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Charity Times
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced confirmed funding of £15.5m for four heritage projects in London, Stirling, Penzance and Birmingham. The projects are: completing the World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre at the British Museum (£10m); telling the story of the Battle of Bannockburn through state-of-the-art 3D technology (£3.94m); rejuvenating Porthcurno Museum in Penzance, once the worldâs largest cable station £1.4m);
A new report sets out recommendations for catalysing the growth of the social investment market. The report, which has been put together by the National Council for Voluntary Organisationsâ (NCVO) Commission on Tax Incentives for Social Investment, explores the current market and makes recommendations for strengthening its role in building a strong economic future whilst also delivering social returns.
The minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, has announced that £1.3 million from The Social Action Fund has been awarded to enable the creation of new not-for-profit organisation, We're Altogether Better, formed to tackle social issues digitally. We're Altogether Better is run by the team behind the Charity Times Award winning childrenâs charity, Beatbullying, which was established in 2002 and has received on-going Government support for its pioneering anti-bullying work.
ACEVO's chief executive Sir Stephen Bubb has written to Vince Cable, secretary of state for Business, Innovation and Skills, expressing his pessimism about the likelihood that company boardrooms will change of their own volition in regards to executive pay and diversify the make-up of their boards. Instead Bubb writes: "In my view, a radical overhaul of corporate governance is needed, including legislation to ensure transparent recruitment processes and proper steps to recruit from diverse backgrounds."
A study into the perceptions of "public benefit" is underway as part of a critical study into one of the key requirements of charity law. The study, on behalf of the Charity Commission, is being carried out by a team from the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR), based in London, and the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research (CVSR) at Sheffield Hallam University.
This yearâs pensions research undertaken by ACEVO and employee benefits specialist, Foster Denovo, indicates that nearly one third (31 percent) still need to consider their strategy in relation to the upcoming pension reform. However, this figure does represent a decrease from the 47 percent highlighted in last yearâs survey, and the 51 percent from the 2010-11 research.
The Health Committee review of Public Expenditure in health and social care published its report on public expenditure today, highlighting that service integration to deliver the Nicholson Challenge is more important than management change. Chair of the Health Select Committee Stephen Dorrell MP said: "The Nicholson Challenge is the key issue facing the health and care system. The fact that there is another bill going through Parliament changing the management structure of the NHS means that there is a tendency for every comment about the NHS to be framed by the debate about the bill.
The Department for Work and Pensions has introduced the Work Programme quickly, in just over a year, and this has had benefits, but the speed with which it was launched has also increased risks, according to a National Audit Office (NAO) report. Sector organisations welcomed the report. The Department and providers have made assumptions about how many people the Programme will get back into work but there is a significant risk that they are over-optimistic.
Triodos Bank and Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership (GMCP) have won a £4.5m DWP Innovation Fund payment by results contract to help support young people in Merseyside who may be unemployed or at risk of unemployment. Triodos Bank and GMCP are working together to deliver a three-year programme called âNew Horizonsâ targeted at some of the most vulnerable young people in the Merseyside area.
New forecasts released today by The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) indicate that the UK economy is already in recession with negative GDP growth in Quarter 4 2011 and Quarter 1 2012. The think-tank has also revised down its forecast for growth for 2012 as a whole from 0.7% growth as predicted last October to a decline of 0.4% with a risk of a more serious decline of 1.1% if developments in the Euro zone are especially negative.
A new economic forecast suggests the UK economy has fallen back into recession. The Ernst & Young Item Club said the UK has been left âparalysedâ as a result of the European debt crisis and unemployment could hit three million by the end of the year, the think-tank reported. Ernst & Young Item Club has cut its GDP growth rate from 1.5% to 0.2% for this year with the prediction coming days after nine European economies have had their credit ratings downgraded, including France.
Following months of discussions with the European Commission, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is pushing for the implementation of simpler rules for procurement in this country. Responding today to a Cabinet Office Consultation on the new EU proposals, NCVO pushed for adoption of a range of measures to make the rules simpler for social service delivery. These include: increasing the threshold for exemptions from procurement rules for social service contracts up to 500,000 Euro; this would enable many smaller organisations to access funds with a much lower administrative burden. However, it is important that wider social clauses are not lost from these contracts.
In response to the consultation and plans for a new statutory register for lobbyists opened today by Mark Harper, the minister for political and constitutional reform, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has stated that charities have a natural right to campaign. NCVO CEO Sir Stuart Etherington said: âCharities have a fundamental right to campaign and to lobby government and parliament. It is a vital part of our democracy.
Mark Harper, the minister for political and constitutional reform, has launched a twelve week consultation on the Governmentâs proposals for a register of lobbyists, inviting views from the third sector, public and lobbyist industry on how the register should work. The consultation seeks views on a number of issues, including: the definition of a lobbyist; who should be required to register; what information should be collected about them and the companies on behalf of which they lobby; and how the register should be funded.
Private philanthropy is improving the lives of some of the world's poorest people, but the Department for International Development (DFID) must do more to engage private foundations in coordinated global efforts to improve the effectiveness of aid. While private foundations make a huge contribution, concerns have been raised about the transparency and accountability, according to a new report by MPs on the International Development Committee.
Researchers at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) today welcomed the UK Parliamentâs International Development Committee report into private foundations and called for a new relationship between private foundations and those working to end global poverty. The IDC inquiry, to which IDS submitted evidence, concluded âprivate philanthropy is improving the lives of some of the worldâs poorest people but the Department for International Development (DFID) must do more to engage private foundation in coordinated global efforts to improve the effectiveness of aidâ.
ACEVO and Social Enterprise UK have challenged the central tenets of David Cameron's speech on moral capitalism given this morning. Speaking to David Cameron following his speech on moral capitalism, Sir Stephen Bubb CEO of ACEVO, the body for charity leaders, called for Government to let bankers keep their bonuses but instead encourage them to give the money to charity or to invest more in social enterprise.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today unveiled a new programme to boost the job prospects of thousands of young Londoners and steer them away from involvement in crime. In plans outlined by the Mayor today, thousands of youngsters will have the opportunity to join uniformed groups like the Guides, Scouts and Cadets. The £1.3 million programme, being run by the Safer London Foundation, will help young people develop vital skills and instil discipline and responsibility in young people, particularly those who are or at risk of being excluded from education, training or employment.
Charity leaders are today calling for urgent and radical reform of the criminal justice system. With prison population figures at record levels, reoffending rates stubbornly high and the Ministry of Justice facing a 23% budget cut, the charities argue that as an economy and as a society, we simply cannot afford to continue with the self-defeating status quo. ACEVOâs Reducing Reoffending taskforce is therefore urging Government to re-energise their commitment for a genuine Rehabilitation Revolution and work with the third sector to make sure it does not fall off track.
Legislation governing co-operatives will be put before parliament before next election, the Prime Minister has said. Legislation to consolidate more than a dozen outdated pieces of legislation governing co-operatives and mutuals into a single statute will be put before parliament before the next election, the Prime Minister announced today. The Co-operatives Bill will cut red tape and help to build a fairer economy, ensuring that even more co-operative members can share in the benefits of enterprise.
Islamist cleric and al-Qaeda associate Abu Qatada should be tried in Britain following the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling that he cannot be deported to Jordan, the Henry Jackson Society argues today. Qatada, a Jordanian national, stands accused of conspiracy to cause explosions in his home country, but has never been charged with any offences in the UK, despite a long record of terrorist activity.
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has today welcomed the joint announcement from the three main political party leaders that they will each give 10 per cent of their estates to charity. CAF chief executive John Low said: âCAF warmly welcomes the announcement by each of the three party leaders that they will leave 10% of their estates to charity.
Charities involved in the Work Programme are not being adequately shielded from financial risk, according to a survey of over 100 voluntary sector sub-contractors released today. Members of the special interest group for Work Programme sub-contractors are voicing concerns that the welfare-to-work initiative in its current form could threaten the sustainability of many voluntary sector providers.
Against the backdrop of the welfare reform bill the Smith Institute calls for a major rethink of how to tackle poverty and inequality. Its new 135 page report From the poor law to welfare to work â what have we learnt from a century of anti-poverty policies (published today) concludes that without action on jobs and pay, poverty and inequality will continue to rise in the UK.
The Charity Commission has today published its new Risk Framework with information on how the Framework will be applied. The Framework explains to trustees, charity advisers, and the wider public the Commission's approach to regulation and how it assesses risks affecting charities, the wider charity sector, and public confidence. The Risk Framework was developed following the Commissionâs Strategic Review consultation and subsequent restructuring in the light of the Commissionâs funding being reduced by a third in real terms over the four year spending period.
The contribution of older people to David Cameronâs Big Society policy is overlooked and undervalued by government, says a new report from ResPublica. The report, in partnership with older peopleâs charity Independent Age, urges the Coalition to rethink the policies designed to support the Big Society, ensuring that they support and encourage older people who already contribute an estimated £14 billion worth of volunteering and childcare to the UK economy every year.
Third Sector
Yesterday, 10:56 am
Civil society minister Nick Hurd says Cabinet Office gave £1.2m to the charity last year
Yesterday, 12:29 am
If they are successful, says Jonathan Jenkins of the SIB, he will attempt to raise up to £50m more
Yesterday, 12:01 am
Nick Pride of DMS says fundraisers won't hear new prices until the end of February
Yesterday, 12:25 am
Catherine Wright of media analysis firm Metrica says world events have the most impact on press coverage
Yesterday, 12:01 am
Former chief barker Malcolm Brenner says the rebrand is intended to raise the charity's profile
Thursday, 2:00 pm
Frances McCandless, chief of the CCNI, says charities often do not know how to work in transparent ways
Thursday, 10:50 am
Campbell Robb says too many boards and chief executives pretend that 'fundraising happens by magic'
Thursday, 10:02 am
Priority has been 'managing the transition to a reduced turnover'
Thursday, 10:16 am
Study by former Clore social fellow Rowena Lewis highlights discrimination, under-representation and sexual harassment
Thursday, 12:51 am
Lifeboat charity cannot rule out more in the current economic climate
Wednesday, 3:18 pm
Nick O'Donohoe tells New Philanthropy Capital event the 'plumbing' needs to be improved
Wednesday, 2:30 pm
John Kingston chaired the NCVO commission on tax incentives that made the recommendation
Wednesday, 11:31 am
Loss of contracts has also hit education and training charity hard, says commercial director Mike Cleveley
Wednesday, 11:54 am
The communities secretary will write to the county council about its disproportionate cuts to the voluntary sector
Wednesday, 10:36 am
Policy officer Nick Carey says those that do not have a strategy should start planning one
Wednesday, 9:41 am
Charities in today's national news
Wednesday, 12:57 am
Lucy Findlay of the Social Enterprise Mark Company says there are flaws in the government's research
Wednesday, 12:12 am
Civil society minister Nick Hurd is 'impressed' by We're Altogether Better, which aims to support half a million children
Wednesday, 12:07 am
Chris Damm says the anecdotal view is they are underused or harmed by government policy
Wednesday, 12:21 am
Paul Stallard sees parallels between his work in the financial sector and challenges facing the PFRA
MORE TESTIMONIALS
We are proud of the fact our clients become advocates of the way we service them, see below for what they say about us:
Dogs for the Disabled has been a client of Sydney Packett & Sons for over ten years. During that time the charity has built a strong relationship with Sydney Packett which is underpinned by the consistently excellent service the company offers. Dogs for the Disabled work in a very specialist market - training high quality assistance dogs to be partnered with disabled people - and I have always been very impressed by the way the staff at Sydney Packett have absorbed the details of how we need to operate to be effective and have reflected that in all our different insurance policies.
Although we were a very small charity when we started using Sydney Packett as our broker, we have always had any outstanding issues dealt with very efficiently and effectively. From the outset we have always had access to the Directors of the company and their support and guidance as we have grown have been very welcome. I am quite sure we have saved significant sums of money over the years as a result of being a client of Sydney Packett and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to any other charity or company.
Peter Gorbing, Chief Executive
Dogs for the Disabled
Sydney Packett & Sons have handled all insurance matters for the National Children's Bureau since the collapse of Insurers, Municipal Mutual. At that time many local authorities and voluntary sector organisations were scrambling to rearrange their cover and Andrew Packett came riding south on his white charger to save NCB. We have never since had cause to regret out choice of knight errant.
Packetts have consistently provided sound advice, based on a realistic assessment of the risks faced by NCB. Andrew has even been known to recommend discontinuing a piece of insurance if it did not seem to provide good value for NCB! In the past he has advised us on the development of our Disaster Recovery Plan and in the assessment of the Terrorism risks we might face because of our proximity to the city of London. He is always extremely well briefed by his staff for our annual review of cover and throughout the year those same staff provide prompt, courteous and efficient help and advice across a whole range of issues. Keep up the good work guys.
Denise Hollingberry, Head of Administration & Company Secretary
National Children's Bureau
We have dealt with Packetts for over 20 years and during that time they have dealt with a multitude of issues of every size and complexity in a timely and efficient manner, they really understand our business.
Ivor O'Hehir, Insurance Manager
St John Ambulance
The College has been with Sydney Packett & Sons for many years. We have found their service to be personal and highly efficient, especially when dealing with claims. As a broker I feel that they are very much on our side and willing to help. I would recommend them without hesitation.
Daniel Ross, Chief Executive
The Royal College of Pathologists
We tendered our corporate insurances to a number of brokers in 2007 and Packetts were awarded the contract on the quality of their presentation, the competitiveness of the premiums charged and the extent of the cover they were able to provide. Since their appointment we are confident we made the right decision.
Gordon Miles, Accountant
General Dental Council
Testimonials
We have dealt with Packetts for over 20 years and during that time they have dealt with a multitude of issues of every size and complexity in a timely and efficient manner, they really understand our business.
Ivor O'Hehir, Insurance Manager
St John Ambulance
01274 206500
01274 206506
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