Greetings!

 
The Cabinet Office is stumping up close to half a million quid for civil society organisations that can help to support the European Year of Volunteering. But the government giveth, and the government taketh away, as Conservative and LibDem MPs refuse to amend a Bill that could have saved new charities an estimated £1m in employer National Insurance contributions over the next three years.
 

Cabinet Office offers grants and contracts for European Year of Volunteering

 

The Office for Civil Society has opened a programme of grants and partnership contracts, totalling almost half a million pounds, for civil society organisations to support the government's Big Society vision as part of the European Year of Volunteering in England this year.

New charities miss out on National Insurance holiday

 

Newly-registered charities have narrowly missed out on a National Insurance holiday after MPs voted against amending a clause in the National Insurance Contributions Bill.

 

FRSB hires Sargeant to analyse fundraising complaints

 

The Fundraising Standards Board has recruited Professor Adrian Sargeant  to analyse its complaints returns this year, as it expands the survey to include questions about legacy fundraising and house-to-house clothing collections.

New software to make donations when shoppers buy goods online

 

Everyclick has launched software which will automatically donate money to charity when online shoppers buy a product, without the buyer having to pay any more themselves.

Third Sector Research Centre highlights challenges with SROI

 

The Third Sector Research Centre has concluded that social return on investment has a number of limitations and challenges, in a new report.
 

Proposed shared services VAT exemption "falls short" of charities' requirements

 

The structure to exempt charities from paying VAT on shared back-office services that is being considered by the Treasury is "limited" and "will fall short of that needed by many organisations in the sector", PricewaterhouseCoopers has warned.

Government should fund donor agency, says Philanthropy UK

 
Philanthropy UK, the Association of Charitable Foundations spin-off that seeks to boost effective giving, has urged the government to fund an agency that will help donors choose which causes to fund.
 

Charity shops and joined-up thinking at Sue Ryder Care

 

Charity shops are not just for retailing, but can engage staff and customers in a wide range of fundraising opportunities. Andy Taylor and Heidi Travis discuss how working on joined-up projects is proving successful for both the fundraising and retail departments in Sue Ryder Care.

Keeping our eye on the ball: maintaining focus in decision-making

 

Ian Beer, chair of the Injured Players Foundation, discusses how the board ensures dispassionate decision-making and keeps its focus on beneficiaries.

Who are the trustees?

 

Confusion arises when a property dispute calls into question who the trustees of an ancient religious charity may be. Lindsay Driscoll and Paul Ridout respond to the dilemma in this case study.

Did you know...

 (Source: European Year of Volunteering)