Greetings! 

   
A government study of the admin costs of various funders makes interesting reading, and somewhat undermines the Sunday Telegraph's attack on the Big Lottery Fund last weekend.  Tania Mason analyses the impact on the sector of the recent spats over the Big Society, and High Peaks CVS has produced a great little film showcasing the importance of infrastructure organisations to the sector.  

DCMS publishes comparative admin costs of statutory and sector funders
  

The government has published the results of research it carried out to compare the operating costs of lottery distributors with those of other government funders and charitable foundations. 

Wellcome Trust invests in online lender Wonga
  

The Wellcome Trust has added Wonga, the online short-term loan firm, to its £13bn investment portfolio.

Funders consider how to improve charities' use of technology
  

Eight of the UK's top funders met last month to plan how to help increase charities' use of technology.

Liverpool Council safeguards sector funding in budget proposals
  

Liverpool City Council has generated £19m in funding for its voluntary and community organisations and provided a £1m hardship transition fund in its 2011/12 budget proposal despite having to make over £91m of cuts over that period.

'No evidence' to support tax allegations against research trust, finds Commission
  

The Charity Commission has cleared the Politics and Economic Research Trust following allegations published in the Guardian that it was used as a vehicle to channel funds enhanced with gift aid to the Taxpayers Alliance.

Big Lottery Fund hits back at newspaper's 'nonsense' claim
  

The Big Lottery Fund has refuted claims by the Sunday Telegraph that it spends £1 out of every £8 it receives, on running itself. 

Charity Commission has 'no jurisdiction' over board member's payment from Amnesty
  

The Charity Commission has said it has no jurisdiction over Amnesty International making a valedictory payment of £530,000 to its former secretary general - now a Charity Commission board member - because the part of Amnesty that made the payment is not a charity.

High Peak CVS has made a huge difference to the boys and girls playing for Gamesley Villa junior football club. With High Peaks' support the team has become a focus for community pride on a run-down estate. This film, shown to the European Commission shows how...

Big Society fights back
  

The recent strength of opposition to the government's spending cuts has dealt a stinging blow to David Cameron's Big Society idea. But is it fatal? Tania Mason reports.

Networking tips for finance directors
  

The worlds of finance and networking share many of the same qualities, says Heather White. Really.

"The Welcome Trust does some valuable work but on this occasion they should be ashamed of themselves."

"Would it be an act of survival or sustainability, not mercy or charity, were the employees to take over the charity?"

"The community already have thousand's of community organisers. Why re-invent the wheel? Also, why do we believe that educational organisations and not VCF / empowermentnNetworks are the correct organisations to recruit and support local community champions."

FOIs don't grow on trees
  

The Cabinet Office has refused to answer a Freedom of Information request about the flora and foliage in its offices.

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