E-Bulletin - March 2009

March 09 E-Bulletin contents page

Useful new guides and information

More of the Charities Act 2006 in force

Some relatively minor provisions (for England and Wales) of the Charities Act 2006 were brought in on 31 January with the fifth commencement order. Currently excepted charities will need to register with the Charity Commission if their gross income exceeds £100,000.

The Church Urban Fund has issued a reminder that all churches that had previously been excepted with an income over £100,000 should be registered by October 2009. More at www.cufx.org.uk/page2501950.aspx

Back to top

Economic Downturn

The Government has published Real Help for Communities, its action plan to help the third sector during the economic downturn. Measures announced include:

In addition, Capacitybuilders has confirmed details of £1m of investment that will be distributed to local support organisations as an immediate response to address the impact of the recession. £300k has also been allocated to additional national projects put forward by the national support service workstreams, and Capacitybuilders is asking all of its grant holders to review their future work plans in light of the changing needs of the sector and communities. http://digbig.com/4ygcd or http://capacitybuilders.org.uk
 

How is the credit crunch affecting voluntary and community organisations locally?

• Are you seeing an increased demand for your services because of the credit crunch?
• Are you seeing a fall in income or donations?
• Have you received increased funding to enable you to respond to the current economic conditions?
• What additional things could T3SC and other partners be doing to help organisations cope in the current economic conditions?

Tony Okotie, Director at T3SC, is keen to hear how the credit crunch is affecting voluntary and community organisations working in Tameside. It will help us to ensure that we can tailor our services appropriately, and to help us build a picture to inform strategic partners and to advocate for increased resources for the sector.

If you have any specific examples, thoughts or comments, please let Tony know, Tel: 0161 339 4985, email: tony.okotie@t3sc.org

Charities Aid Foundation has opened a confidential Financial Crisis Helpline. Charity leaders worried about their organisation's financial viability can request a one-off confidential discussion with experienced managers who will listen to concerns and suggest steps for survival. Tel: 0800 980 2000 www.cafonline.org/Default.aspx?page=17031
 

Charity Finance Directors' group has started a 'Recession Watch' webpage at:
www.cfdg.org.uk/cfdg/influencing_recession_watch.asp

Back to top
 

New Procurement Helpdesk

A new procurement helpdesk is now available from NHS Primary Care Contracting. Both providers and commissioners will be able to use the helpdesk to email questions and seek advice on procurement issues, particularly around the PCT Procurement Guide. The helpdesk is available at: www.pcc.nhs.uk/procurement-helpdesk

Back to top

Updated Children and Young People's Plan Guidance

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has published new non-statutory guidance for local authorities, replacing previous guidance on the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) issued in 2005 and 2007. It brings together the 2005 and 2007 CYPP regulations in one place, reflects new performance management arrangements including Local Area Agreements, and sets out proposed legislative changes for 2011. This new guidance follows a consultation exercise that saw 143 responses including 24 from third sector providers. www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/planningandcommissioning/cypp  
For more information on T3SC’s work with children, young people and families: www.t3sc.org/tcunetwork.htm

Back to top

Higher penalties for late filing of company accounts

Companies House has brought in, from 1 February, a new set of penalties for late filing of annual accounts, with much higher rates for really late submission. Voluntary organisations with limited status please take note! www.companieshouse.gov.uk/companiesAct/ca_lateFilingPenalties.shtml

Back to top

Payments to Committee Members

Governance pages has new answers on their FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) pages addressing the confusing topic of payments to trustees/management committee members. The topic is a mine field, though new legislation has helped clarify the issues. Payments can be made in many circumstances, and you can even have staff as trustees of a registered charity - but you must get every step of the process right and even then you must make sure stakeholders and potential funders understand the situation. www.governancepages.org.uk/faq/faq1.html#payments

Back to top

Boom in loans from social lender

Triodos Bank reports sharp increase in loans to third sector organisations.
Social lender Triodos Bank increased its lending to charities and social enterprises by more than 25 per cent in 2008. The bank, which announced last week that its lending to third sector organisations had risen to £93m from £73m in 2007, also increased its total lending for the year to more than £200m for the first time. Triodos said lending requests from the third sector had continued to be exceptionally high in early 2009. www.triodos.co.uk/  

Back to top

The above news was resourced from:
VolResource newsletter www.voluntarynews.org.uk
Third Sector www.thirdsector.co.uk/ and
NAVCA LINX www.navca.org.uk/publications/linx/

Back to top