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The latest news and policy updates from the Office of the Third Sector.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Liam Byrne and Secretary of State for Business Lord Mandelson will be co-hosting a Social Enterprise Summit on the afternoon of 12 May at Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, a leading social enterprise on London’s Southbank.
The £15.5m Real Help for Communities: Targeted Support Fund (formerly the Community Resilience Fund) was launched as part of the Real Help for Communities Action Plan (February 2009). This will comprise a commissioning and a grants element.
The £15m grant element will allow small third sector service delivery providers to help sustain quality of life in these identified areas, by supporting communities most at risk of increased deprivation during the recession.
Liam Byrne, Minister for the Cabinet Office, today announced the first ever government action research programme to strengthen the ability of charities and other third sector organisations to campaign for change.
As the 4th anniversary of the Community Interest Company (CIC) approaches, the Regulator has decided the time is now right for a review of the limits on the dividends CICs can pay to their investors. The review aims to ensure the limits strike the right balance between promoting opportunities for investment and growth, and maximising benefits for local communities.
With support from the Office of the Third Sector, the Young Foundation’s Health Launchpad is recruiting a ‘Social Entrepreneur in Residence’ for Birmingham East and North PCT. The successful candidate will will detect opportunities to develop a number of sustainable innovative ventures that meet the health and social care needs of the Birmingham community.
A new Government taskforce has been set up to look at innovative but practical ways that businesses and the third sector can work together to help those communities that need it most during the global downturn.
Thousands of small charities will save up to £5million a year as the Government cuts red tape by raising the income thresholds above which stricter accounting rules apply.
Following the publication of the £42.5 million action plan 'Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises', the Office of the Third Sector is holding 9 free regional roadshows for small and medium frontline third sector organisations to provide a practical understanding of how to access the support available. The schemes included are the Real Help for Communities: Modernisation Fund, Real Help for Communities: Targeted Support Fund and Communitybuilders programme. The regional events will involve a combination of presentations, workshops, networking opportunities, a Q&A session and signposting to further support.
The Department for Children Schools and Families has invited third sector organisations for expressions of interest to deliver pilot schemes to explore how to deliver enhanced support to separating parents. The aim is to minimise stress, conflict and potential poverty for parents, and to enable fathers and mothers to minimise the negative impact of separation on the child. Further information and details on how to respond can be found via the link below.
A new taskforce launched by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affiars (Defra) will help the government and the third sector to tackle climate change and environmental issues.
More than £1 million will help disabled groups run their own organisations and help people to live full and independent lives. Twenty-five “user-led” organisations, which are run locally by disabled people and carers, will have access to a £1 million pot.
The Office of The Third Sector has appointed Liz Liston-Jones as the new Deputy Director for Social Enterprise and Finance. Liz is an experienced civil servant, who has helped to drive the Government's social enterprise agenda since 2005. Her previous roles include pioneering work on understanding the value of government interventions to support businesses; creating government policies to encourage innovation in the construction industry; and developing legislation on waste management.
Today (18 March), Minister for the Third Sector, Kevin Brennan will visit three front line third sector organisations in Norwich. Over the coming months the Minister for the Third Sector will visit third sector organisations across the country to see first hand the issues facing charities, volunteers and social enterprises as they get to grips with the impact of the downturn.
On 2 April 2009, world leaders from the G20 countries – representing 85% of the world’s economic output – will meet in London. The goal for the London Summit is for Leaders to agree to immediate action to support the global economy, safeguard jobs and protect the poorest, plus reform to the international financial system to prevent future crises. The London Summit represents a real opportunity for the Third Sector to influence the global debate on economic recovery and social change. You can find out more details and information on how to join the debate by visiting the link below
The Office of the Third Sector have published a summary guide for third sector organisations considering consortium working as a way to get involved in the delivery of public sector contracts. You can access the guide via the link below