Charity and Voluntary Sector

ESRC: Despite the recession, charities, social enterprises & voluntary organisations (the third sector) are still innovating, according to a publication from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). 

The report - The third sector – discussions around key public policy issues - is the result of presentations & debates at a series of public policy seminars organised by the ESRC in collaboration with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and with support from the Scottish Government.
Press release ~ The third sector – discussions around key public policy issues ~ Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
 
10 DS:  The Prime Minister hosted a reception at Downing Street last week in honour of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help charity.  The SSAFA has been operating since 1885 and has supported the families of UK servicemen & women on operations in Afghanistan & Iraq in recent years
Press release ~ SSAFA website ~ Read the PM’s speech
 
CO: 32 frontline third sector organisations will receive up to £10,000 under the Government’s Real Help for Communities: Modernisation Fund.  The grants are to support their plans to collaborate or merge to better respond to the economic climate and the changing demands on the sector.
 
The £10,000 can be used for the costs of merger or collaboration, such as legal fees.  Organisations that have completed the first phase of the programme still have until 9 November 2009 to apply.
Press release ~ Real Help for Communities: Modernisation Fund ~ Capacity builders ~ Office of the Third Sector
 
BIG: 8 groups in the ITV Granada region are preparing to lock horns to win a share of £250,000 in Big Lottery Fund good cause money in The People’s Millions TV contest. 5 groups in the region will win awards of up to £50,000 each for their community project from The People’s Millions contest, soon to be showcased on ITV Granada’s evening regional news.
 
The TV contest will see two projects go head-to-head each night in the week of 23 to 27 November. The 8 schemes will make their case for the public’s vote to win Lottery funding on ITV Granada’s regional news programme with the winners being decided in a phone vote.
 
At the end of the week four projects will have won a slice of £250,000 of Lottery good cause cash. The best runner-up with the most phone votes will win a grant to be the final winner, announced on Friday 27 November 2009.
Press release ~ BIG: The People's Millions ~ Support bids for Lottery funding in other ITV regions
 
CO:   Last week, at the Good Deals Social Investment conference, Angela Smith - Minister for the Third Sector - announced that a further 5 community-owned social enterprises have been selected to take part in a Government-funded research project looking at new ways for social enterprises to attract finance.
 
The research, which started earlier this year, is examining the potential of community shares & bonds as a way to attract extra investment.  This includes inviting 10 social enterprises to test the idea, looking at barriers that could restrict their growth and how they can be overcome.  The successful social enterprises receive a package of funding & support and their experiences will be used to support future policy development in this area. 
Press release ~ Community Shares ~ Good Deals Social Investment conference
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