. If it is proposed to make changes to the Compact a full consultation will take place at the end of the year.

NCVO intends to respond to the Commission for the Compact. To do so, we need to hear your views on how the Compact currently operates, and how you think it could be improved.

You can find out more on our website. You can give us your views via our on-line consultation, or by email to the policy team or in writing to Policy Team, NCVO, Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL.

Substantial donors to charity

HM Revenue and Customs consultation on the substantial donor’s legislation will be running until 7 October. The legislation was introduced in the Finance Act 2006 to counter tax avoidance where large donations were made to charity. The rules mean that charities can be penalised for entering into particular transactions with people making substantial donations.

We want to know if charities are being affected by the legislation. If this is something you have experienced, please email Louisa Darian or telephone: 020 7520 2475.

Society Lottery Limits

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport consultation into society lottery limits will be running until 16 October. Society Lotteries are typically supported by national and local charities, sporting and social clubs. The consultation seeks views on a proposal to double the amount that society lotteries can raise from a single draw.

If you want to discuss our work in this area please email Louisa Darian or telephone 020 75202475.

Events

Seminar 2: Changing governance structures and processes

Date : 9 October 2008, 12.00 until 2.15pm

Venue: NCVO, London

This free seminar is the second of a series jointly held by NCVO and the ESRC NGPA programme. It will look at how civil society organisations in the UK and several other countries are experiencing the shift from government to governance. Full details are available on our website.

Mind the Gap: Developing third sector people and skills

Date: 21 October, 2008

Venue: Central Hall Westminster, London.

This conference will allow attendees to discover how they can find the resources to develop the skills of their organisation’s most important asset – staff and volunteers. Speakers include Phil Hope MP, Minister for the Third Sector, David Lammy, Minister for Skills and David Brindle, Editor of SocietyGuardian. For more information and to book online, visit our website.

NCVO Political Conference 2008 - Meeting new challenges in the political climate

Date: 27 November 2008, 9.30am - 4.45pm

Venue: DBERR, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET

The NCVO 2008 Political Conference will focus on building the political intelligence of voluntary and community sector organisations and helping them to prepare for new challenges in the political cycle. Keynote speakers include the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, former Home Secretary and Chair of the Labour Party's Manifesto group on the voluntary sector and the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office.

For further information and to book online visit our website.

Alive and Kicking: Creating Successful strategies

Date: 11 December 2008

Venue: London.

If you’re responsible for strategic decisions within your organisation, this will be an inspiring, hands-on day. You’ll have the opportunity to get your organisation fit for the future, arm yourself with tips and planning tools and discover new ideas to revitalise your strategy.

For further information see our website.

Training opportunities for researchers

The Social Research Association is holding a number of training workshops aimed at mid-career and senior researchers. They will be of interest to social researchers who want to stay at the cutting edge or develop expertise in new areas. Future workshops include Advanced Qualitative Data Analysis and Participatory research.

Further details are available on the SRA website.

Was this page useful? Yes No