Lord Wei quits as Big Society adviser to volunteer for Community Foundation Network

25 May 2011

Greetings!

The Big Society adviser Nat Wei has left the voluntary role after less than a year; poor governance and financial reporting could see the Church of Scotland lose its charitable status; and commissioners meeting with civil society leaders yesterday were in agreement that the difficulty of measuring social value could threaten the impact of new commissioning plans.

Lord Wei quits as Big Society adviser to volunteer for Community Foundation Network

Acevo's acting chief executive Peter Kyle has called on Lord Nat Wei to resign from the Lords following his decision to quit as the government's Big Society adviser less than a year into the role.

Church of Scotland risks losing charitable status, says report

A committee looking at governance in the Church of Scotland has warned that the religious group could lose its charitable status if it doesn't improve its financial reporting and governance oversight.

Outcomes are 'easily manipulated' in payment-by-results contracts

Social value is expensive and difficult to measure and results could be easily rigged by organisations applying to gain or retain contracts, according to speakers at the 3SC Commissioner's Seminar at County Hall yesterday.

The Big Society Network appoints new CEO

The Big Society Network has announced the appointment of Steve Moore as its new chief executive and also launched two new programmes to support social entrepreneurs.

Labour peer criticises Locality for "paternalist" approach to Big Society

Lord Glasman has slammed the government's decision to award a £15m community organising contract to Locality, calling it a "paternalist" approach which is out of step with the principles of community organising.

Charity governance needs debate, warns Peter Kyle

There needs to be a debate on the state of charity governance, according to Peter Kyle, acting chief executive of Acevo.

Tribunal judge queries how educating rich children can be charitable

The lawyer who is defending the Charity Commission against the Independent Schools Council's challenge to its public benefit guidance has found himself explaining to the tribunal judges how it is that such schools can be charities at all.

In other news...

Energy Saving Trust to become a charity

The Energy Saving Trust is to apply for charitable status and operate as a social enterprise, in response to a 50 per cent cut in funding from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Charities should not withdraw from the Big Society debate

A panel of charity experts has expressed misgivings with the Big Society agenda, but still urge the civil society sector to engage with David Cameron's flagship policy. Vibeka Mair reports on the debate.

Blog

Food for thought: Younger's views on regulating a changing sector

Gareth Jones hears Sam Younger suggest again that changes to the way charities are classified may be necessary.

Training

Training courses for trustees

Full list of 2011 course dates available now

Shop

Governance magazine
Subscribe from £95 | BUY NOW

They said it...

"How do you take these small organisations that have been part of a nationalised system and turn them into vibrant social enterprises that can compete with Capita or United Health Care in the open market at once. It sounds like fantasy-land and there is a danger that it is."

Stephen Lloyd, senior partner at Bates Wells and Braithwaite on the challenges of commissioning for health service delivery.

@CSGovernance

Civil Society eNews Contacts

Tania Mason, editor, 020 7819 1214,
tania.mason@civilsociety.co.uk

Phil Bishop, online advertising, 020 7819 1215,
phil.bishop@civilsociety.co.uk

Niki May Young, website editor, 020 7819 1206,
nikimay.young@civilsociety.co.uk