Policy area: In the news

The risks of giving up paper editions

I noticed on return from a couple of weeks off that NCVO have decided to ditch the print version of their members magazine ‘Engage’. They are making the switch to a digital only version, available online. The decision was based on what their members had asked for and cost savings. It’s a tricky decision.  I’m [...]

Local charities making national headlines

It was great to see 2 local charities making national headlines this week. First up I spotted A Way Out, former VONNE award winners, in the Metro newspaper.  Their Chief Executive Jessie Joe Jacobs was warning that alcohol abuse may kill a growing number of women unless something is done to stop ‘crazily’ low drinks [...]

Common denominator

We were having a discussion earlier in the week on the size and scale of the change that is going on at present impacting on the North East.  Just from the top of my head I came up with the following list: Local authority budget cuts The Big Society (too many areas to mention individually) [...]

The real test of the Big Society

It’s been an interesting week in the world of the Big Society.  Last week representative from the North East’s third sector meet with Ian Leete from the Office of the Civil Society.  At that meeting a question was raised whether there would be such animosity to the Big Society, and whether we would embrae the [...]

A note of caution from Darlington

Yesterday’s ruling at a Newcastle tribunal that the Darlington based charity the 700 Club are liable for the redundancy payments of a number of staff previously employed by the Salvation Army, highlights the potential dangers of many organisations when tendering for and winning contracts, and then dealing with TUPE. TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of [...]

Every Little Helps

For many in the VCS it is a very challenging time.  Staff are being made redundant, demand on services has increased and is expected to rise and available funding has decreased. Today’s news that the Northern Rock Foundation’s funding is likely to be cut and faces an uncertain future will not ease the fears of [...]

Bad news/good coverage

At the end of last year I was particularly busy publicising the findings of our 6-monthly Surviving NOT Thriving survey. We’ve been taking the temperature of the third sector in the North East over the past 2 years to see how various events such as the recession and the current public sector cuts are affecting [...]

Blink! Did you miss it?

Here’s hoping you had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year. Although the way the Government have been publish consultations etc, you would be forgiven for thinking they hadn’t realised it was supposed to be a holiday. So in case you had a long and enjoyable break here’s a quick jog through a few of the [...]

New Welfare proposals we want your views

Government launched a white paper with their plans to reform the welfare system, but what’s your views?

Work Activity – a raise in benefits?

If you want people to “experience of the habits and routines of working life” then pay forms a large part of that.