The government has published details of its plans for creating a 'Big Society' and the Cabinet Office has announced that TeachFirst founder Nat Wei has been appointed as government advisor on the Big Society. Also, Public Agency and Community Empowerment Strategies (PACES) has published The Big Society: How Could it Work? The paper examines the big society idea and the rebalancing of responsibilities and control between government and people. It proposes 22 ways in which Big Society needs to be tweaked in order to achieve its intention of strengthening communities while making services more efficient.

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation aims to fund the charitable activities of organisations that have the ideas and ability to achieve change for the better. Primary interests are in the UK's cultural life, education and learning, the natural environment and enabling disadvantaged people to participate more fully in society. Visit: www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk for details.

The Finance Act 2010 has introduced a new definition for tax purposes of charities and other organisations entitled to UK charity tax reliefs. The new definition includes a requirement that to be a charity, an organisation must satisfy the 'management condition'. This means its managers must be 'fit and proper persons'. For more details please visit: www.hmrc.gov.uk

A new partnership has been launched to challenge the idea that there is a gulf between what education systems provide and what children and young people need. The partnership believes that whilst our schools try to ensure that young people are literate, numerate and gain academic qualifications, the emphasis on testing and passing exams often squeezes out other skills that are just as vital in today's world. Visit: www.wholeeducation.org for more information.

Youth Action @ Hyndburn are offering opportunities for young people aged 16 – 25, who are interested in achieving a level 2 qualification in sports leadership and coaching. Youth Action @ Hyndburn's recent qualified sports Leaders have gone on to complete level one and two football coaching, a CWA climbing course and one Sports Leader recently got a job with Lancashire County council as a Young People’s Worker. Other opportunities include: Cycle Adventure - a half day cycle adventure for young people ages 14-19. Only 16 places available, and Boxing for Fitness for young people ages 14 plus - every Wednesday 6pm-7pm at Spring Hill Community Centre. Sessions are FREE of charge to young people and carried out by qualified coaches, assisted by Community Sports Leaders. Interested?

Kate Gaskell has been appointed Parent Support Advisor in Wyre and she is looking for new members to join their new Wyre Parent Support & Parenting Forum

Charityfair 2010 - 21 & 22 June, Central London 
Charityfair is an excellent opportunity for you to meet 1,000 like-minded charity workers, to discuss opportunities, learn from each other, share experiences and make your charity stronger.  

Please see below a list of upcoming Lancaster CVS  training events:

An Introduction to writing small funding bids:

Wednesday 22nd September 2010

Time: 9.30am-12.30pm

Venue: Lancaster CVS, Trinity Community Centre

Introduction to Small Funding Bids: Session Two: Costings:

Wednesday 6th October 2010

Time: 9.30am-12.30pm

Venue: Lancaster CVS, Trinity Community Centre

An Introduction to Managing Volunteers:

Wednesday 29th September 2010

Three of Young Lancashire’s Youth Groups from across the county have won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Described as the MBE for Volunteer Groups, the prestigious national honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. Skelmersdale Action for Youth from Skelmersdale, Fishwick Rangers Youth Development Scheme from Preston and Streetlife from Blackpool, will be...

Francis Maude MP and Nick Hurd MP, have spelled out in an open letter the Government's key priorities for the voluntary sector and its policies in the light of the recent announcement of the Big Society agenda. The letter sets out how the Government want to make it easier to run a charity or voluntary organisation, how they aim to get more resources in to the sector and how they aim to make it easier for charities to work with the state by reforming commissioning and procurement. Download a copy of the letter...