1. THE NEWSLETTER FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN YOUTH WORK IN
DEVON AND PRODUCED BY VOLUNTARY YOUTH SERVICES
Issue 5 – MAY 2011
YOUTH NEWS CIRCULATION CONTENTS
Devon/Regional News
Due to the fact that VYS will no longer be funded Events
by Devon Youth Service from the end of June it Training Courses
will be reviewing its ability to circulate Publications and Resources
information, particularly Youth News, to those Grants / Awards / Competitions
who are not member organisations. This is to National News & Information
inform you that the June issue of Youth News
may be the last one that you receive unless your VYS is inviting members of Local Youth
organisation is, or becomes, a member of VYS. Networks to become members so that they
can continue to receive the full benefits that
Currently VYS membership is FREE to voluntary they had previously received from VYS as
and community groups who are encouraged to part of the Service Level Agreement that
join and so benefit from: VYS had with the Devon Youth Service.
♦ free subscriptions to the monthly
newsletter (Youth News), which provides There has been a good take up of this offer
information on training, funding and in the first few days since this was
analysis of key policy issues as well as advertised and it is hoped that many more
practical advice; local groups will join in the coming month or
♦ e-bulletins giving updates on events, so to ensure that they don’t have an
publications and good practice issues interruption to the services they access
from around the network; from VYS.
♦ discounted training including child
protection training; For those who are interested in continuing
♦ the opportunity to have your voice heard to access Youth News but are ineligible for
and influence County Council policy VYS membership the intention is that it
through VYS advocating on your behalf becomes available via subscription – this is
on issues that affect the work of the in the process of being set up. Contact the
voluntary and community youth sector. VYS office for further details on any of the
above.
VYS, YFC Centre, Retail Park Close, Marsh Barton Road, Exeter EX2 8LG
Tel / Fax: 01392 250976 E-mail: admin@vysdevon.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1054442
www.vysdevon.org.uk

2. THE FUTURE OF VYS - THE ORGANISATION THAT SUPPORTS AND REPRESENTS
YOU
Come to the AGM 7.00 pm on Monday 20th June at the YFC Centre, Exeter
to show your support to the VYS Executive and to contribute to the discussion
about the future role of VYS
As many of you know, VYS has had all of its funding withdrawn by the Local Authority
Youth Service as part of the required budget cutbacks and the VYS Executive has been
trying to ascertain why VYS has been singled out for a 100% cut in funding and has also
sought clarification about how the voluntary youth sector will be involved in shaping the
future policies that will affect the work that you do in the future. There are still outstanding
issues that the County Council have failed to respond to, but VYS intends to continue
supporting its members in the remainder of the financial year by drawing on its reserves
whilst looking at options for a sustainable future.
The Annual General Meeting will be an opportunity to discuss the current situation and,
along with the results of its consultation exercise, to determine the way forward for VYS
and where it should focus its future priorities - which according to the initial results of the
consultation with member organisations include the following top priorities:
♦ To ensure that the views, the needs and potential of the voluntary youth sector are
represented and articulated to policy makers
♦ To hold policy makers accountable for the decisions they make that affect the
voluntary youth sector
♦ To provide help and advice regarding funding and resources for youth projects and
provision
♦ To enable your organisation to access information and advice, relevant to your
needs e.g. YOUTH NEWS
♦ Develop ways of ensuring that provision in the voluntary sector is of a high
standard and that examples of good practice are disseminated
♦ Ensure information relating to workforce development is accessible to voluntary
sector workers, so that they have the necessary skills and knowledge.
It is therefore most important that you support VYS – the organisation that represents you
and which supports the valuable work that you do – at the Annual General Meeting. We
need to hear your views about the way forward from the current situation, what our future
priorities should be in relation to the needs of VYS members and how best we can support
those needs in the future.
Remember - the members of the Executive are all volunteers who give their time
freely to support the work that you do and to represent your interests – please
show your support by coming along on the 20th June. Thank you and I look forward
to seeing you next month.
Paul Allan, Chair
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3. DEVON NEWS
JOB VACANCIES - Visit the VYS website which is updated with new vacancies on a
regular basis – see http://www.vysdevon.org.uk/page/jobs
Common Assessment Framework / Team Around the Child – The shape of the
support provided to professionals as part of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
and Team Around the Child (TAC) processes in Devon has changed. The AXS staff
supporting CAF/TAC over the last four years are no longer in post and all organisations
must now seek to “mainstream” as much of the CAF/TAC activity as they can within their
existing resources. A letter from Anne Whiteley, Executive Director of Children & Young
Peoples Service, provides information about these changes, including the support
available with contact details. See: http://www.vysdevon.org.uk/page/safeguarding
Child Protection Training – VYS is once again running one day Group 2 Child Protection
Training. The course aims to define child protection, looks at signs of abuse and neglect
and provide information on reporting strategies. The course will help you to recognise and
know what to do if you believe a child is at risk. There will be a charge of £20 per
candidate for VYS (Devon) members and £40 per candidate for non-VYS (Devon)
members and dates are as follows:
♦ 9 July 2011 in Exeter
♦ 24 September 2011 in Okehampton
♦ 15 October 2011 in Barnstaple
♦ Newton Abbot – date and venue to be confirmed.
♦ 3 December 2011 in Tiverton
♦ 28 January 2012 in Exeter
For details about VYS (Devon) membership or for further details/booking form contact
VYS on 01392 250976 or admin@vysdevon.org.uk - numbers are limited and on a strictly
first come first served basis.
Community Council of Devon - Elaine Cook has been appointed as the new chief
executive of the Community Council of Devon. She has been Chief Executive at the
Community Council for Berkshire since 2003, but now lives in North Devon. She has
previous employment and trustee experience in local and national voluntary organisations.
Jay Talbot’s final day will be 22nd June and Elaine will start formally on 25th July.
Dartmoor Centres Special Offers - Visit Dartmoor this summer and take advantage of
this fantastic special offer for youth and community groups.
♦ Pixies Holt - Fully catered, £20 per person per night. Accommodation for up to 36
people is warm and comfortable in bedrooms of 4–6 beds with en-suite hand
basins. There is a large common room with small kitchenette for group use, a
separate dining room and modern toilet and showers facilities. Set in private
grounds there is there is ample parking for cars and minibuses. Only £80 per
person for 4 nights fully catered accommodation.
♦ Dartmoor Training Centre - Self catered, £10 per person per night.
Accommodation for up to 45 in 2 dormitories and 3 separate leaders’ bedrooms.
The centre has a large common room/dining room, a fully equipped kitchen and
ample toilets and showers. Set in private grounds there is ample parking for cars
and minibuses. Only £40 per person for 4 nights self catered accommodation.
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4. ♦ Exciting adventurous activities only £25 per person per day. Whilst staying at the
centres you can choose to take part in some exciting Dartmoor activities... Climbing
& abseiling • Caving • Forest orienteering • Mountain biking • Bushcraft • Moorland
exploration.
Minimum group size of 15 people. Offer not available to National Citizenship Scheme
funded residentials. To enquire about availability phone 01364 631500 or email
dartmoor.centres@devon.gov.uk
Devon Community of the Year is a new annual award from the Community Council of
Devon, launched to mark their 50th anniversary, in partnership with Plymouth Guild and
Community and Voluntary Action Torbay. It is open to any Devon group, town, village, or
society, that thinks like a community and acts like a community and has worked to
improve their physical or social environment. The winner will be a community which has
been inspirational in what it does, and the way it has come together to improve the lives of
local people, and will be awarded £500. In addition there will be two special categories
and the winners of each will be awarded £250:
♦ Healthy community of the year – sponsored by NHS Devon
♦ Green community of the year - sponsored by South West Water
For details go to www.devonrcc.org.uk/c/46/devon-community-of-the-year and the
deadline for entries is 30th June.
South Hams Local Youth Network Fund – Voluntary youth groups in the South Hams
District are invited to apply to the LYN for grants to support youth work with young people
aged 13 to 19 years. Grants are available towards salaries, running costs and equipment.
Ring 01752 893040 or email linda.white@devon.gov.uk for a grant pack. Deadline for
applications is the 10th June, with decisions made two weeks after by the YouthBank.
Youth Network training funds - This year, in recognition of the changes to area and
central structures for Devon Youth Service, the Youth Network funds will be allocated as
below:
♦ A six month allocation of £3000 will be available to groups who are members of an
Area Youth Network and bids will be made using the same format form as previous
years, updated for 2011/12
♦ Bids will need to show how training supports the delivery of quality youth provision
and benefit to young people needs to be identified as part of the application
♦ Funding will be given to courses running between the 1st of April 2011 and the
30th of September 2011 inclusive
♦ IYWT Introductory Youth Work Training will be paid for in full for the staff and
volunteers of YN groups; new groups can access this benefit whilst in the process
of joining the YN
♦ The training fund does not cover costs of minibus training or associate costs for
driving permits
♦ Currently under 18’s are not included in the scope of this fund, organisations are
expected to cover the provision for young people internally
♦ Grant requests for courses already attended in April and May 2011 will be
accepted.
Over the next few weeks the functions and the mechanisms for Youth Network support
will be considered including the training fund. In recognition of the changes to the Youth
Opportunity and Youth Capital funds (nationally no longer available) the work of Youth
Banks alongside the local reach of Devon’s UK Youth Parliament will be reviewed. The
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5. review will seek to enhance the voice and influence of all young people in decision making
and informing the development of youth provision; maximise working together processes
and increase accessibility by ensuring appropriate and attractive offers to young people;
explore support needs for adults providing youth opportunities and the best means to
meeting those needs; maximise the resources available to processes that provide for
youth participation and involvement in communities. If you have any thoughts or
comments or wish to share best practice please contact claire.mcmahon@devon.gov.uk
or your local Youth Network contact.
Youth service savings - Children & Young People Now asked five councils "to explain
their thinking as they strive to make savings to youth services" and one of these was a
contribution from Cllr Christine Channon on the position in Devon.
http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletin/cypnow_daily/article/1069981/the-shape-youth-services-
come/
EVENTS
7th June Tendering through Partnerships & Consortia is a one day workshop to help
Voluntary and Community Sector organisations adapt to the shift towards being
commissioned to deliver services through partnerships and consortia. It is being held at
Exeter CVS and is being subsidised by the Devon Consortium VCS Commissioning
Project. There is a £10 deposit charge refundable on attendance to cover catering and
administration. For details email info@devonconsortium.net or ring 01392 202055.
9th June Funding Your Organisation is an event being run for those who are looking for
funding and would like to know what funders are looking for. The speakers are Martha
Wilkinson, Chief Executive of the Devon Community Foundation, on “getting it right from
the funders perspective” and Julian Wills, South West Regional Manager, Sported, on
“how to plan for successful funding”. There will also be interactive workshops
on: Demonstrating that you can deliver and the difference you make – an ‘Outcomes’
approach; Improving your funding application; and Alternative Fundraising ideas that
work, involving events, businesses and an ‘out of the box’ approach. The cost is £20.00
per person to include lunch. Contact Carole Chesterton on 01626 215907 or
office@teigncvs.org.uk
15th June Emergency First Aid at Work - A practical course leading to a HSE
recognised qualification that is valid for three years. This is being held in Newton Abbot
and for details contact office@teigncvs.org.uk.
15th June Introduction to fundraising is a training course from ETN being held in
Bristol. It will give a sound introduction to the principles of fundraising from statutory and
non-statutory sources, the tools for understanding key donors and what you need to
develop a successful fundraising strategy. For details ring ETN on 0121 359 2113 or see
http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level3/562/stock/8293
16th June Focus on Outcomes is a full day workshop being held in Ashburton with two
experienced outcomes champions. How effective is your organisation? Can you
demonstrate the differences you make for your community? Are your funders asking
about outcomes? Come and learn how to apply an Outcomes focus to YOUR
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6. organisation. £25.00 per person (includes up to 4 hours follow up support). For details ring
South Hams CVS on 01803 862266 or email cvs@southhamscvs.org.uk
18/19th June First Aid for the Outdoors 16 hours (2 day residential) course being held
at Pixie's Holt Outdoor learning Centre. This course covers the basics of First Aid
including the new Emergency First Aid at Work syllabus and is designed to give
participants the necessary skills to respond to common accidents and incidents at work, in
the home and outdoors. A particular emphasis is placed on casualty care in remote
locations. This course meets the requirements of NGB awards such as ML, SPA,
SWMMLTS etc. To book go to www.devonldp.org/courses/bookings or ring 01364 631500
22nd June Twitter Fundraising and Social Network Fundraising courses being run in
Exeter. The morning course is on fundraising successfully using twitter and will cover how
you can maximise the potential of Twitter as a fundraiser. It will look at a range of ways to
make your Twitter activity effective, complement and enhance other fundraising and
integrate with your current strategy. The afternoon course is on fundraising using social
networks and will cover how as a fundraiser you can maximise the potential of other social
networks to Twitter. It will look at Facebook, LinkedIn and other sites and ways you can
use them to improve your fundraising. Both courses come complete with a CD Rom with
all notes in PDF format for the course, key exercises to enhance your work and links to
the most useful sites to help and enhance your fundraising. Cost £49 plus VAT for each
session. See http://www.companysolutions.biz/Page11.aspx?ID=48 or ring 01388 517703
28th June Supporting your staff - effective supervision & appraisal is a training
course from Cascade Training to be held at Sparkford, near Yeovil. This workshop is
aimed at team leaders and managers who want to focus on the topic of staff development
and learn how to support staff more effectively. Carrying out regular supervision and
appraisal meetings with staff are a crucial element of staff development but this can be an
uncomfortable task - particularly if you are dealing with awkward working relationships and
below par work standards. This workshop will explore the supervisory and appraisal
process in detail to help you understand how to manage the process with your staff and
how to deal with potential problems. See www.cascadetrainingplus.co.uk or contact
Lauren Evans on 07854 208369 or email lauren@cascadetrainingplus.co.uk.
20th July Surviving and Thriving: change and continuity for rural youth work – this
Rural Youth Network Conference, being held in Coventry, aims to explore issues that
affect young people and those that work with them in rural areas. It will explore:
Transitions for young people; Working together; Places to go, things to do; and Hearing
the voice of Rural Young People.
TRAINING
Community Council of Devon Training
♦ 23rd June Funding Your Vision “The Steps to Success” is a training day that
will take you through key steps in achieving and developing a more successful
funding base for your organisation. It is being run by the Community Council of
Devon at Newton St Cyres.
♦ 29th June Funding your Community Enterprise which will introduce participants
to the social enterprise model. This is being run at Topsham.
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7. Both these events are free including buffet lunch funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Total
Support project, for the Devon Consortium. Participants are required to make a £10
refundable deposit. Contact Eleanor Rutley, Community Council of Devon, on 01392
383443 or Eleanor@devonrcc.org.uk
Domestic Violence Training – ADVA are now partners with Devon Safeguarding
Children's Board as Working Together to Safeguard Children training providers and
courses up until the end of July are now available to book from its website
www.adva.org.uk and follow links for Professionals and Training Courses. Any queries
contact Claire Birch on 01392 382567 or email claire.birch@devon.gov.uk
Eddystone Training – a new training programme for this summer is now available. See
http://www.vysdevon.org.uk/uploads/documents/eddystone_training_programme_summer
_2011.pdf
First Aid Training - The South Devon YMCA offers a whole suite of first aid courses. The
training is very flexible, for example, although the Paediatric First Aid is a 12 hour 2 day
course, they can deliver it over a number of smaller sessions to suit a group’s needs. The
training can also take place at the group’s own premises.
See http://www.vysdevon.org.uk/uploads/documents/ymca_first_aid_training_apr_11.pdf
or contact Peter Bowles on 01803 551578 Email: pete.b@ymcasouthdevon.org.uk
Level 2 Certificate in Youth Work – this is a new pilot course being run by Petroc in
Barnstaple starting on 4th July. These qualifications have been developed to enable
candidates to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to become a youth support worker
or a youth and community worker. You will need to be involved in youth work, either paid
or voluntary, to complete the qualification. The cost has been reduced to £95 for the pilot
scheme unless you are in receipt of Jobseekers or active benefits. For more details ring
Tracey (tutor) on 07960 149740 or the office on 01271 338050.
PQASSO: the essentials – a FREE online course that will enable you to find out about
the benefits of PQASSO, learn how to carry out a self-assessment and have step-by-step
guidance on how to achieve the PQASSO Quality Mark. See http://elearning.pne-
development.org/ecs/product/pqasso-the-essentials-charities-evaluation-services-
?dm_i=6FP,EJHO,12IC1X,15XCV,1. In addition the Next Steps in Quality: PQASSO in
Practice has been updated and introduces the 12 quality areas, describes the self-
assessment process, and highlights the key elements involved in successfully getting
started and keeping motivated with PQASSO. The new edition contains thirteen extra
pages packed with insights and tips on how to make PQASSO work for your organisation;
including case studies and insider knowledge from organisations that have made it
happen. Available to download free from:
http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=249&dm_i=6FP,EJHO,12IC1X,15W3T,1.
They have also produced a series of helpful and informative podcasts which will answer
many of your questions on PQASSO. See:
http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=741&dm_i=6FP,EJHO,12IC1X,15W3T,1
Voluntary Sector Online Management Courses - GLOBE is an e-learning academy
delivering a range of online management courses for new, aspiring and experienced
managers working in the third sector. Created by PNE Development, a selection of taster
courses is available at no cost - see http://elearning.pne-development.org/
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8. PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
Charity Commission Guidance – the guidance on insurance has been revised. See
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Publications/cc49.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&ut
m_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CharityCommissionUpdates+%28Charity+
Commission+updates%29
Health and Safety - the HSE has created a new web section for voluntary organisations
managing low risk activities.http://www.hse.gov.uk/voluntary/index.htm.
My Body, My Choice - The Scout Association has launched a sexual health and
relationships programme designed to encourage young people to learn about
relationships and sexual health with their peers and trusted adults. The new educational
material is available for leaders to use in a relaxed and informal environment. It is a follow
up to initial guidance produced in 2008 and reflects the growing demand from both adult
leaders and young people for more support in this area. http://www.scouts.org.uk/shis
Once Upon a Group: A guide to running and participating in successful groups is a
short guide aimed at the beginner and would work well as an accompanying workbook for
those joining or setting up groups. See http://www.jkp.com/
Playful Communities is a new website from Play England that provides information,
advice and resources for anyone interested in developing play provision in their local
neighbourhood. See www.playfulcommunities.org.uk
Shelter has a range of resources for youth work professionals covering topics such as
housing benefit advice, legal issues and an interactive board game for groups to think and
talk about housing and homelessness. They also produce advice leaflets for young
people. See www.shelter.org.uk/professional or ring 0844 515 1155.
Snippets – the May edition of NCVYS’s workforce development e-bulletin is available to
download from http://www.ncvys.org.uk/Workforce.html
Volunteer Training Resources - professional, affordable training resources that are ideal
for any organisation looking to train volunteers or support staff. Each title in the range is
an easy to use, timed session with all the preparation done, saving valuable time and
money. http://www.volunteersolutions.org.uk/
GRANTS/AWARDS/COMPETITIONS
Ideas Fund Innovators is a funding scheme from IdeasTap, an arts charity established to
help young (16-25) creative people at the start of their careers. During this funding round
the Ideas Fund Innovators aims to offer ten projects £1,000 each to help get them off the
ground. In the past, Ideas Tap has funded everything from dance and film projects to
music videos and photography collectives. Applications from any creative field will be
considered. The closing date is 20th June.
http://www.ideastap.com/Opportunities/Brief/df939907-304f-446d-b0f7-
9eae00fcec0e#Overview
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9. NCVYS Young Partners Award - The nominations for this year's award are now open for
all voluntary and community youth organisations and projects. If young people are actively
involved in the decision making processes within your organisation or project then why not
nominate your organisation and be in with the chance of receiving great prizes. These
include a £500 small grant towards developing a youth participation project and a year's
free NCVYS membership. To request an application pack please complete the brief online
form. Closing date is 10th June. http://www.ncvys.org.uk/Young_Partners_Award.html
Peter Harrison Foundation Opportunities Through Sport is a programme to support
sporting activities or projects which provide opportunities for people who are disabled or
otherwise disadvantaged to fulfil their potential and to develop other personal and life
skills. Grants will often be “one off” grants for capital projects. It will also consider revenue
funding for a new project or if funding is key to the continuing success or survival of an
established project. See http://www.peterharrisonfoundation.org/programme.htm
Protecting Playing Fields is a new funding stream from Sport England as part of the
Places People Play mass participation legacy. The £10m fund will see hundreds of sports
playing fields across the country protected and improved. The deadline for applications for
the current round is 6th July.
http://www.sportengland.org/funding/protecting_playing_fields.aspx
Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off donations of
between £500 and £4,000 to local projects that support children and their education and
welfare, elderly people and adults and children with disabilities.
http://cr2010.tescoplc.com/communities/~/media/Files/T/Tesco-Corporate-Responsibility-
Report-2009/pdf-report-builder/tesco-charity-trust/cagapr09.pdf
Young Film Fund - First Light Movies provides grants to projects that enable young
people to participate in all aspects of film production. The funding is available to
organisations such as community and voluntary groups that work with young people aged
between 5 and 18. Grants are delivered through two different funding streams, these are:
• The Studio Awards which provides grants of up to £30,000 for between two and
four films of up to 10 minutes.
• The Pilot Awards which provides grants of up to £5,000 for one short film of up to
five minutes in duration.
See http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/fundingstream/young-film-fund
Young Person’s Volunteering Fund is SITA Trust's funding programme for volunteering
projects owned by 14-25 year olds. It can support projects in any of 90 funding zones
around qualifying waste processing sites operated by SITA UK. SITA Trust can provide up
to £10,000 towards agreed project costs. See www.sitatrust.org.uk/volunteering
NATIONAL NEWS AND VIEWS
A child-centred system is the final report on child protection from Professor Munro. It
claims that too many forms and procedures are preventing professionals from being able
to give children the help they need. The report makes a total of 15 recommendations,
including a call for professionals to have greater freedom from government controls and
the ability for local areas to develop their own child protection services. Senior figures in
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10. the children's sector have given a cautious welcome to these proposals to shake-up child
protection, calling on the government to back key reforms. See:
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-
1.nsf/0/93F7519401791A2A8025788C004EB800?OpenDocument
http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletin/cypnow_daily/article/1069035/munro-review-child-
protection-services-freed-unhelpful-targets/
http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletin/cypnow_daily/article/1069052/munro-review-
sector-welcomes-final-reports-proposals/
Big Society Bank - The government has approved proposals for the Big Society Bank
drawn up by the venture capitalist Sir Ronald Cohen and the investment banker Nick
O'Donohoe. In a letter to the two men, Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said
he would back their proposals, subject to further development work, agreement from four
high-street banks that will provide £200m of initial capital, and approvals from the
Financial Services Authority and the European Commission, which must agree that the
bank does not break its rules on state aid.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/big-society-bank-gets-green-light
Community Newswire - this service, operated by Media Trust with the Press Association,
which circulated news from voluntary organisations across the media, has closed due to
funding cuts. They are actively seeking replacement funds to restart it.
CRB Checks – The government has taken a U-turn on plans to scale back the age limit
on vetting and barring arrangements for children's professionals. Professionals working
with 16 and 17 year-olds will not be exempt from vetting arrangements. Under the
Protection of Freedoms Bill the arrangements would have no longer applied to those
working with only 16 and 17 year-olds. The original CRB website has now closed and
information can now be found at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-
bodies/crb/services/crb-checks-fees/
Gift Aid - HM Revenue and Customs has issued new Gift Aid forms, including the
repayment claim form R68. See http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/gift-aid-toolkit.htm
Giving White Paper: Making it easier to take part in a bigger, stronger society - The
Giving White Paper has been launched and contains a number of measures aimed at
encouraging a stronger culture of giving. It includes proposals for a £10m Social Action
Fund, and other measures include £30m to support voluntary sector infrastructure, a year-
long campaign to promote payroll giving, and ‘challenge prizes’, which will reward
schemes that encourage volunteering using mobile phones. The paper says government
ministers will also give one day a year to volunteer at a charity or voluntary group of their
choice, and the government will hold a giving summit in the autumn aimed at generating
new fundraising ideas. http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/giving-white-paper-
%E2%80%93-making-it-easier-take-part-bigger-stronger-society
Homeless young people - The Court of Appeal has ruled that local councils have a legal
obligation to provide homeless teenagers with ongoing care and support beyond simple
housing support. The judgment said that 16- and 17-year-olds need to be assessed by
social workers rather than housing officers. Also, housing and social services departments
need to ensure they have a joint protocol in place for dealing with homeless teenagers.
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11. http://www.cypnow.co.uk/go/news/article/1069250/judge-calls-councils-review-support-
homeless-teenagers/
Make Your Future Happen is a new public information campaign that the Government
has launched for prospective students and their parents about changes to the student
finance system in 2012. The campaign links students and parents to a new microsite
which describes how the tuition loan system will operate, how to get a student loan, help
with living costs and what support is available from government.
http://yourfuture.direct.gov.uk/
Measuring the Impossible: Making a Start – this study by the National Foundation for
Educational Research (NFER) for volunteering charity V said there is still no evidence to
suggest youth volunteers carry on volunteering in later life and become active citizens in
their communities. But the study found that youth volunteering is associated with positive
outcomes particularly when it comes to obtaining higher education qualifications, while
young people who do not undertake voluntary work between the ages of 11 and 25 may
be harming their "participation in the social and economic spheres of life, both now and
later in life". http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletin/youth_work_news/article/1070718/youth-
volunteers-boost-chances-education-reveals-study/
Mental health promotion and mental illness prevention: The economic case - The
Department of Health and the London School of Economics have published this report
which found that every £1 spent on parenting programmes to prevent chronic child
behavioural problems saves the UK £8 over a child's lifetime. It found that specialist early
intervention teams working with children during their first episode of schizophrenia or
bipolar disorder save £18 for every £1 invested and suicide training for GPs saves £44 for
every £1 spent.
http://www2.lse.ac.uk/LSEHealthAndSocialCare/PSSRU/pdf/MHPP%20The%20Economic
%20Case.pdf
Powerful People, Responsible Society - The Commission on Big Society, set up by The
Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) and chaired by the
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard, has published this report which recommends that
the government should repeat the £100m Transition Fund, but target it at the most
deprived communities. It also made recommendations around guidance on council cuts to
the voluntary sector, commissioning, service-user involvement, banking and VAT.
http://www.acevo.org.uk/document.doc?id=1515
Realising Ambition - The Big Lottery Fund is looking for a partner to help it deliver this
new £25m programme aimed at reducing youth crime. The programme is designed to
fund replicas of projects that have been successful in diverting young people from crime.
A statement from the BLF said the UK partner was likely to be a group of organisations
working together and would be led by a major voluntary and community sector
organisation. The programme will identify 20 to 30 programmes across the UK that have
helped people aged from eight to fourteen who are at risk of offending.
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/DNWA-8GTEMP
Supporting Youth Employment - overview of the Coalition Government’s Approach
is the new publication from the Government which draws together existing
announcements and policies and re-confirms the priority set by the coalition of supporting
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12. young unemployed people. There are five core areas where the Government is planning
to work with businesses, the voluntary sector, local authorities and communities in order
to help support young people: promoting skills; encouraging more work experience,
apprenticeship and internship opportunities; supporting the most vulnerable; providing the
right financial and non-financial incentives; and restoring growth. The Government will
publish a cross departmental Participation Strategy later in the year setting out how they
intend to maximise participation of 16-24 year olds in education, training and work and
tackle the long-term consequences of young people being NEET. See
http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2011/05/government-vows-to-get-the-
young-into-work-2-63723 and
http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletin/youth_work_news/article/1069784/youth-employment-
schemes-bolstered-60m-injection/
Through the Looking Glass is a report from the think-tank Demos that shows that girls
are significantly more successful than boys in making the transition to adulthood: they do
better in their exams, more of them go to university, and those aged 22-29 earn 2.1 per
cent more than their male peers. But it shows that teenage girls experience worse rates of
binge drinking; have worse levels of physical inactivity; and have higher rates of teen
pregnancy than their European counterparts.
http://www.demos.co.uk/files/Looking_glass_-_web.pdf
Unshackling Good Neighbours - The Cabinet Office has published this Big Society
Deregulation Taskforce report examining how to cut 'red tape' for small charities, voluntary
organisations, and social enterprises. The report identifies some of the barriers that
discourage people from giving time and money to civil society organisations and explores
some of the ways in which public engagement can be increased. The report says that,
rightly or wrongly, fear of litigation is a major preoccupation among volunteers, and some
of the key recommendations include considering reforms to the law to clarify the liability of
charity trustees and volunteers and displaying information prominently in all Jobcentres
encouraging volunteering and emphasising that it does not affect benefits. Other
recommendations include simplifying fundraising licensing and on insurance the Task
Force has claimed a victory on the issue of volunteer drivers, with the Association of
British Insurers promising to revise its definition of 'social driving', addressing concerns
around the cost of volunteer driving insurance.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/unshackling-good-neighbours
Wolf Review Response - The Department for Education has published its response to
this review of vocational education and announced that it has accepted all the
recommendations. It said that all young people will study maths and English to age 18
until they had obtained a good qualification in them - ideally a 'C' grade or better at GCSE.
League tables and funding rules will be amended to remove 'perverse incentives' that had
devalued vocational education.
http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a0077253/government-publishes-
response-to-the-wolf-review-of-vocational-education
DISCLAIMER – VYS (Devon) accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure details are correct, VYS (Devon)
cannot endorse events or items mentioned in this newsletter.
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