The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has published the UK Civil Society Almanac 2013. The data examines charities accounts for financial year 2010/11 and shows the powerful effect that high inflation had on charity sector finances in recent years, finding that 5% inflation meant the sector's real-terms income was almost identical to its level in 2009/10.The Almanac registered its biggest fall in the sector's real-terms spending since it began recording in 1996.

Unite and Intern Aware have published: Interns in the voluntary sector - time to end exploitation. The report said that more than a third of the top 50 charity employers in England and Wales - based on number of employees - do not pay interns. It calls on charities to stop "exploiting" unpaid interns and says there is a risk internships will be the preserve of the wealthy elite.

The Department for Education has been working with the Centre for Analysis of Youth Transitions (CAYT) to set up an open access data bank of quality assured impact studies on services and programmes that support the development of young people, such as those charged with

The Office for National Statistics has published a new statistical bulletin on Young People not in Education, Employment or Training. The research finds that for January to March 2013, there were 1.09 million young people (aged from 16 to 24) in the UK who were NEET, up 21,000 from October to December 2012 but down 101,000 from a year earlier. For January to March 2013, just over half (53.0%) of all young people in the UK who were NEET were looking for work and available for work and therefore classified as unemployed.

The Department for Education has published an evaluation of the 16-19 Bursary Fund, which replaced the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). The evaluation said that 68% of providers thought that the Bursary Fund was effective in targeting young people with the greatest barriers to participation in education or training. Visit:  www.gov.uk

The London Safeguarding Boards have produced a briefing paper that summarises the key points from the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children, released on 21 March 2013. It highlights the significant changes to Working Together, 2010. Visit: Briefing Paper 

The Institute for Youth Work has confirmed it will open to qualified, non-qualified and student youth workers in September. The National Youth Agency agreed to fund the start-up process. Visit: www.cypnow.co.uk

HM Revenue & Customs has launched the new Gift Aid system, Charities Online. It replaces the paper form - R68(i) print and post repayment form) - that is currently used to claim tax repayments. HMRC, with voluntary sector partners, have produced a set of instructions to follow. Visit: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk 

The British Youth Council has published A Guide to Working with your Local Authority to Improve the Provision of Activities and Services for Young People. The guide includes details of statutory guidance for Local Authorities and explains how it affects young people. Vist: byc.org.uk

The HM Revenue & Customs has published the entry level guidance for charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) wishing to use the new Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS). There are also a number of flowcharts to help charities and CASCs work out whether they're eligible for the scheme and how much they can claim. Detailed guidance that sets out the technical detail and requirements under the legislation in more depth for charities with more complex arrangements will be published on HMRC's website in the coming weeks.