Just 6 cases of serious detriment in here folks

CRR_2015_full

Here is the latest research from JRF – another excellent piece of work.

This research examined written strategies from 128 housing organisations, and conducted surveys and interviews with 163, to explore some key areas of practice, including:

• whether addressing poverty is part of their mission, in principle or in practice;
• the impact on poverty of decisions over where and what to build, including the use of Affordable Rented housing;
• rent setting;
• measures to increase tenants’ incomes and reduce fuel bills and other costs;
• allocation systems and policies concerning who can access different types of housing.

landlords_address_poverty-full (1)

“The Homes and Communities Agency, in its Sector Risk Profile document today, said it will develop guidance with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on the criteria for exemptions from the four-year, 1% annual social housing rent cut.

The Welfare Reform and Work Bill, which brings in the cut and is currently before parliament, allows the Secretary of State to approve exemptions for landlords if the rent cut would “jeopardise” their finances.

The HCA said: “Waivers will only be considered for registered providers who face viability or solvency issues and have considered all mitigating actions, including taking all possible costs out of their businessand looking at the possibility of a merger partner.”

The HCA initially estimated a third of the largest 250 landlords may run into difficulties from the rent cut but later revised this down to a much smaller group of associations.

The regulator has now received assurances from landlords that may find the rent cut problematic. It is understood most of these landlords are considering taking action such as scaling back non-core activity, while a large number are considering merging.

The HCA’s risk profile also listed other risks faced by landlords in the current environment, including challenges posed by welfare reform, Pay to Stay, the National Living Wage and diversification.

Julian Ashby, chair of the Homes and Communities Agency’s regulation committee, said: “Registered providers will need to undertake stress-testing to understand the interaction between new policy changes and other exposures which can be subject to change – such as interest rates, sales and pension risks – and consider how they would cope if a number of adverse movements crystallised at once.”

Office for Civil Society, North West Update September 2015

Please see below information on:

• Nominate a voluntary group for the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service
• Delivering Differently for Young People
• EU Youth Wiki Tool
• House of Lords Committee Survey on Social Mobility for young people
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation Youth Fund
• Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR)
• Big Society Capital introduce social pensions to the UK
• Access – Capability Building Consultation
• Power to Change Initial Grants Programme (IGP)
• Social Saturday – 10 October 2015
• State of Social Enterprise Survey 2015
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) Covenant Fund now open
• National Health Service (NHS) Consultations and Community Grants
• Nesta – Call for local partner site for Realising the Value
• Clinks publish – Critical friends: an independent review of the voluntary sector infrastructure in the Criminal Justice System
• DCLG Domestic Abuse Fund 2015 to 2016

1. Nominate a voluntary group for the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise the outstanding work carried out in their own communities.  It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and is the MBE for volunteer groups.

Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award. The winners are announced on 2 June every year.

If you know a local volunteering group deserving of recognition for services to the local area, please consider nominating them!  Anyone aware of the group including people who benefit from the group’s activities may make a nomination.

To nominate, simply complete the online form at https://qavs.direct.gov.uk/ .  Notes to help you can be found at https://qavs.direct.gov.uk/guidance-notes.

Nominations can be made at any time. The latest round of nominations closes on 18 September 2015.

2. Delivering Differently for Young People – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-differently-for-young-people-programme-prospectus-and-form

The Delivering Differently for Young People programme provides £0.2 million funding. This funding is intended to help up to 5 local authority areas rethink the way they provide services, and to support positive outcomes for young people. Successful applicants will be able to access bespoke technical, legal and consultancy support to identify and develop alternative models to provide youth services.

See the website for more information, the prospectus and form.  Applications should be submitted by 10am on 6 October 2015.

3. EU Youth Wiki Tool – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-youth-wiki-tool-expression-of-interest-form

The European Commission’s work to support the youth agenda aims to provide more opportunities for young people in education and the job market. The Commission has announced that it will lead a project with EU member states to develop a comprehensive web-based framework on national youth policies from across the EU.

The UK government is looking to appoint an organisation to support this project by compiling objective and reliable information on youth policies in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

This call seeks to appoint an organisation which will support an EU funded project to develop a web-based framework of national youth policies from across the EU.  The successful organisation will be responsible for researching and compiling objective and reliable information relating to youth policies in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

It is likely to be of interest to those in the field of research and organisations will need to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of UK youth policies as well as experience of researching, analysing and presenting complex information from a range of different sources.

The closing date for Expressions of Interest is 22nd September 2015.

4. House of Lords Committee Survey on Social Mobility for young people

Please help spread the word by sharing information about this survey with children and young people you know and work with.

Take part in an online survey on social mobility – The House of Lords Committee on Social Mobility would like to hear from young people who have not or will not take A-Levels or go to university on what they think about the choices available at age 16.

This online survey will help the Committee to understand what is important to young people in the UK when they are looking for their first job. The Committee will use the findings from the survey to inform the a report they send to Government.

The survey is open to 14-24 year olds until 1 October 2015. It should only take a few minutes to complete.   The survey can be found here: http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HouseofLordsSocialMobilitySurvey

5. Paul Hamlyn Foundation Youth Fund

The Youth Fund will provide core funding to organisations within the youth sector and outside. The Foundation has launched the Fund in direct response to what they heard in their strategy consultation – that in order to achieve greatest positive impact in the lives of young people you work with or for, you need to achieve a balance of stability, continuity and flexibility.

You can apply for between £10,000 and £60,000 for up to two years.  Applications are through a two-stage open process.  More information is available at  – http://www.phf.org.uk/funds/youth-fund/

6. Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR)

Social investment tax relief (SITR) gives charities and social enterprises the help they need to leverage in private investment to expand and grow.

Big Society Capital has launched GET IT, a programme of free support to help organisations use SITR. This includes education, access to resources, expert advice and profiling of successful raises. For more information on this campaign, visit – http://www.bigsocietycapital.com/GetIt

7. Big Society Capital introduce social pensions to the UK

The UK pension system is currently in a period of unprecedented change with the introduction of auto-enrolment, a scheme that will see millions of new pension savers and billions of pounds of new investment. Therefore, there is a unique opportunity to engage with individuals about a new approach to investing.

Big Society Capital (BSC) has been working with think tank, the Social Market Foundation, over a number of months to investigate how individuals can use their own pension choices to make social investments, and why it matters to them and society. On 3 September, BSC jointly launched the landmark report, Good pensions: Introducing social pension funds to the UK.

This report details:

• Why this is an opportune moment to introduce social pension funds to the UK and how individuals have a latent and as yet untapped interest in investing for social purpose;
• The barriers to the establishment of social pension funds and how they can be overcome by intelligently applying the model successfully used in French solidarity investment funds; and
• A call for action to investment managers, pension providers, corporate employers and Government to pilot funds, signal demand and take a lead in developing a new social impact segment of the pension market in the UK.

8. Access – The Foundation for Social Investment Capability Building Consultation – http://access-socialinvestment.org.uk/access-launches-capacity-building-consultation/

Access will fund a 10 year grant based programme of capacity building and support to charities and social enterprises looking to engage in social investment. This work will be funded by the Cabinet Office’s endowment to Access. We are currently consulting widely and seeking to collaborate as we develop our vision and plan for future capacity building provision, learning from existing and recent programmes.

Access is currently consulting (until the end of September) on their capacity building programme which will see them spending down a £60M endowment over the next ten years, on grant-funded initiatives to support organisations considering taking on social investment. Access are working towards sharing a first draft strategy at the beginning of October.

9. Power to Change Initial Grants Programme (IGP)  

The Power to Change Initial Grants Programme (IGP) is designed to help existing community businesses in England that are in a position to significantly improve their long-term sustainability within six months of receiving a grant.

Power to Change are looking for applications from existing organisations, which already have business plans in place and are ready to start work quickly on their proposals.  Longer term funds, which will launch in early 2016, will include opportunities for new and early stage organisations to apply for funding.

More information at  –  http://www.thepowertochange.org.uk/initial-grants-programme/

10. Social Saturday – 10 October 2015 – http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/policy-campaigns/latest-campaigns/social-saturday

The aim of Social Saturday 2015 is to raise awareness of just how easy it is to support businesses that trade quality items and services and invest profits in projects supporting the local community, international development, the environment, charities and a wealth of other progressive schemes.

11.        State of Social Enterprise Survey 2015 http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/advice-services/publications/state-social-enterprise-report-2015
    

Social Enterprise UK surveyed a large group of social enterprises and report that the  sector is thriving.  Rob Wilson, Minister for Civil Society spoke about social enterprise                      at the launch of the report and his speech can be found at    https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/state-of-social-enterprise-report-launch

12. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) Covenant Fund now open – https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/covenant-fund

As trailed in our August FOR INFO – The Covenant Fund opened for applications on 13 August.

The themes will shape the fund, and annual priorities will ensure that it stays focussed and current.  For 2015/16 these priorities will be projects that support:

• local armed forces community integration projects
• the coordination and delivery of support to the armed forces community
• veterans in the criminal justice system.

To address the priorities, MoD will make funding available for:

1. small grants up to £20,000, primarily for community integration projects, which was launched on 13 August, has two deadlines – 17 September and 17 December 2015.
2. large grants up to £500,000, for more strategic, higher impact projects (one round this year) also launched on 13 August with a deadline for EoIs of 24 September.

Decisions on both small and large grants will be made by a national panel based on the recommendations of regional panels.

More information at – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covenant-fund-guidance-on-how-to-apply

13. National Health Service (NHS) Consultations and Community Grants

The NHS has launched two consultations into the voluntary sector role in health and care.  As part of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) review, respondents from the voluntary and health and social care sectors will give their views on the current state of partnership working, and how closer collaboration could be fostered.

The second consultation will also seek views on the role and effectiveness of the government’s current ‘voluntary sector investment partnership’ suite of grants.  The consultation period runs until 6 November 2015, more inforamtion is at  – http://www.england.nhs.uk/2015/08/07/vcse-consultations/

Community Grants – Has your community or voluntary group been working to involve patients and the public in improving health care services? Have you got some good practice to share?

NHS England is launching a new community grant opportunity. NHS England is seeking to make grant awards to showcase good practice around patient and citizen participation in healthcare. Grants are available of up to £1,000 each, the total funds available are £10,000, more information at  – http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/patients/public-voice/comm-grant/

14. Nesta – Call for local partner sites for Realising the Value – http://www.nesta.org.uk/call-applications-local-partner-sites-realising-value

This is an opportunity for local organisations or partnerships that are passionate about person-centred and community-based approaches in health and care to become a local partner site for Realising the Value.

Nesta are looking for experienced local partner sites, from within the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector or that work closely with this sector, that have an appetite to use their existing experience to help others learn what works in practice.

They are seeking five local partner sites to each lead on one of the five prioritised areas of practice:

• Self-management education
• Peer support
• Health coaching
• Group activities that promote health and well-being
• Asset-based approaches in a health and well-being context

Webinar for applicants on 24 September, applications by 3pm on 13 October 2015

15. Clinks publish – Critical friends: an independent review of the voluntary sector infrastructure in the Criminal Justice System

Clinks have launched the findings of a comprehensive independent review of infrastructure services: Critical friends: an independent review of voluntary sector infrastructure in the Criminal Justice System. There is a blog here, and the report page here.

16. DCLG Domestic Abuse Fund 2015 to 2016 – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-fund-2015-to-2016-bidding-prospectus-and-application-form

The fund invites bids to help fill local gaps in accommodation-based services with specialist support for victims of domestic abuse.  The prospectus sets out more information and how to apply.

Applicants are required to submit bids no later than 5pm on Thursday 1 October 2015.

Dont forget the same government office has a regional update for your area – why not subscribe?

Research published by national campaigning charity Empty Homes shows the proportion of homes that are long-term empty is greatest in the north of England.

There are over 200,000 homes classified as long-term empty, these are properties that have been empty for a period of six months or more. This number representing nearly 1% of the country’s housing stock.

The research, explores what might be behind this, including how empty homes relate to deprivation, house prices and the issues that some communities face, such as poor housing in parts of the private rented sector.

Empty-homes-in-England

At their best, these supplementary schools offer children and young adults a rich learning experience, providing personalised learning with strong pupil–teacher engagement, and giving young people the means to explore complex questions of identity, engage with role models from similar backgrounds, and develop networks of peer support.

In this report we recommend greater complementarity and coordination between the mainstream education system and these thriving supplementary schools. This would make some mainstream schools better prepared and equipped to deal with the pressures that come with catering for a diverse student body, and further the government’s commitments to community- and parent-led approaches to education, and to greater diversity and autonomy within the schools system.

We call for more mainstream schools to, through engagement with supplementary schools, become active players in their communities. In doing so, they can raise the capacity of those communities, and of parents, to take ownership over their children’s education. They can help ensure that out-of-school learning and enrichment opportunities are high-quality, and open and accessible to all pupils, particularly those who need them the most.

This report sets out a roadmap for how mainstream schools can build on and engage with supplementary education, where there is a high-quality local offer. We suggest three modes of engagement with supplementary schools:

• mapping supplementary school uptake
• greater coordination with, and referral to, supplementary schools
• cooperative programming with supplementary schools.”

Making supplementary schools work for your school
IPPR has also produced a summary of the research presented in this report, tailored specifically for headteachers and other education professionals in primary and secondary schools.

Entitled ‘Making supplementary schools work for your school’, it considers the challenges facing mainstream schools, asks how those schools and their pupils can benefit from supplementary schools, and suggests how they can best work together.”

Accoridng to IPPR:

“While successive governments have promised to tackle the ‘root causes’ of social and economic disadvantage, public spending on individuals experiencing problems such as addiction, homelessness, offending and poor mental health is still largely reactive – funding expensive crisis care services rather than coordinated and preventative support.

At a time when rising numbers of people are becoming socially excluded, the government is committed to finding ways to reduce the estimated £4.3 billion spent on ‘troubled individuals’ struggling with homelessness, addiction and mental health problem. The taxpayer is indeed meeting unnecessary costs as the result of spending that is focussed on expensive crisis care services, rather than on coordinated and preventative support that would deliver better results as well as value for money. Savings cannot be made, and outcomes cannot be improved, unless action is taken to reform the services that vulnerable and disadvantaged people rely on.

Because services are set up to deal with single issues such as drug or alcohol misuse, homelessness or mental health, rather than addressing the various needs of the individual, multiple professionals are often working with the same person. The successful Troubled Families programme was developed precisely to address this problem. However, there is no framework for disadvantaged adults who do not meet the programme’s criteria.

In this report we examine what lessons can be learned from the successes and failures of previous attempts to reform public services for disadvantaged individuals. We review several decades’ worth of reform to provide a range of insights to learn from and build on in formulating new policy approaches. Based on these lessons, we recommend that at the next spending review, the government chooses multiple and complex needs as one of a small number of priority issues for investment in local integration and service transformation. A new ‘Troubled Lives’ programme, based on the Troubled Families model of centrally driven but locally led reform for vulnerable groups, should be established, focussed on approximately a quarter of a million individuals who experience two or more of the following problems: homelessness, substance misuse and offending.”

We came across this report on action learning from the HACT website – we think you will find it useful:

Strategic approaches to employment – report July 2014

We came across this and thought you mgiht find it useful.

Well done to CHG website for displaying this:

Sample_Tenant_Scrutiny_Committee_and_Customer_Inspector_Recruitment_Pack

we thin you will find these examples of different types of tenancy management in different organsiations useful.

Thanks to HACT for this free report from their website.

Tenancy Management report FINAL