Charity and Voluntary Sector

VSO: Community groups throughout the UK are being invited to help shape a new government scheme to promote & fund links with the developing world by taking part in a nationwide survey. The survey findings will help shape the new DFID Community Linking Programme, which will launch in 2010.  The 3-year programme will provide grants, support & networking opportunities to UK community groups to develop or establish links with organisations in developing countries.
 
The survey aims to engage as wide a range of groups as possible, including faith, Diaspora, minority ethnic groups, youth groups and charitable organisations.  Groups taking part in the survey will have priority access to information about funding & support opportunities when the programme launches next year.  
 
DFID will also be using the survey results to find good practice examples to showcase to other community groups involved in the programme after it launches, in order to increase the sustainability & quality of international links. 
Press release ~ DFID Community Linking Programme
 
EH: If you are interested in getting up close to the history of one of the region’s  greatest historical gems, why not volunteer at Boscobel House?  The timber-framed house in Shropshire, close to the border of Staffordshire is fully restored & furnished with panelled rooms and secret hiding places.  Charles II hid in a nearby oak tree and then a priest hole in the house’s attic to avoid capture by Cromwell, after he was defeated at the Battle of Worcester.  
 
Rife with stories & legends stretching back nearly 400 years, Boscobel House is in need of volunteersto help with 2 key roles: ‘conservation cleaning’ and ‘room stewarding’.  Training will be given in both roles. To find out more about what’s involved, come along to one of the open days being held on Friday 13 & Saturday 14 November 2009 at Boscobel House, Bishops Wood, Staffordshire, ST19 9AR.  
Press release ~ English Heritage - Boscobel House ~ For more information about volunteering at Boscobel House please Tel: 01902 850244
 
CO: Saturday 31 October was the annual Make a Difference Day - a UK-wide day of volunteering led by the Office of the Third Sector’s strategic partner Community Service Volunteers (CSV).  This year the campaign aimed to highlight the importance of kindness & helping others
Press release ~ CSV Make a Difference Day ~ Office of the Third Sector
 
HO: People who have helped fight crime in their neighbourhoods were met last week by Home Office Minister Alan Campbell to kick off - Not in My Neighbourhood Week – which is a week of nationwide activity highlighting work going on in communities to tackle crime & antisocial behaviour.
 
This week of activity follows the Home Secretary recently renewing his commitment to drive down anti-social behaviour through better support for victims and tough action on anti-social behaviour order breaches. He also made clear that where local authorities & the police are not responding to the needs of residents in tackling anti-social behaviour, they will be challenged & supported to help them drive up their performance.
Press release ~ 'Not in my neighbourhood week ~ One in four campaign ~ Home Office: ASBOs ~ Safer York partnership ~ HO: Anti-social Behaviour
 
ScotGov: A new welfare rights advice service for older people, backed by £700,000 from the Scottish Government, could benefit up to 22,000 people. The Older People's Advice Service (OPAS) will target over 60s in the most deprived parts of Clackmannanshire, West Lothian and North Lanarkshire.
 
The project aims to combat poverty & financial exclusion by improving take-up of older people's benefits with particular emphasis on clients who have health problems, are housebound, or who live in remote areas. The new service is based on the success of the Older Persons Advice Project (OPAP), launched in 2005, which has raised more than £2m in unclaimed benefit income.
 
Advice is delivered face-to-face in the person's own home, engaging with those people that do not access the internet or want to discuss these issues on the telephone. Linkwide, a charitable subsidiary company within the Link Group, will deliver the service.
Press release ~ Older Persons Advice Project (OPAP)
 
VSOVSO and the British Council launched the world's first Deaf Xchange volunteering programme last week in Preston, Lancashire.  9 young deaf volunteers from each country, aged 18-25, will live with host families in Preston & Kathmandu, volunteer alongside local community organisations and work together to produce & perform a new theatre production.  
 
Deaf Xchange is also offering the people of Preston the opportunity to open their doors as host homes for the volunteers.  Deaf Xchange hope that by living in local homes and interacting with hearing communities this will increase understanding of Nepalese, UK and deaf culture across the UK.
 
Deaf Xchange is run by Global Xchange, a partnership programme managed by the British Council and leading international development charity VSO.  Open to people aged 18-25 it teams young people from the UK up with young people from a developing country who work together on community projects in the UK and the developing country.  The main aim of the programme is to promote intercultural learning & understanding through volunteering.
Press release ~ Deafway - Deaf Xchange ~ Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)National Federation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NFDH) in Nepal ~ The British Council
 
CO:  A new guide setting out the tax incentives for business to give to charitable causes, has been launched today by Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office, on behalf of HM Treasury, the Office of the Third Sector and HM Revenue and Customs‘A Guide to Giving for Business’ sets out in a single guide a comprehensive document listing the tax incentives for businesses to give - See ‘Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides’ section for more information.
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