Could you be a CEN representative on Team Hackneys Sustainable Environment Group

Do you want to influence change and make Hackney a better place?

Do you have knowledge of Hackney’s environmental issues?
 

Hackney Environment Network requires four CEN representatives on Team Hackney’s Sustainable Environment group.

 
Hackney Environment Network (HEN) is a cross-cutting network of organisations and individuals involved in a wide range of environmental improvements, including biodiversity, local food growing, preservation and enhancement of green space, energy efficiency, waste management, transport, design of the built environment, and climate change. HEN exists to support Hackney’s grassroots environmental initiatives and the people involved in them, by maximising their access to resources, strengthening communication among them, and improving dialogue between them and other members of our third sector and the council's strategic partnership, Team Hackney.
 

Team Hackney brings together all the major public sector agencies, local businesses and Voluntary and Community Service (VCS) organisations to make the borough a better place to live and work. The aim of the partnership is to ensure that everyone involved in promoting the social, economic and environmental well being of Hackney is able to work together in a coordinated way to improve quality of life in the borough.

 
Being a representative on Team Hackney's Sustainable Environment Group is an opportunity to influence positive changes in the way environmental decision making is achieved in Hackney, and to contribute to the way that the council cares for the borough's environmental assets and faces the problems of conserving our biosphere, for example funding for new projects and persuading partners like the NHS and the Learning Trust to improve their environmental policies.

 
Hackney’s Community Empowerment Network (CEN) is responsible for promoting and supporting VCS participation in Team Hackney, and nominates and supports VCS reps to all Team Hackney boards and groups.  As a HEN representative, you will be a member of the Community Empowerment Network (CEN).

 
The CEN needs people who have the local knowledge and skills to influence the decision makers in the Team Hackney Partnership. The CEN representatives from Hackney Environment Network will need experience of community work in Hackney and an ability to listen to and communicate and work with both grassroots environmental activists and Councillors and statutory officials.


Being a representative for the Sustainable Environment group is an important job and it involves a lot of time and effort, but the rewards can be great. HEN and the CEN will support representatives so that they can make the most of the opportunities it presents.

If you are interested in becoming the CEN representative for Hackney Environment Network on Team Hackney’s Sustainable Environment group please contact Andrea Enisuoh at the CEN on 020 7923 1962 or email andrea@hcvs.org.uk for more information and an application form. The deadline for submission of applications is 30 November 2009.

 Download the pack here

 

Kind regards,

 


    

Mary Cannon                                                            Amy Erickson                                            
Chair, Community Empowerment Network Executive       Hackney Environment Network

    

Shaping the Future of Care Together Hackney Council Response

Please find attached the London Borough of Hackney’s response to the Adult Social Care Green Paper ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together’ for your consideration.    If you have any queries about the feedback, please contact Thomas Atkinson in the Community Services Policy Team, on 020 8356 4833 or email thomas.atkinson@hackney.gov.uk  

Have you got space for trees?

Jemma Zighed from Our Lady & St Joseph RC primary school in Hackney has 28 small trees (under 1m height), a mixture of Rowan, Cherry and Silver Birch. These will all grow to be medium sized trees. The school are not able to home them on their site, so are looking for a green space in Hackney where they can be planted. The school gardener and a group of children would like to be involved in the planting. Please contact Jemma on JZighed@olsj.hackney.sch.uk if you are able to help.

Are you over 55 years of age and want to learn to swim ? Free Swimming Lessons

Are you over 55 years of age and want to learn to swim ?

 
Learnt to swim before but now lack the confidence ?

 

With our dedicated instructor you can learn to swim for free every week



Wednesday

3.30pm-4.00pm

 
or


Friday

6.00pm-6.30pm

 

(Starting w/c 23 November 2009 until w/c 22 February 2010)


 
Terms & Conditions

Must be a beginner swimmer

Resident of Hackney

Must register prior to lessons
 

Click here to download the flyer

 
Booking essential.  Please emailing claire.ruocco@gll.org or call Claire Ruocco on 020 8985 2158 for more information

Physical Disability & Sensory Impairment Special Interest Group Nov 20th

11am - 1pm  at Hackney Family Back up

With invited speaker Paul Knipe talking about the transformation of adult social services call Jackie on 0207 923 8361 for more information or email  jackie.hscf@googlemail.com 

Refugee Therapy Centre Open Afternoon- FAIR JUDGEMENTS: REASONS FOR INCONSISTENT ACCOUNTS IN UK ASY

Thursday 19th November 2009, 3.00 to 5.00pm

at our new premises…

1A Leeds Place, Tollington Park, London N4 3RQ

We would like to invite you to come along and find out about our research on:
FAIR JUDGEMENTS: REASONS FOR INCONSISTENT ACCOUNTS IN UK ASYLUM APPLICATIONS

The Refugee Therapy Centre and the Centre for the Study of Emotion and Law are, in partnership, conducting a 3 year research with the aim of influencing immigration law and improving decision-making for refugees and asylum seekers.

Dr Jane Herlihy, Director of the Centre for the Study of Emotion and Law, and Dr Aida Alayarian, Clinical Director of the Refugee Therapy Centre, will be explaining about the research, answering questions and providing information about how to get involved.

The Open Afternoon is also an opportunity for staff and volunteers from Refugee Community Organisations, as well as professionals working with refugees, to visit the Centre.

Those attending are also welcome to join our Refugee Community Representatives Steering Committee. This is an opportunity for you to give us advice and recommendations to help us to meet the needs of refugee communities.
This event if free of charge, but space is limited.

To book your place, or for more information, please contact us…

Email: info@refugeetherapy.org.uk

Telephone: 020 7561 1587

How to find us:

Tube: We are a few minutes from Finsbury Park Station (Piccadilly and Victoria Line)
Buses: 4, 19, 29, 106, 153, 210, 236, 253, 254, 259,
W3 & W7

CEN: Youth Crime Providers Network meeting

CEN: Youth Crime Providers Network meeting
Thursday, 26 November 2009, 1.30 – 4.30pm  
Venue: HCVS, 84 Springfield House, 5 Tyssen Street London E8 2LY
To book:  Click here for a booking form: http://www.hcvs.org.uk/EN/store/cen/events/09NOV26_YCN.doc 

Mental Health Special Interest Group AGM

The Mental Health Special Interest Group is having its AGM with keynote speaker

Dr Robert Dolan - Chief Executive -  East London Foundation Hospital 

10th December 2009 11am - 2pm please contact Jackie.hscf@googlemail.com for more information 

Small businesses have not reduced giving

Small businesses 'have not reduced giving'

By Paul Jarvis, Third Sector Online, 12 November 2009

Donations have remained strong despite the recession, says Barclays survey

Small businesses have continued to support charities during the recession, a new survey indicates.
Click here to find out more!

The poll of 1,000 small businesses by Barclays found that in the past 18 months 36 per cent had maintained a constant level of giving to charity.

 

Eighteen per cent cut their charitable support in the same period, and only 5 per cent managed to increase it. The remaining 41 per cent did not support charities at all.

"The amount of money donated by local businesses has remained pretty constant, whether the business feels it's recovering from the recession or not," said Steve Cooper, managing director of Barclays Local Business.

Looking ahead, 16 per cent of small businesses said they would give more once the recession was over, and 71 per cent said they would continue their current level of support for charities in 2010.

Parliament passes new economic recovery powers for councils and RDAs

www.communities.gov.uk

Councils will have new powers to engineer economic recovery locally, following the Royal Assent of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill.

The Act strengthens the democratic role of councils to support local people and businesses to rebuild the local economy, increase jobs and skills, tackle housing shortages and improve infrastructure.

Councils will have a stronger economic role that requires them to work closely with local people and regional partners to deliver growth. The downturn has created different challenges for different areas, which is why councils, as local leaders, have been given the responsibility to find local solutions and to help to integrate these in a single, powerful regional strategy.

The Act creates:

• The responsibility for developing a single regional strategy, which will provide a blueprint for housing, transport and economic development. This will create a coherent action plan for recovery in each region and will be developed jointly by the Regional Development Agencies in partnership with a new local authority Leaders' Board
• A new requirement for councils to undertake an economic assessment of their area - to ensure that authorities can understand the challenges, make informed decisions and contribute to the development of the regional strategy
• New powers to create 'Economic Prosperity Boards' - to give local authorities the ability to create an executive decision-making body at sub-regional level to promote economic development and regeneration across council borders, within the overall framework of the regional strategy
• The creation of Multi Area Agreements (MAAs) with statutory duties - these will provide a further option for local authorities to work together on economic development by allowing MAAs to be put on a similar statutory footing to Local Area Agreements.

Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton said:

"The global downturn has affected different areas of the country in different ways, creating challenges that require local solutions.

"Now that this Bill has been given Royal Assent, RDAs and councils will be in the driving seat for delivering strong local economies and regeneration. They now have the tools to set their areas on the path to economic recovery.

"The Act strengthens the democratic role of councils as local leaders in every region, giving them the power to work with local people and their regional partners to increase prosperity and tackle social deprivation and inequality."

Other measures include:

• New powers for councils to set up mutual insurance companies to help them make efficiency savings
• A new duty on councils to promote local democracy and ensure all sections of their community understand how the council and other public bodies work, who makes the decisions and how they can get involved
• A requirement for councils to respond to local petitions on the issues that are of most importance to their local communities
• The provision of funding for a National Tenant Voice - to ensure tenants' views are central to decision-making processes
• Strengthening overview and scrutiny through the creation of a scrutiny officer and broadening the scope of what joint overview and scrutiny committees can consider
• Making the Boundary Committee for England an independent body and separate from the Electoral Commission - implements Committee on Standards in Public Life recommendations to ensure Electoral Commission's integrity and public confidence. A legally independent Boundary Committee will establish a strong national body that is impartial, independent and solely focused on overseeing boundary changes (electoral, administrative and structural) in England.

Updated advice on charity lotteries

The Gambling Commission (http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk) has published further advice for fundraisers using lotteries to raise money for good causes. 'Running a Lottery' explains the various types, with 'Promoting society and local authority lotteries' giving details on applying for a licence or registering with the local authority, and 'Organising small lotteries' providing advice on lotteries that do not require a licence or registration. Commission page with pdf downloads. (Source: Third Sector) 

Asset Transfer Unit estimates 1,000 local authority asset transfers to communities are happening now

Asset Transfer Unit estimates 1,000 local authority asset transfers to communities are currently underway

10 November 2009: Two and a half years on from the Quirk Review the fourth round of the Advancing Assets programme is launched and ATU estimates 1,000 local authority asset transfers to communities currently underway

Two and half years on from Making Assets Work: the Quirk review of community management and ownership of public assets, an independent survey from SQW exploring the progress that has been made on the asset transfer agenda has found that there are 350 asset transfer projects currently underway from a sample of 119 local authoritiesⁱ. From this snapshot of the current landscape, the Asset Transfer Unit (ATU)ⁱⁱ estimates there may be closer to 1,000 transfers of local authority owned assets to third sector organisations in train across England.

Hugh Rolo, Head of Assets and Investment at the Development Trusts Association (DTA)ⁱⁱⁱ, which manages the ATU, said: “Since its launch in January 2009, the ATU has already handled almost 300 enquiries. In view of its work with close to half of top tier local authorities, and based on data extrapolated from the survey, we would suggest that a conservative estimate of 1,000 transfers currently in progress provides a much clearer indication of the scale of activity. These transfers will mean major operational and efficiency savings for the public sector. With diminishing capital budgets, and as more strategic approaches to asset management are deployed, we expect to see a dramatic increase in the rate of public to third sector asset transfers over the coming years - bringing with it added value to local authorities and more importantly real social, economic and environmental outcomes for communities.”

Publication of the survey results coincides with the launch of the fourth round of the Advancing Assets for Communities demonstration programme^iv. The programme offers expert support and advice to local authorities and their third sector partners seeking to develop joint plans for community asset transfer in keeping with the recommendations of the Quirk Review. The fourth round of Advancing Assets aims to enable 30+ local authorities and their third sector partners to benefit from the in-depth support on offer during 2010-11. Local authorities throughout England who have not already participated in the programme are invited to apply now - unsuccessful applicants will still be invited to discuss with the ATU what other support it may be able to offer them.

Some of the partnerships that received support in the first two years of the Advancing Assets programme are already benefitting communities following successful transfers - including the Birtley Community Hub in Tyne and Wear, transferred from Gateshead Council to the Birtley Community Partnership (BCP) on the basis of a 99 year lease for a peppercorn rent during Summer 2009. With funding from the BIG Lottery Fund managed Community Assets Programme and support from the Advancing Assets programme, the Council and BCP have refurbished a former library building and transformed it into the Birtley Community Hub, providing a base for community facilities that include a local credit union and the North East Council for Addictions.

A recent report from the ATU, People, Places and Partnerships, revealed that of the 50 local authority and third sector partnerships that received support from the Advancing Assets Programme 2007-2009, over a third are expected to complete successful transfers before the end of March 2010. 45% of the transfers are set to take place in rural areas and 50% in areas of deprivation.

Barbara Follett, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, said: “We are delighted at the real progress that these programmes, funded by Communities and Local Government have demonstrated. They show, over and over again, that communities benefit where local authorities listen to and work with their community partners to develop a strategic approach to the use of local assets. Transferring assets to community management or ownership in a thoughtful and supported way can bring real added social value, particularly important in these straitened times.”

The survey findings and the report will be launched alongside the fourth round of the Advancing Assets for Communities programme at the free Empowerment, Enterprise and Regeneration conferences organised by the ATU, in London on 10th November and in Sheffield on 17th November, before being made available via the DTA and ATU websites.

Work for Benefits Pilots Proposed

Progress Is being made on running pilots for a Community Allowance, which would see people on benefits undertaking work that strengthens their neighbourhood. Pilots are proposed for Lincolnshire, Manchester and Portsmouth/Isle of Wight. A report from New Economics Foundation also reckons that for every pound invested in the Community Allowance, £10 worth of social value will be generated. See Third Sector news item at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/964628/, or Community Allowance updates at http://communityallowance.wordpress.com 

Public sector confused about contracts with charities conference is told

By Kaye Wiggins, Third Sector Online, 12 November 2009

Institute of Fundraising Scotland annual conference hears consultant John Bonnar tell charities they should take a lead in determining the nature of service-level agreements

Public sector officers responsible for implementing contracts and service-level agreements between charities and government are often confused about how the agreements work, delegates at the Institute of Fundraising Scotland annual conference have been told.
Click here to find out more!

In a speech during the conference in Glasgow yesterday, consultant John Bonnar said it was little surprise that charities were often puzzled about the difference between a contract and an SLA, and about how they worked, because there was a lack of clarity from those who had put them in place.

 

Bonnar said that contracts and SLAs would become a more important source of income for charities than their other fundraising activities.

He said charities should take the lead in determining the nature of the agreements.

"If the Government isn't doing something it has pledged to do and your charity can carry that function out, you should approach the Government and offer to help meet its goals," he said.

Charities had become disempowered by the system of contracts and SLAs because they had failed to grasp the concept of it when it was first put in place, Bonnar said.

He also warned that pressure on costs meant fewer, larger contracts and SLAs would be set up to deliver public services, so charities would have to work together to fulfil the agreement.

Are you a BAME organisation looking for partners - or are you looking for a BAME Organisation

As you will be aware economic difficulties and a changing institutional policy environment has resulted in many organisations looking or thinking of working in partnership or collaborating, and in some instances even merging.   This is particularly the situation for equalities organisations.  The Modernisation Fund, administered by CapacityBuilders, is one example of a funding stream which offers specific support to organisations who are considering a change in the way their organisation is constructed.  Nevertheless, there are many difficulties in finding an organisation to work with and ambivalence on who to approach.     

If you would like to work in partnership with a BAME organisation, or if you are a BAME organisation that would like to work in partnership, collaborate or merge, Minority ethnic Network (MiNet) will be producing an Information Bulletin that will allow organisations to share this information.  The first edition of MiNet’s Information Bulletin will be sent out within the next month and regular Bulletins will commence mid-monthly in January 2010.   

Information contained within the Bulletin will be sent out widely through MiNet’s extensive database of BAME contacts which are based in London.  If you would like more information or have any questions about MiNet’s Information Bulletin please reply to this email with your query. If you would like to include details about your organisation and the partnership organisation you are seeking in MiNet’s Information Bulletin please send a blank email to this address with the word ‘Partnership’ in the subject heading and a template will be sent out to you.  

MiNet Administration

Waterloo Business Centre, Unit 217 & 208

117 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UL 

020 7902 1939

www.rota.org.uk

To become a member of MiNet please click HERE

Existing governance model is bust, says RNIB chair

The existing model of charity governance that gives non-executive trustee boards authority over executive staff is bust and cannot be sustained, the chair of RNIB told an audience of charity chief executives last week.

In a colourful and uncompromising speech to the Acevo annual conference, Kevin Carey said that boards should comprise both “non-executive wisdom” and “executive expertise and implementation” and that trustees should receive payment for their services.

Carey is in the process of setting up a Progressive Governance Association to promote professionalism among boards.  He used his platform at Acevo – where his chief executive at RNIB, Lesley-Anne Alexander, is chair – to outline some of his ideas.

“Things would be much easier and more efficient if the Charity Commission allowed boards to combine execs and non-execs in a co-creational process,” he told delegates. “The model which makes it difficult for beneficiaries to become trustees and which puts non-execs in a supervisory role over execs is bust.

“It should be obvious to anyone that the one thing non-execs can’t do is effectively monitor execs, especially in the area of finance and budgeting.  No director of finance is worth her salt if she can’t run rings around the honorary treasurer.”

Related to this, he went on, was the need to pay for strategic expertise, especially in the area of financial control. “Charities where the finance director can run rings around her honorary treasurer are running on their luck, and it won’t last forever.”

He said that while charities in general are not full of “venal and grasping people”, they are “prone to a level of vanity and grandstanding that commercial organisations would not tolerate”.

Carey also stated that the “whole regulatory framework of charities” should be reviewed so that they can meet the challenges that await them. “If government wants charities to be cutting edge, fleet of foot and flexible, it will have to take its foot off the regulatory pedal,” he said. “Sometimes small is beautiful but we need some national charities with the heft to compete in the commercial sector and to be taken seriously by government.  The DWP would not be able to ignore a disability charity with an annual turnover of more than a billion pounds.”

• For the full text of Carey's speech, click here

Age Concern and Help the Aged rebrand as Age UK

Age UK is the new name for the merged organisation formed by Age Concern and Help the Aged despite the new charity denying it would use the name in January.  

Civil Society broke the news that Age UK was a potential name in January. However, at the time a spokesman for the newly-merged organisation said Age UK would “absolutely, categorically not” be the public-facing name of the new charity, saying it was a purely administrative legal name.

The name Age UK will not be used until spring 2010, when the rebrand will be officially launched. The new charity will have a turnover of more than £150m.

Regional branches will use the names Age Cymru, Age Scotland and Age NI.

Tom Wright (pictured), chief executive of the charity, said the new name reflected what the organisation represented and what it did:

"The research we have carried out over the past eight months has not only helped us choose the right name, but given us the chance to hear how we can best represent and support people in later in life," he said.

"This has been crucial in helping us develop a shared vision for the new charity so we can deliver real improvements to the lives of older people."

The two charities began investigating the practicalities in moving towards a merger during 2005, and the new entity is scheduled to launch on 1 April 2010. It will be the biggest merger since the creation of Cancer Research UK in 2002.

Source Civil Society

First Time Drop In Housing Association Rents

Five million housing association tenants will get first ever rent reduction next year.

The Government is to confirm a rent reduction of less than 1% next year resulting from deflation, measured by the retail price index.

The National Housing Federation has warned that the proposed cuts will threaten services and cost millions in lost income, affecting many community services such as job schemes and environmental projects.

The Federation has conducted a survey of 300 of its tenants, 70% of which responded that they would prefer rents to be frozen enabling the provision of services including crèche facilities and IT training to be continued.

The Federation’s chief executive David Orr said:

“The Government wants housing associations to deliver more new homes and more community services during the recession – and our sector is ready to meet that challenge.

“But faced with a cut in their incomes next year, housing associations may be forced into cutting rather than expanding the services they offer – and thousands of services could be at risk of cutbacks.”

Source: BBC News, 09/11/2009

New Business Tool For Social Enterprises Launched

The RBS SE100 index has been launched to measure the impact of social businesses.

The index has been created jointly by Social Enterprise magazine and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and is designed to measure the growth and impact of a range of organisations working to affect social, environmental and economic change.

Charities, housing associations, co-operatives, social firms, community enterprises and ethical businesses are all eligible for inclusion.

The index will use data from key growth markets to identify and publish the top five organisations in a new market each month and will produce a top 100 at the end of the year. Awards of up to £50,000 will be distributed in March 2010 along with a full list of the index’s data.

The index is accessible 24 hours a day and entries and nominations may be made at any time.

Users may enter their own organisation or nominate another for recognition.

To make an entry or nomination view the index here (opens in new window)

Charities will run state services under Tories, says Cameron

By Paul Jump, Third Sector Online, 11 November 2009

Conservative leader sets out his vision of a smaller state, complemented by a 'big society'

Third sector organisations with a track record of success would be funded by the state to expand successful social programmes under a Conservative government, according to David Cameron.
Click here to find out more!

The Tory leader made the pledge last night during a lecture in London setting out the Conservative Party's vision of a smaller state, to be replaced by a "big society".

 

The expansion of the state had eroded social solidarity and responsibility and had "reached a point where it is now inhibiting, not advancing, the progressive aims of reducing poverty, fighting inequality and increasing general wellbeing", he said.

Cameron said the state needed to help create the big society by "galvanising, catalysing, prompting, encouraging and agitating for community engagement and social renewal".

"It must help families, individuals, charities and communities come together to solve problems," he said.

The Tories would identify and work with "the social entrepreneurs who have the capacity to run successful social programmes in communities with the greatest needs", according to Cameron.

"We will identify proven social programmes, franchise them to social entrepreneurs with a track record of success and fund them directly from existing state budgets to deliver public services," he said. "If we find the right people, a relatively small number can make a huge difference."

A spokeswoman for the Conservative Party said by "social entrepreneurs", Cameron had in mind all third sector organisations. "It is about removing the barriers to delivery of services by sector organisations in areas such as education and health," she said.

Whitehall also needed to become more sector-friendly, said Cameron. "We need people capable of engaging with social entrepreneurs and civic institutions who can agitate and encourage social action, and help people to build the type of sustainable organisations we need," he said.

"And if we are to break the culture of charities and social bodies being dependent on the state for handouts, we need to look at how government can use loans alongside grants to help make them more sustainable and effective."

In response to a question from Stephen Bubb, head of chief executives body Acevo, Cameron insisted his plans would not involve charities underwriting the cost of public services.

"He said the Tories expected the sector to be properly funded," Bubb told Third Sector, adding that he agreed with much of Cameron's message, which echoed Acevo's Replacing the State? policy document, published in 2003.

Unite: charities are Trojan horse in NHS partnerships

Unite: charities are 'Trojan horse' in NHS partnerships

By Paul Jump, Third Sector Online, 10 November 2009

Voluntary sector is being used to cover up the fragmentation of services, says trade union

Voluntary sector organisations are being used as a "Trojan horse" to break up the NHS, according to trade union Unite.
Click here to find out more!

The union cited NHS East of England, NHS Cambridgeshire and Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust, which last month announced plans to invite third sector, private and NHS organisations to bid for the franchise to run Hinchingbrooke Hospital, near Huntingdon, as an example of the practice.

 

Staff will remain employed by the NHS and the hospital and its assets will still be owned by the NHS.

Rachael Maskell, Unite's national officer for the not-for-profit sector, said charities were being lured into a market place for contracts that made them "completely vulnerable" financially and compromised their ability to advocate for improvements.

"We cannot put lives at risk in what could be an unstable market place," she said. "Charities are the Trojan horse for privatisation."

Owen Granfield, Unite's lead officer for health in the eastern region, said both the union's health and its not-for-profit sector members were opposed to the break-up of the NHS and the fragmentation of services.

"It is clear that the NHS in the east of England is using the region as a guinea pig for various privatisation initiatives, such as social enterprises," he said.

Where to with Wellbeing - Minds National Conference on Physical Activity and Mental Health

In Brighton on the 26th- 27th November

Click here for all the information 

Interested in helping your services users back into work? - Big & Small Working Together 18th Nov

Calling all community groups interested in how Hackney tackles unemployment

Hackney’s Economic Development Network (EDN) has organised an event on Wednesday, 18 November called BIG and small working together? Take advantage of this conference to explore how big and small providers of training and employment support can work together in partnership to improve job prospects for Hackney people. 

Community training and employment providers have vast experience and expertise in this field, supplying many of the hidden yet vital services that enable people to move into employment.  Services such as ESOL support, childcare and outreach are essential particularly for people who find it hard to access mainstream services.

Crystal Todd, EDN Coordinator said: “We want to re-focus Hackney’s approach to worklessness by looking at the journey someone makes as they get into work.  Community groups provide invaluable employment support that is hidden or overlooked by decision makers.  By coming to this event, small and large community groups can take the opportunity to promote their work and get their voices heard.”

This is the first in the series of events looking at how big and small organisations can work together for the benefit of local people.  Speakers on the day include representatives from Partnerships & Investment Team at Hackney Council’s Regeneration and Planning Department, Serco Welfare to Work, Lifeline Projects and Hackney Voluntary Action (HVA).

Through a mix of panel discussion and workshops at this event, small and large community providers of training and employment support will be able to discuss potential partnership opportunities through Flexible New Deal and other funding streams.  As well as discuss the barriers faced by local people as they progress towards employment and highlight the wealth of services provided by the VCS which support people on this journey.

Book your place today for Big and Small Working Together?

Hackney’s Economic Development Network Conference on Partnership Working for Economic Development

on Wednesday, 18 November from 10 to 3pm

at City Edge, Morley Hall, 125-127 Mare Street E8 3RH

Don’t miss this opportunity to influence things as they are shaped!

The European Year Against Poverty: a conference and exhibition

EY2010_flyer.pdf 366K   View   Download

ATT729774.txt 1K   Open as a Google document   View   Download

£500-£4000 one of donation for Childrens Welfare & education -Tescos -opens 1st December

The Tesco Charity Trust has announced that it will once again be seeking applications through its Community Awards programme in early 2010. The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off donations of between £500 and £4,000. The funding it gives goes towards providing practical benefits, such as equipment and resources for projects that directly benefit children, the elderly and adults and children with disabilities, living in the local communities around our stores in the UK.

There are two categories of Community Awards – grants to support children’s welfare and/or children’s educations (including special needs schools) and grants to support elderly people and/or adults and children with disabilities. Previous projects supported have included: sensory garden or room projects; outdoor classrooms; breakfast and after school clubs; holiday play-schemes; and part funding to purchase minibuses.

The grants programme for children’s welfare will open for applications will open from 1 December to 31 January 2010. The grants programme for elderly people and/or adults and children with disabilities will open from 1 February to 31 March 2010.

www.tescocharitytrustcommunityawards-applications.co.uk

Grants up £20k for Disability; educational projects; herbal medicine

The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation 

The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation provides grants to charities for:

• Educational projects;
• Music composition and performances;
• Herbal medicine;
• Medical research;
• Disability;
• Farming related projects.

Grants of up to £20,000 are available to registered charities with a turnover of less than £500,000. The Foundation favours supporting small charities that will carry out the project themselves (except in the case of medical research), who rely on volunteers and who can demonstrate a successful history of projects.

The Trustees will usually meet to consider applications in January, April, July, and October. Applications need to be submitted before the last week in the month before the next meeting. For example, for an application to be considered at the January meeting, applicants will need to submit it before the last week of December.

For more information, visit www.pwwsolicitors.co.uk/charitable-applications/charity-details/the-sylvia-waddilove-foundation-uk.

source: NALGAO

via 

ChangeitAwards for young people cash prizes for campaigns or ideas for campaigns - plus photo comp

Nominations for the 2009/10 CHANGEit awards are currently being accepted. The closing date for all nomination submissions is 11 December 2009. 

Innovation nomination

Do you have a creative or unique campaign idea to make a difference in your school, club or community?  We want to hear about it!  Submit your campaign idea for a chance to win up to £750 in funding to launch your campaign, the tips and training to get started and, if appropriate, a mentor to offer advice and support along the way.

Performance nomination

Are you, or do you know someone, who has already launched a campaign that is making a difference?  Give them the recognition they deserve and nominate them for a Performance award. Finalists will win up to £250 and winners will receive up to £750 in cash prizes and the potential for work-shadowing opportunties.

Photography submission

Have you taken a picture that shows campaigning in action or your view of change?  We want to see it!  Submit your photograph here for an opportunity to have your image as part of the CHANGEit photography exhibition and win one of two £250 cash prizes. Judges are looking for creative photos that show change made by young people or the change young people see. 

Want to send in a nomination via email, fax or post?  Download the forms:

CHANGEit Nomination Form (Performance & Innovation)

CHANGEit Photography Submission Form

Having trouble with the online forms? Contact us!

Check out the website

From £2k to £100,000 to change the UKs drinking culture

The Drinkaware grants scheme aims to change the UK’s drinking culture for the better.  We work to positively influence public behaviour and find innovative ways to raise awareness about the effects of alcohol, to help reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm.

Our funding schemes give local and national projects a fantastic chance to change the nation’s drinking habits and make a positive difference to people’s lives. This is your chance to be part of the solution.

Grants are available to groups in any part of the UK, working with any population group, through 3 schemes:

Ideas Fund - up to £2,000
Awareness Projects - up to £25,000
Big Impact Awards - up to £100,000

Our funded projects include peer-led education schemes, alcohol education work, awareness raising among disadvantaged people who are at risk of harm from alcohol misuse, pilot projects and innovative work.

For information on how to apply, visit the 'how to apply' section of this site.

Ideas Fund – up to £2,000

Have you come up with a great idea but need a helping hand to develop it? Our Ideas Fund may be your answer.

It is ideal for community-based projects needing support to work out an initial idea before applying for a larger award. Or it could be put to good use on development work by organisations looking to scope out a larger alcohol awareness or education initiative.

Awareness Projects – up to £25,000

Perhaps you need a larger award to help with project costs, resources or publicity for work already developed? This scheme offers the funds you need to deliver messages which raise awareness about alcohol misuse and bring about tangible change.

We are looking for projects that undertake direct, hands-on work with individuals and the community. We are particularly keen to hear from projects that have had a positive impact in tackling attitudes to drinking.

Big Impact Awards – up to £100,000

This exciting initiative is designed to help larger scale projects pack a more powerful punch or reach a wider audience. Proposals need to show how an organisation’s work has impact, and how it contributes to learning about alcohol awareness and education.

We want to fund creative, pioneering and eff­ective projects, especially those that could have a national influence. This could be through a more complex initiative, such as a large scale partnership, simultaneous pilots around the UK, or a national inquiry, or through sharing resources, experience and emerging practice. Projects should have a strong element of direct work with individuals and the community.

Click here for the website 

European money for Life long Learning

Grundtvig Programme

Posted: 11 Nov 2009 03:42 AM PST

€1 billion is available for actions under the Grundtvig programme, part of the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Programme. Grundtvig aims to increase participation in adult education, improve co-operation between adult education organisations and enable people who are socially excluded to have access to education, especially those without basic qualifications.

Grundtvig supports the following actions:

· Visits, placements, adult education exchanges and preparation visits needed to plan exchanges
· Learning Partnerships
· Multilateral projects for improving adult education systems through development and transfer of innovation and good practice
· Networks of experts and organisations developing adult education spreading good practice and supporting partnerships

Deadline: first call for proposals January 16 2010

Parks for People 2010 application dates

Parks for People is a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) programme which offers grants from £250,000 to £5 million for projects involving urban or rural green spaces designed for informal recreation and enjoyment. Capital work and projects may be funded. The priorities are:
· The community values the park as part of their heritage
· The parks meets local social, economic and environmental needs
· The park actively involves local people.

Deadlines: 1 March 2010 and 31 August 2010 for both first and second round applications.

See the Heritage Lottery Fund website for more information.

Source SYFAB

Supported Living Scheme Team Leader - LBH

Directorate Community Services Service Area Provided Services Salary £25,515 - £27,009 Shift Pattern Full Time - 36hrs, Monday / Friday Closing date for applications 23 November 2009

More Info...

Team Leader Job Description.doc

Click here to apply for this job

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Supported Living Scheme Night Manager

Directorate Community Services Service Area Provided Services Salary £31,152 - £33,306 Shift Pattern Full Time - 36hrs, Monday / Friday Closing date for applications 23 November 2009

Sharing our commitment to delivering 24 hour care to vulnerable people The Role Our innovative Supported Living Schemes (SLS) provide 24-hour personal support to 152 tenants, most with mental health or dementia diagnoses, across seven locations. We actively support them in remaining independent while ensuring that they get the help they need, using outcome-focused care plans. Your contribution will be to manage the night domiciliary care service. The Requirements You will have knowledge and understanding of the needs of vulnerable people with high health needs and of ways in which these needs can be met that are appropriate, culturally sensitive, supportive and empowering. You will have the ability to lead in the care planning process to ensure plans are meaningful and relevant to people’s lives. Responsibilities Managing the scheme within the resources of the service, you will ensure that a high quality service is provided to service users. You will be responsible for motivating a team of Care Workers to work with service users to achieve documented outcomes. The Individual Experienced in managing a Care & Support service, you will have proven expertise in empowering staff and service users. You will also have strong communication skills, be approachable, accessible, empathetic, and flexible in covering across sites and managing staff working shifts and weekends.

More Info...

Job Description Night Manager.doc

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Organisational Development Officer (London)

Across England, hundreds of Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs) deliver support and advice to refugees. Despite RCOs' success, almost all would benefit from more support. This is where our Basis Project comes in. Created through the support of the Big Lottery Fund, and delivered in partnership with Refugee Action, the project will run for another two and a half years. The aim is to enhance RCOs' financial sustainability, their organisational capacity and their ability to deliver services to clients.

This is a new role, created to respond to the demand for our services in London.

This key role will see you working closely with RCOs across London, and building links with funders and other second-tier service providers.

With each RCO you’ll assess their needs, agree a development plan and coordinate the delivery of the support they need, including providing consultancy-style advice. As an integral part of the Basis team, you’ll also work closely and flexibly with counterparts from other regions across England.

You have a background in providing advice on organisational development issues in the voluntary sector, and will have delivered training before. A natural self-starter and solid relationship builder, you’ll bring an understanding of areas such as fundraising, project development, organisational governance and financial management; and an understanding of the needs and workings of RCOs. This role may best suit someone who will thrive in an environment that is under development.

Fixed-term to 30th November 2011

For further details please email recruitment@refugeecouncil.org.uk  or telephone 020 7346 6724.
To apply online go to www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/jobs

Please quote reference L/00286

Policy Officer - Employment and skills Ref: PO/PN/1

This is a new post, operating in a highly sensitive and visible area of policy. You will be a good communicator, able to work collaboratively, with high-level organisational skills and the ability to think strategically. With expertise in recent employment and skills-related policy work, you will develop an Employment and Skills policy network for the voluntary and community sector in London, working as part of a highly respected policy team with proven impact.

You will support network members to contribute evidence, develop appropriate policy positions and inform regional and national policy for the benefit of some of the most marginalised Londoners. You will prepare policy-briefing papers, organise network events and seminars, work with leaders from different sectors and lead on evaluating the impact of the network.

LVSC offers excellent benefits including paid maternity, 27 days leave (exc. BH) and flexi-time.

LVSC/POCovering letter

LVSC/PO Notes on completing application form

LVSC/PO Equal opportunities policy statement

LVSC/PO Job description

LVSC/PO Application form

Closing date is 12 noon, Friday 27th November. Interviews are expected to take place between 7th and 11th December.

Applications are invited from all sections of the community, particularly from groups who traditionally face disadvantage. LVSC operates from an accessible building in central London and strives to be an equal opportunities employer.

Sustainability and Organisation Development Advisor HCVS

Part time 21 hours per week

This is a challenging post with a remit to develop capacity building services through the Hackney Link Up network.

The overall purpose of the project is to build the economic, social and environmental capacity of voluntary and community groups so that through this process they become more sustainable.

This could include, for example, getting groups to look at working together to share ‘back office’ services, developing ways of increasing earned income to reduce grant dependency and assisting with business planning. Creativity and preparedness to explore fresh approaches are hallmarks of this role.
 
A key focus will be on supporting VCS organisations working with marginalised groups such as; tenant led, black, ethnic minority and refugee communities to address the barriers they face in developing sustainable income sources.

Support and monitor the progress of East London based sub regional development advisors to implement use of the Sustainable funding tool kit resources.
The post holder will be expected to keep the Hackney Link Up partnership well informed about activities and information of use to its membership.

For an application pack contact Paul@hcvs.org.uk or 0207 923 1962

Finance Officer

• Employer: FAMILY ACTION
• 
  
• Contact: Catherine Sikora
• Location: Dalston, London
• Hours: Full Time
• Salary: £19,339 - £21,089 p.a. Pay Review Pending

 

family action

Family Action, formerly FWA, celebrates its 140th birthday this year! We support over 45,000 families a year by providing practical, emotional and financial support through over 100 services based in communities across England. A further 150,000 people benefit from our educational grants and information service. We use this experience to campaign for a society free from disadvantage and social isolation.

Want to work for a charity?

£19,339 - £21,089 p.a. Pay Review Pending

Dalston, London E8 4AU

Reporting to our Finance Officer, you will assist in the efficient running of the Purchase Ledger function. This role involves processing high volumes of invoices and payments by cheque and BACS and ensuring accurate and timely information is processed within tight deadlines. You will also maintain filing and storage systems and assist in checking and processing Petty Cash returns and arrange payments to projects.

You will have experience of working in an accounts/finance environment and a good working knowledge of Excel and Sun Accounts or a similar package. You will be a part qualified technician (AAT, or equivalent finance-related qualification).

The role requires good written and verbal communication skills.

For application packs, please visit http://www.family-action.org.uk/workingwithus or send an A4 self-addressed envelope to Catherine Sikora, Family Action Human Resources, 501-505 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AU clearly stating which post(s) are of interest to you.

Closing date: Friday 13 November 2009.

Interview date: Monday 23 November 2009.

Family Action offers good working conditions, a comprehensive training programme and a final salary pension scheme. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

supporting families since 1869

Working Towards

Investors in Diversity

NCVO Fundraising Training

26 November
NCVO, London

Book online or call Matt on 020 7520 3160

With predictions that income for charities could fall sharply in 2009, you need to make sure your organisation is doing all it can to maintain it’s fundraising income.

This training event will identify the fundamentals of successful fundraising. It will explain the key principals involved and help you make sure you have the correct framework in place to take advantage of every fundraising opportunity that comes your way.

This event is ideal for…
anyone involved in funding or finance within a voluntary or community organisation.

What will I get from the day?

• Information from fundraising experts
• Information from fundraising experts
• Learning from real-life examples
• Cost effective tips to take back and put into practice
• A chance to network and share best practice with sector colleagues

HR Masterclass

NCVO’s Workforce Development team are running affordable HR training for Voluntary and Community Organisations. The training is run over two days on December 14 and 15, and will cover redundancy & restructuring and managing staff performance. The trainer is Wendy Blake-Rankin, author of the Good Guide to Employment. Find out more and book online here

Making the case for business giving

A new guide setting out the tax incentives for business to give to charitable causes, has been launched today by Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office, on behalf of HM Treasury, the Office of the Third Sector and HM Revenue and Customs.

“A Guide to Giving for Business” sets out in a single guide a comprehensive document listing the tax incentives for businesses to give.

The guide recognises that the private sector can contribute to the aims and objectives of charities in different ways, such as giving money, donating shares or equipment or working in partnership with a third sector organisation through employee volunteering or secondments.

Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:

“The benefits of partnerships between the charitable and private sectors are enormous. Not simply through raising money for charities and causes, but through the sharing of knowledge and the development of staff.

“This Government is committed to supporting corporate giving and this guide shows all the measures that are in place to promote giving amongst the business community.”

Mike Kelly, Head of CSR at KPMG, the professional services firm who were consulted in the creation of the guide said:

“This guide will be as useful to the third sector as to business.  The booklet brings together a comprehensive range of incentives for businesses to increase their commitment to communities.

“Working with the third sector is a real ‘win-win-win’ situation.  Charities benefit from the skills and resources as well as the cash, businesses benefit from the staff development that takes place, and members of staff can find it hugely motivational to be able to support their communities.

“In 2007-08, over 4,400 KPMG employees in the UK participated in our community volunteering programme – over a third of the workforce, contributing more than 38,000 hours in the firm’s time.”

Invest in staff for quality of care

------------
Investing in staff and leadership is the key to delivering quality care for older and disabled people, according to research in the report 'The real cost of quality care and support' published by the National Care Forum and Counsel and Care. News item at http://www.guardianpublic.co.uk/health-care-funding, or download pdf, 314KB.

Sharing resources on volunteer management

OurSharedResources.org is a new web site where those who work in the field of volunteer management can add useful resources and others will be able to access them. "With many people contributing a little we avoid re-inventing the wheel time and time again". At http://www.oursharedresources.com. (Source: AVM tweet)

Source 

Bringing together social media resources for nonprofits

Idealware, the US software review site for nonprofits, has compiled a library of resources on social media as the first step in a year-long social media research initiative. Read about it at http://www.idealware.org/blog/2009/11/introducing-idealwares-social-media.html.

ICT Security Guide

Aimed at voluntary sector staff with responsibility for managing and securing ICT systems, the new Computanews ICT Security Guide looks at Assessing the risks and policies needed, How computer security is affected by people and the environment in which it used, and How to secure those all-important assets. Download via http://www.lasa.org.uk/publications/computanews-guides/.

Working with children and vulnerable adults: the new Vetting and Barring Scheme

If you work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults, or if you employ people to do so, the government's new Vetting and Barring Scheme will affect you.

The scheme is essentially a register of those working with children and young people and/or vulnerable adults. The system is able to check and monitor and to prevent unsuitable people from working with these groups.

In practice this means that if a person is on the register, they will have been vetted and checked and there is no known reason why they cannot work with children and young people and/or vulnerable adults.

Registration does not indicate that there is no criminal record of any kind, simply that there is no record which would bar a person from working with children and young people and/or vulnerable adults.

The scheme is run through the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). The ISA website  is a helpful source of information and updates.

The information on the website defines what is meant by “controlled” and “regulated” activity and explains the registration requirements for both paid staff and volunteers and for the organisations that employ them and the continuing relevance of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks.

It is likely that organisations will need to amend their safeguarding policies to include references to the scheme and to make it clear that the trustees and/or management committee will ensure that the organisation take all measures necessary to fully implement the scheme and will comply with its requirements at all times.

Further information can be obtained from MVSC - email info@mvsc.co.uk - who will also be holding briefing sessions in the near future.

£40 million to lift long-term jobless back into work

Families who haven't worked for years will be helped to climb out of poverty and into employment through a new £40 million job and skills drive, announced Communities Secretary John Denham today.

While the number of long-term jobless families in deprived areas has fallen by 13 per cent over the last ten years, Mr Denham is determined to step up action to support the remaining 70,000 back into work. He wants to see that no-one is left behind especially now when the rest of the country is fighting to recover from the downturn.

Many of the families who have been unemployed for years become entrenched in a culture of worklessness - the Government will give people the right support they need to get a job, but equally will expect them to take up the offer or risk financial sanctions like losing benefits.

Today Mr Denham is extending the Government's support to communities during the economic downturn; building on a £3bn investment that's improved the Jobcentre Plus service; the guaranteed a job or training to all long-term unemployed young people; and Backing Young Britain - a rallying call to businesses, charities and government bodies to create more opportunities for young people.

The extra Working Neighbourhood funding announced today will allow 61 councils to do more, including directly stepping in to help the lives of some of the poorest people to get them in shape for work and off long term benefits, providing the support and skills they need.

One of the most effective ways of reaching out to the long-term unemployed is through social landlords, who already have relationships with their tenants. Mr Denham believes they can become the 'doorway' for council-led agency interventions.

Councils could use today's funding in this way to bring in qualified job counsellors or use trusted people, like social landlords, to convince people they can be better off financially in work. Research has shown that worklessness is an issue for over 80 per cent of the most challenged families, which is why this new investment is being provided to expand on measures already in place.

In Greenwich, for example, the council is working hand-in-hand with the job centre outreach team to bring the social landlord, local business and skills providers together through local job and skills fairs on housing estates.

John Denham said:

"We're determined to do more to help these families, they need to know they have not fallen through the net, or been written off.

"Their circumstances are often complex and they feel cut off from the job market. That's why today I'm announcing £40million of new funding for councils to make sure these families are getting the helping hand they need from local services so they can start to stand on their own two feet.

"We can reach them through existing links like their social landlord or outreach projects that can reconnect them with skills training and job opportunities.

"In past recessions we saw too much talent and potential get left behind - we are determined to make sure that this will never happen again. Through the New Deal we have effectively tackled youth unemployment, the next stage is to get to grips with the most difficult to reach families. We are continuing to help them by putting additional investment - into the hands of local leaders - and asking them to take immediate action.

"Now more than ever people need to know system is fair and that we are doing everything we can to give every person, even those from entrenched corners, a fair chance to realise their potential in life, pushing against poverty and striving towards aspiration. This will reduce the burden placed on state dependency."

Housing Minister John Healey added:

"There is scope for social landlords to do more to support tenants. We know that councils and housing associations tend to be trusted by their tenants and that many already provide advice services and want to do more.

"As part of their service to tenants I want to see more landlords offering the 'better off in work' calculations, which tell people how much better off they'd be in a job and give them more confidence in making the leap from welfare to work.

"This extra funding means local councils and social landlords can do more to help their tenants back into work."

Mr Denham is clear people need to know that tackling worklessness is the priority now more than ever, that the system is fair and doing everything it can to reduce the burdens on the state.

He wants to see councils put the extra resources government is putting at their disposal to work quickly to help every person in their area to develop skills and get meaningful work - crucial for the most deprived communities.

Over the last decade employment levels have risen and more jobs have been created. Latest statistics show nearly 29 million people were in work in July to September an employment rate of 72.5 per cent and the number of workforce jobs was 30.9 million in June 2009. According to the ONS there were around 428,000 unfilled vacancies in the three months to October 2009. The New Deal has helped 800,000 young people into work effectively tackling long-term youth unemployment. Almost 80 per cent of 16 to 18 year olds are in education or training - the highest ever.

Government investment has already transformed large parts of the country with SureStart centres, rising school standards, modernised social housing and neighbourhood policing. We are now doing more through the expanded Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) and the Connecting Communities programme to ensure no community is left out in the cold. Councils like Nottingham and Barnsley are already using WNF to double the length of time of a Future Jobs Funds placement to a year.

David Orr, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation said:

"We welcome this additional funding source and we would invite local authorities to make use of housing associations' unique ability of working with residents to deliver positive outcomes.

"Housing associations are increasingly recognised as key community anchors. They have the trust of their residents and are always working in partnership to provide meaningful employment and training opportunities. Our National Future Jobs Fund Consortia programme with Groundwork UK and over 70 housing associations is on schedule to deliver over 2,300 jobs in 6 months."

Councillor Steve Houghton Leader of Barnsley Council and worklessness champion for Government added:

"We must to everything we can to ensure that those farthest away from employment and prosperity in our most deprived areas are not left behind.

"I know that those local partnerships receiving WNF are already doing much good work to respond to the needs of their local residents. I also know that many partnerships can and want to do more. This extra resource will enable them to go further to respond to the challenges they face.

"Here in Barnsley we are using WNF funding to extend Future Jobs Fund Placements from 6 months to 12 months. This additional funding will allow us to offer even more young people and disadvantaged others a chance to improve their future."

Notes to editor

1. The WNF goes to the 61 local authorities with the highest levels of deprivation and low levels of skills and enterprise. Since 2008 £1.5bn of funding has been distributed or allocated for councils to decide how to use best to tackle worklessness. Today's announcement gives them extra resources to find new ways of reaching out to isolated communities.

2. The authorities were chosen because they were among the most deprived areas on the new Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007 and because they were among the districts with the highest non-employment rate. WNF is distributed through the non-ring fenced Area Based Grant. The WNF grants are distributed as follows:

3. The Hills report revealed over half of working age social tenants are workless compared to 34 per cent in 1981. For young people the picture is even worse - 80 per cent of new tenants aged 16-24 are without work. The full report of the study, Ends and Means: The Future Roles of Social Housing in England, published February 2007, can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/housing/strategiesandreviews/hillsreport/.

4. The Cabinet Office report Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion, published in September 2006, identified that children from the 5 per cent most disadvantaged families were over 100 times more likely to face multiple problems than those from the most advantaged 50 per cent. The full report can be found at: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_exclusion_task_force/publications/reaching_out.aspx (external link).

5. The New Deal which has helped 800,000 young people into work we have effectively ended long-term youth unemployment. Almost 80 per cent of 16 to 18 year olds are participating in education or training - the highest ever. The number of young people claiming JSA for six months or more is down 77 per cent since the height of the 90's recession and 84 per cent since 1985. And only 20 per cent of young people receiving JSA claim for more than six months - compared with 51 per cent in the 90's recession and 57 per cent in 1985.

6. Government is determined to make sure everyone has the real help they need now to support them through these difficult times, and to make sure they have the skills to play a full role in preparing for recovery. That is why it has:

• Established the September Guarantee so that every young person aged 16 and 18 is offered a suitable place in learning with an additional £655m for a record high of more than 1.5 million places, and
• Committed to funding 100 000 jobs for young people through the Future Jobs Fund, as part of a £1 billion package of investment.
• Introduced the Young Person's Guarantee, so that every young person approaching a year on Job Seekers Allowance will be offered a job from the Future Jobs Fund, training, or a place on a community task force.
• Increased the graduate support available to those struggling in a tougher jobs market - with more places for postgraduate study and more help to find suitable internships or volunteering options.
• Government has committed to supporting 20 000 apprenticeships over the next three years through our procurement policies. An encouraging step forward was the council commitment to creating 7 500 new apprenticeships.
• Set up the Backing Young Britain campaign which calls on businesses, charities and government organisations to create thousands of opportunities for young people taking their first steps on the career ladder through volunteering places, work experience, internships and apprenticeships.
• Set up the Connecting Communities programme to make sure that local people are having a fair say and that they feel the benefits of government support.
• The Prime Minister announced a commitment to provide FIPs for all families that need them with £26 million additional investment to support 10,000 families each year from 2010-11. FIPs have successfully targeted about 2,600 families since 2006 helping them change their anti-social behaviour and turn their family's lives around.
• WNF Reward will be consulted on in the coming weeks. 

Hackney Housing Strategy 2010-2015