Latest News, Research and Reports
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RuSource Briefings (added 18 August 2008)
South West Forum ebulletin - August 2008 includes: News – Towards a strategy to support volunteering in health and social care: consultation, New SWF info service for volunteering organisations, Children’s Workforce Learning Network employers survey; Events; Current Vacancies. (added 18 August 2008)
South West Regional Compact Annual Review 2007- The Annual Review of the South West Regional Compact for 2007 is filled with examples showing how partners have worked to the spirit and the letter of the Compact, overcoming challenges and identifying new opportunities along the way. As we look back over the past year, the Compact Group has gone from strength to strength, which stands testament to the commitment of its members. (added 11 August 2008)
ACRE News Update includes: As Parliament is in Summer Recess at the moment there is no Parliamentary News.They will return on October 6th. ;The main news this week has been the announcement of the Regional Funding Allocations worth over £87 billion.;In Websites this week there are a number of sites with interesting comment to make on Community Engagement.; There are a number of jobs advertised this week. (added 11 August 2008)
Equality South West E-Bulletin includes: Various publications and reports – The Equality Bill, Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory, Communities in control: Real people. Real power: Improving local accountability – Consultation, COI “Get ready for September changes to the 2008-09 Personal Allowance”, Borough of Poole migration report; General Information; Events; Newsletters; Recruitment. (added 11 August 2008)
CVS Openings Courses - Open University Openings Courses. (added 11 August 2008)
Cascade Training Workshops Update – Effective Project Management – Friday 3rd October. (added 11 August 2008)
Rural Services Network - Weekly Digest includes: Minister pledges action on rural housing; Rural groups welcome housing report; MP’s voice fears over post office funding; Eco-towns may be illegal, say lawyers; Church speaks out over rural poverty. Plus forthcoming events. (added 4 August 2008)
Co-Active Services – Social enterprise workshops: If you are in the early stages of setting up social enterprise business, or if you have an idea that could benefit your community and don't know where to start, our series of workshops are designed to help you explore how this could happen. The workshops will provide the opportunity to understand how to set up a social enterprise and you will be able to create an action plan to help you get started. (added 4 August 2008)
Black South West Network Vacancy – currently have a vacancy for a 4 year contract Knowledge Manager and Policy Officer. Closing date: 29th August 2009. (added 4 August 2008)
Skills and Learning Newsletter – covers important announcements including Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the SW; SWRDA exceeds expectations says BERR; New Market Campaign in the SW for Train to Gain. This edition also includes an update on the work in the region on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), publications and some featured events. (added 8 August 2008)
South West Forum Newsletter - July 2008 Issue 75 inlcudes: News - SWF Funding Survey 2008; SEF response to Sub National Review; A new Unitary Authority for Devon?; Current Vacancies. (added 4 August 2008)
Fair Play for Children Newsletter: brings together news about Children, Play, their Rights, Health, Young People and Justice. We hope this will be of value and interest to you, especially if you work with children, you are a legislator or administrator, if your company or organisation has an interest in the world of children, or you work in the media. (added 4 August2008)
DEFRA Strong Rural Communities Departmental Strategic Objective: Note to Stakeholders and Partners. (added 4 August 2008)
Regional Development Programme for England - Monthly Update - They are intended to cover, very briefly, progress on various elements of the programme as they reach different stages of their development. With activity 'behind the scenes' increasing now, we thought it would be helpful to keep our partners in touch with what was happening. (Added 4 August 2008)
Play Action Online Monthly Update includes: Children’s Play Update July 2008 – latest news from the Childrens Play Information Centre; Latest PlayAction Online edition – 85 pages of news about Children, Play, Health, Rights, Youth and Justice; Stop Blaming Parents – calls for radical changes to speed laws to enable children to play outdoors near to their homes. (added 4 August 2008)
South West Rural Update: is a new learning network extending across the south west of England. It is a service provided by Universities and Colleges in support of businesses and professionals with an interest in topics relating to rural development. The next SEMINAR of South West Rural Update will be ‘Making Local Food a Reality’ (Part 2). (added 28 July 2008)
Gloucestershire Rural Community Council Vacancy for Rural Housing Enabler, Closing date 27 August 2008. (added 28 July 2008)
Charities and Social Enterprise - Legal Update – Profession fundraisers and cause-related marketing – implement the new rules. On 1 April 2008 new rules on fundraising and solicitation statements came into force. The Charities Act 2006 introduced new requirements.
Community Council for Somerset - Social Accounts Summary - In February this year, we invited you to take part in a questionnaire which we were conducting as part of our Social Accounting process for 2008/09. The full version of our accounts will be available to read on our newly revamped website due to be launched on 1st September 2008 (added 28 July 2008)
RISE - Business Advice Network (BAN) Update – Date for next AGM has been fixed for 1 December 2008 to be held in Bristol at the Watershed; From social clauses to social accounts: getting the most out of procurement. Our September BAN event is focusing on social enterprise and procurement through the lens of two exciting new pieces of research. The Office of the Third Sector will present the findings of the first phase of its ‘Social Clauses Project’ in public sector procurement. The Social Accounts Network will draw exciting new information to your attention from its latest report ‘Really Telling Accounts’ issued in June 2008. (added 28 July 2008)
Gloucestershire Rural Community Council Newsletter includes: Businesses facing challenges following Post Office closures - 37 rural post offices in Gloucestershire have closed or will be closing in the near future as part of the Post Office Network Change Programme, LINk transition group has been set up in Gloucestershire - The government has stated that every local authority in England that has a responsibility for health and social care services must have a Local Involvement Network (LINk), Draft Mental Health and Social Inclusion Strategy Consultation - Gloucestershire’s Social Inclusion Executive has developed a draft mental health and social inclusion strategy. (Added 21 July 2008)
Futures Farming Project Update: Launch of their new and improved website and launch of video case studies, update on on-farm workshops. (Added 21 July 2008)
Legal Update: Finance and VAT – updated or added for voluntary organisations. (Added 21 July 2008)
Cascade Training Workshops: Local & affordable training opportunities across the South West - Autumn 2008. Courses include: Financial Management Demystified, Effective Project Management, Competence and Confidence for Working Women, Working Positively Under Pressure and many more. (added 14 July 2008)
Third Sector Leadership Centre Newsletter newsletter will be sent out on a regular basis to provide information: updates and news from the Third Sector Leadership Centre. This edition will be informing you about the latest events and our work to date including Finding the place and the space!, National Leadership Forum Report Launched, Regional Leadership and Governance. (added 8 July 2008)
Fair Play Consultation: the current national consultation on play for children. This Government cites this is because of concerns about safety, the loss of open green space, the poor quality and inaccessibility of many existing play areas, including for disabled children and the increasingly structured use of children’s spare time are all barriers to play, particularly outdoors. (added 8 July 2008)
New Shelter Briefing: Eastern European Migrant Workers & Housing - In May 2004, the European Union expanded to include ten new countries from Eastern Europe, and a further two countries joined the EU in 2007. The arrival of several hundred thousand migrant workers from the newly enlarged EU has intensified the public debate as to whether an open borders policy has positive outcomes or whether it results in scarce resources being spread ever more thinly, to the detriment of existing resident households. (added 1 July 2008)
Consultation on Community Governance Foundation Degree. Views sought from University of Cheltenham and Gloucester (added 24 June 2008)
Capacity Builders Update 2 June 2008 including Ministerial announcement of £17 million Improving Reach awards; launch of Capacitybuilders' new £6 million investment to improve business support services for social enterprises, which will be distributed over the next three years; recruitment of new chief executive, and evaluation of ChangeUp programme. (added 24 June 2008)
edie Newsletter - June 2008 Environmental Newsletter including green collar jobs withstand credit crunch. (added 24 June 2008)
Compact Newsletter 2008 - This newsletter is produced by the key partners responsible for taking the Compact forward and includes: new Chair and Commissioner; Compact 2008 Awards; Local Compacts Annual Conference; effective consultation, local and national news. (added 17 June 2008)
Climate Change Task & Finish Advisory Group ebulletin June 2008 Bulletin from the South West Regional Assembly on their work around the South West Climate Change Action Plan. (added 17 June 2008)
Capacity Builders Update June 2008 including the Annual Conference: Launching, learning and linking and recruitment for staff and Board members. (added 17 June 2008)
Sustainable Rural Communities A Toolkit A report setting out the findings from Stage One of the Planning for Sustainable Rural Communities project is now available. It contains an analysis of policy and practice relating to the application of sustainable development principles to rural communities. It is based on an extensive literature review and has been used to inform thinking around the form, style and guiding principles of the ‘Toolkit’. The report also contains a wider analysis of toolkits and the measurement of social capital. The work has been commissioned by a wide range or organisations (from within and beyond Devon) including SWAN in order to inform Local Development Frameworks, community planning and specifically the Devon Local Area Agreement 2008 – 2011). (added 9 June 2008)
Community Land Trust Conference Report “Creating Strength Through Community Asset Ownership – Making the most of land and property assets for community benefit”. The report on the Community Land Trust Conference held on 4 March is now available. The report includes a summary of the day, including all the workshops, and resources for action. (added 3 June 2008)
Ladder4learning - A Learning Curve project which provides a dedicated helpline and comprehensive website about training and development in the Voluntary and Community Sector. The Ladder4learning offers impartial and practical advice and information. (added 3 June 2008)
Regional Director's Report 23 May 2008 The regular update prepared by Stephen Wright for the SWAN Board is now available on the SWAN website. The most recent report (presented to the Board on 23 May 2008) included updates on the SWRDA Training Contract, Wheels to Work, Store is the Core, Sustainable Local tourism, SWANUpping 2009. (added 28 May 2008)
South West Climate Change Action Plan Consultation - the South West Regional Assembly has been working with the Environment Agency, Government Office South West and the South West Regional Development Agency on the development of the South West Climate Change Action Plan. The Plan’s principal purpose is to prioritise the actions we must take now, coordinate regional activity to achieve these and identify actions where initial enabling work has to be achieved to unlock future activity. Deadline for consultation is 6 June 2008. ( added 21May 2008)
Sub National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration the South West Regional Assembly has produced a briefing paper for its members which others may find useful. SWRA SNR Briefing Note April 2008 (added 30 April 2008)
Asset Transfer to Create Community Hubs Community takeover of local assets is on the cards for 37 projects across England, as the Community Assets programme announces today the shortlist of schemes to reach final assessment. The £30 million Community Assets programme, funded by the Office of the Third Sector and delivered by the Big Lottery Fund, is a programme to enable third sector organisations to have greater control over the assets they use, such as community buildings. There are unfortunately no projects in the rural south west. (added 8 April 2008)
The Department of Communities and Local Government has established an online forum focusing on third sector issues. (added 31 March 2008)
Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) and Migrant Workers Information
Community Planning Research and Reports
RCC Case Studies- a collection of themed case studies which describe the range and programmes recently undertaken by the seven RCCs from transport to community hall, to social inclusion and more (added March 2007)
Impact of Investment in Village Halls - an analysis of the impact of village halls and the communities using them arising from various levels of investment for capital improvement projects produced by the SWAN Village Hall Advisers Network in 2005-06.
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