50 plus Health Awareness Programme E5

Business Transformation - the LBH perspective

 Click here to view the slides from Pratima Solanki's presentation  to the HSCF Forum on the 18th January 2010 - the slides cover the legislative background - the structure in Hackney, what the VCS can do to prepare and the trainig LBH is funding.

Click here to view the milestones Hackney has set and will be reporting ot the DOH on

Notes of the meeting will be circulated later

Consortia Tendering Free 3 day course

This Free 3-day course  will give you the skills to confidently seek and respond to competitive tenders of all types – from a simple two page quotation to a tender.

Attending this workshop will provide you and your organisation with the skills necessary to identify competitive tendering opportunities and respond effectively or to win sustainable business by writing competitive bids and proposals.

 11th Feb, 4th March, 11th March

To book call

Please fill in our survey by 5pm Monday 1st Feb - a network is only as strong as its members

What should we be prioritising ?

How should we all be responding collectively in these changing & challenging times

What support does your organisation need to get through?

please spend 5 minutes today filling in our 6 question survey 

HSCF - reduced hours & working from home

Due to personal circumstances from the 1st February I will only be in the office between 10.30am  and 12.30pm and I will be working from home the remainder of the time I may be working slightly reduced hours but I am aiming that the core HSCF services are not affected. I am contactable on my work mobile  07931132196 and between 10.30-12.30 on the office number.

Hackney policeman receives Una Padel Award

HCA grants Hackney regeneration scheme £27m

28 January, 2010

By Nick Jones

Next phase of Woodberry Down mixed-use project will deliver 250 homes in north-east London

The Homes and Communities Agency has announced nearly £27m of funding for one of the capital’s most high-profile regeneration projects.

Woodberry Down, in Hackney, will see 187 new homes for social rent and 60 for shared ownership built with work set to begin in March 2010. The new homes are expected to be completed by 2012/13. The homes will be built across two sites, Woodberry Grove North, and the other on Green Lanes. The sites are part of phase one of Woodberry Down’s regeneration programme.

The regeneration of Woodberry Down will deliver over 4,500 new homes of mixed tenure and a range of facilities including a community centre, health centre, business centre, shops, an academy and extended primary school. Planning permission for the masterplan was granted in July, 2009.

Karen Alcock, deputy mayor of Hackney, said: “This £27 million unlocks the next phase in Woodberry Down renewal. It is providing high quality affordable homes as well as key community facilities."

Berkeley Homes has been selected as developer for the development.

Genesis Housing Group has been confirmed as the registered social landlord. Genesis will own and manage the new affordable homes on Woodberry Down once they are built.

Third Sector Commissionioning Strategy for Team Hackney Partners Development Day

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Dear CEN and Networks

Please see below – anyone interested in attending should book their place directly by emailing: christopher.enti@hackney.gov.uk  no later than Friday 18^th February 2010.

Many thanks

Andrea Enisuoh

CEN Project Officer

Hackney Council would like to invite you to take part in the development of a Third Sector Commissioning Strategy for Team Hackney partners.   

Date: Wednesday 24^th February 2010

Time: 09.30- 1.30pm –lunch will be provided

Venue: Tomlinson Centre, Queensbridge Road, Hackney E8 3ND

The Third Sector Commissioning Strategy

The Office of the Third Sector leads a National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning (delivered by Improvement and Development Agency - IDeA) and has developed eight principles of good Third Sector Commissioning.  These principles focus on how spending on public services can be directed to achieve the best return for communities, the environment and the public purse. 

Team Hackney partner organisations are now developing a Third Sector Commissioning Strategy for Hackney.  Our strategy will include national good practice principles and create a common commissioning approach which can be adopted by all commissioners and Team Hackney partners. 

What we have done so far

The development of the strategy is being led by Susan Gooding, Head of Community Partnerships and Sonia Khan, Head of Commissioning in Partnerships.  So far we have met with commissioners and representatives from the third sector to start to plan what we need to do over the next year to embed the national principles and create a common approach locally.  

What we need from you?

The aim of the event is for delegates to work in small workshop groups (a mix of commissioners and Third sector organisations) to unpack, assess and co-author Hackney’s Third Sector Commissioning Strategy. 

Why you should attend?

In addition, your input is a vital step in taking the draft strategy forward and achieving better outcomes for individuals and communities through smarter, more effective and innovative commissioning.

Who should attend?

Due to the structure of the workshops there are a limited number of spaces and delegates will be invited through the CEN and HCVS networks.

To book your place: Please confirm your attendance by emailing: christopher.enti@hackney.gov.uk  no later than Friday 18^th February 2010.

Inequality and Mental Health seminar

London Tuesday 9th February 11am - 4pm

Toynbee Hall 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS

with

Lynne Friedli author of Mental health, resilience and inequalities

Sarah Corlett Consultant in Public Health NHS Lambeth and public health
lead for mental health. This includes leading the development and
implementation of the local strategic partnership's mental wellbeing
programme since 2004.

Tony Coggins Head of Mental Health promotion at South London and
Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He has spent the past 5 years setting up
SLaM's mental health promotion service with a remit of enabling the
Trust to deliver on its strategic aim of working in partnership to
promote mental well-being for all. Key to this has been developing
well-being services and interventions that apply the evidence around
promoting positive mental health bin communities . This includes a 4
year programme of work to promote well-being in 20 small communities
across London (Well London programme).

Patrick Vernon Chief Executive The Afiya Trust

Some relevent material which we might discuss is at
http://www.sochealth.co.uk/confs/mentalinequality.html

Cost (includes lunch): Statutory and commercial organisations £80,
Voluntary organisations £40, Socialist Health Association members £15
(includes members of affiliated organisations such as GMB, Unite and
Unison who represent their union or pay their own way). Unfunded
organisations and individuals please contact us.

Please use our Booking Form http://www.sochealth.co.uk/confs/Booking.htm



--
Martin Rathfelder
Director
Socialist Health Association
22 Blair Road
Manchester
M16 8NS
0161 286 1926
www.sochealth.co.uk

What should our priorities be?? Come to our half day workshop 4th March

The Health & Social Care world is changing around us and we have to change to -we need your views on what sort (if any) network you want & what you see your role as, as a member.  A network is only as strong as its members.  The half day will be on the 4th March 9.30am -12.30pm call Jackie on

Phone 0207 923 8361

Mobile: 07931132196

to book your place 

Charities should campaign less, says Oliver Letwin

By Paul Jump, Third Sector Online, 26 January 2010

Conservative Party manifesto author says Tories plan 'huge' role for sector in service provision

Some voluntary organisations spend too much of their resources on campaigning and not enough on service provision, according to Oliver Letwin, the author of the Conservative Party's forthcoming election manifesto.

Letwin, MP for West Dorset, told the NCVO's campaigning conference yesterday that a "vast and powerful" sector was necessary to deal with problems that the private sector was unwilling and the state unable to address.

But he said he regretted that "so much of the effort of some parties in the voluntary sector is devoted to campaigning.

"They are free to do it, but what I treasure about the sector isn't its campaigning role. Its special contribution is to do something to change things and solve problems."

He described the voluntary sector as "one of the cornerstones" of what the Conservatives wanted to achieve and pledged that a Tory government would provide sustainable support to enable the sector to work with people the state had been unable to reach.

But he also warned that the burden of reducing the fiscal deficit could not be borne by the sector. "Voluntary organisations and social enterprises can take a leading role in dealing with the social recession, but the economic recession needs to be tackled by government and opening up the UK for business," he said.

Letwin said the Tories would go beyond the Compact, which he said was the product of another era.

"You can't build capital or run a proper social enterprise on the basis of full cost recovery and micromanagement from government," he said. "You need to be able to make a reasonable profit and plough it back into expanding services."

All sector public service delivery should be paid for by results or with grants, he added.

He said the real question was not whether a Conservative government would turn its back on the sector but whether it would ask it to do too much, given its existing capacity.

"The answer to that is 'yes', which is why we are working out how to build the capacity not just of large but also of tiny organisations," he said.

"We need a huge market place of voluntary sector organisations and we need to find ways of replicating things, supporting best practice and increasing access to capital."

Source 

Interview with Peter Holbrook - Social Enterprise Coalition chief exec

Holbrook at the helm

• by Tim West

Life on the good ship SEC with Holbrook

The Social Enterprise Coalition has a new boss with a unique way of doing business and ambitious plans. Tim West talks to Peter Holbrook about treasure hunts, tattoos and turbulence

You don't normally get an invitation to a treasure hunt from your boss. Unless they are the captain of a pirate ship, of course.

But then, Peter Holbrook, new CEO of the good ship Social Enterprise Coalition, is not your normal kind of boss.

On his first day at the helm in January, he gave his new crew a set of clues to locations around London. At each spot, surprise guests from Sunlight Development Trust, his previous command, were waiting to spill the beans on his past.

'I thought it would be really nice to have a relationship between the teams,' says Holbrook. 'We also did some strategic thinking at the CAN Mezzanine and then went ice skating at Somerset House.'

The Sunlight staff's unconventional leaving present to Holbrook is also telling: a tattoo with the Latin words, 'Non nobis solum nati sumus,' by the Roman philosopher Cicero, meaning 'We are not born for ourselves alone.'

In the ten days of his captaincy, Holbrook has also joined staff in a snowball fight and had so many meetings he reckons he has spent only three hours behind his desk. Everybody wants a piece of the new boy. He claims to have taken 50 phone calls from people offering advice, 'most of which contradicted each other'.

The look in his eyes indicates he is pleased to have so many enthusiastic offers of help - but is perfectly confident in finding his own path, thanks all the same.

It is a turbulent time to take the reins at the Coalition. Economic instability, political uncertainty and spending cuts threaten. Does he have the skills and experience to navigate the storm?

Holbrook was brought up in Mitcham, south London. After school he worked on the checkouts at M&S, then as a supervisor. He turned down management training as 'it wasn't what I wanted to do in my life', and swapped a place to study retail management at university for environmental management.

'Originally I just wanted to go out and make money but I found that wasn't enough. I had concerns about social justice that made me feel angry and upset.'

In hindsight, he says, he was looking for a career in social enterprise. 'I could see there were opportunities to build different types of businesses.'

Following his degree, Holbrook worked for the Body Shop, in retail, then PR. He moved to Oxfam, where he focused on branding. At the time, this pioneering charity was being overtaken by competition and needed to change. Holbrook helped to treble the income of Oxfam's flagship bookshop and, as brand manager for the London region, saw the income of its Soho shop rocket from £400 to £2,500 a week.

To the sunlight in Kent
A short spell in marketing for another charity wasn't a success. 'It was a very traditional charity and the culture didn't quite work for me.'

So Holbrook took some time out, went to see his sister in Australia, then to Kent, where his mother had moved following her divorce from his father.

It was here he got involved with an initiative called Project Sunlight and was encouraged to become its first manager. Nine years saw Sunlight grow from a Lottery-funded project into a thriving social business, selling services to public and private sector purchasers from catering to parenting skills. 'It's a real mix of consumer markets and public sector contracts,' he says.

Holbrook knew generating income was crucial. 'I used whatever experience I could to think about how we could actually start trading. I didn't identify it as social enterprise at the time - it was survival.'

He was also clear that his job was about listening. 'The community was keen to have a café and I knew it was a nightmare. But what the community wanted I had to deliver,' he says. 'We could not go down the usual community café route. It had to be a comparable offer to Starbucks.'

The strategy worked. Sunlight turned over close to £1.5m last year, has won several awards, and Holbrook joined the elite squad of Social Enterprise Ambassadors, appointed to spread the word of social business across England.
So why, when he's enjoying such success as a frontline social entrepreneur, has he been tempted by a job running an umbrella body?

'The opportunity to influence social change nationally and internationally was just too big to miss - and I love a challenge,' he answers.

Holbrook, 38, also gets a salary increase of more than 15 per cent, to between £75,000 and £85,000 a year. But I believe him when he says his motivation has never been money.

'For me social enterprise is primarily about achieving social or environmental mission,' he says. 'That doesn't mean you have to be entirely selfless in achieving that goal.'

It's very early days, but what can we expect in the coming months?

'You can expect me to be a safe risk-taker - I don't take stupid risks,' he says. 'I have seen what taking risks can achieve. But I am not going to damage the organisation. It's about being brave and aspirational but equally being open enough to take on the views and opinions of other people.

'The changes in governance structure have meant the Coalition is a good place to access some incredibly able members in our movement.'

The Coalition board has recently been stripped down with fewer members from other umbrella bodies and more social entrepreneurs. But I put it to Holbrook that there is still a lack of representation from the private or public sectors.

He strongly refutes this. 'The Coalition has to be owned by the movement,' he says. 'Of course we will work with the public or private sectors but I don't accept that idea; I don't think you can say our board does not have those skills.' He points to new board members such as Andrew Croft, CEO of social enterprise support organisation CAN and a former top executive at easyGroup, and Caroline Mason, operations director at the social investment business Investing for Good CIC, who also has a strong private business background. He also claims that the Coalition has 'great relationships' with the corporate social responsibility organisation Business in the Community, as well as with the British Chambers of Commerce and Institute of Directors.

Moving to politics, Holbrook says one of the 'great legacies' that his predecessor Jonathan Bland has left is 'that there is enormous support for social enterprise across the political parties'.

He says: 'There's a real consensus across the parties that social enterprise is a way of tackling the social and environmental challenges we face as a country that we have failed to effectively deal with for decades.

'We have been having breakfast meetings with all the parties and working to influence their manifestos.' He is confident that social enterprise will be covered in all three main party election manifestos. But while Bland dedicated much of his role to political lobbying, Holbrook hints that his time will be apportioned differently.

'There's a need for the Coalition to be in London but you will see much more of me in the regions and other countries than perhaps was seen of my predecessor,' he says.

'In the next year, I hope people will recognise a different Coalition. I would like to see the membership develop, and for people to say, "We see a change and we feel something is different." I want to be more accessible, more transparent, with more partnership working and more visibility.'

Holbrook is also clear that the Coalition must become less dependent on government support. 'You want to be close to government because you want to influence policy and legislation,' he says.

'But we will have no credibility and no mandate in the movement if we are seen to be just an extension of government.'

To achieve this, the organisation must be more financially sustainable. In addition to increasing the membership, this means thinking about other forms of revenue.

The Coalition is quite 'asset poor', he says, so he wants to address this quickly by acquiring a building, through asset transfer, or by taking advantage of low prices due to the property slump.

The building, which would need to be in London, would act as a community hub and be more than 'just rented office space'.

Other key initiatives include the future of the Ambassadors programme and the new Social Enterprise Mark, being launched this month at the Coalition's conference, Voice10.

Ambassadors and awareness
I suggest there are exciting opportunities in these but also difficulties, and a lack of co-ordination between the two.

He disagrees.

I ask if former Fifteen CEO Liam Black, booted off the Ambassadors programme when he left Fifteen, might be invited back, since he is at the forefront of promoting social entrepreneurship to the corporate sector.

'This has not been at the top of my priority list and if it was I probably would not be right for this job,' he says.

But he is concerned that there is no commitment from government to continue funding the Ambassadors programme, despite some 'incredible outcomes'.

'I think it's been incredible to have very inspiring entrepreneurs out there raising awareness to people who have not heard of social enterprise. It would be a real shame to waste that investment.' He adds that each school group he worked with in his Ambassador role rejected the traditional private sector model in favour of social business for their enterprise projects.

'The seeds have been sown and we are on the verge of a real growth in our movement,' he believes.

Even hard-nosed folk like BBC Newsnight journalist Jeremy Paxman are giving air time to social enterprise, Holbrook adds.

When I point out that a recent example involved Paxman roasting Tory social policy guru Phillip Blond just for using the term 'social enterprise', Holbrook says, 'The next trick is the understanding. But the door is open.'

Recent government research found that even among those most likely to support social business only 20 per cent of those people knew anything about it. A major weapon in the Coalition's armory for widening understanding will be the Social Enterprise Mark - a logo and campaign to promote the benefits of the business model

Sunlight was the first to take up the Mark outside the south west of England, where it was piloted.

Holbrook will now be one of four directors of a community interest company set up to run the Mark, a joint venture between south west regional social enterprise body RISE and the Coalition. He wants 'several thousand' organisations signed up within five years.

I ask if the rules defining social enterprise might be too strict. 'We know that the criteria need to strike the right balance and finding that balance is quite tricky,' he answers. 'What we don't want to do is stifle creativity and innovation... If people feel they are a social enterprise but don't meet the criteria they can apply and if necessary take the case to an independent panel. If they make a strong case, the panel has the authority to award them the Mark.'

'I would like it to do for social enterprise what the fair trade mark did for fair trade,' Holbrook says.

'In five years, I hope the Mark is becoming an internationally recognised symbol. In ten years I hope public awareness of social enterprise has shifted to 70 or 80 per cent. Only if you are living in a nuclear bunker will you not know about social enterprise.'

Tory right to buy plans amount to empty promise

• by Chrisanthi Giotis

'I accept that one month is a very short period of time but we need to think of the needs of the private property owner who may be in need of the money'

Jim Paice, shadow minister for agriculture, speaking at today's Plunkett conference

The Conservative Party's proposal to give villagers the right to buy their shops and pubs came under scrutiny this morning with claims that a one-month window to raise cash amounts to an empty promise.

Speaking at the Plunkett Foundation's rural communities conference in London today, Jim Paice, shadow minister for agriculture, said a Conservative government would give communities three months to purchase a public asset that was for sale and one month in the case of private assets like pubs.

Plunkett Foundation trustee Helen Seymour said her delight at hearing the 'right to buy' proposal 'turned to ashes' when she heard the period of grace was only one month before sales would be opened up to private buyers.

She said that even in the case of willing sellers six months was a very fast period for a community to buy an asset.

'Could I ask you to reconsider the time frame because otherwise it is a completely empty promise,' said Seymour.

Paice said: 'I accept that one month is a very short period of time but we need to think of the needs of the private property owner who may be in need of the money.'

Richard Lewis of community enterprise support organisation Adventa argued that even six months was a very short period of time for a rural community to form a group that could purchase and run an asset.

He suggested that in the case of publicly owned assets the period of grace should be one year.

Source Social Enterprise

Futurebuilders Fund closes to new applicants

By David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online, 27 January 2010

Social Investment Business chief executive says fund could reopen when repayments begin

The £215m Futurebuilders Fund, the Government-backed loan fund set up to help third sector organisations win public service delivery contracts, has closed to new applicants after awarding all of its funds.

Jonathan Lewis, chief executive of Social Investment Business, which runs the fund, said the organisation would consider reopening it when it began to receive repayments on existing loans.

"We've made long-term commitments over the next 10 years," he said. "However, the National Audit Office considers that the original money lent out could net returns of £400m.

"At some point in the future, and we don't know when yet, we should be in a position to reopen the fund."

Since it was established in 2004, Futurebuilders has made investments in more than 370 third sector organisations to help them win public sector contracts.

Lewis said Social Investment Business would continue to lend through a number of other Government-backed funds, and would try to raise money to lend from the private sector.

"We may be able to borrow up to £100m from private sector sources," he said.

Stephen Bubb, chair of Social Investment Business, said the success of the Futurebuilders Fund confirmed that the third sector had an appetite for loan finance.

He said the popularity of the fund, which received applications for up to £90m a month, showed that there was a need for a social investment bank, which would act as a social lender for the sector.

The State is grinding the spirit of charities into submission

Since 1997 under Labour 'privatisation-lite' has steadily eroded the independence of charities and community groups

The major role for the voluntary sector is to raise matters of social concern, influence government policy where possible and hold the state to account for its shortcomings. Since Labour came to power in 1997 the independence of charities and community groups has been steadily eroded as the State has co-opted the voluntary sector for its own interests and intentions - ‘modernisation’ is the new ‘privatisation’. It is not the role of the voluntary sector to run public services.

One main mechanism used for this co-option is state funding, and in particular, the practice of procurement and commissioning. This is now much more prescriptive than it ever was before, reducing voluntary agencies to the status of contractor and foisting on them inappropriate ‘business management’ styles borrowed from the private sector. Not only do these changes fundamentally alter the relationship between government and individual voluntary agencies, they are also sapping the life out of the sector itself. Whole swathes of voluntary sector activity – work on employment issues, for example - are now dominated by multi-million pound, corporate, charitable businesses, controlled by overpaid executives, watching the ‘bottom line’.

The other mechanism that has been used to enslave the sector has been the culture of ‘partnership working’, based on a fictional assumption that we are all one big happy family working together. Last month saw an exemplary example of this fiction in the launch of the ‘refreshed’ Compact, an ‘accord’ that purports to set out how the Government and the voluntary sector should behave towards one another. Promoted as a means of achieving equality between the two parties, in reality the Compact is a fig leaf for unequal power relationships. When it is inconvenient to follow the guidance the Government simply breaks it — in fact, the launch of the new document was immediately preceded by a flagrant breach of the Compact by the Minister for the Third Sector herself, who at the last minute retracted funding already promised to campaigning charities.

So it was doubly disappointing that the five major organisations who are regarded as speaking for the voluntary sector recently issued a ringing endorsement of the revised Compact. We know that many people within the sector believe it is a worse document than before, largely ignoring the unfunded, volunteer-led community sector, dumping vital equalities issues and focusing instead on the government’s privatisation agenda. So why are these dissenting views not represented? The answer again lies in co-option – most of these national bodies take money from the Office of the Third Sector, so they don’t criticise. And those that don’t have this money still want a ‘seat at the table’ and feel they cannot ‘speak truth to power’.

We seem to be alone in speaking out at a national level, although support for our perspective is overwhelming on the ground. The issues we raise will be especially crucial this year and beyond, as public funding cuts take hold. Charities that have contracted with the State will find themselves with legally binding responsibilities for delivering public services without the means to do so. They will keep their services going with donations and the principle that public services are paid for with public money will take another hit. And the needs of community groups – a national treasure - supporting marginalised groups will still find themselves ignored. It is time we all spoke out against this.

Andy Benson is the joint convener of the National Coalition for Independent Action. www.independentaction.net

Source the Times 21st January 

Ethnic Minority Advisory Group Invites Applications For Membership re employment opps

The Ethnic Minority Advisory Group (EMAG) is asking for local groups to join and share their experiences.

Applicants are being sort from various different sectors including education, voluntary and community groups, training organisations, faith providers and employers, to provide a valuable source of advice and guidance based on their experiences of what is likely to work best for ethnic minority communities in employment.

The Ethnic Minority Advisory Group (EMAG) provides advice to the Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force4 and makes recommendations on new initiatives that the government could take forward. They are now seeking new members.

EMAG are urging those wanting to make a difference to the employment opportunities of ethnic minorities and influence government policy to apply for membership.

Membership of EMAG is voluntary and unpaid. The group meets quarterly, usually in London.  However, representatives from across the country are urged to apply with the option of meetings taking place in other areas or via a new virtual network.
 
The closing date for applications is Friday 26 February 2010.

For further details on how to apply, visit the Ethnic Minority Employment Taskforce website (opens new window) or contact Christine Wright on 020 7449 5630.

Sector in danger of lack of leadership development

29/01/10

By Andrew Holt

Charities are in danger of neglecting leadership potential, as they chase a shrinking funding pool, a director of a major initiative on social leadership said today.

Dame Mary Marsh, director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme, who will be speaking on 12 February at the HR Society's President's Forum, believes that while the challenges in the not for profit and charity sectors are significant, a lack of planned and supported development opportunities will hamper third sector leadership and therefore its capacity to deal with a rapidly changing environment.

"There is a real gap in the need for sustained and holistic development of senior people in the Third Sector and in depth opportunities to acquire new skills," she said.

"Many charities are so focused in delivering benefits to their constituents, they are unable to focus on the needs of their leaders to develop, which has potentially significant consequences for organisations which will be looking at delivering services in the community."

Dame Mary believes that in an already challenging year, the need to develop leadership potential is acute, but that charities find such expenditure difficult to justify.

"My presentation at the HR Society in February will be looking at my own leadership journey and presenting the model for leadership developed as part of the Clore Social Leadership Programme," she said.

"But I'm also looking to HR practitioners to contribute to the model, point out what we might have missed and to discuss ways of trying to build in funding for leadership development as core to their budget.

"I'm also interested to know how we might facilitate better connections between the public and private sectors to equip Third Sector leaders with skills they might not otherwise have, given the sector in which they operate."

Andrew Mayo, president of the HR Society, said: "The Third Sector needs really effective leadership and much of this can be provided by experienced leaders from the private and public sectors. But this has to be in parallel with internal development planning. This Forum is a great opportunity to learn about and debate these challenges."

Grants up to £5k for Older peoples groups & domestic violence

Nationwide Foundation expands its Small Grants Programme criteria

Submitted by howardlake on 24 January, 2010 - 01:26.

The Nationwide Foundation has expanded its Small Grants Programme criteria for charities working with older people. Small grants can now be applied for by charities working for the benefit of all older people to improve their housing needs or address financial exclusion.

Before December 2009 applicants had to demonstrate that the older people they were funding fell into one of six categories.

The Nationwide Foundation's Small Grants Programme makes grants every two months. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to registered charities with incomes of under £500,000.

Small Grants are also available to charities which work with survivors of domestic abuse, focusing their funding on finance and housing issues.

Lisa Parker, chief executive of the Nationwide Foundation, said: "Expanding our criteria gives charities more opportunity to provide support to all older people.

"Our funding is used to tackle a wide range of financial and housing issues. In cold weather, many charities are helping older people stay warm in their homes and manage their energy bills. This is typical of work we may fund.

"I urge charities which are eligible to apply for a grant. Our application process is very simple and we pride ourselves on processing grants quickly.”

www.nationwidefoundation.org.uk

Source UK Fundraising  Twitter

+Grants up to £10k for education / training (inc informal sessions and financial capability)

From the website of Santander Foundation - these are new guidelines click here for the website   

Education and training

This could be any activity disadvantaged people undertake where they improve their confidence in a skill or their understanding of a subject This does not have to be formal training or lead to a qualification, although those activities would be eligible too. It could be any activity disadvantaged people undertake where they improve their confidence in a skill or their understanding of a subject.

Examples could include independent living skills, anger management, or improving self esteem. Other examples could include reminiscence projects for older people, art and craft sessions as well as IT classes. These are just a few examples and should not be regarded as a definitive list.

Financial capability

 This priority covers activities which help disadvantaged people understand how to manage their money. It could include budgeting skills, accessing affordable credit as well as managing the challenges that arise from being a carer, unemployment, disability or relationship break up.

Examples could be the costs of running a credit union, projects delivering financial advice and helping people to understand their benefit entitlement. Successful applications under this priority have included equipping a training kitchen for homeless people who learnt how to budget effectively for their food and then went on to apply these principals to other parts of their lives.
 

What kind of funding is available from the Foundation?

All funding is for one off donations.

Grants are available to buy tangible items such as equipment or training materials.

Grants are also available to fund project costs such as sessional worker fees, salaries, room hire or other costs incurred in the delivery of the charitable priorities.

Who can apply?

We can only make donations to organisations with charitable status for their work within the UK. This includes registered charities, Friendly Societies, Industrial & Provident Societies registered under charitable not membership rules (an exception to this are credit unions – who we can fund).

We cannot fund Community Interest Companies or not-for-profit organisations unless they are also registered charities.

We cannot fund individuals or charities outside the UK.

How much can you apply for?

Grants of up to £10,000 can be awarded anywhere in the UK where there is a branch of Santander or Alliance & Leicester.

+Grants up to £10k for education / training (inc informal sessions and financial capability)

From the website of Santander Foundation - these are new guidelines click here for the website   

Education and training

This could be any activity disadvantaged people undertake where they improve their confidence in a skill or their understanding of a subject This does not have to be formal training or lead to a qualification, although those activities would be eligible too. It could be any activity disadvantaged people undertake where they improve their confidence in a skill or their understanding of a subject.

Examples could include independent living skills, anger management, or improving self esteem. Other examples could include reminiscence projects for older people, art and craft sessions as well as IT classes. These are just a few examples and should not be regarded as a definitive list.

Financial capability

 This priority covers activities which help disadvantaged people understand how to manage their money. It could include budgeting skills, accessing affordable credit as well as managing the challenges that arise from being a carer, unemployment, disability or relationship break up.

Examples could be the costs of running a credit union, projects delivering financial advice and helping people to understand their benefit entitlement. Successful applications under this priority have included equipping a training kitchen for homeless people who learnt how to budget effectively for their food and then went on to apply these principals to other parts of their lives.
 

What kind of funding is available from the Foundation?

All funding is for one off donations.

Grants are available to buy tangible items such as equipment or training materials.

Grants are also available to fund project costs such as sessional worker fees, salaries, room hire or other costs incurred in the delivery of the charitable priorities.

Who can apply?

We can only make donations to organisations with charitable status for their work within the UK. This includes registered charities, Friendly Societies, Industrial & Provident Societies registered under charitable not membership rules (an exception to this are credit unions – who we can fund).

We cannot fund Community Interest Companies or not-for-profit organisations unless they are also registered charities.

We cannot fund individuals or charities outside the UK.

How much can you apply for?

Grants of up to £10,000 can be awarded anywhere in the UK where there is a branch of Santander or Alliance & Leicester.

up to £5k for church/ faith based groups to enagae in social action

Church Urban Fund Grant Programmes in 2010

Main grants from the Church Urban Fund have been suspended until January 2011. The Mustard Seed Grant Programme is running however. This programme provides grants of up to £5,000 to enable churches and faith-based organisations to engage in social action by supporting them to initiate or develop community work.

For more information see the Church Urban Fund website.

Source SYFAB

Marketing in a Nutshell - training from the MediaTrust

Thursday 04 February 2010

Time:

10:00 AM until 01:00 PM

Event type:

Workshop

Description:

Get to grips with your marketing activities. Taking you through the concepts, tools and best practice in marketing communications for third sector organisation; you will come away with a solid knowledge foundation and an action plan for your organisation.

Ideal for you if you want an introduction or fresher on the marketing mix to make sure you're focusing on the right areas.

Outcomes:

- Understand and use the tools that help marketers communicate

- Identify, understand and reach your target market

- Develop a marketing plan for your organisation

Location:

Media Trust

SW1P 4RR

Greater London

Cost:

£95.00 charity / voluntary
£118.75 public / private

Contact:

Call Naz on 020 7217 3779 or email: nazani@mediatrust.org

(Prices exclude VAT)

Getting there:

We'll send you full details and directions once you have booked a place. Delegate registration begins 30 minutes before start time.

http://www.mediatrust.org/training-events/events-calendar/copy_of_your-website

New Scheme To Aid Disabled Entrepreneurs

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A new programme has been launched to help disabled entrepreneurs in London grow their business.

The Enabled4Growth project is being part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and will be run by charity Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Over the next three years, it is hoped that the initiative will help around 700 businesses “survive the difficult current trading conditions, improve their financial health, and prepare for and achieve business expansion”.

The support scheme is open to all London-based businesses and social enterprises that are led by a disabled person.

Participants will work alongside a dedicated Business Advisor who will carry out a full assessment of their company and offer advice on areas to improve.

The scheme is particularly focused on ensuring businesses are “investment ready”. Advisors will point entrepreneurs in the direction of suitable funding streams, help them to make applications, and also broker meetings with potential investors.

Jane Fletcher, director of innovative projects at Leonard Cheshire Disability, said:

“Ensuring all the basics are in place and getting the right funding proposal together is the key to growth and attracting further investment.

“Enabled4Growth’s free access to finance support is one way to help your business make that step.”

For further information about the programme, visit the Enabled 4 Growth website (opens a new window)

Capital Grants up to £100, 000 forsocial enterprise delivering services in health and social care?

Grants for digital media

Community Voices is funding 26 selected projects, all of which will benefit from face-to-face training and professional mentor support. We hope they will not only showcase the value of the Community Voices spirit, but also inspire other communities to make a difference.

The grant application process is open for isolated and disadvantaged communities in England. You don't have to have an official status as an organisation, however you could be an organisation (for example a charity, housing association or local authority) applying in partnership with, or on behalf of, a community of people. Equally you could be an individual member of your community. Here are some other examples:

• Projects already using digital media to develop their work with a specific community (perhaps a library with an online access programme looking to work with an identified deprived or isolated community)
• More formal community organisations looking to develop digital media to engender community voice and cohesion (perhaps a carers' trust looking to use digital technology to support isolated informal carers in their homes)
• More informal communities looking to embrace digital media (perhaps a residents' or tenants' association in a deprived community looking to use digital media as a mechanism to bring residents together)

So that we can ensure the grants go to community-led projects, you need to be able to demonstrate that you have the backing of the community for the project you propose. Projects have to be fully engaged with the communities they aim to benefit.

Projects selected will be showcased on this website, with each project receiving a bursary to attend one of our training events, and a wealth of additional communications support. If you're helping to give your community a voice through digital media we'd like to hear from you.

The application process will run until 28th February 2010. All community projects will be selected by 31st March 2010, and will run until March 2011.

To celebrate the varied and inspiring ways you are already using digital media to help empower disadvantaged communities, Community Voices has 20 x £500 awards to give away before the end of March 2010. Further Inspiring Voices awards will be made available at the end of the year. We'll keep you informed!

Find out more about applying for an Inspiring Voices award.

Nominate your student volunteer for £100 award

Matt Spencer Award

Matt Spencer Fund

In Memory Matt Spencer, who sadly passed away on 26 September 2001 aged just 23 years, epitomised student volunteering. He cared deeply about people, the exploitation and oppression they face, and passionately challenged it with his lateral approach.

Matt became involved with Student Community Action at Queen Mary and Westfield College (now Queen Mary, University of London) where he became the SCA officer. The following year he was elected Vice President Education and Representation at the Students’ Union and joined the Trustee Board of Student Volunteering UK as a student director.

He was a prime mover in setting up the London branch of Student Volunteering UK putting together a bid for the London Development Worker and successfully moving a motion to the University of London Council that the worker be based at ULU.

Matt’s commitment, enthusiasm and sense of fun inspired us all and will always continue to do so. He is greatly missed by many people.

The Fund His family have set up a fund in his memory to recognise the work of outstanding student volunteers. The fund intends to award one outstanding student each academic year with an award in the form of an inscribed tankard (Matt always enjoyed a drink or two), a cheque for £100 and a bottle of champagne.

Matt Spencer Award 2010

The fund invites all student volunteering groups to nominate up to two student volunteers from their group who they feel particularly stand out and are deserving of ‘The Matt Spencer Award’. Students may nominate themselves or have someone else nominate them.

To nominate a student for this award please download the nomination form here and send it

• • Download the Matt Spencer Award Nomination Form (MS Word)

Completed nomination forms should be sent to: Amanda.Duggan@volunteeringengland.org by no later than 5pm on Friday 5th February 2010.

The Matt Spencer Award 2010 will be awarded at our Policy Event on Wednesday 17th February.

Matt Spencer Award 2009 winner

Last year's Matt Spencer Award winner was Karen Turvey – an outstanding and innovative student at the University College Plymouth St Mark and St John.

Karen volunteered on numerous projects and activities, including conservation projects, street clean ups, beach cleans, tea dances, community sports days, activities working with homeless people, evening and weekend youth clubs, coffee and lunch clubs for elderly residents, befriending the elderly and local festivals. Karen successfully sourcied and received funding for many events (including those above), and was responsible for recruiting and training different groups of volunteers to support these events.

Debbie McAllister - Student Volunteering & Employability Co-ordinator UCP Marjon says of Karen - “Since enrolling at the University College Plymouth St Mark and St John (UCP Marjon), Karen has demonstrated her dedication to volunteering in numerous ways working alongside the SOLVE (Student Opportunities for Local Volunteering Experience) initiate. Her commitment to projects is outstanding, often taking on co-ordination responsibilities and initiating new opportunities within the community. She continues to play a vital role in establishing and building relationships with our local community through breaking down barriers and stereotypes and engaging with people who can often feel isolated”.

In 2008, Karen initiated one of her biggest projects to date, changing the opinions of hundreds of people through a city-wide recycling campaign. “Sac-it-in” aimed to raise awareness and change consumer opinion on the use of plastic bags. Plymouth residents were encouraged to bring any plastic bags they had to a specified location in the city centre where numerous activities were available for public participation, including creating decorative items out of the bags. Bags-for-life were also distributed to members of the public, upon the hand-in of plastic carriers. Karen’s personal connections with powerful citizens of the city complimented this day, bringing the Lord and Lady Mayor of Plymouth to the event, the BBC’s Agents for Change campaign and the local media, including BBC local radio and the press.

Karen is a worthy Matt Spencer Award winner and a shining example of the positive impact student volunteers can have on their local community.

"It was a complete surprise to receive the award, I was unaware I had even been nominated. Volunteering for me is being able to make a positive difference and enabling others to do it too, so the Matt Spencer award is particularly special for me because of what it represents.”
Karen Turvey – Matt Spencer Award winner 2009

• Download the Matt Spencer Award Nomination Form (MS Word)

Project Assistant - Recruitment

Directorate Children & Young People’s Service Service Area Service Improvement & Business Support Salary £27,945 - £29,571 Shift Pattern Full Time - 36hrs, Monday / Friday Closing date for applications 7 February 2010

Recruitment specialist looking to Reclaim Their Career within Reclaim Social Work The Role 12 month secondment/fixed-term contract. We’re making exciting changes in Hackney’s Children and Young People’s Directorate and are looking for quick and proactive people to bring their skills and energy to help us deliver an excellent level of service to Hackney’s children and young people. If you want to work in a dynamic, fast-paced, supportive environment - here is your opportunity. We are recruiting a bright, “can-do” Project Assistant to join our Recruitment Team.   Responsibilities The Project Assistant will provide general support to Senior Managers and the recruitment team, so an understanding of the importance of delivering a high level of customer service is essential. You will also be responsible for the day to day management of the online recruitment system, supporting staff and candidates on the system and producing a range of statistical reports (which will have significant impact on recruitment strategy). The Individual The Project Assistant will represent the Directorate, so an approachable and professional manner is vital as are strong written and verbal communication skills, as you will be required to produce publicity material and liaise with a wide range of individuals. We need an organised individual with an organised approach, excellent IT skills and common sense. You will need experience of having worked in a similar role and environment and of producing reports for a wide audience.   Addtional Website Information Please upload a personal statement with your application to be considered for this role.

More Info...

Project Assistant - Recruitment.zip

Click here to apply for this job

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FAIR FINANCE – Personal Loans Manager (Maternity Cover – 11 months)

Fair Finance is a fast growing and high impact social enterprise tackling unfair and usurious financial practices in the UK.

 

We offer affordable credit to people unable to access mainstream finance to compete with loan sharks and money lenders; microfinance to help aspiring entrepreneurs; free money and debt advice to help the over-indebted; access to banking services for the excluded, and campaign for change through education and policy.

 

We have grown from one council estate in Stepney in 2005 to covering half of London. Our plans for growth and development are ambitious and we recognise that doing this while maintaining the quality, and impact, of our work will be our big challenge.

 

We are looking for a Personal Loans Manager who can build on strong foundations to take our Personal Lending business to the next level of growth.

 

This is a challenging post that will require good organisational skills; effective management and supervision skills; and a can do approach for a small, dynamic and entrepreneurial organisation.

 

The salary is £29,000-32,000,. It is a full time post, which includes 25 days of holiday per year and up to 3% matching contribution to a stakeholder pension.

 

The team language is English and we are an Equal Opportunities employer.

 

Closing date for application is February 12th 2010

 

Application is by covering letter and CV with ref: PLM01

 

CV & covering letter can be emailed to info@fairfinance.org.uk

Reception Supervisor - Homerton Hospital

Job Reference:

 293-50238

Area of Work:

 Pathology

Employer:

 Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust

Department:

 293 Pathology

Location:

 London

Salary:

 £21,679 - £25,582 pa.inc

Job Type:

Permanent  

Staff Group:

Administrative & Clerical  

Pay Scheme:

Agenda for change  

Pay Band:

4  

Working pattern:

37.5 Hours/Week 

Closing Date:

5/02/2010 

Add this vacancy to my job basket

Description

The Homerton is an innovative Foundation Trust providing a wide range of services to the local community of Hackney and specialist services on a national level. Located in the multicultural east end of London we are situated close to the heart of the capital.

The Homerton is the closest hospital to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Park and is the designated hospital for the Park. The Hospital has easy access to the M11and Stratford International railway station, with major improvements to transport planned in the lead up to the Games.

Applications are invited for the full time post of Pathology Reception Supervisor; who will also deputise for the Team leader. Duties will include staff management, liaison with all laboratory managers as well as office duties.

If you are enthusiastic, reliable, enjoy working with a range of people and are looking for a position with responsibility, then this could be the job for you!

You will be working in our busy pathology reception and will supervise a number of staff in this critical area, which supports the work conducted in the pathology laboratories.

You will have experience either in pathology reception or another hospital reception service. You will also be a good communicator, have good keyboard skills and be able to work well as part of a team. You will be organised and have experience of co-ordinating and training staff.

Full training will be given in using the hospital and pathology computer systems (EPR & Winpath). You will also be expected to participate in the Saturday / Sunday morning rota

For further information or to arrange an informal visit, please contact:
Pamela Dabney, Team Leader Pathology Reception, on 020 8510 7553.

Proposed interview dates: 3rd or 4th March 2010.

We advise candidates to read all of the attached documentation prior to submitting an application.

Your supporting statement is used to determine your suitability for the post and should be used to demonstrate your relevant skills.

Once you have submitted an application it is essential that you check your email on a regular basis for updates and shortlisting information.

The Trust welcomes applications from candidates wishing to job share with or without job share partners.

Committed to Equal Opportunities.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply, who would require immigration sponsorship, can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKBA website.

Applications from job seekers who require Tier 2 sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, non-EEA candidates may not be appointed to a post if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled EU/EEA candidate is available to take up the post as the employing body is unlikely, in these circumstances, to satisfy the Resident Labour Market Test. The UK Border Agency requires employers to complete this test to show that no suitably qualified EEA or EU worker can fill the post. For further information please visit: UK Border Agency website.

More information

You can view more information about this employer and this vacancy by clicking on any of the Job Pack Documents or Further Links below. Clicking a link will open a pop-up window containing the relevant details. You may view, print or download the details from there.

Documents

• Job Description (38 KB)
• Person Specification (26 KB)
• Additional Document (32 KB)
• Recruitment_Pack_Why_Homerton (129 KB)
• Guidance Notes On Submitting An Application (119 KB)
• Equal Opps document (132 KB)
• Remploy Leaflet (50 KB)

Further Links

• Homerton Website
• Detailed travel information for finding the Homerton easily

CRB Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Criminal Records Bureau to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship (formerly a Work Permit)

This job is unlikely to attract a Tier 2 certificate of sponsorship (formerly a work permit). Applications from candidates who require Tier 2 immigration status to work in the UK may not be considered if there are a sufficient number of other suitable candidates. To apply for a Tier 2 certificate of sponsorship, employers need to demonstrate that they are unable to recruit a resident worker before recruiting an individual from overseas. For further information please visit Home Office UK Border Office.

Admin Assistant Band 3 - Homerton

Job Reference:

 363-CH-1445

Job Title:

 Admin Assistant Band 3

Employer:

 East London NHS Foundation Trust

Department:

 C&H Assertive Outreach

Location:

 Homerton, London

Salary:

 £15,190-£18,157

Job Type:

Permanent  

Staff Group:

Administrative & Clerical  

Pay Scheme:

Agenda for change  

Pay Band:

3  

Working pattern:

37.5 Hours/Week 

Closing Date:

9/02/2010 

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Description

East London NHS Foundation Trust is a mental health trust which provides services to the City of London, the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. The Trust also provides forensic services to the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, and provides some specialist mental health services to North London, Hertfordshire and Essex.

We provide a range of community, outpatient and inpatient services for children and young people, adults and older people.

The Trust's Headquarters are located in Tower Hamlets. We operate from 47 community sites, four main inpatient sites and have 660 inpatient beds. The Trust has an income of £184.7 million and most of this comes from our local Primary Care Trusts.

The Trust is linked with the University of London, City University and South Bank University.

ASSERTIVE OUTREACH SERVICE HACKNEY
26 Shore Road, London E9 7TA

Administrative Assistant Band 3
(Full-time)
Job Reference:
Salary:

An opportunity has arisen for an Administrative Assistant to join the Assertive Outreach Service in Hackney. We provide intensive community support and treatment for people with severe and enduring mental illness who have been unable to engage with the existing mental health services.

The post-holder will have the necessary skills and experience in secretarial tasks to:-
• Provide a high quality, responsive and efficient secretarial service,
• Demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail.
• Competentacy in audio typing, data inputting and a good knowledge of Word for Windows.
• Sound communication skills,
• Ability to prioritise their workload.
• Understanding of effective time management
• A flexible approach to work
• The ability to work with a range of disciplines

The post-holder will participate fully as an Assertive Outreach Team member taking part in the co-ordination of the service and helping to provide a responsive and caring service to our clients.

We provide training and regular supervision within a supportive framework and operate a ‘team’ approach.

For informal enquiries please contact Oneeka Smith-McIntyre on 02032228000.

SALARY £19,137-£22,104 INCLUSIVE OF HIGH COST AREA SUPPLEMENT

*PLEASE NOTE – IF YOU ARE SHORTLISTED FOR THIS POST YOU WILL BE CONTACTED BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT VIA E-MAIL, PLEASE ENSURE THEREFORE THAT YOU CHECK YOUR E-MAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. ALL SUCCESSIVE CORRESPONDENCE WILL ALSO BE SENT VIA E-MAIL.

IF YOU DO NOT HEAR FROM US WITHIN FOUR WEEKS OF THE CLOSING DATE, PLEASE CONSIDER THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SHORTLISTED ON THIS OCCASION.*

We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date should we have an overwhelming response to this advert.

As part of our commitment to improving working lives, we have a range of innovative work-life balance policies and applications are welcome from people interested in working flexibly. Single Living accommodation may be available. Committed to equal opportunities we welcome applications from people who reflect the diversity of our service users including those with mental health problems.

For further information about our Trust please click on the link to East London NHS Foundation Trust website.

In line with the jobcentreplus two ticks symbol, all applicants who have declared that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for a post will be shortlisted.

All posts that involve regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of children and/or vulnerable adults will be subject to an enhanced CRB check.

Jump to Apply Now 

More information

You can view more information about this employer and this vacancy by clicking on any of the Job Pack Documents or Further Links below. Clicking a link will open a pop-up window containing the relevant details. You may view, print or download the details from there.

Documents

• Job Description (251 KB)

Further Links

None Available.

Contact details

If you would like to talk to somebody about this vacancy then please contact:

Contact Name

Oneeka Smith-McIntyre

Email Address

janice.robertson@eastlondon.nhs.uk

Telephone

02032228000

CRB Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Criminal Records Bureau to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Finance for Non Financial Managers 1 day course Free for LBH funded groups

Finance for Non Financial Managers 1 day course

Let's face it, you have to know the numbers to be a successful leader. Every manager needs to understand finance if they are to manage resources appropriately. However, not every manager needs the same level of skill and understanding as a specialist financial manager.

This Free 1-day course will give help participants to:

·        understand accounting terms and financial statements,

·        understand the impact of strategic decisions on shareholder-value or funders value for money criteria

·        improve communication with people who work in finance and contribute to financial decisions,

Contact Details:

Free online procurement course aimed at smaller organisations

A free online procurement course designed to help smaller organisations was launched yesterday. 'Winning the Contract', developed by Government and hosted by Learn Direct, takes a maximum of 3 to 4 hours and can be taken section by section as time allows.

You can register and access the course on the Learn Direct website.

28 January 2010Source NAVCA

Effective Partnership working 10th Feb Free

HSCF Event Working in partnership with other organisations is an excellent way to access mainstream UK funding, participate in large scale projects and work with a variety of organisations from the public & private sectors

Contact Details:

Richest 10 percent 100 times better off than poorest - large inequality growth of 80s not reversed

You can access the full report, its summary and main findings here.

Source Government Equalities office

 

Summary from the Guardian website here

A detailed and startling analysis of how unequal Britain has become offers a snapshot of an increasingly divided nation where the richest 10% of the population are more than 100 times as wealthy as the poorest 10% of society.

Gordon Brown described the paper, published today, as "sobering", saying: "The report illustrates starkly that despite a levelling-off of inequality in the last decade we still have much further to go."

The report, An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK, scrutinises the degree to which the country has become more unequal over the past 30 years. Much of it will make uncomfortable reading for the Labour government, although the paper indicates that considerable responsibility lies with the Tories, who presided over the dramatic divisions of the 1980s and early 1990s.

Researchers analyse inequality according to a number of measures; one indicates that by 2007-8 Britain had reached the highest level of income inequality since soon after the second world war.

The new findings show that the household wealth of the top 10% of the population stands at £853,000 and more – over 100 times higher than the wealth of the poorest 10%, which is £8,800 or below (a sum including cars and other possessions).

When the highest-paid workers, such as bankers and chief executives, are put into the equation, the division in wealth is even more stark, with individuals in the top 1% of the population each possessing total household wealth of £2.6m or more.

Commissioned by Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality, the National Equality Panel has been working on the 460-page document for 16 months, led by Prof John Hills, of the London School of Economics.

The report is more ambitious in scope than any other state-of-the-nation wealth assessment project ever undertaken.

It concludes that the government has failed to plug the gulf that existed between the poorest and richest in society in the 1980s. "Over the most recent decade, earnings inequality has narrowed a little and income inequality has stabilised on some measures, but the large inequality growth of the 1980s has not been reversed," it states.

Hills said: "These are very challenging issues for any government because the problems are so deep-seated."

"But we hope that by doing this work, policy makers have now got information they never had before, to try and get at the roots of some of those problems."

Harman said the issues raised meant the government needs to "sustain and step up" action introduced by government over the past 13 years, such as children's centres and tax credits. "It takes generations to make things more equal," she told Radio 4's Today programme.

Social mobility was "essential" for the economy, she said. "..The government should take action to ensure everyone has a fair chance."

The panel found "systematic differences in equality panel economic ­outcomes" remained between social groups, and said many would find the "sheer scale of inequalities" in outcomes "shocking".

Inequality in earnings and income is high in Britain compared with other industrialised countries, the report states.

A central theme of the report is the profound, lifelong negative impact that being born poor, and into a disadvantaged social class, has on a child. These inequalities accumulate over the life cycle, the report concludes. Social class has a big impact on children's school readiness at the age of three, but continues to drag children back through school and beyond.

"The evidence we have looked at shows the long arm of people's origins in shaping their life chances, stretching through life stages, literally from cradle to grave. Differences in wealth in particular are associated with opportunities such as the ability to buy houses in the catchment areas of the best schools or to afford private education, with advantages for children that continue through and beyond education. At the other end of life, wealth levels are associated with stark differences in life expectancy after 50," the report states.

It echoes other recent research suggesting that social mobility has stagnated, and concludes that "people's occupational and economic destinations in early adulthood depend to an important degree on their origins". Achieving the "equality of opportunity" that all political parties aspire to is very hard when there are such wide differences between the resources that people have to help them fulfil their diverse potentials, the panel notes.

Researchers analysed the total wealth accrued by households over a lifetime. The top 10%, led by higher professionals, had amassed wealth of £2.2m, including property and pension assets, by the time they drew close to retirement (aged 55-64), while the bottom 10% of households, led by routine manual workers, had amassed less than £8,000.

Harman acknowledged in the report that the "persistent inequality of social class" was a large factor in perpetuating disadvantage, adding that the government would begin to address this with the new legal duty placed on public bodies to address socio-economic inequality, included in the equality bill.

The report follows research published by Save the Children which revealed that 13% of the UK's children were now living in severe poverty, and that efforts to reduce child poverty had been stalling even before the recession began in 2008.

The Hills report also found that: • Divisions between social groups are no longer as significant as the inequalities between individuals from the same social group; inequality growth of the last 40 years is mostly attributable to gaps within groups rather than between them.

• White British pupils with GCSE results around or below the national median are less likely to go on to higher education than those from minority ethnic groups. Pakistani, Black African and Black Caribbean boys have results at the age of 16 well below the median in England.

• Compared with a white British Christian man with similar qualifications, age and occupation, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslim men and Black African Christian men have an income that is 13-21% lower. Nearly half of Bangladeshi and Pakistani households are in poverty.

• Girls have better educational outcomes than boys at school and are more likely to enter higher education and achieve good degrees, but women's median hourly pay is 21% less than men's.

The significance of where you live is another theme. The panel says the government is a "very long way" from fulfilling its vision, set out in 2001, that "within 10 to 20 years no one should be seriously disadvantaged by where they live". The paper notes "profound and startling differences" between areas. Median hourly wages in the most deprived 10th of areas are 40% lower than in the least deprived.

 

Have your say on parking in Hackney

Voluntary and Community Sector Lettings Policy Consultation

Volunteering Strategy Consultation LBH

London’s door-to-door transport services under review

Is the much-maligned Dial-a-Ride service actually getting any better? And will integrating door-to-door services lead to improvements for the half a million Londoners with mobility impairments?

Your say

To tell us your views on these services, please complete our short survey. Alternatively please contact Ross Jardine, email ross.jardine@london.gov.uk or tel 020 7983 4206.

Our review

The Transport Committee is reviewing the progress made on addressing immediate service problems, as well as assessing proposals to create a more coordinated, borough-led door-to-door transport service.

Building on the previous Dial-a-Ride investigation, the Committee will look at the recent performance of the Dial-a-Ride service to establish whether Transport for London’s (TfL) efforts to improve it are paying off. Following a heated public debate with Dial-a-Ride users and TfL in March last year, the Committee wrote to the Mayor highlighting problems with the service including a lack of availability, poor punctuality and long call waiting times. At the time, a survey of 200 Dial-a-Ride users showed 40 per cent of respondents rated the service as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ and the Committee will assess whether things are any better a year on.

The Committee’s investigation will also assess London Councils’ plans to integrate door-to-door transport services in order to address problems experienced by users. Integration is seen as a possible solution to criticism of the variation in quality and lack of coordination of door-to-door transport services, which include Dial-a-Ride, Taxicard, CapitalCall, and a range of NHS and borough transport services. However, integrating services from different providers that work to different eligibility criteria and service levels will be challenging.

The Committee aims to make recommendations to the Mayor, TfL and London Councils as appropriate for any further action to take to help improve door-to-door transport services.