Charity and Voluntary Sector

CLG: Nick Boles, Communities Minister, last week saw young people being inspired through business at the launch of this year’s Mosaic Enterprise Challenge competition. School teams are supported by specialist business mentors to compete through the game, which places them into a realistic business situation in which they must develop & market a new product and respond to simulated business competitors.
 
The competition aims to promote entrepreneurship and inspire knowledge & enthusiasm about business among young people. The Enterprise Challenge, supported by the department, will this year involve over 3,000 students in 80 schools who will be supported by more than 300 mentors.
Press release & links
 
BIG: The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is providing £927,500 to develop an alternative way of funding early intervention programmes that aim to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable in society.  This will include an initial programme to help support children & young people to stay safely in their homes, via the use of a Social Impact Bond (SIB).
 
The funding comes from Next Steps: Supporting Social Investment in England, which is exploring the potential of new approaches to raising finance that will help address significant social issues.
Press release & links
 
DCMS: Culture Secretary Maria Miller has welcomed the publication of a report which contains innovative ideas – and a 10-point plan – to boost philanthropy & legacy giving to benefit the arts & heritage in the UK. 
Press release & links
 
BIGBig Lottery Fund (BIG) and national communications charity Media Trust, in partnership with the Thisis and localpeople community news sites run by Northcliffe Digital, have launched Communities in Focus, a photography competition to showcase inspiring images of people and communities from across the country.
 
From snapshots of local events such as street parties and farmers’ markets to portraits of people making a difference, such as charity volunteers or the village choir, Communities in Focus is designed to showcase the brilliant people, groups & activities that are the life of our communities.  

The competition will run on the competition pages of all Thisis websites and on localpeople websites across England.  Entries must be received by Wednesday 19 December.
Press release & links
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