West Norfolk Voluntary and Community Action

Community and Heritage Awards 2008
Nationwide Building Society has teamed up with Heritage Lottery Fund to launch the Community and Heritage Awards 2008; they are now inviting the public to nominate people or groups who deserve recognition for community or voluntary work that has made a real difference to people's lives. Nominations for the very best and most inspirational volunteers in the

can be made from today, in either the Community Champion or Heritage Hero category. Community Champion: recognition for those who have made an impact in their local community Heritage Hero: recognition for those who have volunteered to become involved in saving part of their heritage and sharing it with others.Nominations do not have to be involved with a Heritage Lottery Fund project. Leaflets and nomination forms are available from local Nationwide Building Society Branches, HLF offices and online at   http://www.nationwide.co.uk/about_nationwide/community_and_environmental_affairs/nationwide_community_and_heritage_awards/ and www.hlf.org.uk. The closing date for nominations is 28 April 2008; a series of regional events for short-listed nominations will take place across the country over the summer at a variety of heritage venues. The final will take place in London during November 2008.

Innovative Graffiti helps raise awareness
Crisis has sprayed 15 London walls with graffiti to highlight the problems facing homeless people.
Crisis is taking advantage of a grey area in the law to raise awareness of the challenges faced by homeless people trying to make a new start. The campaign involves creating graffiti on walls and pavements by blasting water through a stencil. The water cleans part of the surface, leaving an image of a huddled homeless person made out of words “Most homeless people have moved on but their problems haven’t gone away” The image also carries the charity’s website address. Crisis has covered 15 public pavements, walls and other hard surfaces around the city with the images, stating the ‘graffiti’ is a grey area as technically cleaning rather than marking the walls is not in itself illegal. Displayed on central sites to maximise the campaign’s reach, the images will remain in place for two months or until they fade. The campaign was created by marketing agency WWAV Rapp Collins London and is part of an initiative that will also target national press and include blogs on websites such as Myspace and Facebook.                                                    (Third Sector 13^th Feb)

New Campaigning Guide published
Political campaigning must not be a charity’s continuing or sole activity, according to an expanded version of the Charity Commission’s campaigning guidance. The Speaking Out: Guidance on Campaigning and Political Activities by Charities has been revised and expanded to include more examples after the commission’s board raised concerns on the draft version. The guidance is intended to clarify existing commission advice that campaigning must not be the dominant activity of any charity. The revised document also charge trustees with the responsibility to make sure charities stay independent when working with politicians.
(Third Sector 5^th March)

Universities bid to run £9m centre
Two leading universities have confirmed they are among those bidding to run the main hub of the Third Sector Research Centre. The Open University and Birmingham University will apply for the role before the deadline on 27^th March. The centre which will be funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Office of the Third Sector and the Barrow Cadbury Trust, will aim to provide analysis, develop partnerships between researchers and research users and strengthen the use of evidence to underpin policy. Higher education institutions and independent research organisations eligible to receive ESRC funding can apply for the £9m grant to run the hub. However only ESRC- recognised faculties are eligible to bid to lead one of the three capacity building clusters, which will receive £1m each. Voluntary sector umbrella body the NCVO, which is unable to bid to run the centre, wants to help develop the research programme. (Third Sector 5^th March)

Anti-violence films posted on YouTube
Inspired by the ‘happy slapping’ phenomenon the St Giles Trust has posted anti-violence films on popular site YouTube
The SOS Project is posting a series of short films on the YouTube video-sharing website to counteract the trend of ‘happy slapping’ videos appearing on websites and in schools across the nation. The project was set up by the St Giles Trust, a charity for ex-offenders, to support ex-gang members trying to build new lives. Happy slapping videos contain scenes of violence and are filmed by spectators on mobile phones. They specifically chose to target YouTube as it will directly reach their target audience – those at risk of being ‘happy slapped’ or those getting involved in gang crime. Their aim is to challenge the material on the internet glorifying gang related violence and replace it with a positive message. So far there are two videos on YouTube which feature former gang members talking about their own experiences. The SOS project has also started a forum on YouTube so people can comment on the videos and post their own materials. The videos can be seen at www.youtube.com/sosproject.

Full consultation on animal testing
The Home Office has agreed to carry out a Compact-compliant consultation on animal testing after coming under pressure from charities. The British Union for the abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) complained last month that a Home Office consultation on the way it publishes animal testing figures did not comply with the Compact. BUAV said the Government was “underhand” in its use of an informal consultation lasting 14 days rather than a formal consultation which must last three months. At a meeting with animal charities, Home Office officials pledged to carry out a Compact-compliant consultation later this year.
Third Sector 5^th March)

Author to give a million to Alzheimer's charity
Best-selling sci-fi author Terry Pratchett will today pledge $1m (£500,000) to UK-based charity the Alzheimer's Research Trust. Pratchett was diagnosed with the disease in December 2007. Pratchett will announce his donation at the charity’s conference in Bristol. He will also discuss his intention to raise awareness about the disease and about the lack of funding available for research.
(Third Sector Online, 13 March)

Sole-destroying end to charity auction
A charity auction of celebrity memorabilia, including a pair of shoes belonging to singer Shirley Bassey, has been halted after it came to light that the lead bidder was using a false identity. eBay officials stopped the auction, which was raising money for Sense, on Friday, when they realised the final bids, topping £5,000, were fraudulent. The auction, which featured clothes from stars such as Shirley Bassey, Kevin Spacey and Emma Watson, will be repeated, but potential bidders will have to prove their identity before being approved.
(Third Sector Online, 13 March)

Fourteen kids to hold Save the Children to account
Save the Children is flying children from around the world to the UK to meet trustees and hold the charity to account. The charity’s first Global Children’s Panel will see 14 children from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Liberia, Mongolia, South Africa and the UK meet trustees and senior staff to tell them what they think about the work the charity is doing. They will talk about the issues that are affecting them in their home countries and help us ensure that the children’s viewpoint is right at the heart of what we do. The young people, aged between 12 and 17, are all closely involved with the charity’s work in their home countries. They will be involved in a series of meetings with the charity’s trustees and senior directors all this week.
(Third Sector Online, 13 March)

Volunteers should be rewarded, says citizen review
A government backed reviews of citizenship this week called for more incentive to encourage volunteering. Concluding his review, former attorney general Lord Goldsmith said young people who volunteer should receive a reduction in tuition fees, if they volunteer prior to going to university, or help to repay student loans if they volunteer afterwards. He also called for a clear policy stating that those on jobseeker’s allowance would not lose entitlement if they volunteer. The repost suggested that councils offer a small council tax rebate reflecting the contribution of the volunteer to the community. It also proposed measures to promote cohesion and engage newcomers in a shared sense of belonging. Theses include language loans for those who can not afford to pay for English lessons and using citizenship ceremonies to engage new citizens with the local community. It is also urged an expansion in the numbers of mediators who can deal quickly and effectively with local tensions in neighbourhoods.
(New Start, 14 March)

Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People
Funded by Norfolk County Council to deliver a comprehensive advice and representation service that covers all issues relating to illness and disability, they offer support, advice and information to families and carers of disabled people. Due to continued growth they are now looking for an enthusiastic and hard working disabled person to fill the following position:
Advocate £18,050 to £22,000 (£20,250 after trial)
You’ll need to have exceptional communication skills. This position is office based but will involve visiting people throughout Norfolk. Previous experience of advocacy or representation essential.They are committed to work being worthwhile, challenging and fun and they are based in excellent, fully accessible offices just south of Norwich. Hours are 37 per week with 25 days annual leave and, after a trial period, a 6% pension contribution.
For an application pack contact Tracey Beadle at tracey.beadle@ncodp.org.uk or phone 01508 491210 or text phone 01508 41215. Please indicate in which format you want the application sent to you. Closing date 4^th April, interviews 14^th April.
Suffolk Independent Living is the new direct payments support service in Suffolk, funded by Suffolk County Council. Direct Payments support service in Suffolk, enabling people to live more independently by making their own care arrangement, using money from social services. Based in Bath Street, Ipswich, and they are looking for someone to join their team as an:
Admin Assistant £14,000 per annum (rising to £15,500 after successful trial)
You will need to be organised, hard working and have excellent multi-tasking and communication skills.The post is for 37 hours per week with 25 days annual leave and, after a trial period, a 6% pension contribution.
Closing date 3 April, interviews Wednesday 9 April.
Suffolk Independent Living is managed by the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People. For an application pack and more information please email tracey.beadle@ncodp.org.uk or phone 01508 491210.

Disability Discrimination
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 prohibits discrimination against disabled people, and employers must consider its content. A person has a disability under the act if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities. The effect of impairment is defined as long term if it has lasted 12 months, or if it is likely to recur if in remission. Impairment will be taken to affect the ability to carry out normal day to day activity only if it affects mobility, manual dexterity, physical coordination, continence or the ability to move everyday objects. Impairments to speech, hearing, eyesight, memory or a person’s ability to concentrate, learn or understand, or perception of the risk of physical danger, are also valid. Certain conditions are excluded from the protection of the act such as substance addiction and personality disorders. However, where an employee suffers from both a legitimate impairment and an excluded condition, he or she will be able to rely on the protection of the act where the legitimate impairment is the reason for the less favourable treatment. Although some conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome or ME, asthma, epilepsy, dyslexia and depression are capable of amounting to a disability, this will not always be the case. It will be up to a tribunal to determine whether the condition has a substantial effect on the individual’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities. It will not always be obvious whether a person has or has had a disability. In these circumstances, it is always useful to refer to the Governments guidance on matters to be taken into account. It sets out how the definition of disability operates in practice and is available on the Disability Rights Commission’s website.
Non Charities can claim Gift Aid
Small public benefits organisations that do not have charitable status can claim Gift Aid, according to guidance from the Office of the Third Sect. Published as part of the Budget last week, the guidance says donations to small groups such as community associations and playgroups can be funnelled through umbrella charities that have the power to make grants to them. Donors will be able to give to the voluntary groups through such bodies, which will claim 28p Gift Aid on each pound donated and pass it onto local groups. The move could help thousands of smaller organisations to claim back an extra £6m, estimates Kevin Curley, chief executive of community associations umbrella body Navca, also stating that Navca’s members would probably be able to pass the money to small groups without any administrative cost.
(Third Sector, 19^th March 2008)