CN4M Grants panel members needed

CN4M are looking for panel members who maybe interested in joining a pool of people working with Community Network 4 Manchester’s new grants program CN4M Grants.

They are particularly keen to get representation from the different communities of interest as well as from different geographical areas within the City of Manchester reflecting the diversity within the area.

You will have the satisfaction of helping distribute significant amounts of European money to support worthwhile community and voluntary activity across the City.

It will give you a fascinating insight into the diversity and range of voluntary and community activity going on in the City, and an opportunity to learn or develop skills in assessing projects and working as a team to make the best decisions.

Panel meetings are held centrally, in an accessible building and refreshments will be provided. Out of pocket expenses will be paid for travel, childcare etc.

If you are interested, please contact Sajida Sabir at the CN4M Grants Office on 0161 234 2905 or sajida@cn4m.net

Big Lottery Fund to Manage £30m Community Assets Fund

The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) has announced that the Big Lottery Fund will manage the new £30m Community Assets Fund programme.

The Community Assets Fund (CAF) will enable community-led third sector organisations to take on under-used public buildings, by offering grants for refurbishment.

The OTS will run a 12-week consultation with key stakeholders on details of how the fund will operate.

The aim of the CAF will be to; improve the physical infrastructure available to local communities; empower community-led third sector organisations to be innovative in responding to local needs, and enhance their capacity to tackle social disadvantage, transform lives and draw communities together; enable third sector organisations to strengthen their place in local communities; benefit the wider community by raising the potential for job creation and further investment, and creating a focal point for local pride, confidence and cohesion.

It is expected that the fund will be launched later this year.
For further information visit: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/
news/news_stories/070330_big_lottery_fund.asp

Ratings for care services

Star ratings for providers of adult care services in England (excellent, good, adequate or poor) are due to be introduced from mid-2007 by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, subject to a consultation running to 14th November. Go to http://www.csci.gov.uk/about_csci/publications/quality_ratings_consultations.aspx for download options.

From: VolResource Newsletter No. 261

Volunteers not out to lunch

The Department of Work and Pensions has announced that in future people on benefits who are volunteering will have lunchtime meals treated as an expense that can be claimed back without impact on benefits. However, this change from the position stated in the recently published guidance ‘A guide to volunteering while on benefits’ is not immediate - they say “We will be working closely with charities and volunteering organisations over the coming weeks and months to implement the changes quickly and smoothly as possible.” Volunteering England had been planning to run a ‘Lunch Expenses Protest Week’ from Monday (14th August) but no longer needs to do so. News items from them and DWP are currently linked from VE’s front page, at http://www.volunteering.org.uk

From: VolResource Newsletter No. 258