eGov monitor - Voluntary Sector

Following the success of last year’s ‘Meeting of the Minds’, Angela Smith MP, Minister for the Third Sector, hosted a dinner event between some of the Social Enterprise Ambassadors and key figures from the corporate world to discuss ideas for creating employment opportunities at scale for disadvantaged people. Officials from DWP, BIS and OTS were also in attendance.

A major coalition of anti-poverty, energy, environmental and health campaigning organisations are today (Weds 17 March) launching a charter of measures needed to eradicate the scandal of fuel poverty1. The campaigners are calling for the UK Government and political parties to commit to making all fuel poor homes as energy efficient as a home built today.

Following joint working between the Office of the Third Sector (OTS), the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) the Social Enterprise Coalition, the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and other stakeholders from the third sector, the government and the sector have committed to seven actions to improve understanding of signposting to the wide range of business support services available to social enterprise. This is in response to findings that while there is a great deal of support and awareness of social enterprise, it is not well understood or signposted.

Barbara Hearn, Deputy Chief Executive at NCB, calls for continued investment in education, training and employment for young people.

We know that people with disabilities simply do not enjoy the same rights and freedoms as the rest of society.

Minister of State for Higher Education, David Lammy MP, will today announce the launch of ‘Fastlaners’, an East London-based scheme to help graduates make the transition into the world of work.

The latest eGov monitor Weekly has been published and you can read it by clicking on the link below:

Recent thinking on co-operatives is about continued public service improvements, and a failure of the state – not just a rejection of ‘casino capitalism’. But there are still many challenges to overcome.

Plans for a new £50 million BIG Lottery Fund initiative to support young Scots leaving care and older people with dementia and their carers can transform many thousands of lives across Scotland, First Minister Alex Salmond said today.

The Government announced Jobcentre Plus staff are to receive autism training in the adult autism strategy published on 3rd March. The National Autistic Society (NAS) celebrated the move, in response to their Don’t write me off campaign, along with a raft of new measures to tackle the routine isolation, ignorance and inequality routinely experienced by people with autism in England.

    *   Young leaders from 72 countries are honoured for their outstanding leadership, professional accomplishments and commitment to society
    * Young Global Leaders are selected from a variety of sectors such as business, government, academia, media, non-profit organizations and arts & culture, and from all regions of the world
    * Young Global Leaders engage in task forces that address specific challenges of public interest with the objective of shaping a better future

America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) unveiled the next phase of the successful two-year Dropout Prevention Campaign called Grad Nation March 1. The announcement was a  part of a larger education event that Alliance Chair Alma Powell and Founding Chair Gen. Colin Powell participated in with President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to discuss strengthening our schools so the United States can once again become the world’s leader in college graduates.

40 organisations from the disabled children's sector urge prospective MPs to sign up to prioritise disabled children and their families

Charities and campaigning organisations are today being urged to push for change through their local council.

Tickets for the fifth National Digital Inclusion Conference – NDI10 – are nearly sold out, and those interested in taking part are being urged to get in quick, or follow the Conference from the comfort of their own computer via the live webstream and twitter hashtag #NDI10.

Angela Smith MP, Minister of State for the Third Sector is to go head to head with MPs Nick Hurd and Jenny Willott, her counterparts from the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats respectively in a public debate over the future of social enterprise.

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eGov monitor Weekly - 15 February 2010

The first round of Access to Volunteering grants have been announced.

Access to Volunteering aims to increase the number of disabled people volunteering by providing grants to supporting organisations. Money is provided by the Office of the Third Sector with funds being offered in three test areas - Greater London, North West and West Midlands. The first round of funding successfully awarded grants to up to £5,000 to 40 organisations.

Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced £900,000 Assembly Government funding for St John Cymru Wales to secure a building to house vehicles and to enhance training facilities for volunteers.

America is facing some of the greatest challenges in a generation.  At the same time, promising nonprofit organizations across the country are making heroic efforts to meet overwhelming need and, implement effective and innovative ways to meet these challenges.