You may have seen the publicity material for the LSC’s small community grants scheme and dismissed it as too bureaucratic or not suitable for your community group.  However, a sweep of rule changes and extra flexibility means it may be worth taking a second look.  The basic remit of the scheme hasn’t changed.  It is still open to Cornwall-based not-for-profit groups and charities and provides up to £12,000 per annum for activities that help people gain confidence, self esteem, inclusion etc. and/or looking at employment … Read more »

A new booklet has been launched to help make sure women know what extra support is available to them through the downturn. ‘Real help now for women’ aims to provide practical support for a range of situations, from losing your job to finding affordable childcare. It contains advice on issues such as: where to go for support if they lose their job help with looking after children skills and training staying secure and well The booklet also aims to make sure women know what their … Read more »

A report by Professor Gary Craig is a summary of a full-length report written by Professor Gary Craig. The report explores how civil society associations (CSAs) understand and operationalise the concept of social justice. In addition, it considers what distinguishes CSAs from organisations in the public and private sectors and the obstacles civil society associations encounter in operating as social justice organsations. Summary: http://democracy.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/files/Civil%20society%20associations%20and%20the%20values%20of%20social%20justice.pdf Full report: http://democracy.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/files/Civil%20society%20associations%20and%20the%20values%20of%20social%20justice%20-%20full%20report.pdf

The UK is fast becoming a nation of FREDs. Forgotten by those in power Ripped-off by taxes and the benefits system Excluded from opportunities Debt-ridden because they can’t afford to get by A new report from Oxfam sets out a six-point rescue plan to turn things around. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/policy/economic_crisis/impact_on_uk_poverty.html  

Implications for Chief Executives in the Third Sector A think piece by the acevo Sustainability Special Interest Group, commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to improve the third sector’s environmental performance . The publication covers leadership, supporting ‘green skills’, a better networked sector, incentivising better environmental performance, and measuring and monitoring environmental performance. https://www.acevo.org.uk/captest/download_file.cfm?filename=Sustainabity_Challenge_-_Web_Version.pdf Also aveco has participated in a project to benchmark the approach of third sector leaders in tackling the challenges involved in environmental sustainability.  It has undertaken its … Read more »