Supporting learning for the Voluntary & Community Sector and Social Enterprises

Latest News

Results from the biggest survey of learning technologies in the voluntary sector ever undertaken.
12/03/2010

The results are now in and the survey has revealed some interesting findings!

 

Third Sector Trends
12/03/2010

The Northern Rock Foundation has published two reports on findings from its Third Sector Trends Study.

Charity Commission Single Equality Scheme
12/03/2010


The Charity Commission has published its Single Equality Scheme following a consultation process. www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/single_equal.asp
 

Business Charity Awards: deadline extended
11/03/2010

Charities now have until 25 March to get their entries in


The deadline for entries to the Business Charity Awards has been extended until 25 March.

What's it like to work for a charity in 2010?
09/03/2010

Third Sector's annual staff satisfaction survey is now open, in partnership with Birdsong Charity Consulting

NCVO 'Don't Stop the Music' Campaign
09/03/2010

NCVO is campaigning against the Government's decision to make charities and other not for profits pay for a licence when they play recorded music in their own premises.

Data protection roundup
09/03/2010

This information updates s.43.3 in The Russell-Cooke Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook (VSLH3).  This information has been produced by Sandy Adirondack

Charity Commission publishes guide for trustees with learning disabilities
08/03/2010

Charities need diverse trustee boards, says commission chief

The Charity Commission has published a guide to help trustees with learning disabilities understand their role.

Community Enterprise Strategic Framework
04/03/2010

Update on phasing out of cheques
04/03/2010

 

The Payments Council, the body responsible for the cheque clearance system and proposals to phase it out, has promised that this will not happen before 2018.

Cutting red tape
04/03/2010

The Government is committed to ensuring that third sector organisations are not subject to unnecessary or disproportionate regulation and administrative burdens.

South West Skills Award
04/03/2010


We are pleased to announce that the nomination process for the 2010 Skills Awards is now open.

Back to basics: VAT and where it's avoidable
03/03/2010

Tips from John O'Brien, chair of the Community Accounting Network

Talks planned on new charity accounting standard
03/03/2010

Accounting Standards Board responds to consultation

Volunteer organisations 'should be consulted over legislation'
03/03/2010

Volunteering England wants them to have the right to consider the effects on volunteering of bills and regulations

NCVO Cracking The Code - Bursary Scheme
03/03/2010

Good governance is at the heart of an effective organisation.

Comic Relief Funding Programme
02/03/2010

Comic Relief's UK Grant Programme aims to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of poor and disadvantaged people in the UK by investing in work that addresses people's immediate need

£26m worth of grants paid back to the Big Lottery Fund
02/03/2010

Third sector organisations have returned more than £26m in unspent grants to the Big Lottery Fund over the past six years.

Would you like a radio advert produced for your organisation?
25/02/2010

@Orange Street Studios  is a volunteering project for young people.

Five charities shortlisted for 'most innovative' award
25/02/2010

Voting begins for Britain's Most Admired Charities

National Bullying Helpline suspends services
25/02/2010

Statement on charity's website says it is 'extremely sorry' and Christine Pratt will resign 'if necessary'

Government funding for sexual violence charities
25/02/2010

Government funding for voluntary agencies that provide support to victims of sexual violence will be streamlined with the establishment of a one-year combined fund for 2010/11.

NCVO sets out its election manifesto
25/02/2010

Five days paid leave for volunteering, more mutuals, co-operatives and credit unions and the right of the voluntary sector to campaign are at the heart of an election manifesto, launched by the Nat

Vountary sector employers consider non-cash bonus schemes for staff
24/02/2010

Cheaper incentives planned, CIPD survey finds

Stuart Etherington talks up campaigning
23/02/2010

NCVO chief tells annual conference it's a vital part of the sector's role

Fears grow over statutory income for charities
23/02/2010

Latest Managing in a Downturn survey finds nearly half of respondents suffered falls in income.

Business in the Community hopes to grow volunteering scheme
23/02/2010

Charity aims to recruit 6,000 volunteers from companies in second year of Give and Gain Day

Contract competition is making culture 'harsher' in voluntary sector, according to report for Unison
23/02/2010

Competing for public contracts is affecting the internal lives of organisations, warns academic

National Bullying Helpline condemned for breach of confidentiality over No 10 complaints
23/02/2010

Charity Commission confirms it will speak to NBH as helpline patron quits

Low Cost Action Learning Set for Volunteer Managers
22/02/2010

As part of the Volunteer Management Project, Volunteering Bristol and Voscur are offering Volunteer Managers and those who manage volunteers as part of their role the opportunity to take part in an

Unite organises day of lobbying on voluntary sector's 'short-term contract culture'
17/02/2010

Unite organises day of lobbying on voluntary sector's 'short-term contract culture'

New Sickness Certification System - April 2010
16/02/2010

The Government has published more details about the new sickness certification system which it intends to introduce in April 2010.

New internet safety campaign: 'Click Clever, Click Safe' launched
15/02/2010

Parents and young people from today will see the digital code, ‘Zip it, Block It, Flag It’ brought to life with radio, press and poster advertising, as the new internet safety campaign

Vetting and Barring System still causing confusion
15/02/2010

Big Lottery Fund programme offers short-term funding
11/02/2010

Up to £40,000 a year available from new strand of Reaching Communities

New social network for volunteers
08/02/2010

i-volunteer is ‘a new social network for people who love anything and everything to do with volunteering’.

£12.5 million apprenticeship give-away: Third sector organisations urged to access funding and support
08/02/2010

Apprenticeships can improve your organisation’s performance, so don’t miss out on newly-available funding and support to recruit and train your potential managers of the future.

AGE 16 and 17 (Apprenticeship Grant for Employers)
05/02/2010

As you may have seen,  a recent announcement was made for additional funding to be made available to support employers to take on apprentices where wage costs have previously prohibited t

Graduate Talent Pool
26/01/2010

The government are encouraging and offering support to Third Sector Organisations to run graduate internship schemes through the Graduate Talent Pool.

New Small Grants Programme from Children in Need!
13/01/2010

DEVELOP Enhancing Community Support & Voluntary Action Kennet win tender
13/01/2010

2010 brings about some important changes for DEVELOP and Voluntary Action Kennet, as they announced they have been successful in their tender to Wiltshire Council to provide the new Voluntary Secto

The Value of Volunteering - helping to build an inclusive and cohesive society'
11/01/2010

The Economic and Social Research Council has published 'The Value of Volunteering - helping to build an inclusive and cohesive society', which has contributions from academics, government, third se

Career Development Loans
06/01/2010

Since they were launched in 1988 Career Development Loans (CDLs) have helped tens of thousands of people to give their careers a lift.

Lifelong Learning Programme 2010 application deadlines announced
06/01/2010


Grundtvig In-Service Training:
- 15 January (courses starting 1 May - 31 August 2010)
- 30 April (courses starting 1 September - 31 December 2010)

Personal Skills Accounts on Course for Next Autumn
06/01/2010

Trials of a scheme to improve access to information about training courses, and show learners how much Government funding is available to them are so far proving to be successful, a recent report&n

Guide for Parents of Recent Graduates
06/01/2010

A new guide for parents of recent graduates written by award winning career coach Denise Taylor was launched today by the Department for Business, In

VAT Rate Change
06/01/2010

 VAT has now reverted back to the standard 17.5% rate.

Supporting the workforce in Informal Adult Learning
04/01/2010

An opportunity not to miss!
Supporting the workforce in Informal Adult Learning CRM:0055185

Local & affordable training from Cascade – February 2010 - SPECIAL OFFER!
17/12/2009

BOOK AND PAY FOR ANY OF THESE COURSES BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER AND NOT ONLY AVOID VAT BUT GET 10% OFF SINGLE BOOKINGS AND 15% OFF BOOKINGS OF 3 OR MORE MADE AT THE SAME TIME!
 

1st4sport launches the only sports-specific volunteering qualifications
17/12/2009

1st4sport is excited to announce the development of its latest qualifications – the 1st4sport Sports Volunteering Suite, developed in partnership with runningsports, the programme created and

Bursaries fund for volunteer managers
09/12/2009

Office of the Third Sector will provide money for training and best practice work

Independent Safeguarding Authority report expected to clarify terms on volunteering
09/12/2009

Review by chair Sir Roger Singleton will outline what constitutes 'volunteering'

Home Learning College becomes first NUS accredited provider of child and social care distance learning
09/12/2009

From the 7th December 2009, people studying for a child care or social care qualification with Home Learning College can apply for the National Union of Students (NUS) Extra Card, providi

Support for Those Who Support the Chief Executive in the Voluntary Sector
30/11/2009

PACE is the independent, informal network for chief executive assistants in the voluntary sector with the goal to provide members an opportunity to share good practice, exchange information, provid

Donated Technology from Microsoft, Cisco, Symantec and more
30/11/2009

This programme is brought to you by Charity Technology Trust (CTT) in partnership with the not-for-profit technology capacity building organisation TechSoup.

Find Your Funding for 2010
30/11/2009

As you look ahead to 2010, the forecast looks very similar to 2009 with competitive funding and a tough economic climate.

Digital Communications Competition
30/11/2009

Digital communications agency Precedent Communications is offering £30,000-worth of its services as a competition prize for charities.

Network Development Fund
25/11/2009

Empowering Communities has been able to allocated some additional funding to the Empowering Communities Network Fund.

The Esmee Fairbairn Small Grant Programme
25/11/2009

The South West Foundation still has some funding left in its Esmee Fairbairn Small Grant programme.

Transitional Arrangements as the Learning and Skills Council undergoes major changes
17/11/2009

The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act received Royal Assent on 12th November meaning that the LSC will be dissolved.
 

Youth Leadership Fund
16/11/2009

Do young people you work with have innovative ideas that need some money to get them off the ground?

Quality, Choice and Aspiration - A Strategy for Young People's Information, Advice and Guidance
12/11/2009

The new Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) strategy for young people aims to modernise careers education to make it accessible for today's generation of young people and to keep pace with a rap

Higher Education Blueprint - Higher Ambitions: The future of universities in a knowledge economy
12/11/2009

The higher education blueprint, Higher Ambitions, sets out a course for how universities can remain world class, providing the nation with the high level skills needed to remain competitive, while

Skills For Growth - The National Skills Strategy (November 2009)
12/11/2009

Advocating Intelligent Commissioning - NAVCA seminar for local infrastructure workers
10/11/2009
This NAVCA interactive seminar for local infrastructure workers will take place on 1 December 2009 in Taunton.
Opportunity to Contribute to Review of Trustee standards
16/10/2009

Skills-Third Sector, as part of the Standards monitoring process, are in the process of checking that the Standards for Trustees are still 'fit for purpose' and reflect good practice in Trusteeship

Third Sector Support available during LSC Transition
16/10/2009

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is now in a period of transition following the Machinery of Government (MOG) changes.  By 2010, there will be new structures and arrangeme

HSE First Aid at Work Training Changes Come into Force
01/10/2009

1st October 2009 saw the Health and Safety Executive make the first changes to the First Aid Regulations (1981) in 25 years, in the hope of improving First Aid skills and regulation compliance in t

Make a Difference Day - 31 October 2009
01/10/2009

There isn't long to go until CSV Make a Difference Day on 31 October 2009!

Shedding Some Light on the Heated Volunteer Vetting Debate
01/10/2009

Volunteering England has produced a statement following the media focus on how new vetting requirements might impact on volunteers and others, giving their perspective on the matter.

Launch of a new safeguarding accreditation scheme "Safe Systems"
01/10/2009

On the 29 September 2009 NCVYS launched a new safeguarding accreditation scheme titled Safe Systems.

Closing Date Coming For Environmental Awards
01/10/2009

There’s only a month left for businesses, schools, councils and charities to enter a prestigious competition offering cash prizes for great green initiatives.

£40,000 Youth Fund Launched In South West
01/10/2009

The aim of the Youth Opportunity Fund is to identify local youth projects or activities that need funding, and to involve local young people in the decision making process.

Adult Learners Week Awards 2010 - Nominate Now!
01/10/2009

Nominate an outstanding learner give them the recognition they deserve!
 

Leadership & Governance: Investing in Leaders 100% Bursary Offer
25/09/2009

Investing in Leaders - 100% bursaries available

Deadline extended for Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Extended until 5 October 2009
23/09/2009

Volunteer groups have been urged to make nominations for the 2010 Queen's Award for Voluntary Service before the closing date of 5 October.

Third Sector and Recession – an initial quantitative assessment
22/09/2009

There has been considerable speculation around the possible impact of the recession on third sector organisations.

Get Snapping for Social Enterprises
17/09/2009

This year, 19th November is Social Enterprise Day: a national day to celebrate and promote social enterprise.

 

Volunteering and Employability – A Gateway to Work
17/09/2009

This study, funded by Capacity Builders National Support Services, explored the role of Volunteer Centres in supporting the link between volunteering and employability and was carried out in early

Review of Train to Gain Published
17/09/2009

The National Audit Office has completed its review of Train to Gain, by concluding that "Train to Gain is achieving growth in training that employers value, but taxpayers have a right to expec

Bis Third Sector Skills - Real Help Now
03/09/2009

This document outlines the skills help that is available to employers and learners in the third sector to help you to improve the skills of your workforce or your own skills.

FPM Leadership and Development Programme Opportunity
02/09/2009

FPM Training is delighted to introduce the Leadership Development Programme on behalf of the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and the Children's Workforce Network.

Concerns Voiced Over Abolition Of Learning And Skills Council
01/09/2009

Third sector organisations have expressed fears over next year's scrapping of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Communitybuilders Fund Eligibility Criteria Confirmed
01/09/2009

Adventure Capital Fund (ACF) has confirmed the criteria for the soon-to-be launched Communitybuilders Fund with the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and the Department for Communities and Local Gov

Public Sector Volunteering Opportunities Needed
01/09/2009

A charity has warned the Government that an increasing demand for volunteering opportunities will lead to a shortfall in available placements.

Equality and Diversity Workforce Grants
24/08/2009

Children England in co-operation with the CWDC is offering children's voluntary sector organisations the opportunity to apply for a small grant to develop and promote innovative practice in the fie

ladder4learning on Twitter
20/08/2009

ladder4learning is now on twitter. To follow us on Twitter visit www.twitter.com and search for ladder4learning

Setting up as a Training Provider on ladder4learning website
19/08/2009

If you are a training provider and would like to advertise your courses free of charge on the ladder4learning website please find instructions below to get you started

Skild – Coming to the South West
18/08/2009

The SKiLD team, along with Terry Perkins the Public Law Training Officer, will be coming to the south west region in October to deliver a concentrated series of courses.

Learner support programme - free childcare for training and learning for work
18/08/2009

Free childcare for training and learning for work will support adults (aged 20 years and over) in the target group by paying for childcare and travel costs while they are undertaking training or le

ladder4learning Survey
18/08/2009

Welcome to the ladder4learning August survey.

The survey is very simple and will be very quick to complete (less than 5 minutes).

Companies Act Changes
07/08/2009

The Bates Wells & Braithwaite website has a summary of company law changes taking place on 1 October, which will affect charitable companies.

Don't leave the third sector out in the cold
29/07/2009

Third sector organisations involved in learning and skills are concerned that they will be disadvantaged by the new commissioning frameworks being developed when the Learning and Skills Council (LS

The new Adult Entitlement to Learning
20/07/2009

This document contains important information that could affect providers and learners from 1 August 2009.

This briefing note outlines:

PM Launches New Fund For Young People
17/07/2009

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has launched a new initiative aiming to help young people across England play a more active role in their community.

Increased Demand for Support Sector Services
17/07/2009

A new report has shown the impact the recession has had on third sector support providers across England.

Skills Funding Agency - Questions and Answers for Employers
15/07/2009

Whilst the LSC has been instrumental in delivering improvements in adult education and training, the Leitch review showed how much further there is to go if we are to have the highly

Cracking the Code bursary scheme
15/07/2009

Cracking the Code is a bursary scheme for infrastructure organisations to improve their governance based on all or any of the principles of the

Don’t cut your training budget!
13/07/2009

Investing in your organisation’s learning and development is still as important, if not more so in these challenging times.

Support the Bid - A Group Training Association for the Third Sector
08/07/2009

The possibility of a Group Training Association (GTA) for the third Sector took a significant step forward last week when the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) approved the Sector’s submi

ACF led Consortium selected as national partner to manage Communitybuilders
08/07/2009

A consortium led by the Adventure Capital Fund (ACF) has been appointed to deliver Communitybuilders, a £70 million government programme which aims to help build more cohesive, engaged and ac

Major new web resource for social enterpreneurs goes live
08/07/2009

A major new web resource for social entrepreneurs went live yesterday, Tuesday 7 July 2009, in the form of

Learning Curve Delivery Partner Receives National Award
07/07/2009

U-Too, one of The Learning Curve’s delivery partners have scooped a prestigious national award from The Centre for Social Justice.

Third Sector Should be Called 'First Sector'
06/07/2009

Third Sector Should be Called 'First Sector', Cameron Says

Independent Safeguarding Authority
06/07/2009

If you want to work with children or vulnerable adults from October 2009 you will need to apply to be registered with the ISA.

Building Britain's Future and What it Means in Terms of Skills
03/07/2009

The Prime Minister has this week published a plan for Building Britain's Future.  It is described as 'a radical vision for a fairer, stronger and more prosperous society'.

Charity Forecast survey
01/07/2009

A growing number of charity leaders believe economic conditions in the UK will improve over the next 12 months, with overall confidence levels up 28 percentage points compared to the previous quart

Capacitybuilders Announce New £3 Million Fund for Volunteering
18/06/2009

A new grants programme to provide support to organisations that manage volunteers has been announced by non-departmental government body, Capacitybuilders.

HSE First Aid at Work Training Changes - 1st October 2009
10/06/2009

October 2009 will see the Health and Safety Executive make the first changes to the First Aid Regulations (1981) in 25 years, in the hope of improving First Aid skills and regulation compliance in

Volunteering Brokerage
01/05/2009

The Government recognises that the current economic climate is making it more challenging for some people to find work and is providing a range of extra support to help Jobseeker’s Allowance

Surviving the Recession
24/04/2009

£15m now available for services supporting local people during the recession

Career Development Loads
06/01/2010
Swine flu - information and advice for higher and further education institutions
29/07/2009

The World Health Organisation has now moved to Phase 6, which means that 'swine flu' is now technically a global pandemic.

New Hardship Fund to be delivered by the CDF
03/07/2009

The new £16.7m Hardship Fund, announced by the Chancellor in the Budget, will be delivered by the Community Development Foundation.

Foundation degrees dramatically reduce staff turnover
26/06/2009

The Institute of Lifelong Learning at the University of Leicester has published findings of their research into foundation degrees with a focus on the role of employers and other key factors toward