ACRE logo

 

This weeks ACRE headlines are available on their website and they can be accessed directly by clicking here.

 

 

News

Asset transfer unit needs councils on sideThe biggest challenge ahead for the new asset transfer unit is to persuade councils in England that handing over disused public buildings to communities will help them achieve their objectives, according to Hazel Blears. Read the full article in New Start Magazine
 
Housing costs more in the countryside  AVERAGE house prices are £15% higher in the countryside than in urban areas, says a report published this week. The fourth annual Halifax Rural Housing Review, which uses house price data to calculate rural house price movements, covers 123 local authorities in Great Britain which are defined as rural areas, according to ONS classifications. To read the full article click here. What role for community enterprises in tackling poverty? What contribution can community groups make to tackling poverty in their neighbourhood? Glenn Arradon and Steve Wyler from the Development Trusts Association argue that community-led enterprise organisations including development trusts can act as a driver for positive change, creating a self-help and problem-solving culture, and helping individuals move out of poverty.  Click here for the full viewpoint from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website.
 
Local community bus operator awarded Social Enterprise Mark Bristol Community Transport has proved itself by being awarded the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark - a label that tells customers, by buying from this organisation they are helping to bring about a social or environmental benefit. Bristol Community Transport operates a fleet of minibuses for use by not-for-profit organisations across Bristol.  The vehicles are used by a wide range of organisations.  The 27-strong fleet, based in Easton is also used for a series of community bus routes, for BCTs new 'ring-and-ride' services as well as assisting at events such as the Bristol Kite Festival and Glastonbury Festival.  The vast majority of BCT's fleet are accessible vehicles. BCT is the first organisation in Bristol to be awarded the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark.  They are also the first community transport operator in the country to receive the award.

Publications

Thinking about rural transport: Rural life without carbon The Commission for Rural Communities has published a series of pieces to raise the profile of rural transport issues and place transport at the heart of the debate on climate change and sustainable rural communities. This report attempts to model the contribution that different transport interventions could make towards attaining the government's target of a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. Click here for full report.

Thinking About Rural Transport: Sustainable rural accessibility - Is it really possible? This report looks at the car dependency prevalent in rural areas and considers the policy background, including recent changes to policy delivery in rural areas, and the broad role of both sustainable transport measures and accessibility planning in improving the efficiency and sustainability of rural communities.

Click here for full report. Thinking About Rural Transport: The contribution of transport to sustainable rural communities This report looks at the relationship between recent legislation affecting rural transport provision and other relevant policy areas. Click here for full report. The contribution of Community Development to local governance and democracy

A study has been published by the Community Development Foundation entitled “Community Development Challenge: Democracy” to demonstrate how community development enhances the quality of local governance and democracy.   In particular the study covers: preparing and supporting people within communities for engagement; preparing and supporting public authorities for engaging communities, and ensuring that engagement is empowering for the people who get involved. 

Events

Community Development Foundation - 2008 Find out what the changes proposed in the new Empowerment White Paper mean for you at CDF's 2008 conference.  The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, will deliver the keynote speech, so you'll not only have a chance to debate the proposals in the White Paper, but you will hear the government thinking straight from the source.  This dynamic and interactive day will include a range of workshops and facilitated debates on key issues, including: 
  • Active citizenship and participation
  • Community asset transfer and community anchors
  • Community leadership
  • The implications for public authorities of the duty to involve
  • Tackling exclusion and inequalities
  • Resources and funding for community development and empowerment
  • Local action on global environmental issues

Phillip Vincent, ACRE’s new Community Engagement Officer will be running a workshop at this event. Further details are available online.

CDX annual conference, AGM and 21st birthday celebration Back to the future – a journey through a changing landscape Mercure St Paul’s Hotel, Sheffield Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 October 2008 Conference Fees £40 - £150 Early bird discount and some bursaries available. For more information contact tanwir@cdx.org.uk In honour of their 21st birthday, CDX is holding a conference and AGM about community development looking back to move forward. There will be an opportunity to listen to a government minister, an academic and a community development practitioner about current policies that impact on community development practitioners’ work. Why attend? With a mix of seminars, workshops and lively speakers, the conference will:
  • address issues around the current policy climate
  • support community development practitioners to face challenges in their work
  • provide resources and materials
  • teach practitioners new techniques to help in their work
  • be an opportunity to network with other community development practitioners
  • discuss the theory and history of community development
Who should attend? New and experienced community development practitioners…those who work in health, education, housing, with young people, BME community groups, or for voluntary and community sector organisations…statutory health or local authority workers…academics or community development managers…students, volunteers, activists… Download the booking form, visit www.cdx.org.uk/events/cdx-events or email denise@cdx.org.uk to book your place
 
Social Housing and Worklessness Improving Employment and Training Opportunities for Tenants Thursday 23rd October 2008 - Central London Capita’s National Social Housing and Worklessness conference will address the key challenges surrounding the employment, training and educational development of social tenants.  book online by clicking here and use booking ref code: TSDE.  If you have any questions or difficulties please call Dave Eastman on 0207 808 5309 or email dave.eastman@capita.co.uk The booking ref is: TSDE. 
 
UK Fundraising Summits The Summit features experienced fundraisers speaking in each of the sessions, and will explore creative ways to raise money from grants, sponsorships, individual gifts, as well as other funding sources. For charities that are looking for new funding sources, the event is not to be missed. Leeds Fundraising Summit Date: 23 September 2008 Location: Leeds Town Hall London Fundraising Summit Date: 24-25 September, 2008
 
Empowerment and poverty “Thinking Spaces” Urban Forum are running ‘Thinking Spaces’ to focus on the Empowerment White Paper and how it might address issues relating to poverty. The events are running in Manchester on 29th September and Birmingham on October 17th. More information on the Urban Forum website.
 
At your convenience: Safeguarding Post Offices and Toilets 13 October 2008 Being actively engaged in community life is crucial to the wellbeing of older people.  However, many feel that their neighbourhoods have changed for the worse in the last ten years. This seminar brings together two key reports on services for older people - the LGiU and the Local Government All Party Parliamentary Group’s, ‘Never Too Late for Living’, and ‘Towards Common Ground’ from Help the Aged. Both underline the critical importance of accessible community services to wellbeing and make the case for lifetime neighbourhoods.  This seminar will explore their feasibility.

Training

There are still places on SKiLD's "Being a NEW development worker" course - on Tuesday September 30th in York. If you are new to supporting groups, then this is the course for you. It's a very practical day that focuses on - the role of the development worker - how to work hands-on with groups - "safety nets" for development workers - ethical issues of the work - where to get further support Cost: £49 for third sector organisations (£79 for statutory / £99 for private organisations) To book, go to www.skild.org.uk or email events@navca.org.uk or phone 0114 278 6636Foundation Degree Sustainable Communities - Part-time
 
The Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) has a number of bursaries for the UK's first ever foundation degree in sustainable communities.  The part-time course for people in full-time employment is available at SheffieldHallamUniversity and NorthumbriaUniversity from September 2008.RCC Courses The Isle of Wight RCC is running a number of courses this autumn which include:
 
Is your organization involved in tendering for services? Will you be tendering for services in the future? This one day training course has been designed to assist you to prepare tender submissions. The course will be run by Lloyd Davis from ‘Tendering for Care’. For further information about this course and tendering issues in general, please contact Graham Torr, Tendering Support Officer, tel. 539374 (Wed. – Fri.), email graham.torr@iwrcc.org.uk
 
Raise Equalities Toolkit In October RAISE, working with an appointed trainer, will be delivering four one-day training workshops in the South East. The workshops will be based on the revised RAISE Equalities Toolkit, which expands and develops our existing toolkit but also provides up to date information; including legislative changes, explores the area of Human Rights and looks at the process of undertaking Equality Impact Assessments (EIA). The training will create a number of Equality Champions throughout the region. 
  • A free one day workshop with a skilled and experienced  trainer;
  • A hard copy of the revised Equalities Toolkit 2008 edition;
  • An opportunity to sign up to a network of regional equality champions who will have all received the training to have a forum of ongoing support and contacts;
  • A place at our Equality and Human Rights event on 4th December 2008, in Reading which will included a workshop run by the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR).
Isle of Wight Event: Quay Arts Centre, Newport, 29th October (The day will begin with refreshments at 10am and will finish by 4pm) Full details and booking forms for these workshops are available on the RCC website

Bids

In Harmony - DCSF Bids to run In Harmony pilots from January 2009 are invited from individuals, community groups, local authorities, music organisations and consortiums made up of all or any of these. The In Harmony programme will promote personal and community development through orchestral-based music learning experiences for children of around four years old in the most deprived communities in England. Up to £3 million is available over three years to run three In Harmony pilot projects. e-mail catherine.brown@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk for an information pack and invitation to tender, or go to www.inharmonyengland.com. Requests for packs must be received by 26 September. Packs will be sent by e-mail as requests are received. The closing date for bids is 17 October 2008.

Consultations

Closing 30 September

Closing 10 November

Closing 10 December

Recruitment

Head of Programmes – bassacLeading a consortium of five organisations working in the community sector bassac has been awarded £2million from Capacitybuilders to deliver the National Support Service Collaboration work stream. You will develop and manage programmes, projects and initiatives which contribute to the strategic strength of bassac members. You will help us meet our goal of strengthening neighbourhoods and increasing opportunities for local people.   For more information and to download job details and an application pack, please visit www.bassac.org.uk/jobs.php

Click here to view the Vacancies page on ACRE website