News

Care Minister Announces Extended Strategic Partner Programme

Thursday, 15 December 2011 10:15

Minister for Care Services, Paul Burstow, has revealed that the Department of Health (DoH) is to extend the £3.5 million strategic partner programme for an additional year.

The scheme was launched in 2009 and enables voluntary sector organisations to work in equal partnership with the DoH, NHS and social care to help shape and deliver policies and programmes.

It provided funding of more than £3.5m in 2011/12 and will deliver the same amount next year, £11.8 million since launch.

It directly funds 25 national charities within 18 consortia. The consortia are:

• Age UK.
• FaithAction.
• Men’s Health Forum.
• National Association for Voluntary and Community Action.
• National Care Forum and Voluntary Organisations Disability Group.
• National Children’s Bureau.
• National Council for Palliative Care.
• National Heart Forum.
• Race Equality Foundation.
• Radar, National Centre for Independent Living and Shaping Our Lives National User Network.
• Regional Voices.
• Mental Health Providers Forum (of which mhhp is a partner).
• Carers UK, Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads.
• Women’s Health and Equality Consortium.
• Royal British Legion/Combat Stress.
• Nacro and Action for Prisoners’ Families.
• National Voices.
• LGB&T Partnership.

Risks to charities linked to business rates relief

Wednesday, 14 December 2011 11:26

Full business rates are due on empty commercial properties that remain unoccupied after three months, including lower value properties such as small shops. However, charities occupying commercial property qualify for a mandatory 80% discount on business rates, provided the property is used wholly or mainly for charitable purposes. Local authorities also have the discretion to grant the remaining 20% as a further discount.

The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, is aware of cases where charities are being approached by retailers and landlords of hard to let property to enter into tenancy agreements that would relieve the landlords of the requirement to pay full business rates. Equally, some charities are actively marketing their willingness to enter into tenancy agreements with commercial landlords.

Read more

Commission publishes Strategic Plan for 2012-15

Monday, 12 December 2011 10:11

The Charity Commission, the regulator for charities in England and Wales has published its Strategic Plan for the next three years, up to 2015.

Its sets out the Commission’s two key strategic priorities going forward, which are:

• Developing the compliance and accountability of the charity sector
• Developing the self-reliance of the charity sector

The Plan sets out the regulator’s new Vision, Mission and Values, with the Vision being ‘Charities you can support with confidence’. Read more.

Better mental health in a bigger society?

Friday, 09 December 2011 09:58

Within a financial climate that poses some of the greatest challenges being faced by care providers, are we at risk of destroying any potential for the community innovation that could make real mental health care reforms a reality?

“Better mental health in a bigger society?” published by the Mental Health Providers Forum with Social Spider CIC

• identifies overlaps between Big Society ideas and changes that many people with mental health difficulties have long argued for

• suggests ways in which the NHS, local authorities and new health and wellbeing boards can support the development of a strong and diverse mental health landscape

• explores ideas such as co-production, peer services, personalisation, user-led organisations, and other community-based activities that put people with mental health difficulties at the heart of their own recovery

• challenges the tendency for discussions about mental health to focus solely on  traditional mental health services

Download Better mental health in a bigger society? Includes examples of innovative mental health projects that are making an impact.

Opportunity to get involved in shaping Government policy on mental health

Wednesday, 07 December 2011 10:23

An opportunity for people to get involved in shaping Government policy on mental health. 

SPP are looking for people who use (or have used) mental health services, and family or friends who provide care and support to them to join the Ministerial Advisory Group on the Mental Health Strategy.  The recruitment website will go live early next week and the closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 5th January 2012.
 
The advert is available from Helen Steele ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Guidance on mental health legislation for helplines

Tuesday, 06 December 2011 09:51

The mental health voluntary sector across England has undertaken a project to create a resource on mental health legislation. The Helplines Association (THA) has drafted some guidance specifically for helplines to act as a 'companion' to this forthcoming resource. The guidance is intended for all helplines. THA would like to get some feedback from individual helplines about the draft guidance.

To receive a copy of the draft guidance and a link to a short survey where you can give your comment, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Deadline 20 December 2011.

State of the Sector 2011 survey

Monday, 05 December 2011 10:23

Third Sector and nfpSynergy are running a state of the sector survey to find out about the big issues that charities and voluntary organisations are facing. The survey asks voluntary sector staff about “how they have been affected by the economic downturn and the cuts, what they think of the coalition government’s performance and about the difficulties they face in running their organisations.” (Third Sector website).

The results will be published by Third Sector in early 2012, and will be compared to surveys they carried out in 2007 and 2009.

Everyone who enters can go into a draw to win one of 50 £10 Amazon vouchers.

You can find out more, and access the survey, here.

Advice Services Fund

Friday, 02 December 2011 09:41

The Cabinet Office has announced  a new £16.8 million Advice Services Fund for not-for-profit, free advice services in England. The fund will be delivered by BIG Fund, the non-Lottery arm of the Big Lottery Fund. The fund will open by the end of November and will provide grants from £40,000 to £70,000 for service delivery. To be eligible, applicants must be:

• Providing advice in at least one of the following priority areas: debt, welfare benefits, employment and housing
• Able to evidence public funding cuts of at least 10% for the specified advice service areas from central and local government sources in 2011/12.

Contact: BIG Fund
Telephone: 0300 456 4746
Websites: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/168-million-support-free-advice-services
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/index/about-uk/big-fund.htm?fromsearch=-uk

Neril achieves certification to CCA and mhhp Standard for Helplines©

Tuesday, 29 November 2011 13:20

CCA and mhhp are delighted to congratulate Neril for successfully achieving the “CCA and mhhp Standard for Helplines^© ” certificate.

Neril are our fourth member to receive our new certificate, following Mental Health Matters, Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline and Womankind.  If you would like to find out how to achieve the new CCA and mhhp Standard for Helplines^©  click here.

Well done Neril!

Skills Enhancement Fund - money still available for training

Monday, 28 November 2011 10:05

The Skills Enhancement Fund helps employers with the costs of providing training for their employees. The deadline for the scheme has been extended. Social enterprises, community and voluntary sector organisations can apply.

Deadline: 12 June 2012

Contact: Jas Hayre 0113 3861863

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it