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Sector fraud is a much bigger problem than previously thought, according to new estimates from the National Fraud Authority. Public spending cuts are set to decimate Refugee Council services. But an Appeal Court ruling on rights of volunteers has been hailed as a victory for the sector.
 

Sector fraud tops £1.3bn a year, says National Fraud Authority

 

The charity sector loses £1.3bn a year to fraud, new estimates from the National Fraud Authority suggest.

Refugee Council services 'decimated' by cuts

 

The Refugee Council is facing sweeping reductions to its budgets for frontline services as a result of Home Office spending cuts.

Court of Appeal rejects volunteer discrimination case

 

A landmark discrimination case launched against the Citizens Advice Bureau by an unpaid volunteer has been rejected by the Court of Appeal.

Hind to chair group advising government on new Waterways charity

 

Andrew Hind, former chief executive of the Charity Commission and current guest editor of Charity Finance, has been appointed chair of a new independent advisory panel set up to provide advice to the government as British Waterways makes the transition from public corporation to charitable body.

Cut dependence on grants to 'unleash a tide of philanthropy', says Cass professor

 

The Big Society will only emerge when the government cuts the sector's dependence on grants and strips regulations to "unleash a tide of philanthropy", according to Cass Business School's Philip Booth.

Nottinghamshire County Council allocates £450,000 in grants to buffer sector cuts

 

Nottinghamshire County Council has allocated an extra £450,000 in grants for civil society organisations following a public consultation to address proposed budget cuts.

Public wants charities to invest ethically, despite low returns, finds report
 

The majority of the public believe a charity should invest ethically, even if this produces lower returns, according to a new report from the EIRIS Foundation and the Holly Hill Charitable Trust.

No Wei back: Andrew Hind interviews the government's Big Society adviser

 

Nat Wei is the government's adviser on the Big Society. Andrew Hind  discussed with him what difference his ideas are really going to make. It became clear that, for many charities, life is never going to be the same again.

Reporting from the NCVO Campaigns Conference

 

Rob Dyson gives his perspective on NCVO's Campaigns Conference, highlighting speakers' concerns about the Big Society agenda and passing on some tips on media strategy.

"Hurd should not be surprised at the low number of organizations applying to the Transition Fund: most of the sector is small-scale and does not have the capacity. Only the bigger (and better-off) organizations have that skill-set so, 'money goes to money' and very little will change!"

"No wonder the financial system ran into crisis when the professor of risk and insurance is out of his depth."

"Is 'embarrassing' banks the way to stimulate philanthropy and encourage the Big Society? How about people giving their time and money freely to causes they really care about?"

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 (Source: Hudson Institute)