News & Information Roundup

Free confidential advice for charities in financial difficulty
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has launched a free crisis helpline for charities that are worried about their finances. Charity leaders will be able to talk in confidence to CAF advisers and get advice on the steps they can take.

CAF will also refer charities to the sector's main umbrella bodies if they need further advice. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (Acevo), the Charity Finance Directors' Group and the Institute of Fundraising have all offered their support.


The helpline number is 0800 980 2000.

Nominations now open for The Charity Awards 2009
Entries are now being accepted for The Charity Awards 2009, the charity sector’s prestigious celebration of management excellence, organised by Plaza Publishing with support from overall sponsors CAF and The Leadership Trust Foundation and national media partner The Times.

The Charity Awards are open to charities of all sizes from throughout the UK and recognise exceptional leadership and management across ten broad categories of charitable activity, with one charity going on to receive the prestigious Overall Award. There is also an award made to an exceptional individual for Outstanding Achievement.

The closing date for nominations is 9 March and the winners will be announced at a gala presentation dinner in London for 1,000 prominent sector figures on Thursday 11 June 2009. Visit www.charityawards.co.uk for details on how to submit an entry.

Potential funding for work on FGM
The Women's Resource Centre (WRC) has been asked by a group of independent charitable funders to conduct an assessment of voluntary and community organisations and projects in the UK which are currently working in the FGM (female genital mutilation) field or supporting women and girls affected, or which are interested in, or have the potential to work in this area. The group of charitable funders is looking at possibly funding this area in the future.

If you want to help shape decisions about possible future funding, simply complete their brief survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=heD_2b1Ie7rizxAYvGESBMgA_3d_3d
or contact Tania Pouwhare at tania@wrc.org.uk or 020 7324 3030. The survey closes on Tuesday 17 February at 3pm.

Greener planning: A New Web Guidance
Communities and Local Government , the Homes and Communities Agency Academy and the Planning Advisory Service, are working together on new web-based guidance on planning and climate change. The new guidance will cover areas such as the delivery of local renewable energy and community power schemes like combined heat and power, as well as climate proofing new development.
See: www.hcaacademy.co.uk/planning-and-climate-change

Progress report on young black people and criminal justice published
As part of their response to the Home Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry into ‘young black people and the criminal justice system’, the government committed to report annually on progress. Their first annual report looks at the strategy and activities they are using to tackle the over-representation of young black people in the criminal justice system.
See: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/young-black-people-cjs-dec-08.htm

Guide to retaining funding
The Local Grants Forum, has launched a free guide to help voluntary groups keep their public sector funding. ‘Defending Local Grants’ is intended to provide local groups with advice to help them negotiate with councillors, commissioners and procurement officers over funding for local communities. See http://www.navca.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/0C1A3369-C77C-4E77-8A27-8C23AD0BC37E/0/Defendinglocalgrantsrevised.pdf


Events

Working for Equality 2009
If you work for an agency that supports Equality organisations or you have an active interest in equalities issues, then Capacitybuilders and HEAR - London’s equalities and human rights network invite you to attend Working for Equality 2009. The free information and networking event is taking place on 12 February 2009 at the Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre in London.

The session will inform, discuss and consult on a number of significant new developments, which will impact on your work and will provide the opportunity to debate, learn from and problem solve with others through interactive workshops. Guest speakers include Capacitybuilders' Chief Executive, Matt Leach; Andrew Little, Chief Executive, London Deaf and Disability Organisations' CIC; Tim Wainwright, Director of Regions, Equality and Human Rights Commission. To find out more about the event and book your place, please visit http://www.rota.org.uk/pages/NetworkEvents.aspx?#H9

‘Planning Places of Worship’
An event that will look at the range of unresolved planning issues faced by hundreds of London faith groups in relation to their place of worship and at what needs to be done to deal with them fairly, is being planned for late March.
Across London hundreds of faith communities are struggling with the lack of clear and workable policies to allow the use of otherwise empty buildings to deliver what are often much needed practical as well as spiritual services. Planning Aid for London has been dealing with individual cases and cites a range of stop gap measures and perverse outcomes especially for minority churches and for newer faith communities.

Faiths Forum for London is working with Planning Aid for London, Black Neighbourhood Renewal &Regeneration Network and Just Space network to develop a clearer understanding of the issues between planning policy makers, planning implementation personnel and “minority” faith communities. Further information contact Marian Larragy by emailing: marian@londoncivicforum.org.uk or phone 020 8709 9773

BME Third Sector Community Enterprise Roadshow
Are you a BME third sector organisation involved in community enterprise? The Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG) and the Development Trusts Association (DTA) are working together to raise awareness and promote the DTA’s Communities of Interest membership to the BME third sector that are setting up or supporting community enterprise activity. BTEG will be hosting a workshop with the DTA to highlight the important role that development trusts play and how they can best support the BME third sector, illustrated with examples of best practice from the movement.

Date: 18 February 2009
Venue: NCVYS, Lancaster House, 33 Islington High Street, N1 9LH

To secure your place on this workshop, please fax Angeline Clarke at BTEG on 020 7833
6113 or email angeline@bteg.co.uk by 11 February 2009.

You can also become a member of DTA which is the leading network of community enterprise practitioners dedicated to helping people set up development trusts and helping existing development trusts learn from each other and work effectively. There are a range of benefits of DTA membership. Contact BTEG for more information on 020 7833 6113.

‘Getting 2 know YOUR 5-0’ Youth conference
This conference will be hold on February 18, 12 noon - 5.15pm at Mulberry Sports and Leisure Centre, Richard Street, E1 2JP and is open to the public.

The key - note speaker for the event is Paul Rickett, the Borough Commander for Tower Hamlets Police. The aim of the conference is to break down barriers between young people and the police, encourage discussion and identify areas where young people and the police can improve upon. The event will explore four key areas that affect young people such as: Hate crime, Violent crime, Substance misuse.

If you would like to attend the event please contact Abu Sufian on 020 7364 1613 or email: abu.sufian@towerhamlets.gov.uk