The National Association of Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) has appointed a new Chief Executive to succeed Jane Ide, who stepped down last month. Maddy Desforges is currently the chief executive of NAVCA member Voluntary Action Sheffield. She will be taking up her new role in March 2021. Find out more.
Discover the best way to write applications to gain the attention of Grant-making Trusts & Foundations and other grant funders. Find out more.
A green paper is a government policy consultation paper which is sets out planned policy reforms for people to respond to, which then may be subsequently published as a white paper and further legislation as required. This green paper sets out government proposals on the procurement of public services in the context of Britain leaving the EU. The stated aim is to ‘speed up and simplify procurement processes’ including for charities. The consultation closes on 10 March 2021. Find out more.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has published guidance that aims to help organisations and groups understand how to safely and effectively involve volunteers during the pandemic. Find out more.
Click on the links below for the relevant information.
- All current rates for postage stamps, online postage, franking machines and other ways of paying for postage: www.royalmail.com/current-postage-prices
- 2021 rates: www.royalmail.com/prices2021
- After the Brexit transition period: www.royalmail.com/brexit
- Information about the Royal Mail’s business redirection, diversion and small business diversion services: https://tinyurl.com/y59qh3gc
In NCVO’s monthly round-up you will find:
• recommended approaches to measuring personal wellbeing
• a new podcast full of inspiring impact
• new resources to help funders measure their effectiveness
• plus check out some of our upcoming training and events.
Click here to read this month’s impact round-up
Take action now to ensure personal data flows freely from the EU/EEA to the UK
With just three weeks to go until the end of the transition period on 31 December, there is still time to prepare. You can find out what actions you may need to take by using the checker tool at gov.uk/transition and keep up to date with regular business readiness bulletins too.
If you receive personal data from the EU/EEA, I urge you to act now to ensure you can continue to lawfully receive data from your clients in the EU from 1 January 2021, whatever the EU decides. Specifically, this means:
- You should take stock of the personal data you process prior to 1 January 2021.
- If you receive personal data from a company based in an EU/EEA country, you should map your data flows and put in place alternative transfer mechanisms, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), with any relevant EU organisations (the EU has yet to make a decision as to whether they accept that the UK’s data protection regime is still adequate).
- Visit UK/using-personal-data-2021 for guidance on the actions your business or organisation needs to take regarding data protection and data flows.
Shop & Donate sell fresh products from our sustainable UK farms and markets. By purchasing one of our products your contribution goes towards sending donations to key workers, food banks and vulnerable residents affect by COVID-19. We also provide other services such as telephone befriending and aftercare support for Covid-19 patients, which gives those leaving the hospital a food package for when they arrive home. Shop our range of fresh products and together we can help vulnerable people in our community and support our key workers. Find out more
In 2018 Sobus started working on a BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) Mental health project in partnership with BAME led organisations and other voluntary and community organisations who were interested in the issue. This included the Young Hammersmith & Fulham Foundation, Nubian Life, People Arise Now, Community Education Forum. The disproportionate numbers of BAME people diagnosed with mental health conditions under the care of mental health services and inadequate service provision has been a concern for decades. Read on
Sobus are delighted to announce that we will shortly be launching an online training programme – Sobus Online Learning, Information and Development (SOLID), which will offer over 500 free training courses to Hammersmith & Fulham Voluntary and Community Groups.
SOLID will include courses on
- Setting Up and Running an organisation
- Leadership & Management
- Communications
- Financial Management
- Fundraising
- Marketing & Promotion
- People & Teams
- Care Certificate
- IT Skills
- Policy & Compliance
- Health & Safety
We are looking for a small group of organisations to test pilot the scheme. If you would like to be involved, or would like to register your interest in signing up to SOLID, please contact admin@sobus.org.uk
